Interview with Allie Sparks — Superstar in the Making
Allie Sparks is a 22-year old model residing in Tampa, Florida.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I was born in Las Vegas where I began training for a life on stage. At age 2, I began doing competitive gymnastics, ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz, and then at age 12 I moved to Florida. I continued with my dancing, and I also joined an allstar cheerleading team. In high school I joined the drama club which introduced me to a new love for acting. I began taking acting classes and since then I have done movies, commercials, music videos, and more. After high school, I discovered a new kind of entertainment which brought out my biggest passion. I started gogo dancing for different clubs, and now I perform for the biggest festivals in the world such as EDC Vegas and Ultra Miami. I recently took entertaining to the next level, and now I am training in fire eating, contortion, and aerial silk. My biggest interest is to inspire and entertain others. I like to make life interesting for people and show them life shouldn’t be so serious. The world is our playground… let’s have fun!
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
When America’s Next Top Model first aired, I knew that modeling was my dream. Watching the show was like watching online lectures. It was my guide to becoming the best model I can be. I remember when I was 12, my mom took my first modeling photos. Being a minor and in school, it made it difficult to pursue modeling, but once I graduated I began chasing that dream. I met different photographers who helped me build my portfolio, and once that portfolio was built I began searching for paid modeling jobs. Modeling is something I’m a natural at which has made it easy to become successful with. I have been published in magazines and websites, walked the runway, and I am now represented by several different agencies. I enjoy modeling because I am an art fanatic, and modeling to me is a special kind of art. I like that I get to be creative and portray a different personality through photos.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I have so many goals it’s crazy. My personal goals include me traveling the world and becoming a reiki master so I can heal others. As for my professional goals, I want to become the world’s next superstar. I am currently taking vocal classes and working with my boyfriend who is a producer. I want to release albums, go on tour, have the coolest music videos, and bring a stage presence that no one has seen before. I also want to be seen in theaters, be featured in the most popular magazines, and have my very own show in Vegas. Once my life slows down, I’d like to run my own entertainment company and be a modeling coach.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I am constantly modeling; I do 3 to 4 photoshoots or more every month. I shoot a lot of fashion, glamour, and commercial. I used to do a lot of implieds, but not so much anymore because I want to maintain an image that younger girls can look up to. I have also been doing a lot more runway shows which I never thought would be possible since my height does not meet industry standards. I have done 3 runway shows in the past month, and one of them was for the biggest company I have ever worked for, Adidas.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
My best experiences with modeling so far was walking the runway for a local show called Cocktails x Couture. It was exactly what you’d see in America’s Next Top Model. The runway was the biggest one I’ve ever walked on and it had so many bright lights. It was a packed venue with important people everywhere, there was entertainment, and a DJ playing the grooviest deep house music which made me feel like I was in New York. The event inspired me to work even harder with modeling so I could model for events like that more often. I have not yet had any bad experiences with modeling, but I have had an uncomfortable experience. I was a live statue model for an artist at Art Basel in Miami, and we had to be completely nude and covered in clay. I didn’t mind the nude part as I had a mask on, but being covered in clay for 8 hours was not pleasant!
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I’d like to change the height requirement for modeling. With photo shoots, there are different poses and angles to make you look tall. With runway, there are heels to make you look tall. There at least needs to be more agencies that have a petite division.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I am a big health fanatic, and it’s not just because I’m a model! Living a healthy lifestyle is very important to me because I enjoy having a lot of energy and looking great, I want to live a long life, and I want to be free from illnesses and diseases. I became a vegan 2 years ago meaning that I don’t eat meat or anything produced from animals. The more I learn about what’s in our food, the more I try to stay away from restaurants and processed foods. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, tofu, nuts, and grains. Once I turn 30, I plan on going on a strict raw diet where I will eat nothing but uncooked fruits and vegetables. My exercise mostly comes from my circus training, and I also do mini work outs and cardio at home, along with daily yoga.
Would you change anything about yourself?
I wouldn’t change any of my physical features because I’d rather love everything about myself rather than feel any hate toward myself. I would like to change how insecure I can sometimes get. I am always worried about certain things I say or how I look, but everyday I work on changing this about myself. I shouldn’t care about what people think, but it is such a cruel world that sometimes it’s hard not to. That is something I am working on changing with this society. I am constantly spreading positivity to others and bringing them joy. Humans are not born cruel, they are trained to be cruel. I want to teach people to break away from what social media brainwashes us with and to have a free mind.
Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever peed?
When I get drunk, I could care less where I pee. If there’s not a bathroom in sight, I’m peeing where I want. The strangest place I have ever peed was in an elevator. It was the elevator for the parking garage, and it had windows. The parking garage is on a street of clubs, so everyone was able to see me peeing in the elevator.