How I Got My First Professional Modeling Job

Hello my A-listers! Just thought of that nickname the other day, and thought it was cute, so let's roll with it for now. Welcome to Life on That A-list! Today, I thought I would share how I got my first professional modeling job. While this job was a legitimate gig and helped launch my career, I was unsigned at the time. I'll get into how I ended up with this job without an agency later. In the meantime, let's start at the beginning.

If you read my previous post (which you all should!) I discussed how I got my first professional acting job. Unlike many people who spends years trying to break into the world of television, television was actually my first job. And this job wasn't with some random channel 10000 that no one cared about, it was with the most prestigious network in the country. If you want to know the whole story, make sure to read it, because this posts ties together with that one.

Anyway, following the completion of the television show, I now had lots of connections to those in the industry, and with some big companies. I got to know some of crew decently well, and since they now had a young, beautiful woman at their disposal, they took advantage of it. Just a few days later I received a call from one of these people saying that they were in the need of models. They didn't even ask me if I wanted to model, they literally called me and said "you've been selected to model!" Sounds funny, but it's true. I, of course, said yes and decided to show up and see what the job entailed.

I'll be honest, this wasn't a glamorous job. I wasn't dolled up like a Victoria Secret model and posing for something that you'd see in the next issue of Vogue, but this campaign did extend to multiple countries. I won't say the name of it, though, because I honestly don't know. Everything happened so quickly and was hushed up.

Upon arrival at set, I had a chance to mingle with the other models, get hair, makeup and wardrobe situated, and mingled a bit with the photographers and producers. Overall, it was a quick job that only took about two hours, and once they finished feeding us refreshments we were on out way. Simple, right?

Well, it was an easy job that was by no means special, but I'm writing this to let you all know how bizarre the modeling world can be. I was unsigned at the time, so my connections are what saved me from not getting this job. I want to emphasize to all of you how crucial it is to networking, because this job led me to several other modeling jobs. Looks, of course, played a factor in this as well. The modeling world isn't necessarily all about looks (after all, you do need some old fart to pose in your Sears catalog), but it always helps to be beautiful. Lastly, and what every entertainment job comes down to, I got this job through luck. If I wasn't in the right place at the right time to be on that television show, I never would have gotten this job which launched my modeling career. I also never would have gotten any of my further modeling jobs, since this one gig led to a lot of networking opportunities.

So, there you go, my loves. Networking and luck go a long way; don't ever forget that. It's crucial to understand that if you ever want to survive in this world. I'm not trying to scare you away from trying to hustle on your own, since it is completely possible to make it without any help along the way, but my gosh do knowing that right people help you.

That's all I have for tonight, in the meantime, check out my newly launched instagram account at instagram.com/lifeonthatalist

xoxo
-J