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My passion for modeling comes from the concept of unconventionality. I love having the ability to show my friends and followers that all types of people are beautiful. I started about 2-3 years ago, with local photographers who were willing to collab (Tfp). Before ya know it I had more than enough experience/content to take the jump from Tfp to compensation. Not sure where to start, I found myself on a modeling page on Facebook, specifically for Indiana models. I asked the group how they went about getting compensation and was met with some less than polite comments. They told me there was no place for models like me in Indiana and that no agency would ever sign me. Within a few days I had started putting my portfolio on the internet, and within a few days of that I had gotten a call from John Casablanca’s Talent and Model Agency. I showed up at “auditions” and got a call back. So I show up the next day, assuming I was about to sign my first modeling contract, and they hit me with the price of tuition. Apparently, I was trained enough to make the call back, but not trained enough to avoid their “training program”. They sat me down, told me that they would have to chemically treat my curly hair (to make it more presentable), hide my birthmark, dye my hair a natural color, and of course cover up my tattoos and piercings. Keep in mind, I sent them my portfolio, they knew who was coming into that audition, and yet they called me! So essentially you want to work with me, but I have to change everything I love the most about me? I left feeling defeated, with no where to really go. Nothing has really changed, I’m still getting my foot in the door, I’m just trying new things. I’m reaching out to photographers and putting my portfolio on multiple platforms. I don’t really know if anyone will ever read this, but if you’re in a similar place, don’t give up and don’t give in. Don’t sign to the first agency that wants you, sign to the agency that was made for you! For now, I do freelance work, I’m just assertive about my expectations from the beginning. Sometimes I make money and sometimes I still trade for print, but hey that’s the name of the game. Gotta start somewhere right?