pics!

Show Time!

So the show was amazing! The girls were all great and Steve (the stylist that did my hair) was awesome. Everyone that attended the shows were all fascinated by my hair and their was alot of picture taking, which was a little awkward at first because I felt funny that random people wanted to take pictures of me and/or with me just because of my hair. It was fun though and you get used to it pretty quick. I modeled with a couple of girls that also happen to be singer/songwriters and I highly suggest you check them out.
Rachel is a jazz singer and has a beautiful voice. Emily actually wrote a song that David Cook (the winner of the latest season of American Idol) sang on the show and her song was the #1 download on iTunes that week!
I also met Chris, a hairstylist from Houston,Tx, who had just finished filming an episode of "Split Ends" a TV show on the Style network.
I had a great time both days, but I will say walking in those killer heels was a pain (literally)and sitting still in an uncomfortable position for extended periods is HARD WORK! haha but I can't complain :)
I'll put up pics soon!

Prep Day!

I showed up the next morning ready to work, and of course by work I mean sit around all day. It was prep day so the presentation models were all getting their hair done for the shows the following days and getting fitted for wardrobe.
When Steve ( the man who was showcasing my hair) showed me the colors he was doing my hair I freaked a little bit in my head, but still didn't worry too much about the shades of red. (I'm naturally a light light brown with blondish streaks and, as they referred to it, I had virigin hair). So I let them color my hair for the first time. The color had been custom made for me to make sure that I would look good and that it went well with my skin tone and eye color. However, when I looked in the mirror I almost died of shock. It was RED!!! and we are not talking subtle...
All in all it took about 7 hours for them to finish my hair then another hour or so in wardrobe. I had to hurry out of there to make it to work in time so I made it to work but took my uniform and stuff inside to change at work. My hair was still down ( I was going to pull it back since I did work in a restaurant), but before I got a chance, the owner saw my hair and his words to me were, "What the hell did you do to your hair?". Now my co-workers had just complimented me on it and at this point I was starting to get used to the color so I looked at him a bit funny for a second. I then told him what it was for and he informed me that until my hair was a more natural color he was taking me off the schedule and I would not be allowed to work because I had red hair.
I was furious and pretty sure that what he had just done was a little bit against the law. After several days of deliberation I called him up to let him know my hair was going to stay this color indefinitely and that I quit!
It was an interesting development, definitely not one that I had expected, but I made myself feel better by telling myself I was making more money off these 3 days than I would make in 2 weeks at that restaurant.

Woo Hoo! A Job!

After another day of auditions I finally got the elusive first job.
The auditions were for a hair show and they started out like any other. I had 3 in a row and the first was a cattle call. All the girls stood in a line as the hair "designer" came down the line asked each girl to turn to the side so he could see their profile as he pulled their hair back. Then it was either a "yes" or a "no". Needless to say it was a "no" for me where I proceeded to go to my next audition. This one was for Joico and ISO and lasted quite a bit longer. After a long narrowing down process I was finally chosen!!! Therefore I ditched my next audition which was for Paul Mitchell.
I spent the rest of the afternoon filling out a couple forms, talking with the casting director, and getting polaroids taken. I was then told to clear my schedule and be available all day every day for the next 4 days.

Hmm...

More auditions...more rejections...

      However, I did get a chance to work with one of the regions top casting directors.

She has seen me a lot lately in her office for music video auditions and such, so one Saturday we got to talking and we worked on some scene work together and she even told me to submit an audition tape for a hosting gig that she is taking submissions for right now.

I'm guessing that will be just another rejection, but hey...it never hurts to try.

Auditions...

I went on an audition for a Christmas spot for Cool Springs Mall. I was supposed to be a teacher directing a little choir of elementary school students. It was a non-speaking role so I corralled little kids for the better part of an hour...I felt like a babysitter, not an actor. And I didn't get the part...

Back In The Saddle

Years passed before I started to reconsider my decision.

I had taken a couple of theater classes in college when I realized that I still loved the entertainment industry and still wanted to pursue a career in it.

I did not do anything about it right away. I graduated in 2006 and when I could not find a job I became a Flight Attendant. I eventually was based in Nashville and quickly made friends and established regular "hangouts". It was at one of these places that I was introduced to several songwriters that wrote for and performed with well-known artists. They knew a guy that was (and still is) currently a host of several TV shows on one of the country networks and told me I should get in touch with his agent.

Eventually I couldn't stand it anymore and decided to contact the agency. I figured the worst they could say was, "Your a hideous, no-talent, cow and we wouldn't even think of representing you." and I realized that I could handle that.

After seeing a picture and resume, they agreed to meet with me. They had me walk for them (which I felt absolutely ridiculous doing, after having not done so in such a long time), read a couple scripts for the camera, and then go through somewhat of an interview process.

I was told they would get back to me after several people had seen my tapes. I figured this meant "Thanks, but no thanks", so I was absolutely giddy when I received a phone call a week or so later asking me to come in and sign a contract.

The months following that were one big whirlwind for me. I was told they wanted me not only in their modeling division but they also wanted me to cross over into acting. I was suddenly at the office frequently for intense training sessions on not only scene work but interviews and hosting skills along with brushing up on my walk. I was sent to the top fashion photographers in the South for my headshots/comp cards and while there I met some amazing women.

I felt extremely glamorous sitting there getting my hair and make-up done in such an amazing studio sitting alongside a Hollywood actress. She lives in Nashville and was home for Christmas after having just shot a new pilot for ABC. I was amazed at how down to earth and easy to talk to she was. Finally it was my time shoot and I was a bit nervous...my nerves quickly evaporated though because the photographer was great and she made me feel completely at ease (not to mention gorgeous)... To this day it amazes me how absolutely fantastic anyone can look if they have professionals doing their hair and makeup....

The end of my "career", at least for a little while.

After modeling for Sears I started doing print ads for some local boutiques and managed to work right on through my awkward adolescent years. I did commercials and print advertisements up through high school.
At 14, I went to NYC, not for modeling, but to dance. I ended up meeting the right people and I signed with an agency. I started doing alot of runway and hair shows. I also booked several web advertisements and TV hosting gigs. Around that time I quit dancing and without the daily exercise I put on a little bit of weight.
At 17 I did a fashion show in Atlanta, and afterwards, I was approached by an agent who told me that they would love to have me in their "plus-size" division.
My size 8 heart was completely shattered. Until that point I had just been having fun with everything, but that comment really messed with my head. I quit modeling all together and didn't look back.

How It All Started

I started modeling at the age of 7. My mother had never been one of those pushy stage moms, she had let me make my own choices and I had known that modeling was what I wanted to do.

Ask anyone who knew me as a child, and they will tell you I was a ham! I would run away from my mom whenever we were in a store just to go pose in the front windows.

Old pictures of me show my signature poses; hands on my hips with my hips jutted out to the side and an impish grin on my face, or sitting down with my knees pulled up to my chest and a small smile.

I loved being the center of attention. So my mom started taking me to talent agencies and open calls. We had a meeting with a fairly prominent agency near my hometown and I could hardly contain my excitement.

However, when my mother started doing my hair, I freaked out like I always did when she tried to touch my hair. I hated it more than anything...especially when she used that damned crimper.

Anyways, I was nervous, excited, and frustrated all at the same time and before I knew it, I was passing out right there on her bathroom floor.

I came to and talked my mom into still going to the meeting and well...it was pointless. I didn't sign with them.

Luckily right after that debacle I started modeling for Sears (where someone else did my hair and makeup) and from that moment on, I was hooked.