...So the new decade is upon us, bring on those 1920's themed parties & champagne cocktails, for tonight at least! I for one will be celebrating my 40th birthday this year and will be fully embracing a jazz filled, 20's themed party, not entirely original however it would be rude not to. There is nothing better than the femininity of sparkly flapper dresses and feather head-dresses.
The 1920's brought about a wonderful change for fashion, jewellery, music and even posing! Ladies found new confidence with the changing fashions which were easier to wear and more relaxed. Many would line up to pose for photographs, and perhaps more significantly smiling, after years of being taught not to.
It was not only fashion that brought about this new confidence but also the celebratory feeling after a war in which many men lost their lives. Women went out to work, 'It Girls' were born, as were motor cars and women could choose not to marry. Lesbianism became popular along with androgynous dressing and styling.
A cabaret dancer 'Josephine Baker' became an icon of this era, maybe I was named after her? Although if my parents had wished me to be a dancer their luck failed, I have two left feet and as a model in my teens and twenties I did everything to avoid heavily choreographed fashion shows and much preferred modelling for still photography.
Anyway enough of the dazzling and highly inspiring 1920's, one hundred years on, what are you going to do with this decade? I ask this as a model agent, business adviser, life-coach. What can you do to make this year and the whole decade good for you? My most essential piece of advice is that you must be determined. Determination is everything, I have bags of it (perhaps a little too much), don't give up, don't be talked out of things, get back up and dust yourself off! Do be determined but in the right industry field, make sure you are suited to what you are throwing yourself into, that you can gain knowledge and experience, show passion and gain fulfilment. Be disciplined (I often have to a word with myself about this), research, read, learn, stick to deadlines, set goals.
I decided to model at 16 years old, but only took it seriously as a career following a couple of great bookings. I was fortunate enough for both of these bookings to take me on two completely different epic journeys. I then followed my dreams, my heart, and worked extremely hard with much dedication to become a self employed business woman until this very day.
I founded Mentor Models in 2012, this part of the journey being my hardest to date. I've needed to be hard-faced, resilient, fearless and rebellious. Not easy as someone with quite a gentle and slightly anxious personality (I’m currently reading ‘The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F***’ by Mark Manson). I tell my models if they don't feel confident; be an actor, fake it, force a smile on your face, it will soon light up and become genuine as you relax.
This year, I will want more, I want to grow the model agency, develop the models, gain new clients, reward my employees and have lots of fun along the way.
I hope this post goes some way to inspiring you and if you would like to ask me any advice related to the modelling industry, go ahead. Sometimes it's just as simple as asking for help. I'd also love to hear your inspiration for the decade ahead. Do you have any career plans or goals in place?
Here's to a decade as evolving as 1920! May you have your best decade yet!
