Blog Archives

Interview with K. Reed — Business Yogi Model Wildwoman

K. Reed is a 25-year old model residing in Atlanta, Georgia

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

As a childhood dancer, Kelsey Reed has always felt best when in tune with her body and mind. After a few failed high school attempts with yoga, Reed found her love for the practice in college during her parents divorce, heartbreak, and family addiction. Since 2009, Reed has been an active yoga practitioner and in 2012, she received her RYT-250 hour training from Asheville Community Yoga Center.

Yoga has taught her to be aware of her breath in any situation, for it is her compass home. When breathing through life, she can accept and activate all Infinite awareness that is channeled through her. Since earning her degree in Health and Wellness Promotion from UNC Asheville, she has dedicated her life to sharing this practice with the world to improve and motivate the health and growth of others. In finding yoga, she has found a shared bliss that transcends the unconscious to consciousness.

K. Reed next to a treeWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I first started modeling in 2012 in Asheville, North Carolina. I knew a local photographer there and after our first photo shoot she told me that I should really try and get into the industry, so that’s what I did – connected with other local photographers and began to build my portfolio. Eventually, people started contacting me to shoot! Now, I also incorporate my yoga business into my photos as well.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

* Owning my own yoga studio
* Professional yoga model
* Traveling the world for retreats
* Innercise Yoga, LLC, the name of my business, is internationally recognized as a new branch of Yoga

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I mostly am experienced in photoshoot – of all kinds. I model every few weeks.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

The worst is when a male photographer is creepy, or asks you to take nude photos when you have already let them know that is not part of the deal. The best is when I can laugh, have fun, and make real collaborative art with a photographer.

K. Reed face closeupHave you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

Not really.

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

The body type! I am very petite, and it’s silly that I can’t make a career from modeling just because of size. I don’t show short in photos if shot right at all, I am very proportional.

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

Yoga and a little running are my forms of exercise. I am a yoga teacher, so I practice almost every day. I eat mostly a plant-based diet and I am a total health-nut so diet and exercise are extremely important to me.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I’m an introvert, I just play a really good extrovert.

Would you change anything about yourself?

No. I’ve come a long way into accepting myself how I am, and I’m sticking with that!

What is your guilty pleasure?

A nice joint!

Visit K. Reed’s website for more photos and information

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Interview with Briana a.k.a. The Lady Nerd — Action Model and Sometimes Superhero

Briana a.k.a. The Lady Nerd is a 26-year old model residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

Originally from Nashville, I decided to make the move a few years ago to the professed geek capitol of the USA – Atlanta, which also happens to be where the majority of Hollywood seems to be moving these days. My day job is drawing as a storyboard artist and costume illustrator for film, TV, and commercials. So the move has been a perfect fit for both my career and my hobbies.

Folks who know me around here know me as “The Lady Nerd”. I currently run a blog and Facebook page by that name which showcase my jobs and hobbies; those two overlap so it can be hard to tell which one is a job and which one is a hobby. But that list includes art, modeling, costuming, hooping, and blogging.

Briana face closeup with pink painted faceWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I came very quietly and innocently onto the scene. Taking the advice of friends and strangers that said due to my height and weight, I should check out modeling. It was a life-changing decision as, at the time, I was very much the scraggly tomboy. It seemed there wasn’t a feminine bone in my body, so the idea of putting on gowns was quite foreign to my teenage brain. But eventually, I came around. Modeling has helped shape who I am today with my love for fashion and all things couture.

But it was not an easy road. In fact, one could argue that I still haven’t “made it”. It took a few years to be signed with an agency and sadly, I wasn’t given much in the way of chances for auditions, castings, or jobs. Most of my work comes from working directly with photographers and the odd Model Mayhem casting. But I sincerely love what I do and the creativity that comes from direct collaborations.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

Currently, I am working hard on developing “The Lady Nerd” into a personal brand, much like famed fashion bloggers or famous cosplayers, that would allow me to collaborate with designers, fashion houses, gaming companies, entertainment or production hubs, and other creatives while bridging the gap between the fashion world and geekdom.

When I started modeling, costuming wasn’t even on my mind. I would never have thought that I would’ve glided right into this wonderful world of cosplay. I’m relishing in it at the moment, as I’ve been a major geek my whole life. It’s fun, invigorating, and so creative to be able to bring the same level of quality that normally is reserved for fashion magazines to the geek world of costuming. I plan to do a lot more with it!

As far as where I see myself in the next 5 to 10 years, I prefer to keep that a blank page and enjoy what comes!

Briana modeling a long green dressHow often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I am primarily a photoshoot model, doing haute couture whenever possible. Sadly, I’m not modeling nearly as much as I would like, for various reasons. But I hope that will change soon. I’m taking matters into my own hands to build a name for myself rather than waiting for an agency to do it for me. But when I do work, I am known in Nashville and Atlanta as “the action model”. Due to my background in martial arts, fencing, and dance, I push past normal posing to incorporate a lot of movement. Whether that’s jumping for 8 hours straight on a trampoline or running up rocks or flinging myself into freezing river water to get “the shot”, I’ll do it!

I’m also a cosplayer and costumer and do quite a few shoots surrounding that. I tend to be one of the few model-to-cosplayer types, so I like being able to not only give local photographers something different to shoot, but also help teach other cosplayers how to pose to best flatter their body and show off their costume. I find it to be a much more encouraging community as unfortunately, my experience with modeling and fashion has been rather cutthroat.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

Frustrations have abounded with this job, sadly. I’ve been signed to multiple agencies only to get passed over for work, rarely sent out on castings, or called for jobs. It’s been nigh impossible to get signed in Atlanta, despite my portfolio, due to being just outside the height extreme measurement range of modern modeling. Consider this: You’d think at 5’8″, size 0, and a 27 year-old who looks 18 wouldn’t be a problem…

Best Experience: Showing up as a normal attendee for New Zealand Fashion Week while I was living there only to be pulled aside by a local brand who loved my look and ended up hiring me to model for them for the entire Fashion Week!

Worst Experience: At a runway show, I overheard someone, either a designer or manager, scolding another model for not being the size she said on her comp card. He pointed to a model that was walking by, “You see that? Your hips need to be THAT size!” Only it was a male model he was pointing out….the poor model was crying and she ended up leaving the show. That plus years of being measured within a 1/2 inches of my body gave me quite a complex of bad self-image which I’ve only recently come to terms with.

Briana showing her scar from car accidentHave you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

Oh man, I’ve done so many shoots, it’s hard to pick one thing….probably the most interesting thing I’ve done was a promotional costume and modeling shoot for the fantasy book series, Allon. The character that I was portraying has a wolf friend and I got the privilege of working with a real timber wolf for the shoot. Thankfully, due to my love of wolves and studying how to work with them when I was younger, I knew how to handle the wolf on set. We called her the “Kiss and Run” as the poor girl was skittish at first, as most wolves are, so she would come smell me for a second, lick my face and then run. This went on for about 30 minutes til she got to know me. Then once the shoot started, she’d jump all over me and let me roll around with her on the ground. Truly an amazing experience!

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

There’s quite a few things, but the main one I’ll focus on is the desire and push for extreme measurements. I’ve been told repeatedly over the last few years that at 5’8″, long waisted, and size 0, sometimes 00, and 27 years-old, I will never be a pro as many girls being hired are 5’10”, long legged, size 00, and 14; no joke! That was the mainstay of my last agency’s hires. It gives girls an almost impossible ideal to maintain. They’re only used for a season in the industry’s obsession with youth and then cast away for the next new thing. I know some brands are trying to change this, but it’s not happening enough. The ideal is still extremely tall, extremely thin, and extremely young.

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

Currently, my diet and exercise has taken a hard hit from a bad car accident I was in in August that shattered my pelvis in 3 places and landed me with a nasty concussion. So I’m working on trying to get back up to normal function. So far so good! I’m back up to light running.

Normally, my diet ranges from healthy, Asian-style dishes with lean proteins and rice to the unfortunate junk food garbage due to my on-the-go lifestyle with working in film.

Exercise-wise, I do a little bit of everything – from yoga to northern style shaolin kung fu to swing dancing to swimming: Mermaiding! Oh yes, I’m getting my own tail this year; to hula hooping, which is my favourite!. I’ve never been much of a gym-goer as I need something to distract my mind in order to exercise. So I exercise both my body and brain equally.

Briana modeling long dress and gothic makeupPlease share something people don’t know about you.

Most people don’t know that I was training and on course to be one of the few US female fighter pilots back in High School. Alas, the Air Force doesn’t really take half-deaf pilots… that’s another not-well-known fact, I’m completely deaf in my left ear.

Would you change anything about yourself?

While I could fill up a list on things I would like to be different, I’ve reached a place where I’m very much okay with the person I am. I fought to become her.

Besides that, it’s really just the typical, “need to be more disciplined in exercising daily” and “need to get my teeth fixed”. The rest is a new experience to grow every day.

What superpower do you wish you had? Why?

I’ve always wanted to be able to fly. Whether that was as a fighter pilot or like a bird with my own body. I’m currently working on a harness design for a large pair of costume wings, so even if I can’t actually fly, I can still look the part!

Flying gives equal senses of excitement and peace. There is a calmness in being able to soar above the clouds, away from it all, overlooking the world below. But also a sense of power and adventure from the speed, the turns, the nosedives… and seriously, who wouldn’t want wings?! A rhetorical question, I know. But I certainly would!

Visit Briana (also known as The Lady Nerd)’s website for more photos and information

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Interview with Elizabeth Arey — College student, waitress, model

Elizabeth Arey is a 22-year old model residing in Kennesaw, Georgia.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I was born in Alabama, to a military family. I grew up in Belgium and traveled a lot while I was a kid, which I really enjoyed. I was a competitive equestrian for 16 years, horse riding is definitely my greatest passion. I love to draw and design, very creative. I am currently a waitress and I go to school full time for Public Relations.

When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I started on Model Mayhem, which I would NOT recommend to any young girl. It worked out for me, but Model Mayhem is not a place for young girls. It can be very sketchy. But then my old agent found me on Facebook!

Elizabeth Arey modeling short jeans and pink topWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

I want to be successful, in whatever I choose to do and I want to have a family at some point. The ultimate goal is to just have a full and interesting life.

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I usually try to have a few photoshoots a month, as long as it coincides with my work and school schedule. I typically do photoshoots, but I do runway as well.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

I have had some wonderful experiences, but some bad ones as well. The bad consisting of photographers trying to inappropriately trying to touch me – which I won’t go into detail about. The best consisting of doing a runway show for Banana Republic, and getting to go to Vegas with the team I worked for with a suit designer.

Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

I honestly don’t think so, other than me breaking out into random dance in the model of a photoshoot

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

The way they view women, with the weight issue. We should think all women are beautiful, no matter what. Stick skinny is not what everyone looks like, and while I am tiny, I do not starve myself and I do not try to be something I’m not.

Elizabeth Arey wearing a sweater and red lingerieDo you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I was a horse rider for a long time, and I still ride every now and then when I have time. I walk about 25000 steps in one evening shift alone as a waitress, and I run and workout as often as I can to stay healthy. Typically I stick to healthy foods, my boyfriend is a personal trainer so he helps me a lot with nutrition.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

That I LOVE cars! Especially old ones, and I drive a 6 speed manual transmission!

Would you change anything about yourself?

No. The way that I look makes me who I am. And anything that I would want to change is easily fixable by running or working out.

Are you currently in a relationship? How would you describe your partner?

I am currently in a relationship, he is a model as well. He is my best friend, the most special person I’ve ever come across in my life and I’ve been privileged enough to meet tons of people. He is smart, hardworking and dedicated to everything he does.

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