Model of the Year Em Marie Scores Tear Sheets in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand…

A few years ago I spotted a teenager in Maine who radiated the kind of beauty that makes heads swivel, like Vogue casting director type heads. With her china doll skin, dusting of freckles, bold brows, and contagious smile, Em Marie was a girl I didn’t have doubts about. I whisked her straight into an agency in New York where she was signed on the spot.

I made Em my Model of the Month. I knew she’d win Model of the Year. I knew she’d make it. But I couldn’t have predicted the dizzying speed at which she would rack up the most sought after tear sheets in the biz before even hitting the age of 18. She has landed in the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar multiple times, in multiple countries.

While she’s at it, Em has immersed herself in the culture of each place she visits and explored every corner of Asia courageously and tirelessly—all the time celebrating the highs and laughing off the lows of the life on the road far from home. If you aren’t reading her blog EmMariexox.com and following her on Instagram, you are missing the best modeling travelogue out there!

Here are just a few of Em’s dozens of tear sheets from Asia, one more dazzling than the next…

The Many Modeling Faces of Em Marie

Em Marie in Vogue Spy

Em Marie, “Gray’s Anatomy,” Vogue Spy

Dreamy Em Marie in Vogue Spy

Em Marie in Thailand

Em Marie modeling for Rosenkrantz

Em Marie for Cartier, Vogue Thailand

Clean beauty

Stay tuned to see which continent Em conquers next!

Want to be the next Modeling Mentor Model of the Year? Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search!

Dear readers, aspiring models and actors, and patient parents,

It has been one crazy year for the Mann Clan* and my actor kids have hijacked my life! If you do not like routine and prefer not to have any idea where you might be in 24 hours, getting your kids into acting is a great way to achieve that!

But now I’m settled out in L.A. where my oldest son, Jamie, is shooting a new Netflix show. Everyone in the cast, crew, and creative team is incredibly nice so I expect to have a lovely writing sojourn out here and get back into action on much neglected Modelingmentor.com!

If you are a Model of the Month winner for 2019, hold tight; Model of the Year will be announced in May. Have your friends and fans “like” your Model of the Month page in the meantime (industry judges determine Model of the Year; likes determine the People’s Choice winner).

*My married name is Mann in case you are confused. My maiden and professional name is Johnson. But as my professional and personal lives have gotten all mixed up together, I’m occasionally adopting the clearer but unmelodious Jill Johnson Mann. Who wants all those “son” and “man’s” in their name?

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search

Haven’t entered yet? What are you waiting for? It’s easy and free, just visit this link and submit your photos and stats: MODEL SEARCH

“For Life” and “Country Comfort” Shameless Plugs

Tune into the premiere of “For Life” on February 11 on ABC to see my son Cameron Mann as Justin Masry—or better, to see his moms, Mary Stuart Masterson (I’ve been obsessed with her ever since Some Kind of Wonderful and tried not to geek out when chatting with her. She’s just another mom of 4… except so much more) and Indira Varma (riveting), in this new prison/legal show, which is based on a true story.

Katharine McPhee and Eddie Cibrian – “Country Comfort” – Deadline

Keep an eye out for Jamie Martin Mann as Brody in “Country Comfort” with Katharine McPhee, coming to Netflix later this year!

The Kids of “Country Comfort”: Ricardo Hurtado, Jamie Martin Mann, Pyper Braun, Shiloh Verrico and Griffin McIntyre

Stay Tuned for an Update on Em Marie, Model of the Year 2016

I hope you are following her on social media because she is a role model for how to make the most of your modeling adventures! Em Marie’s Instagram

Congrats Model of the Year Winner, Julianne Walker!

Julianne Walker, shot by Emily Scimeca

Height: 5’9″    Age: 18    Size 1-2

Julianne is currently in her freshman year at UVA. Brains and beauty! Keep an eye on my blog to see where her future of juggling books and bookings takes her! 

Julianne Walker, shot by Kayla Simon

Enter the 2019 Modeling Mentor Model Search and get discovered!

Model of the Year Updates

Em Marie, Model of the Year 2016

Em is enjoying supermodel status in Asia, where she has been working in Japan, South Korea, and China. She has landed numerous bookings including editorials in Vogue and two editions of Harper’s Bazaar! Her Toyota commercial is super fun too. Though up before dawn most days and working nonstop, Em has found time to launch a blog. Ride the ups and downs of modeling with her and follow her on adventures across the globe: My Life as Em Marie

Alexa Kissling, Model of the Year 2017

Alexa signed with top agency The Industry Model Management in New York last spring and spent this fall modeling in Tokyo, falling in love with the beauty of Japan. She has a ton of new tears, including Numero, and I can’t wait to see where 2019 takes her!

Super Model of the Year: Em Marie!

Em Marie, shot by Emily Scimeca (blog post featured image also by Emily Scimeca)

This 14-year-old had me at first glance, last summer in Maine. She is breathtaking in person and ultra photogenic (those two traits don’t always go together). She is lovely, humble, talented, polite, bold, ambitious, incredibly disciplined and destined to be a superstar—whether as a model, dancer, or both. When I took her into my former agency, I had no doubt she would be signed by New York Model Management. It is rare to be that sure about a new discovery. I have never been that sure, in fact. And, yes, they signed her! So I’m not surprised that my panel of industry judges have chosen Em Marie as Model of the Year!

Em Marie, shot by Jordan Matter

Thank you judges: agent and modeling industry guru Page Parkes (read more here: Exclusive Interview with Page Parkes from Scouted); fab photographer Danny Cardozo (read more here: Danny Cardozo Zooms in on Role Modeling, Modeling, and Photography); and counselor and former supermodel Susan Miner (read more here: Supermodel Susan Miner on Modeling, Inner Beauty, and Page Parkes Model Camp).

Em Marie, shot by Gene Schiavone

This is only the beginning, Em. I can’t wait to see where your career takes you!

Congrats, also, to the People’s Choice Winner: Zoe Mann!

Zoe Mann, shot by Ashley Skatoff

Zoe Mann, shot by Ashley Skatoff

Submit Your Entry to the Modeling Mentor Model Search

(If you entered previously, you are eligible to resubmit!)

Or 10, or however many it takes for fat to fill in those fine lines that have developed on your face, because eating is so much more fun than Botox. I know I’ve said this before (this post has been regenerated a few times), but it’s always nice to have an excuse to bag the New Year’s diet resolution and enjoy more holiday feasting…

January 1 is here and you’re stressing about the weight you’ve just vowed to lose, right? Well, stop. Turns out the 5 to 10 pounds many of us gained between Thanksgiving and New Year’s may be the greatest gift we could give ourselves. This pertains especially to women over 35, like me and Heidi Klum.

In a recent Self interview, Klum revealed this tip for aging gracefully: “The ultimate beauty secret for a woman getting older is, Don’t be too thin! It is always better to have a little meat on your bones.”

My best friend Sophie Patitz, another German top model who is both stunning and sensible, gave me the same advice a few years ago. At the time I was thrilled to have reached my old modeling fighting weight, only to be advised by her that my thin face made me look older.

After the initial sting, I launched into a hearty meal and have been grateful ever since. Heidi concurs, “When you are just muscle, you end up being gaunt in the face, and that makes you look older by 5 or 10 years.”

Which is why I’ve vowed to gain weight.

If you don’t believe it, check out these before and after celebrity pics:

Could it be Gwyneth Paltrow looks better now than in 2000? A touch of chipmunk, not chisel, suits her better.

Getty Images

On the flipside…

How can it be that Angelina aged five to ten years in a little over a year? She lost weight. A bit of post-baby fat is a good thing.

Getty Images

Calista Flockhart seemed borderline anorexic a decade ago. While still svelte, she weighs more than a feather now and has a fuller face. As a result, it hardly looks like these two photos span 11 years.

Getty Images

Ten years ago, Nicole Kidman went through a thin phase. Now she’s looking more robust and, like Flockhart, possibly younger, not ten years older. Without the extra pounds, we would be talking gaunt or we wouldn’t be talking at all-Hollywood may have written her off as too old.

Getty Images

Demi Moore must think thinner makes her look closer to her hubby’s age. Not so. A year ago she looked not a day over 40. With a slimmer, more severe look 12 months later, she could pass for her actual age of 48.

Getty Images

Happy New Year ladies. Go forth and gorge!

Don’t forget to “like” your favorite Model of the Month by Jan. 15 (make sure you are signed into Facebook, so the “like” button appears). That’s when I will tally votes for the People’s Choice Award. A panel of industry experts also will pick their Modeling Mentor Model of the Year this month!

Height: 5’7″    Size: 4    Age: 19   
Seeking Representation in New York

This beautiful bombshell from Tunisia is in New York, ready to show off her modeling and acting talents. In every shot, she has an irresistible spark!

Remember, your submissions are still eligible for future months, so be patient. You also can submit new photos as often as you like. 

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month (sign in to Facebook first so that the “Like” icon appears on the model’s page on my blog). On January 15, I will tally who has the most likes and determine the winner of the Model of the Year People’s Choice Award. A panel of agents and industry experts will also select their top choice for Model of the Year!

A Must-Read Male Model Q & A!

Oliver Prasetyo, a Modeling Mentor Model of the Month and winner of last year’s Model of the Year People’s Choice Award, is making a big splash in Indonesia, not to mention in the U.S., where he landed a coveted GAP campaign! This guy is a go-getter, not to mention funny, smart, and photogenic. That’s a recipe for success in modeling. Read, watch, and learn…

Oliver Prasetyo

J: How did you start modeling?

O: One night coming home from work, someone inquired if I were a model, to which I laughed and replied no. She recommended that I check out a casting. I went on a whim and was selected to walk for a show.

J: How old were you?

O: 25

J: Where were you?

O: In New York, on the Subway. F line maybe?

J: Your first job?

O: It was for a small designer line. Truthfully, the name escapes me.

J: Your big break?

O: When I booked the GAP fall campaign “Dress Normal” in NYC.

Oliver Prasetyo

J: Your favorite job?

O: When I modeled in Indonesia recently, I was featured on various talk shows (see below) showcasing my experiences as a model. Also, modeling for Esquire magazine and Nylon magazine in Indonesia was amazing.

J: Your goals?

O: Modeling: To model all over Asia and Europe. Overall Goal: I’d like to introduce and expose Indonesian culture to American entertainment in some capacity.

J: What advice do you have for aspiring models?

O: Never give up. Don’t allow other people to rob you of your dreams. Keep pushing and grinding if it’s truly what you desire. Surround yourself with people who support you. And always follow your dreams.

J: What do you find most surprising about the modeling industry?

O: That they book a goofy Indonesian kid from Queens from time to time. LOL

J: How do you stay in shape and is there pressure to be in great shape?

O: I just try to eat healthy and do daily cardio, push ups, and ab work outs. 

J: Any special diet?

O: Coming from an Asian background, it can be tough to say no to all the deliciousness of a home cooked meal. But you have to be mindful that you aren’t filling yourself with unnecessary stuff. I don’t have a special diet, but I do limit my daily carb and sugar intake. 

J: The biggest perks of modeling?

O: You’re in a profession that garners attention. I like to use it to inspire people. A lot of people didn’t think I was capable of modeling in the early beginnings. Those doubters are now supporters.

J: The biggest challenges?

O: It was definitely in the beginning when I had virtually no supporters. Well, Jill Johnson believed in me

Oh, yes, I did!

Check out Oliver discussing modeling, on a talk show in Indonesia. Notice how poised, articulate, relaxed, and likable he is. He’s got that extra something beyond looks, which makes all the difference in how far a model will go…

ENTER THE MODELING MENTOR MODEL SEARCH!

Model of the Year Anastasia Belotskaya

Congrats, Anastasia Belotskaya!

Height: 5’10″    33-24-34   

Based in New York

Represented by Wilhelmina

Stunning Anastasia is the winner! Already represented by a top agency in New York, Anastasia now has the opportunity to meet with Page Parkes (in person or via Skype) and tap into the lucrative Texan market. Working in various markets is a great way to make money and make the most of the travel and cultural opportunities afforded to models. I loved my time in Dallas!

Runner-Up: Taylor Rae Walston

Model of the Year Runner-up: Taylor Rae Walston

Taylor Rae has won an interview (in person or via Skype) with New York Model Management!

People’s Choice Award: Oliver Prasetyo

People’s Choice Winner: Oliver Prasetyo

Garnering 1,100 votes, no one could touch go-getter Oliver Prasetyo for the popular vote win! Check out Oliver’s new Gap campaign—clearly Modelingmentor.com readers have a good eye!

Stay tuned for a Q&A with each of the winners. 

A huge congratulations to all! Look for a lot of love coming your way on social media. I’m excited to see where your careers take you in the future. Get in touch with your mentor—yours truly—whenever you have questions, doubts, or any news to share!

It’s time to kick off the 2015 model search. Get your submissions in for FebruaryModel of the Month!

Mikhail Mudrik

Hair: Brown    Eyes: Blue    Height: 6’3″    Weight: 212    Chest: 43    Waist: 33     Inseam: 34    Suit: Long

Based in New York

Seeking Representation

Mikhail is a multi-talented model, actor, stuntman, and professional athlete (judo). He has experience in fashion shows and has starred in TV shows and music videos in his native Ukraine and Russia.

This Model of the Month is sponsored by Charlie Dog Boxers. Several pair are on their way to Mikhail. The consensus is that he will look good in them! Buy a pair and “model” them on Charlie Dog’s “Show Off Your Dogs” page.

Charlie Dog Boxers

Model of the Month Sponsor

Look for exciting prizes from different sponsors in the months ahead!

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month! The People’s Choice Award at the end of the year will go to the model with the most likes. Likes will also serve as the tie-breaker if needed when fashion industry experts vote on Model of the Year.

Agents, e-mail me if you are interested in Mikhail!

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search

You’ve seen her beautiful face. Now get to know Abryanna Hodges, the high school senior and aspiring model from Florida, who wowed the judges and won Modeling Mentor Model of the Year 2013!

Abryanna Hodges, shot by Chad Heller

JJ: What inspired you to try modeling?

AH: I ‘ve always been photogenic, since I was a little girl. I remember always dressing up and wanting to be in front of the camera. I have a passion for modeling. It is what I love! 

JJ: Who is your favorite model (current and all-time fave)?

AH: This is a tough question for me. I am inspired by many models, but current I would go with Adriana Lima. My all-time favorite is Gisele Bundchen.

(Read my Interview with Adriana Lima.)

JJ: Have you done any modeling?

AH: I have done local fashions shows.

JJ: What would be your dream modeling job?

AH: My Dream modeling job would be to be a signed Victoria’s Secret Angel! This is my ultimate task at hand. I love what the brand represents, I feel it represents me, and I want to show the world that!

JJ: What do you do to stay in shape?

AH: I love eating healthy and taking maximum care of my body. I work out 6 days a week and eat super healthy—I believe health comes from within! I run, jump rope, boxing, anything that requires cardio. 

JJ: What are your hobbies/interests?

AH: I love to be near the water and enjoy meditation, anything that is relaxing. I like going running on the beach, spending time with my family, and enjoying nature.

JJ: What are your plans after you graduate from high school this spring?

AH: I plan to go to New York and meet with agencies! I hope to have a choice of agents and to move to New York. I have been working hard to prepare for it, and it’s paying off. This contest has gotten me the opportunity of my dreams. I pray for the best! 

JJ: Who is your favorite designer?

AH: Pascal Mouawad! I love the excellence he brings to his masterpieces.

JJ: What do you think the hardest part of modeling will be?

AH: Traveling. To be at so many locations, but I love it.

JJ: How do you feel about winning Modeling Mentor Model of the Year?

AH: I am honored!

Abryanna is having consultations with Page Parkes and New York Model Management, as part of her prize package. Wish her good luck!

Stay tuned for details on the 2014 Model Search. Feel free to submit your photos now!