To all the girls, the best advice that I have received in the modeling industry is “Wake Up, Dress Up, and Show Up”. Those few words have stuck with me throughout the years and have been the help that I needed to get through this.
For those of you starting out, the modeling industry is brutal. I have been told throughout the years, “you are too short, too ugly, too skinny, too fat, you need to be a brunette, you need to cut your hair, grow your hair, whiten your teeth, lose some more weight even though you are a size 2”. Those are just a few, and I can go on. Your self esteem will be questioned at times and some days you will look yourself in the mirror and even question yourself. DO NOT LET THEM GET TO YOU.
I am a successful petite model that has had many struggles throughout the years, but I have managed to get myself to the point where the industry recognizes my name by not allowing my self to quit. I never let anyone or anything get to me, yes I was told many times that I was not the person they were looking for, but I kept moving on. One day I would be the girl they needed and wanted to represent them.
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| Photo by Fabian Photography |
I had met a local photographer that created a yearly calendar of motorcycles. We had become friends and he had asked me to be in his calendar. I was chosen to be Miss February. The owner of the bike that was being promoted in February thought that I was not the girl for him and he refused to use his bike in the calendar. Luke, the photographer, kept insisting "this is your girl". I was used in the calendar, I was not used for Miss February, but I was used for Miss October with another motorcycle. It turned out that October was the best picture in the magazine and over 2800 copies of the calendar were sold in less than 24 hours. It broke sales for the company that year. My picture was the one used for all of the promotions, and so many more owner of motorcycles wanted to be featured with me the next year. Moral of the story, never give up. From that point on, my career started.
Take action. Nothing works unless you do something about it. If you plan to become a model or anything else you want, today is the best time to start.
Some advice for girls starting out:
- You need great pictures and a professional portfolio.
- You need to get some composite cards made up.
- Create a basic website.
- Find a legitimate modeling agency- an agency will not ask for money to represent you, use your common sense.
- Work with a few local photographers for trade for pictures. It’s called TFP.
- Google everyone that you come across, you should always know who you are working with.
In the meantime you have to concentrate on you:
- Build your self confidence.
- Work out- you need a healthy body.
- Set goals for yourself and go after them.
- Resist peer pressure- stay drug and alcohol free.
- Always be yourself, do not let anyone take that away from you.
- Do not just be another pretty face, stick out, it’s ok to be different.
I never quit my day job. I never quit school. Pick up as many trades as you can because you never know what the future may hold. My education has helped me in so many ways in this industry. I am a pretty face with a brain, and a degree.
But most importantly, stay true to yourself. Be specific about what type of work you are looking for and stick to your gut feelings - it always helped me down the right path.
ABOUT
My name is Demetria Cazz, born and raised in NY. Both my parents are Greek, so I speak, read and write Greek and English fluently. I majored in Criminal Procedure, and I have always loved the courtroom. My modeling career started when I was 11 years old, and I have been able to establish myself as a successful petite model. I have had several different print ads, in magazines, newspapers, calendars, and catalogs. I also had entered several different pageants and won many of them. My life is full of surprises and I love every second of it.
Website: Demetria Cazz
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