I’ll never forget the words that stuck with me the first time I ever submitted to a professional talent agency:
“You will never make it in this industry. You will never be a model.”
Let me rewind.
When I was 19 years old I worked at a luxury clothing boutique in Scottsdale. One afternoon a woman came in and while she was shopping we got to chatting. She mentioned she was a booking agent for one of the top modeling agencies in town. Well… being an eager 19 year old who thought she was a model based off some amateur photo shoots and a Model Mayhem profile *IYKYK*, I let her know I enjoyed modeling and I wanted to pursue representation and the industry more seriously.
Before she left she handed me her business card and told me to email her my sizes and digitals.
When I got home from work I did some Googling…
…I was clueless lol.
Then I took some self-timed photos, measured my chest / waist / hips, and sent everything to her. I was excited and nervous – but still hopeful.
Her response came quick and I will never forget the message she sent back…
“You will never make it in this industry. You will never be a model.”
Y’all. I was shocked. And shattered.
Granted. I understand the woman didn’t owe me anything and she didn’t have to give me her business card in the first place. PLUS, I am 5’2 and I’m sure the photos I took were verrrry amateur. But who did she think she was to be so… certain. And cruel?
Well fast forward nearly 18 years…
After more than 15 years of professional talent agency representation in Los Angeles and Phoenix – I’ve worked with some of the most recognized brands and have booked international and national campaigns, editorials, and magazine features. As I write this, a 6-page magazine spread was just released and I’m on the cover.
That woman was wrong. She had no control over my future.
And that’s exactly why I want to share this.
One person’s opinion – no matter how confident or credentialed, does not determine what you’re capable of.
It’s to encourage you. Rejection, doubt, and disappointment are guaranteed. If you believe you’re capable of achieving something, keep going and keep trying. No matter how difficult or far off it may seem.
It’s to highlight timing. Things unfold when they are supposed to. Looking back, who knows if I would have been emotionally mature or mentally tough enough to work in the industry at 19. The amount of rejection easily could have altered my inner voice. Sometimes “not yet” is protection, not failure.
It’s to give you hope. Sometimes your dreams are delayed, not denied. Oftentimes things work out in ways we wouldn’t have imagined. I actually got into the industry while I was chasing an entirely different dream.
So remember… No one else gets to determine what’s possible for you.
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