It's funny to think that a year and a half ago I walked into New York Model Management not knowing a thing about the industry trying to fulfill a dream. I had no pictures and no book and I was dressed in some of the most ill-fitting clothing that one could wear to an open call. Let's just say I wasn't a model that day. My hair had grown out of its borders and to tell you the truth I don't know what I was expecting them to say, all I know is on that morning of January 7, 2008 I was politely rejected by NYMM. Now some people may have gotten the attitude of "I'll show them" or "How dare they reject me" but the way they did it was so professional, almost kind, like they knew I wasn't ready and knew it was up to me to do my homework and prepare myself to try again. I left the agency that day determined to come back, well that was if the other agencies in NYC felt the same way.
Most people know that it was when I left the building that morning, I first saw the promotion for Make Me A Supermodel season 1. Did I suspect that this new show would have a life changing effect on my life in just 6 short months? To be honest. No. I just thought it would be a great learning tool for me about the industry. I mean the male side of the business had mostly gone undocumented compared to the various shows promoting the women. Anyway after watching the first season it was time to try again. This time I was sporting a fresh cut. my clothes were perfectly fitted and my pictures were existent, though amateurish, but then again that is all I could get. I sat waiting in the reception area for the open call to begin, confident that today was the day that I would be signed. Out of the corner of my eye a figure entered the waiting area. It was David Ralph the head of the men's board, I had recognized him from the first season of MMASM and knew I had to impress him in order to get anywhere. He stopped for a cool second, looked at me for a moment and then returned to to the back where all the agents worked. At that moment I thought to myself "I had this."
Two seconds later the agent conducting the call came out to meet me and the three other models who arrived earlier in the morning. I looked at one of them and thought he looked like me from January. He was Indian, his clothes were so baggy that it was hard to tell what his frame looked like. His hair was all over the place and he had no pictures and as he was politely rejected as I had been 6 months earlier I thought to myself "Go home and do you homework" That day I had finally cracked the first barrier. They liked me. The liked my look and wanted to take more shots. "This is it!" I thought. It was going to happen. As we began to take more pictures the dreaded question was asked. "How tall are you?" Now I knew I was taller than the standard but I had heard stories about the exceptions so I said it "6'3." That's when my second rejection happened. "Well we like your look but, we are going to struggle with your height but we will keep you on file if anything"
What was I supposed to do now? I couldn't change my height. This is the point where most would have given up but I just knew that somehow it could work for me. It would work for me. Later that month came the open calls for MMASM season 2 and I thought to myself "Why not and if this doesn't work out for you then it really wasn't meant to be" Well it was, Even while competing on the show I knew I had to perform well, just to impress Cory and David because if I didn't win the contract from the judges I knew I would be making my final trip to NYC after the competition ended to try one last time with the exposure from the show.
Well I did it. I walked into the agency for the third time and had proven my abilities to the board. I had shown perseverance, maturity, and brute determination and it was finally time to give me a shot.
Now today I rejoice as it has finally been made official but signing a piece of paper does not mean anything more than I am represented. It is time to get to work, to actually build a career and live the dream. Signing on the dotted line ended one phase of the process but commences another. Looking back on this past year and a half you really have to think that the saying is true
3RD TIME'S A CHARM
