Atlanta native Selena Breed may be a vision of high-cheekboned goddessness who poses as the face of Lancôme, but she also happens to be a very cool girl to have a chat with at Starbucks. Melissa Walker, former ELLEgirl staffer and author of the upcoming novel Violet by Design (the second in a series about a young model), was lucky enough to do just that.
Selena Breed, Melissa Walker and makeup artist Daniel Martin
Want to put that “models aren’t smart” myth to rest? Read on.
1. In Violet on the Runway, Violet is discovered at her movie theatre job. Tell us about your discovery story.
“When I was in elementary school, I was chosen to be the photo on those school picture brochures for the entire Southeast. How funny is that?! All throughout my childhood and teen years, people would ask my mom if I would pose—for catalogs, mall fashion shows, local ads. I thought it was all fun and playful. The first time I signed with an agent, however, was after a photographer named Marie Thomas came up to me in a post office and asked if she could shoot me. I was 20 years old, and she took those photos into Elite, where I landed representation.”
2. How did you score your Lancôme gig?
“After a period of rejection—where I would go out to get jobs and lose them because I was ‘too ethnic’ or ‘not ethnic enough’—my agent told me that Lancôme was looking to sign a new face. During the interview, I talked non-stop! I was so nervous and I wanted the job so badly that I just kept smiling and chattering on and on. Turns out, they wanted a model with personality for this job, and I guess my, uh, conversation skills fit the bill!”
3. What kinds of adventures have you had as a Lancôme spokesmodel?
“I've had lunch with Andre Leon Talley of Vogue, I’ve been front row at fashion shows with various celebrities, and I’ve worked with some of the most talented make up artists and photographers in the world! Did I mention the travel? I’ve been all over Europe.”
4. Okay, now you’re making me majorly jealous. What advice would you give to girls who want to look into a modeling career?
“Self-acceptance is key. The modeling business can be highly judgmental, and since you are selling your looks, you open yourself up to tons of criticism. Sometimes that criticism is helpful, but most of the time it does not reflect who you truly are. If you can look in the mirror and give yourself a positive affirmation every day (one that you really believe!) then you are probably ready to approach an agent, or better yet, have one approach you.”
Read exclusive excerpts from Violet by Design on ELLEgirl's mobile site, m.ellegirl.com.
i love this i love the answer to number 4 and im sure im ready to aproach an agent considering im completely convident with myself and i know any agent would sign me!!! fur sure i got the great body great personality and great looks and great poses and great walk
i always pose in the mirror and i get so caught up in it im like there for like 30 mins strait lol but seroulsly modeling is totally my thing!!!
Posted by: kindra | June 06, 2008 at 09:19 PM