Cj Franco is a 23-year old model residing in Los Angeles, California.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I grew up in Northern California in an amazing little surf town named Santa Cruz. I moved to Los Angeles when I was 18 and worked as a cosmetologist in Beverly Hills, I worked retail which is something I wouldn’t wish for anyone, After that I started modeling, which eventually I started doing full time. In my spare time I like to workout- like Kanye said, it is all about Pilates. My obsession with coffee has only been intensified by my time spent living in Los Angeles. I will never pass up a good comedy show, Groundlings, and UCB are always fun, and their material is fresh. I’ve even gone to see Dane Cook and Dave Chappelle, I fancy myself a comedian in the making. When I get a little time to myself I like to sneak off to the beach or a fancy pool. I have a ton of really cool friends with all different professions and goals, I’m super social and constantly being inspired by my friends.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I didn’t really think I could be a model, I mean everyone wants to be a model, to get paid to be photographed. My father was a model, in the 90’s, of course I wanted to follow a similar path but I was genuinely under the impression that any woman under 5’8″ was “too short” to be a real model. Coming from a small town I was warned about the types of people who lived in the big city, those who aren’t who they portray themselves to be. So I nearly pulled out my rape whistle the first time someone approached me, offering me a modeling gig. It wasn’t until my third offer that I actually considered the idea that I could be a model. I started doing photoshoots, mostly for trade, and building my portfolio. Once I had a nice book together I took it to a boutique agency. I remember running into the agent in the elevator on my way up to our meeting. In the elevator I made him laugh, we walked straight into his office and I started signing contracts, even before he saw what he later referred to as a “terrible” portfolio. I cycled through agencies and managers until I finally got the swing of things and found my niche.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
My short term goal is to focus on my social media, get more into fitness, and not just because its trendy, okay mostly because it’s trendy, and possible narrow down my agencies, since I have 7, and its not easy to schedule jobs and go-sees.
In the long term, I want to finish my Business Entrepreneurial program at UCLA, and start my own Business. Modeling is a ton of fun and it does pay my bills, but I am a realistic young lady. Modeling isn’t as in demand for women in their late 20’s. If I had it my way I would model through college and then go on to open my very own Taco Bell, but thats not necessarily an educated decision.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I am low-key ADD, and so I love that modeling is so flexible as far as the gigs I get. I work for 3 companies shooting Print and Catalog on a weekly basis. For those shoots I go in late morning or early afternoon, which Is something I can do because the companies are really chill once you’ve been working for them for a little while. We shoot in-studio, with a white back drop. I feel like a little robot shooting “front, side, back, detail- Change – front, side back, detail – Change…” It’s very repetitive, but there’s usually music, some companies have a larger team than others, a lot of times there are people that really have no reason to be there, they usually sneak pictures of me, like I would say no to taking pictures… This makes up the majority of my work, and is my niche.
Another type of modeling that really slips under the radar is fit-modeling. Everyone confuses this with fitness but it has absolutely nothing to do with that. Fit modeling focuses on the general “fit” of a garment. I am true size 25, a juniors small and a missy xs. Meaning that companies can use my body as a blueprint for how their clothing is supposed to fit. I work with designers and help them to modify their clothing to fit an actual human body, and I have an agent specifically for fit modeling. It’s nice being able to help in the construction of something, but let me tell you those sewing pins are sharp!
Occasionally I will walk runway, being 5’7, I really didn’t think I had any business on a runway, but LA is different. I like to ask the designers why they hire me to walk, and they usually tell me I have attitude or confidence, and therefore no one will notice I’m an inch or two shorter than the other models. I do think that runway is the most terrifying thing in the world, but it’s like the gym, the beginning sucks, but you feel great when you’re done.
Sometimes I get booked on TV shows to play a model, or a starlet. Although I am SAG-AFTRA, an actress union, the pay is usually in the same range of what I would get paid on a catalog shoot. A little more exciting though. On a normal day I go to set probably 5 hours before I am actually needed for anything, sit through hair and makeup, and then get passed around until I’m needed to make a cameo of a much more fabulous version of someone very similar to myself. Recently I went to set in my sweats, they dressed me in a fancy bikini, put me through hair and makeup and then I tanned by swanky pool in Beverly Hills for 3 hours before they wrapped me. Television is crazy fun but also extremely competitive.
Everyone once in a blue moon I’ll shoot a music video; regarding my dancing skills, let’s just say they’re not so great. I’m more of a sit on the coach and look chic- kinda girl. Videos generally don’t pay very well and very few of them are union. But I’ll always show up to support of my musician friends, and it’s a great way to network.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
I was shooting for 1015 store, and I had the most amazing photographer, we shoot most of our looks on location and very rarely in studio. One time we got thrown out of a certain LA museum because we were obviously a crew shooting for a clothing company and not a group of FIDM students doing a group assignment. I thought that was really adventurous of us.
I don’t have a specific bad experience, in my time as a professional model the worst things I’ve experienced were shooting in studios with no AC, foul smelling clothes, working with models who acted like Divas, photographers trying to convince me to shoot topless, and long awaited payments from agents. Also traffic is terrible, but I suppose that has nothing to do with modeling.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
I was modeling for the Sloane & Tate Launch party. They had 2 other models standing on little pedestals striking fierce poses. As people fIooded into the room I pretended not to notice the celebrities filing in off the red carpet and taking pictures with us as their background. After 20 minutes an assistant came and got me down, bring us backstage to quickly refuel. I nearly knocked over Janice Dickinson. I was immediately horrified, not that I nearly ran over a model legend, but because Janice Dickinson may or may not had seen me trying to look fierce on a pedestal. I worked up some courage and asked her to take a photo with the other models and me. After the picture was taken she stepped away from us, turning to her personal assistant, she said “I want her on my show”. All the models got real quiet and we tried to not look too eager. Although we were like 4 feet away from her, she lifted her long slender arm and pointed directly at me. I wasn’t so cool, “Me? You’re talking about me?”, she nodded her head and a new swarm of people approached asking her for a photo. I stepped back and was immediately whisked back to my pedestal. Continued smizing as I saw Janice return to the party and then quickly exit the building.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I love the modeling industry, however there are a lot of scammers, that an inexperienced model could mistake as being something legitimate. Expensive modeling classes, “Scouters”, people that charge for a bogus services, selling people false hope, perverts with cameras. I mean every industry has it’s flaws but when it comes to modeling there are few regulations or guidelines.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I have been a pescatarian for the last 5 years. I eat lots of yogurt, smoothies, salad, and grilled fish. For exercise I love to go on hikes with my dog, and take sassy work out classes in West Hollywood.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
A huge chunk of my time revolves around modeling, so I was using my Instagram and Facebook account the way all my model friends use theirs; to promote themselves and their work. But after so much time spent looking at my own pictures it got boring, and while a picture might be worth a thousand words, my pictures weren’t capturing who I was. So one day I went through and deleted almost everything, I decided to post pictures and videos of me being genuine and goofy, and honestly I’ve gotten more fans and more work by being myself and not just a mannequin.
Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?
If I could change anything I would definitely make myself 5’9″, although I hear that surgery is very expensive!
What features do you look for in a partner?
I’m looking for a Firefighter-Chef-Masseuse, if you find one please send him to my PO box!
Visit Cj Franco’s website for more photos and information
Read more
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
