Getting started in the modelling industry looks different for everyone. It’s important to remember everyone has their own journey. A journey that will occur at different times, different places and with different circumstances.
This is the start to my journey.
If my mother had her way I would have been in pageants or child modelling from a young age but I had a strict father. He had a distaste for the modelling industry which I can understand now as an adult looking back at what modelling used to be like, how models were treated and what went on behind closed doors.
As a teen modelling often lingered on the back of my mind. These thoughts were reduced by comments made about my weight, body hair and crooked teeth.
It wasn’t until I was approached by a college at the age of 16 who had her own fashion label. She created wonderful garments with natural fabrics, coats that were perfect for Melbourne’s winter and linen pieces. Without hesitation I agreed to her proposal, modelling her garments over 8 hours paying $200.00. (This was a lot of money for 16 yr old Ariel and very exciting times. You’ll find that I am quite open about financials because not many people are.)
Safe to say I got a taste for modelling and never looked back. I used those images to apply to agencies and well that’s a story for another time.
If you gather anything from this I hope it’s the importance of networking and communication. These are so important for any industry really but especially the creative and modelling industry. You never know who you are going to meet.
