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.
When, 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!
How 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.
Have 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.
Please 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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What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
