As most of you know, I went to NYC yesterday. I went to follow my dreams and get signed by Ford Models or Wilhelmina.
Here is the story-
I stayed at a fellow models house Tuesday night in Harrisburg, then we woke up at 5AM to leave for NYC. We didn’t get on the road until about 6:40 AM, haha typical models for you. JK! ;) We got to Queens at about 10AM, at her aunts to drop off her car and catch a train (that turns into a subway, I thought it was sweet) into the city to Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina is one of the top modeling agencies in the world, they have models such as Fluvia!
Unfortunately my friend got the addresses mixed up from Ford and Wilhelmina, so we were at Ford when we were supposed to be going to Wilhelmina. We were also running late as it was, the open call was done at 12. So we were on Fifth avenue, when we were supposed to be on Park Avenue. Thank GOD they were close to each other, we hauled our 46 inch hips to Wilhelmina. We made it just on time to the open call. We were the last models there.
Wilhelmina gives us a little piece of paper to fill out, then we hand it in with our portfolio, and wait. We only had to wait for about 10 mins. Thank goodness there was a baby model and a Scottish man to keep me distracted because it felt like an eternity. I was already sweating from running, and my heart was working over time because I was so nervous. Finally a tall, super thin, beautiful black woman came out. She said my name and asked me to follow her. I followed, I am so surprised I didn’t trip. I could tell before she started talking she wasn’t interested. She had this expression on her face, like pity, so I started to slowly fall off of my cloud 9. Thank goodness she was really nice, she asked if I had any experience. I told her I was with two good agencies back home (forgot to tell her about ModCloth.com, and my venus magazine shoot)… She told me I was not what they were looking for at this time, but she suggested I go to Wilhelmina PA. She said I could move up if I started there. Which would be sooooo cool. :) So no to Wilhelmina (for the both of us), but that’s OK, I was after FORD anyways.
Fords open call was at 3pm, so we had some time. I was pretty upset. Mostly because I was thinking that Wilhelmina is not as good as Ford, so if they offered me a contract I would have to wait until Ford saw me. I got off my high horse, and realized that if Wilhelmina didn’t want me- what were the chances at Ford? But I tried desperately to shove that out of my head, we had some food and relaxed at Bryant Park until it was time to walk over to Ford.
We get to Ford (Crystal Renn’s agency) and I couldn’t help but dream that Crystal Renn will just walk in while I was there. I even took it as far as she would stop and say “wow, your gorgeous” and talk to her agent to sign me. Hahahaaaa I told you I am a dreamer. So, I was excited for Ford because I knew exactly what I was going to say when they asked me why I wanted to Model for them. My friend who has been there before told me that I would wait in a line and show someone my portfolio and they would look at me and ask me some questions. I was excited for that, because then I would have some time one on one with the person and win them over! ;) But they did the same thing as Wilhelmina. You fill out a form and put your port with it and some dude takes it to a different room to see who they want and who they don’t. But when he brought all of the portfolios he brought in, out again he said the names who he calls Ford is not interested in. He called my friends name… and then mine.
Crushed. I was totally and completely crushed. My friend headed for the elevator, but I wanted answers. I wanted to know what I could do better, what they wanted. If I ever had a chance to model for them, If I should keep going. So, I walk back up to the man and ask him something along the lines of “What can I do differently” he said with an attitude, “uh, go to different agencies”.
Crushed even more. I thanked him for his time, and get in the elevator with my friend. Going down.
(Solution post in a little bit)
