Modeling HOW TO: Stand out and Get Noticed!

Most models will tell you stories of long castings stuck in corridors, looking around at a sea of clones all dressed in tight black clothes, wearing heels, and with their hair pulled back in a pony tail.  How is a model supposed to stand out and get noticed?  There is no golden ticket answer, but how you present yourself and the impression you leave can go a long way in increasing your odds of separating yourself from the pack and getting the booking.

For over a decade the modeling industry has seen an extremely limited range of models, which is the polar opposite of the “cult of personality” of the supermodel era.  Knowing how agents and clients perceive you is critical: do they consider you professional, mature, focused, committed?  Do they see you as a waif when you feel like a bombshell?  There can’t be a disconnect here or it will mean a much bigger struggle to achieving your dreams. 

There are golden rules to creating a great reputation as a model so pay attention: 

• Always be professional:  Strive for a good relationship with your bookers and agents, since you must work as a team to build your career.  Always being professional, means being reliable, cheerful, a team player, on time, and never being a know-it-all.  If your agents and bookers know you are ambitious, focused, and a good listener, they are more likely to go above and beyond to help you achieve your dreams.  Ask them how you can build your brand to get more attention from editors and casting directors.  Be interested, and interesting!

• Be original:  The old adage that you should always be yourself because no one can do it better than you is true, and no more so than in building a modeling career.  Don’t be a cookie-cutter model. No one can do you better than YOU!  And do yourself a favor and don’t look at all the other models in the model apartments or at castings and measure yourself against them.  Ever.  Everyone is building their own career, so concern yourself with yours.  That goes for fashioning your “look” on another model – it doesn’t work, and a copy is just a copy. 

• Know your strengths and work them:  Whether it is high cheekbones, long legs, amazing eyebrows, a great body, a supermodel walk, a chameleon face, or a great personality, see it for the advantage that it is and work it.  Are you a good mover, or a power poser? Are you athletic or super feminine, androgynous or sexy?  Own it and make it work for you.

• Be aware of your social media presence:  This is somewhere that you can have more control over your “model image” and show your strengths to their best advantage.  But be careful what you show – clients DO look at model’s social media accounts – it matters!  If you are athletic and can do cartwheels, here is your platform to show it off.  If you are a fun-loving model who likes to dance and giggle, make a little clip and post it to show you have a great personality.  Just remember – the industry is watching.

Be fearless:  Stay true to yourself because clients and agents notice a confident, focused model who is a pleasure to work with, who delivers, and is professional.  There are too many models with hang ups, insecurities, or a bad attitude, so don’t be that model – and you will stand out for being the opposite!  Be YOU!

#business of modeling #standing out  #know your strengths #how to succeed in modeling #be unique #be original #beyourself

Lineisy Montero – Breakout Star for 2016 ... Model Crush Monday!

Nineteen-year-old Dominican beauty, Lineisy Montero has had two banner years in a row, after her stunning breakout star turn on the Prada Fall 2015 runway – the only black model to walk for the legendary fashion house since Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn years before her.  Everyone wanted to know who was this new face with the amazing cropped, natural afro??  They know who she is now!

With her super high cheekbones, smattering of freckles, and the dimple in her chin, Lineisy’s face is instantly recognizable, as she becomes the darling of many fashion designers and magazine editors, including her campaigns for Chanel, Prada, and Bally, and appearances in Vogue, Bazaar, and ID magazines.  She has walked to runways for many designers including Burberry and Marc Jacobs as well.  All this after being discovered on a roller coaster in her hometown of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  

Lineisy is a standout exotic beauty amongst the rows and rows of model clones and has made to sort of leap from new face to star face in true supermodel fashion, but she wants to be known for her work as a model first, and a black model second.  Whatever she’s selling, we’re buying! Go Lineisy!

Lineisy Montero’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lineisymontero/

#new faces #breakout models  #exotic models, #black models #new supermodels #ones to watch #Dominican models

Eat To Be Beautiful - Model Beauty Diet!

A model’s healthy skin, hair and nails are their stock in trade.  They have to take care of themselves to be at the top of their game just like an athlete, and to have the health and stamina to go the course in such a rigorously demanding industry.  Beauty really does begin on the inside and whatever you consumer really does appear on your face … and hips! 

It’s so important to remember that taking care of yourself is essential and that you can’t succeed if your face, hair and body show signs of too many late nights, too much junk food, too much alcohol, and not enough nutrition and proper exercise. Going to any extreme such as fasting and doing liquid diets will not keep you healthy enough to sustain yourself.  It will show and it’s not beautiful!

Maintaining healthy, balanced eating habits and exercising are the recipe for beauty and health.  Exercising, results in increased blood flow, which makes skin glow, and gives you energy.  I am going to share fitness tips of top models in an upcoming post, so stay tuned!

The number one thing your body needs is H2O – water!  Keeps you well-hydrated, revs up a dull complexion, and keeps you going!

Here are some super foods that are packed with the nutrients you need for a healthy complexion, shiny hair and a lean body:

• Biotin for healthy skin, and strong hair and nails:  bananas, beans, lentils, salmon, and eggs.

• Omega 3 fatty acids for shiny hair:  eggs, soybeans, chicken, seafood, and nuts.

• Vitamins A and C are antioxidants and have skin-firming properties:  citrus fruit, kiwi, apricots, carrots, mangoes, spinach, and sweet potatoes.  

• Vitamin E has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces inflammation:  sunflower seeds, almonds, wheat germ, avocadoes, and dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and arugula.

• Zinc affects the immune system and hair strength:  cashews, soybeans and green beans,

• Protein: keeps your body fueled and toned:  lean beef (gives your iron as well), lean chicken, eggs, low-fat dairy. 

• Olive oil and green tea increase blood flow and oxygen to the skin – essential for glowing skin.

• Quinoa – this is an easy to prepare protein filled with amino acids, iron, zinc, potassium and calcium. 

Foods with a high glycemic index such as bread, pancakes, bagels, many processed cereals, pies, cookies, pastries, muffins, candy, etc., add to any puffiness you might have, and makes you look less contoured.  Moderation is key. 

So think about maintaining good nutrition and try to add nourishing foods and drinks into your eating habits, get enough sleep, exercise, and be the picture of health.  You will look more beautiful, and have more energy – which is crucial for a successful modeling career.  

A model with healthy hair, glowing skin, stamina, and a toned body will always succeed over a model who does not take care of herself.  It’s her business to be her best!

Photos by Allana Wesley White Photography Allana Wesley White (@allanawesleywhitephotography) • Instagram photos and videos for Starbene Magazine Italy

#healthyeating #modeldiet #nutrition #eattobebeautiful #modelhealth #nutritionforbeauty #beautyfoods #naturalbeauty #modelfit #healthyskin #healthyhair #modelbeauty #modelhealth #energyfood #juicing #antiox

All American Beauty, Hailey Clauson - Model Crush Monday!

To commemorate the Fourth of July, we are celebrating with the all-American beauty and Sports Illustrated cover star Hailey Clauson! Born and raised in LA, Hailey was discovered at age 14 and was quickly booked to shoot a campaign for Wildfox Couture.  Now 21 years old and a statuesque 5’11” with one of the most amazing curvy figures in the industry, Hailey has fronted campaigns for Gucci, Jill Stuart, and Agent Provocateur, walked for Zac Posen and Calvin Klein, and appears in editorials worldwide. 

In real patriotic style, Hailey appeared in a red, white and blue “painted on” bikini in Sports Illustrated - talk about fireworks!  Happy Fourth! 

#Hailey Clauson  #Sports Illustrated cover girl #rookie of the year #American supermodels #sexiest models #Fourth of July #All-American Beauty

Summer Beauty Tips fromTop Makeup Artist and Beauty Expert Colleen Stone!

Everyone wishes they had the advice of a top makeup artist not just for photo shoots and skin care, but for every day, as the seasons and trends change, and it can be hard to keep up with all the new products hitting the market.  Top makeup artist Colleen Stone has worked with Pandora, Dooney and Bourke, Echo, FemeStage and countless other projects this past winter and spring, including TV appearances for Coco Rocha. Colleen answers our beauty questions and shares her tips for spring and summer beauty, so we can all try to look as gorgeous as her models and you can find more tips on her website at www.blushandbeyond.com

1) What is your secret weapon to achieve amazing summer skin?

As the summer months heat up, so does the humidity, and your skin care routine should be adjusted. A lighter day moisturizer like one of the new gel type moisturizers such as Neutrogena Hydro Gel will keep skin hydrated without the heaviness of a regular winter cream.  Sunscreen is a must for the summer too and there are many lightweight versions to choose from that won’t clog pores and make skin look oily.  I really like some of the sunscreens coming out of Asia, specifically Korea. They protect the skin with advanced technology and feel and smell more like moisturizers than typical sunscreens. Beautiful summer skin can be achieved with some spot concealing and a bronzer. I like to use waterproof concealer to protect from the humidity, like Lancome’s Effacernes, and a cream based bronzer like Tom Ford’s Shade & Illuminate.

2) What is your best skin prep advice for models for the night before a photo shoot?

Plenty of sleep, of course, and lots of hydration!  Anytime you have a photo shoot the next day, it’s important to take the time to properly remove your makeup, hydrate your skin, and get plenty of rest, although sometimes models with busy schedules may not be able to sleep as much as they would like.  That’s where makeup artists’ work comes in, sometimes using sheet masks or under eye masks to revive tired skin. The night before a photo shoot is NOT the time to try new skin care products or treatments or pick at your skin, as it will only look worse in the morning, leaving the makeup artist with little choice but to add a lot of concealer.

3) What is your favorite summer makeup trend?

My favorite summer trend for 2016 is a natural looking bronzer and highlighter, or “nontouring”. This new term refers to the look that is the opposite of contouring.  Instead of heavy streaks of contour cream or powder topped with shiny highlighter (Hello Instagram!) this look is more “model who jet-sets from Ibiza to St. Tropez.  Her bronzer is subtle.  You Tube tutorial coming soon!

4) What in your opinion are the top three things a model can do to have good skin?

Great skin begins from the inside, which means that in order for your skin to be clear and have a glow, you need to have proper nutrition and hydration. Fruits and vegetables provided plenty of the vitamins and minerals essential for healthy skin, so if you don’t feel your diet is adequate, adding a fresh pressed green juice everyday can go a long way to achieving a healthy glow. Exercise helps eliminate toxins through sweating and also reduces stress, so a regular exercise routine that includes cardio and toning will help you maintain beautiful skin. And finally, a skin care routine that works for you and that you maintain on a regular basis. Making sure to properly remove makeup will really help your skin allowing for any treatment products like serums to penetrate. I am a fan of the double-cleansing method, especially for models who wear a lot of makeup on a regular basis. Double-cleansing involves removing makeup with an oil cleanser, and following that with a foaming cleanser or a milk cleanser to remove any residue and clean the skin, exfoliating dead skin cells.

5) How do you deal with summertime humidity on location so the model doesn’t look like a hot mess?

When humidity soars, the less makeup the better. Trying to cover the skin with foundations and powders will only lead to patchy skin as you sweat. Cover any imperfections with a waterproof concealer and coat lashes with waterproof mascara. I like to use waterproof eyeliner, like the Aqua Eyes from Make Up For Ever to add touch of color and fun for a summer look. Try lining eyes with a bright aqua eyeliner, add some bronzer, and finish with a lip stain or balm in a coral shade. Minimal fuss and gorgeous!

Colleen Stone’s blog Blush and Beyond gives tips and advice to looking your model-beauty-best.  www.blushandbeyond.com