Model Tips: On Relationships & Success

Me and friends and readers at Face It Boutique, owned by Cherie Scalzi, an amazing partner for a recent book signing experience in Sacramento! Relationships made this experience work!

In this installment of my Model Tips I want to discuss the importance of maintaining healthy relationships. People underestimate the importance of this in the development of their careers. Yet building positive and healthy relationships is the key to a successful career!

I would love to hear your perspective or stories about relationships and how good or bad ones have helped or hurt your own career. Share those stories here at the Fan Corner. Your feedback and sharing your stories is how we grow and connect.

All my best-

Naima

Maintaining Healthy Relationships 

Somewhere along the line of development in the fashion and entertainment industry, it became very popular to be what people refer to as a “DIVA.” This word originally stemming from the Latin word of “devi” for goddess. In today’s pop culture it has more of a connotation of someone who is arrogant, self-absorbed and cruel to others with an heir of condescendence or superiority.

At the last modeling agency I worked with I was having hard time booking jobs for a few months. I sat down with my agent and asked her what the response was from the go sees and castings I had been attending. She told me that a few of the clients told her that I “needed to be more of a Diva.”

Now I have always strived to be kind and polite to everyone I meet. That includes casting agents and potential clients, because I think everyone deserves that. So when my agent told me that people were saying I should be more of a “Diva,” I was confused.

I didn’t believe that I needed to do that then, and I still don’t think I need to change my attitude towards people now. I strongly believe that most of my success and the jobs I have been fortunate to book can be attributed to my humility and respect for people.

It takes some maturity, however, to gain humility and respect. I didn’t understand when I first began modeling how this would affect my career. I was always very kind to those I worked with, but a lot of times I was unappreciative.

I signed to FORD Models in New York City after I won America’s Next Top Model. I booked some jobs with them, but I am almost definitely sure that my lack of appreciation for the hard work my agent was putting in and for the clients who chose to book me affected my potential for booking more work.

Steps to Healthy Relationships

As I grew a little older and gained more responsibility and life experience, I began to understand what it means to have the fortune of working as a professional model.

First, I began to not only show people respect through kindness, but to also be honest and show my appreciation. 

A lot of work I have booked since then has been through referral. I worked with one client and a few weeks later someone would call and ask if I were interested in another job offer. They would recount to me that my previous client was a mutual acquaintance and that they highly recommended me for the job. It’s flattering, but it goes to show just how much small acts of kindness, respect, and appreciation can go in building a successful career.

All these simple acts help at building good work relationships but the first healthy relationship you must begin to build is with yourself!

It’s a long journey sometimes, but you must remember that happiness comes from within and to respect, appreciate and treat yourself with as much if not more kindness as you would a stranger.

The second healthy relationship you must build like this is with your agency. Your agency is comprised of the people that represent you and who will introduce you to the fashion industry. You must place a certain amount of trust in them.

Always be honest with them about your feelings and your plans. If you plan on cutting your hair, discuss this with them and come to a conclusive decision about what is best for your career. If you are planning a vacation, let them know.

If you feel you should change your look, let them know. If you need to “booked out” or take some time off, let them know. It is so important to be honest with your agency. Beyond this, show them respect and appreciation.

The third ingredient is about your client and the staff of people you work with. Simple ways at showing your respect and appreciation on a modeling job is arriving on time and in the best shape you can. Partying the night before a job or big casting is not such a good idea, although it may be very tempting. Trust me there will always be another party!

Another way is to help the team you work with on set. You can help the stylist to hang the wardrobe. You can ask the makeup artist if they would like any water. You can send your client a Thank You note after the shoot is finished.

You can actually say “Thank You” to everyone for all their hard work and to your agent as well for helping you to book the job. Small actions go a very, very long way.

All in all, I have found that the more  you strive at building healthy and positive relationships within yourself and with those you work with, the more success you will encounter- regardless of your profession. For more advice on building healthy relationships within your career as a model in the fashion industry and other great tips, please consider purchasing my book MODEL BEHAVIOR!

 

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