An A.S.M Conversation With Lauren Karaman

Height 5'10" Bust 36C" Waist 38" Hips 45" Shoe 10 US Hair Brunette Eyes Hazel

Clover Model Management (Mother)

@laurenkaraman

Theme of the year- Just Do It!

Fav color- Red

Zodiac- Capricorn

Fav movie- It's A Wonderful Life

Actor /Model

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~Lauren is an actress and model. She attended a conservatory acting school during college where her teacher gave her a south beach diet book. She wasn't surprised, she's been dieting since she was 8 years old. At this point she realized she was never going to meet "industry beauty standards". #Lauren decided she was going to reject trying to force her body into a mold. After speaking to her friend about the situation she was convinced to attend an open call at the height of the plus size modeling boom. She was signed on the spot....~

YH: How are you keeping busy?

LK: So what I found to be really important during this time is staying independently proactive. So actually I have a success story! Are you ready for this?

YH: Omg I'm totally ready...

LK: I booked a national television commercial for #Pandora Jewelry!

YH: Get out of here! What! That's amazing. When did you get the casting?

LK: Towards the beginning of the shutdown it was on #backstage and casting networks.

YH: That's amazing when everything started I was looking on #casting networks and backstage. So this is really great to hear. It gives models, actors, and directors some hope during this time.

So what I found to be really important during this time is staying independently proactive

LK: You never know, nothing is ever going to happen if you talk yourself out of it. I was slipping into "nothing is gonna happen, world is shut down", but you just have to try.

YH: I feel like this opportunity came from #preparation, jumping out there and just doing it. Congratulations!

LK: Thank You!

YH: How is your agency supporting you at this time?

LK: Honestly, they've kept me paid. I had a job right before the industry shut down and I got paid through the agency within 30 days.

YH: What is your agency asking from you during this time?

LK: Not much, just staying positive and showing what we're doing at home. It's been a great lesson in building connections myself. Reaching out to casting directors and #actors access stuff.

YH: How have you been emotionally?

LK: Emotionally I've been really great. This #quarantine has given me the time to really evaluate what I want to fill my time with and thats been acting.

YH: I think it's important to continue planning at this time. What are your goals for the rest of the year?

LK: (Sings) "mama's gonna get a manager or agent for actinggg" haha I want to really build my acting career. Meet as many casting directors as I can do all these open calls and get setup to find a team.

YH: Goals in the modeling industry?

LK: Just to keep it going. I would love to keep #booking clients that use their models for commercial and acting. And I wouldn't hate to have another big campaign.

You never know, nothing is ever going to happen if you talk yourself out of it.

YH: Future of modeling industry? Predictions?

LK: I Do Not Know. I'm hoping through this (time) the industry will learn how to be more frugal and create more job opportunities by learning how to be more efficient. Not taking the people, time , space and efforts for granted. I hope it builds the #community spirit.

YH: What's your motivation?

LK: Honestly, just stepping into what I love and reminding myself to live in a positive mindset. Being able to spend a whole day doing something that I love even when no one is watching.

YH: What do you represent, what kind of energy do you want to put out in the world?

LK: I want to spread the power of authenticity and open up the conversation that vulnerability and strength can co-exist. You step into your power as you step more deeply into yourself.

YH: Ooooo (snaps fingers) I love that!

YH: What is the biggest advice you would give to girls in pursuit of modeling?

LK: Do not compromise yourself. Learning the craft of it all is important but, there is so much to be said for self confidence. Building that grounded strength and vulnerability in myself has been so beneficial in helping me say yes to all the challenges that came with learning a whole new career. It gave me the gumption to ultimately become good at it.

You step into your power as you step more deeply into yourself.

YH: Last song you listened too?

In Spite of Ourselves by John Prince ft Iris Dement

Keep up with Lauren Karaman! IG: @laurenkaraman

How has your experience been with modeling?

Feel free to comment below with any tips and tricks ;)

Best Wishes,

By Yvonne H.- Exclusive A.S.M blogger

An A.S.M Conversation with Aketch Joy Winnie

Height 5'10" Bust 31" Waist 23" Hips 34" Shoe 10 US Hair BLACK Eyes BROWN

Agency: Select (London) Fusion (NYC)

@aketchjoywinnie

Theme of the year- Embracing imperfections

Fav color- Lavender

Zodiac- Taurus

Fav movie- War Room

Model/Writer

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Yvonne: Aketch and I met while modeling in Capetown, South Africa. We were roommates for 3 months and I'm so excited to share a little bit of her journey with you, amidst the pandemic. Aketch is from #Uganda, a country in #EastAfrica. She is currently living in New York and she joined me on Saturday, May 2nd for a video chat.....

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YH: First off, congratulations on signing with Select Models in London! Thank you for meeting with me and doing this interview for #AllShadesModel.

AJW: Of course! and thank you.

YH: With everything going on how are you keeping busy during this time?

AJW: I do quite a few things right now especially working on my channel (Aketch Joy on Youtube). I'm grateful I started this channel before this whole thing (#coronavirus).

So, I keep busy creating content, working out, cooking, keeping busy like that.

YH: How has your agency supported you during this time?

AJW: My agency has been quite supportive this season. Making sure I have enough supplies at the house and colleagues check on me. So I feel loved and I feel wanted.

YH: I love to hear that... are you missing home?

AJW: Of course, I miss home so much after #quarantine I'll be going home!

My agency has been quite supportive this season.... So I feel loved and I feel wanted.

YH: About payments....I read in an article that clients are calling the agencies to defer payments to models during this pandemic. Were you able to get paid from old jobs before the industry shut down?

AJW: Basically, you know we usually get #payments within a 3 month timeframe and everything. Even before this situation we have cases where 3 months come and there is still no check. So I feel like it didn't affect me.

YH: Right! It actually worked out that it takes so long to get paid because I'm getting checks now from months back. Now, when I need it most.

AJW: Haha yes, so it kinda worked out.

YH: How have you been emotionally?

AJW: Yeahhhh (shakes head) I believe everyone even the strongest has been a little down. The anxiety, the hopelessness, the fear. Actually when the whole thing started I was crying, I was really scared and worried. I just felt like I should be home with my family right now and I can't go home. But I coped, I adjusted and helped myself get my emotions together. At the end of the day if you can't help yourself no one (else) will. Even when you call and talk to people all day what about the rest of the time? You will still feel low. So I felt down for quite some time but I managed to get up and be hopeful, be happy and live my best life!

Photographer: Kevin Sinclair

YH: That's amazing, it's definitely been challenging. You said immediately you felt down, but for me I was inspired immediately and later I felt down. So it helps to stay busy....

AJW: Yes, I think during this period our emotions and inner being is very important. What really drains us now the most is from the inside. So, if we keep our emotions strong then even when work starts again and we go through the same challenges of not booking, we can still stand strong because you've established yourself and have a strong emotional being.

YH: Hmm mm and that takes work. What is your agency asking you to do during the pandemic?

AJW: Well, like indoor pictures and #digitals. They are asking us to take pictures of how we are spending our quarantine. It's kind of hard especially by yourself. I have equipment but its still difficult.

I believe everyone even the strongest has been a little down. The anxiety, the hopelessness, the fear.

YH: I think it's important to keep planning. So tell me what are your goals for the rest of the year?

AJW: Well, I had my goals planned but now it will be quite tricky to achieve. I'm still working on it. I want to build my #brand as a person....so when everything gets back to normal or by the end of the year I can stand alone. I want to create a brand that I can work anywhere with freedom and have more control.

YH: What are you goals in the modeling industry specifically?

AJW: Every models dream is to do all those big runways and I'm still working on that, but most of all I want to stand for aspiring models out there. That's where I get the greatest satisfaction. I don't just want to wear the clothes and get the "bag" and go back home. I want to represent what I stand for and that is to blend #Christianity and modeling. I have so many friends that say, "Can you be a Christian and a model?" So, I want to represent both. God is the greatest #fashionista so I want to bring him more into the modeling industry.

YH: That pretty much covers my next question about what you want to represent and the energy you want to put out. We do end up becoming someone that aspiring models look up to and it's always important to know what you stand for...

AJW: Yes, it will help you not to be eatin' up by the industry. It gets so crazy, everyone wants you to act like them even the #agencies will want you to do what they want you to do. So its important to know what you represent and live up to it in every single way. I don't mean you have to hate other people or isolate yourself but just not letting what you believe in be taken away from you.

YH: What do you think of the future of the modeling industry?

AJW: I think it's going to be more #diverse in different ways. This situation has taught us so many things but the most important thing is that every single person is valuable. So the next time we get back to work maybe models will be more loving and more considerate of one another. Maybe people will realize, yes we need to get big brands and big shows but at the end of the day we need to take care of ourselves. Another thing is to put more value to life...we give up everything just to get what we (think) we want. I think it's going to be more #human.

YH: I hope it humbles everyone. And I think your right about it being more diverse and inclusive. We can find jobs independently and people can reach models directly. So, I think agencies will be more willing to work with their models in a collaborative effort.

AJW: This situation has taught us that we're all important. I think it will be more chill because sometimes it's just too much. Just too much! haha.

Maybe people will realize, yes we need to get big brands and big shows but at the end of the day we need to take care of ourselves.

YH: Hahaha yes. What is your theme this year?

AJW: Embracing #imperfections. I want my imperfections to work for my benefit. I think subconsciously we end up wanting to be like another person, to walk like another model... you know what I'm saying? So, I had to question myself like, what makes me different? What makes you stand out? So I wanted to start standing up for myself.

YH: Beautiful, thank you Aketch! One last question what's the last song you listened to?

AJW: Graves Into Gardens feat. Brandon Lake

Keep up with Aketch Joy Winnie! IG: @aketchjoywinnie Youtube: Aketch Joy

How has your experience been with modeling?

Feel free to comment below with any tips and tricks ;)

Best Wishes,

By Yvonne H.- Exclusive A.S.M blogger

A Rich Working Model

I made the choice to rename this blog "A Rich Working Model" instead of its previous name (A Broke Working Model) because I wholeheartedly believe in the power of the tongue. Nevertheless I will be speaking about the struggles of being paid in the #modelingindustry...

Alright so boom! You wake up one day and you're a #model.

You're signed to a"good"#agency...fine....we'll give you the "best" agency. Now imagine being flown out to another state, put up in your own hotel room and picked up the next day with a car service, hair, makeup, stylist the whole nine.

....car service, hair, makeup, stylist the whole nine.

You get to your shoot and do your best to hit every pose, socialize with the crew and the other #models. Six hours later you're back at the airport flying home. You get back to your city and take public transportation to get home because your... saving money. On the way home you're #thankful that you asked for extra chips and cookies on the plane so that you can use the little cash you have for your metro card. That's life as a broke working model.

The contract you signed with this great agency clearly says it will be a #minimum of 30-90 days before you receive #payment but you're too excited to care....30 days if your lucky. There are soooo many stories I've heard of models waiting to get a f#$% check for a job they did 6 or 8 months ago!

It's completely insane and guess what, it's not the clients fault because (pssst)....they paid your agency already. Yep! So apparently the agencies hold on to our money to collect interest, (or so I've heard). So while we're struggling, going out to eat via apps like"into", they have our money chillin in their bank account.

There are soooo many stories I've heard of models waiting to get a f#$% check for a job they did 6 or 8 months ago!

Do you understand what I'm saying to you?! I just did a job in January and I won't see the money until March! Its unacceptable and honestly intolerable because models in 2020 have more options than ever. It's time to wake up (I'm talking to you agencies) we don't need you as much as you think we do. We have #selfbooking apps and access to the world just like you. Your clients can find us on their own now and we don't have to sit around and wait for your approval. Models have the power in 2020 and the years to follow and we're not going to stay quiet and kiss your ass anymore.

Okay, now that that's off my chest.... I am not against agencies. Matter of fact I love the idea of having a team. Teamwork makes the dream work and all that. Seriously, collaboration is key so lets try harder to work together. #Respect your models, be open, be honest and pay within a decent amount of time so your models can survive.

Now listen up (models)....next time you get a #contract from an agency check it thoroughly and don't be afraid to negotiate, especially if you have leverage.

Types of Leverage:

• Experience

• Instagram followers

• Loyal clients

• Being scouted

Edit your contract to receive payment by minimum of 30 days and if you need an advance make sure there will be no fees. Trust me they have fees. Be even more specific and tell them you should receive payment within 2 weeks from loyal clients or clients that you bring to them.

....don't be afraid to negotiate, especially if you have leverage.

The modeling industry is a business and you are the product. Bookers do not get paid unless they have models that are booking jobs. Make your demands clear and follow up.

If that agency or booker does not comply then move on and become a freelance model. Continue to push and submit yourself to castings on sites like #CastingNetworks and #Backstage. Collaborate with photographers, send dms to small companies and do your research to get the emails to big designers. Apply to self booking apps like UBooker and SwipeCast.

Build yourself up and if you're still interested in signing with a major agency then get a manager or mother agency that can help you find a good fit. Certain designers and clients only work with agency models so yes it's great to be signed but it's even better to know the business. Understand your contracts and do not let 90 days go by without getting paid. Know your worth know your rights and become a #RichWorkingModel.

How has your experience been with modeling?

Feel free to comment below with any tips and tricks ;)

Best Wishes,

Listen to "A RICH WORKING MODEL" with Christian Daniels on ASM Podcast https://soundcloud.com/allshadesmodel/episode-1-rich-working-model

IG allshadesmodel

By Yvonne H.- Exclusive A.S.M blogger