Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Macy's Passport LA 2008



It was fun visiting Los Angeles again! Brought back so many memories from last year. The show continued to amaze everyone and was so much F-U-N! There are so many memories from this year that are just priceless and will stay with me forever! Celebrities were everywhere and the Cinema taping was intense! I am super stoked to go see the HD cinema presentation in NYC! Hopefully some friends will want to come along and see =)

I am grateful to have received such positive feedback and slews of encouragement from the crew! I just LOVE my passport family =) It grows each year, and after this second round, I'm hoping to continue for a looooong time! The withdrawal phase is beginning ... but I have exciting prospects to look forward to in NYC so I think it will help this year!

Thank you to all who support me! Sammi, thanks for letting me crash at your place in LA babe. & thanks to all the wonderful people that make up the Passport Family! Ya'll can take a peak above at the video documentation ENJOY! xx

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Macy's Passport SF 2008


Hello everyone! Above is a photo/video montage covering Macy's Passport to Fashion 2008 San Francisco! The production is incredible this year and, as always, the people are so fun. The family is growing! I have been blessed and encouraged by new friends and contacts made. It is such a great opportunity and coveted experience! Celebrity appearances include Alex de Silva (World renowned salsa dancer and choreographer for "So You Think You Can Dance"), Brian Friedman's dancers, the Jabawockeez, "Marilyn Monroe", and guest appearances by Christian Audigier (designer for Ed Hardy), and Tommy Hilfiger. A star-studded event for certain.

I am in 4 segments (10 make the show) #2 is Dark Shadows, #6 is Calvin Klein, #8 is I.N.C. (which I close), and #10 is Ed Hardy (which I open as a double with my girl Sofia!). It appears I am the only girl in so many segments! Quite a compliment. I am really enjoying having so many diverse personalities to play in the show. Dark Shadows is very goth (I have a Mohawk people!) and asks for LOTS of irritated attitude. Calvin Klein is simple, subdued, manic an-esque, a palette cleanser for the audience. I.N.C. is set as a salsa club ("Club Caliente") and is fun, flirty, and sexy. Finally (but probably my favorite) is Ed Hardy; we're bad, we're hot, we're too cool for school, and we're a fashion revolution. The most energy is asked of us for this segment as it is the closing of the show as well. I love that each time I step onto the runway, I can play a different character and let different sides of my personality and performer shine! SO FUN

So many memories will last me another year =) It is good to see some familiar faces, but there are many noobs (pron. "new-bee's") this year as well. I've found myself much more comfortable and confident this year; my focus is working hard, enjoying the moments and having FUN! I guess it's showing because I've gotten many rave reviews! YAY! Always eager to please =)

On to Los Angeles tomorrow!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Honesty is My Policy

In this entry, allow me to address the parties portrayed in recent blogs covering the last few days during my NYC experience. I am aware, and fully acknowledge, that the association with night life in NYC and the fashion industry carries heavy preconceived notions. I do not pretend to be naive regarding this lifestyle's addictive tendencies often turning destructive; skewing focus and reordering priorities. I am not addressing the issue in my defense as I have no actions requiring defending.

I am in New York for my career. I am not a party-girl. At the same time, what good am I if I ostracize myself and stay in every night? Going out with friends, making connections, is part of the package. As with any opportunity in life, it is through awareness, knowledge, and the choices we make in regards to such opportunities that shape our character. My career is a business and I respect it as such. There are too many negatives associated for me to hold focus in any other area readily available to me, i.e. parties.

On another note, I have been blessed by the people who make up the group I go out with. It struck me one night as we were eating dinner; this is a "family". We are all faced with the same challenges. We understand the hardships associated with our chosen industry. We are removed from what is familiar and comfortable to us, including our families. It is a blessing to see how we all support, encourage, and protect one another. They all are aware of the desperate need for loyalty in such a fickle industry. On another note, I was unfortunately with out my camera this particular night, instead of alcohol consumption we had a tea/coffee party. There is always SUCH laughter and good times. No one was drunk this night. And again, I kick myself for forgetting my camera =)

When visiting my blog, be prepared for my honesty. I posted party entries because that is what I was experiencing. I have nothing to hide. This is my world; the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. I am writing this post as an explanation so as to clear any concern anyone may have had about my habits. Your prayers are always greatly appreciated, and felt! I am blessed to have people like you who love me enough to care about my life and the decisions/experiences/opportunities available to me.

***
My sincere apologies for my neglecting to update recently. I arrived back in California late in the night Sept 10th and was immediately thrown into the extravaganza known as Macy's Pasport to Fashion 2008! The next post will reminisce of the experience in San Francisco and Los Angeles; pictures, video, and memories included! To the right is a teaser =) enjoy

Stay Tuned!


Monday, September 08, 2008

Happy Monday!

Oh so happy =)

Today was very productive! Met with APM for our follow-up appointment from last Thursday ... they asked me to come back at 2pm because the contact I was meeting wasn't there yet! Sheesh thanks a bunch. So I piddle-pooped around and walked a bunch for a few hours. At 2pm we finally connected - ended up being sent out on my first New York City client go-see! Albertta Ferretti (designer) ... guess what? I BOOKED IT! HAHA! wowee

After the go-see I caught a cab down to see Wendy at RED Models (Sacha set this up for me Friday night when we met) Wendy is from Santa Barbara! Anywho, I apologize, I'm a little jumbled in the head right now, because I am a contracted New York Model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This agency is SO great; they're a boutique, so they give very personalized attention to their girls and pride themselves on the model/booker relationships. I met the OWNER who is also the accountant. They are SO excited about me. "Fabulous" ""Beautiful" "Gorgeous" "Money Face" are some adjectives they used. I took the contract back to where I'm staying so I could read it over and prepare any questions for them. Wendy called me later this evening and apologized because she didn't realize till just now talking to Sacha, that it was ME that he sent! So, I impressed them without Sacha's association ... and then he talked to her about me and she said he had SUCH good things to say! Thank you Sacha :) So needless to say, she's very excited about me. She's actually bummed to not have me a few weeks ago for fashion week! This is exactly how it is SUPPOSED to happen! The bookers and agents are SUPPOSED to be UBER ecstatic about me! YES thank you thank you thank you LORD!

I'M A NEW YORK MODEL GUYS! AHH can you believe it? pinch me lol no no nevermind, don't ... if it's a dream I don't wanna wake up HAHA

On a different note, I leave for Cali and Passport day after tomorrow ... and there are still some loose ends with the apartment situation. I don't want to jinx anything - but I really need your prayers. I need to view the place tomorrow and still don't have an appointment yet. Pray please! The Lord's Will always.

*kisses* from NYC!

Friday, September 05, 2008

Party Time!




***



Wednesday was a red carpet premier lounge/after-party. Leonardo D'Caprio made an appearance. Thursday was another lounge/club - lots of fun at the lounge eating and drinking (not so much the drinking part for me LOL) good social interaction and made a great contact with JD, the owner of the lounge. As the new girl in the crew, its imperative I make a good first impression with whomever I meet, I think JD approved yay! The club following was insane, sick, sweet haha whichever. Leo was there again, our group and his left at the same time. I was about 3 feet away from him and he looked RIGHT AT me! I hope I smiled ... I honestly don't remember lol 2008 USA Gold Medal Olympians were also getting there groove on =) that was neat.




Friday was amazing! The Japanese restaurant was spectacular; the food and the atmosphere were just impeccable. *sigh* I love these new experiences! It started pouring sheets of rain so dodging those in & out of cabs was an adventure. Some different girls tonight than before but sweet. The club was loads of fun afterward. I met Sacha (coordinator from LA) and we Californians immediately hit it off. He set me up with an appointment to meet RED Model Management Monday afternoon - hopefully, good things will come about from that encounter! He also has connections with the agencies in LA, and is going to put a good word in for me as I hit them up during Passport visit.

Connections connections connections ... whew!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

"Muse"

SO hello everyone! Sorry I've neglected ya'll for a few days =) I'm lame, I know. Lots of fun recently, and good news as well!

Most importantly, Wednesday afternoon I met with APM Model Management and they seemed positive; however, ONE booker was not in and will be back Monday ... so they set an appointment with me to come in at 12noon this Monday to "talk". Hopefully a very good sign! Ramsey remains optimistic about my career and is not giving up on me - just the timing of this trip. He is also looking into potential international markets for me to gain experience and portfolio worthy tears. So I will be coming back following Passport ... and will re-try agencies then when they have clearer minds and schedules.

I was supposed to meet with Michael Boris Wednesday as well, but our appointment got moved to today at 12noon due to an unforseen client call yesterday. I am officially an employee of the "Michael Boris" name brand =) yippee! He is very lenient concerning scheduling as he understands my modeling may require go-sees and the like. I will work as often as I can with no limit. My position is, basically, as his "muse" which is SO coveted! I will do a bit of everything around the office/showroom: run errands, iron fabrics, pick up swatches, computer data entry, packing and shipping, labeling, showroom floor arrangement, modeling his designs to clients, traveling with him to shows, just LEARNING everything I can ... VERY exciting prospects! I am really thankful for this opportunity, the Lord is incredibly in the details as this position will not only allow me to earn some income to survive here, but will teach and expose me to the business in a whole new dynamic. PLUS he's planning to pay me in CLOTHES as well as monetarily =) yeeeks! ... the showroom is my closet - seriously. If there's an event/party I'm attending and I need something appropriate to wear, I have my pick from the freakin rack! WOW

"Just so long as you don't get drunk, or smoke." LOL you know me =)

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Beginning of the End

Hi all.  Well, Fusion said they're going to pass right now ... and CLICK is swamped with the shows this week so Jule said she'd meet me after they're over.  It is really just the worst timing for me to be knocking on the doors of agencies - agents are overwhelmed with the show season and are simply not thinking about taking on new girls.  So the odds are against me, and an already difficult industry to break into is impossible at this time of season.

However, the Lord's provision and timing are always perfect.  This morning I received a phone call from Michael Boris - a designer I worked with in California just before leaving for NYC - not only is he working it out for me to be their model shot for the LookBook; but he offered me a job in his showroom to work with him and his crew amongst his designs!  I meet with him tomorrow to discuss the details of the position and what will be required of me, but basically I have a job to come back to after Passport!  This position will, hopefully, not only supply me with the financial backing to be here, but will help educate me on all the important fabrics, textures, and design elements! Michael worked for Armani for 30+ years before heading out to build his own line ... he has many years of industry experience he is wanting to share with me and I am so enthused to learn! Again, I will know more details tomorrow and am looking forward to our appointment.

Thank you Lord!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you all are enjoying the long weekend! Mine has been relaxing. Saturday rained, so our plans for beach day were moved to Sunday; instead Pam and I went over to Harper's Saturday evening and had a fun little girl movie night/slumber party. Sunday we piled into Harpers Honda and hit the highway for Connecticut! Greenwich, Connecticut. Lovely little quaint town! We took the ferry out to Island Beach and spent a few hours just chillaxing - I soaked up every ounce of sunshine, sand, and surf I could! But, I was smart; wore lots of sunscreen and stayed in the shade towards the end there. =) aren't you proud mom? lol

Today I am leaving Pamela's to move into Harper's. I am thankful for the Lord's provision ... but am very sad to leave Pam! I hope next weeks living situation is a comfortable one - Harper will not be around but her roommate (Kristina - a FORD model) will be, so I hope we get along alright. So ... maybe this week will be an "upper" ... but right now I'm just feeling really homesick and can't wait for my flight out and for Passport. Enjoy the video!