Tag: model

  • “How do I know if its a scam?” Part 1 #ModelTipTuesday

    “How do I know if its a scam?” Part 1 #ModelTipTuesday

    Day 4 – Still kickin it on Alex Beadon’s Blog Challenge and today’s challenge is to answer a frequently asked question in a blog post. I think that this is something that I;ll add to my blog on a weekly basis. #ModelTipTuesday will be dedicated to your questions about modeling. If there are any questions you have, send them to me via any of my social media sites, or email me your questions. I will either respond to them directly or respond to you and post the question as a blog post for others to learn from. So, Here I go!

    One of the constant questions that I get asked about is scams. This modeling business can be shaaaady baby! I like to think that most people are inherently good but the ones that aren’t make it hard to decipher the good ones from the bad. I know it makes it hard to know who to trust and who is really there for your best interest or theirs, but there are a few things that you have to look at in order to really understand if something is a scam or not.

    Check this out

    Signs this might be a scam (according to Alean):

    1. If they contact you by email
      1. They are speaking in is broken English, or text message slang, or slang period
      2. The email address that they are emailing you from is non identifying (ex: 7394xytty@gmail.com) OR it doesn’t match the name of the person sending it (ex: Im Lisa Johnson but my email address is MartinElizabeth@gmail.com)
      3. They tell you they work with a well known brand or designer like, Ralph Lauren or Gucci (No high fashion brand is booking models sight unseen via the internet)
      4. They tell you that you have been selected to work for that big name client and want to pay you a large sum of money for your work but part of it will be paid upfront. (NO AGENCY WILL PAY YOU UPRONT AND ASK FOR THE MONEY BACK!)
      5. In order to you to be paid you have to provide them with a ton of personal information and your bank account information (ALL THAT INFO IS NOT NEEDED ESPECIALLY BANK ACCOUNT INFO)
      6. They leave no contact info (phone number, address, etc.) for you to contact them if you have any questions or want to look them up.

    Take a look at this email that was sent to a model friend of mine.

     

    Hello,

     Good afternoon to you over there and hope you are doing fine today?

    thanks for your response, Presently the company (Ralph Lauren)

    needs a model to advertise their new outfit and i am one of the

    favored supervisor for the project coming up next month in your state.

    Subsequently,The date is between 28th and 29th of June (NOTE THAT ON

    YOUR CALENDAR) and the shoot location will be somewhere very close to

    you and i will let you know it after details have been received…

     Beside how much is your charge for 4hrs in a day (WE PAY $250 TO

    MODELS FOR PER HOUR SHOOT) and you are gonna do that for 2 days (Total

    $2,000 for 8hours).

    Transportation allowance will be included as we continue to work

    together,you could be invited over to the company to sign a contract

    with us if you pose pretty well. In order for this effect i would

    implore you to provide me with your statistics (SIZE) as soon as

    possible? so that what you need would be taken care of asap…

     You will first receive $300 to start with,which will be sent to you

    immediately,this is for your transportation allowance only (NOTE: This

    payment is for your transport ONLY and your full payment for the job

    will be paid to you in cash immediately after the shoot in the

    location).

     The photo shoots will be taken and sent to the company and it will be

    display on our online web and magazine (worldwide).

     The company have personal photographers and makeup artist,so we have

    made all necessary arrangement for your good looking on that day and

    also our photographers are available to give you best directive. They

    will be contacting you for proper

    arrangement of time and location after payment has been made.

    Bonus: The cloths you will be wearing for the shoot.

    ESCORT:As matter of choice,you can bring along any one of your choice

    to the shooting venue. All traveling Expenses, Food and

    Accommodations/Hotel would be covered by my company. my company will

    cover all the expenses on your escort.

    EXPECTATIONS: You must have positive ID.

    You must have a nice pedicure and manicure.

    You must have nice smile and humble personality.

    You must be willing to pose very well and good.

    No hairy armpits.

     Reference and other forms/documented papers will be send to you via

    courier service a week before the shoot.

     Guess the arrangement is understood? In order for payment to be made

    to you on time,i would need you to provide me with the following

    info…..

     

    Name in full:

    Residential address:

    City:

    State:

    Zip-code:

    Phone number(cell and home):

    Age:

    Charges $2,000(8 hours):YES/NO

    Transport allowance $300:

    OCCUPATION:

    AGE:

    ATTACH 2 RECENT PICTURES:

     

    Measurements:

     

    Best Regards,

    Rick McNeil.

     

    This kind of scam is a variation of the Nigerian Email scam. You know those emails that say they are a random Prince from some unheard of land and  they want you to claim your inheritance left by a distant relative, and they want to send you a check for the amount but you have to pay them money back once you cash the check… Yeah they took that to modeling. Check out this link that details more red flags you should be on the look out for if you happen to get a random email like this one – http://www.newmodels.com/Nigeria.html

     

    Good luck out there in model land! and remember a Good Model is a Smart Model!

     

    Be smart lovelies!

     

    xoxo, Alean

  • How I got started as a model…

    How I got started as a model…

    The header pic, is a pic from about 10 years ago, maybe more an 10 years, of my first swimsuit shoot in Atlantic City. I thought I was DOOOOOOING IT! lol Thank goodness that was the beginning and there was a lot of improvement to be had!

     

    Day 2 of the 7 day blogging challenge by Alex Beadon, and the challenge is to write about how you got your start as an entrepreneur. Since my modeling is how I got my start as an entrepreneur, I decided to detail that. If you want to know how it got me to start my business, I’ll be detailing that in the future on my company’s blog, “The Pour”

     

    Here Goes!

     

    What initially drew you in to become a model?

     

    I have a cousin that was a model when I was a kid. I remember looking at her pictures in her portfolio and some of her tear sheets from the ads and print work that she had done and thought to myself, I want to do that. The pretty, perfect, and polished look that she portrayed was what initially sparked my interest in modeling. I think I was around 9 years old when I realized a model is what I wanted to be.

     

    What challenges did you face?

     

    Well, the number one challenge that I faced was getting started. I didn’t know how or where to start, who could point me in the right direction, how to get work, what did I need to be a model, what was a scam and what was worth pursuing? And so forth.

    My first comp card. Thank the Lord for growth lol (that email address, I no longer use by the way)
    My first comp card. Thank the Lord for growth lol
    (that email address, I no longer use by the way)

    How did you overcome them?

     

    I did a lot of researching, back when I was starting there were a few ‘urban’ models who had websites that displayed their portfolios and resumes and also gave a lot of tips on how they got started (before blogging was popular) so I took some of their advice from their sites as well as other modeling advice sites and started out on pursing my career. A lot of what I have come to learn has been from trial and error and research to figure out what path would be the best path for me to try. Through my research, I learned that pictures are the main thing that will get you booked and without them you won’t be taken seriously as a model. SO I set out to do a photo shoot. I found a few social networking sites dedicated to models and photographers and I put a few pictures of myself on there that opened myself as looking to shoot in order to build my portfolio and I had a number of photographers respond willing to shoot me and a few even for free! I decided to shoot with one photographer (I paid him) and ended up learning a TON from my initial shoot and used those pictures to book more shoots in order to perfect my posing and my port, and thus I began to seek out work and the bookings started to come.

     

    How did you get your first booking?

     

    My first booking was fashion show that I was referred to do by the same photographer that I did my very first shoot with. It was for a local designer, I can’t remember her name, but I was booked for that show based on the pictures he showed her that he shot of me. I didn’t even know how to walk the runway I was a PURE newbie, Lol But I booked it!

     

    What has been your biggest lesson as a model?

     

    The biggest lesson I have learned as a model is the vital fact that pictures and your network can and will take you places. Without the pictures and without knowing people you won’t get far. It’s like the saying goes, “Its not always what you know, its who you know and who knows you.”

  • Allow me to reintroduce myself…

    Allow me to reintroduce myself…

    My name is Hov, (Oh) H-to-the-O-V.……..
    But not really tho! Lol

    Hi I'm Alean

    If you haven’t figured it out by the domain name of the site, my name is

    Alean Elston

    (AL-leen ELS-ten)

    and welcome to my digital space!

    I’ve been modeling for 12 years now (and still getting stronger) and as I’ve gone about in my career I’ve come across some awesome people and learned a lot about business and a ton about myself. What I’ve realized is that I learned the most when I shared with others and when they shared with me. It enabled me to grow and I hope that I’ve enabled others to grow as well. With that being said, my goal is to connect with the aspiring models, the professional models, the drinks and business enthusiast, and the beverage and modeling/entertainment industry folks who want to follow along with me in our journey with my blog. I believe that if you are one of those people, then we have a few things in common.

     

    I love modeling, modeling led me to start my own business, starting my own business enabled me to work with various beverage brands and sparked the passion of me working within the beverage industry. All of these things are very connected in my life and if you have a passion for any one of those things, there is where we share our connection. I’ve been in your shoes as the inexperienced model, looking to find out how to get started and how to start booking shoots, shows, and getting paid. I’ve been the business owner that struggled (sometimes I still struggle) to get the first client and develop the momentum to continue to build a customer base. I am the person passionate about cocktails and wine and beers and wanted to learn all I can about the business of it, I’m also the blogger that lives life just like you but my goal is to share my experiences and ideas and to connect with those who share the same sentiment, and build and grow.
    The one thing that I hope that you take away from my blog is that you can have multiple goals but they mean nothing if you don’t pursue them. All it takes is a few baby steps towards your goals for them to gain traction and watch it grow faster than the speed of light. I’ve watched it happen to a number of my peers, and now it’s my turn.

    Watch me work.
    If you need to reach out to me with any questions, or you would like to work together please don’t hesitate to email me – alean@aleanelston.com

  • Blog Giveaway Sponsored by U.G.L.Y Tees!!!! [ENDED]

    Blog Giveaway Sponsored by U.G.L.Y Tees!!!! [ENDED]

    Ive been talking about doing a giveaway on my blog for the longest and I finally got the chance to do one! A special thank you to U.G.L.Y Tees who agreed to do an instagram contest with me and giveaway 3 shirts to some lick followers.

    In the video at the top of the page I’m wearing the “Makeup is my Caffeine” Off the shoulder shirt in grey. If you’d like one without entering the contest you can get it here.

    If you would like to possibly win a shirt, just follow the simple rules below! Good luck and see you on the gram!

    To be eligible to #win, All you have to do is:

    1. Repost this image or any image on the @uglytees instagram page
    2. Include #uglygiveaway AND #iwearugly anywhere in the caption of your repost
    3. Follow and tag @uglytees & @completebeauty

    The winners of this giveaway will be announced via the @uglytees instagram page on June 17th.

    Good Luck! and remember, “U Gotta Live Young”

    ***Wanna shout out from @uglytees? Tag us in your U.G.L.Y Apparel gear and we’ll repost it! Dont have any U.G.L.Y Apparel? be sure to get yours from uglytees.bigcartel.com***

  • Found a new fav Red Lipstick…and I cut My hair!!!

    Found a new fav Red Lipstick…and I cut My hair!!!

    In my never ending search for a good red lipstick, I decided to pick up a “cheap-y” brand.  And my #1 go to for a quick cheap-y is Wet N Wild.  It never fails me lol.  I decided to try one of their liquid lipsticks and I picked up a red and a pink, Cherry on Top  and Rose to the Occasion. Both of which I looooove!

    I’ve searched for other reviews online and the common complaint was that it was sticky. Well, most stains are sticky until it’s completely dry, and if you press your lips together while it’s still wet you’ll mess up the finished look. So for those reviews, I basically wrote those people off as not knowing what the hell they were talking about lol.

    I also did a hair show earlier this month and my hair was very broken and damaged to the point where the stylist suggested that I cut it, so I did and thus my new short do’! (The styles pictured are not of the original style that they stylist created. If you want to see that, click here.)

    But any who… Check out my results:

    CHERRY-ON-TOP
    Cherry On Top
    ROSE-TO-THE-OCCASION
    ROSE TO THE OCCASION

    I love that these colors are so pigmented! If you are like me and have 2 different colors of lips (my top lip is brown and my bottom lip is light pink) you see how you can’t tell that I have different skin colors for my lips. Most liquid lip colors don’t really work that well for women of color like me but with the amount of pigmentation in these $3 lippies has me sold.

    Just so you know, I only did one coat for each of these colors, no primer, and no lip liner. ANNND The color doesn’t BUDGE! Check out my kiss test below:

     

    There is a down side to these though. I wore each of these through an entire day and they lasted without fading or peeling etc… UNTIL I ate something that contained oil. For me it was buffalo wings on one day and a salad with italian dressing on another day. Everything else I ate, the colors lasted and I had no issue with them.

     

    So my final verdict on these lip colors is that it is a STRONG contender for the Stila lipstains and the Sephora lipstains, its VERY budget friendly especially if you dont want to spend between $12 -$25 on a lipstain

    The products mentioned in my post were purchased by me and I am not being offered any compensation for my thoughts/views on this product.

  • The hairstyle that made me stand out to modeling agents #modellife #modeladvice

    The hairstyle that made me stand out to modeling agents #modellife #modeladvice

    Over the weekend, I was in a Modeling Competition that one of my agencies holds every year. I’ve been with them for about 10 years now and I’ve never entered it, I never entered ANY modeling competition before but I’ve worked numerous events behind the scenes of them. They have a bunch of agents come from all over the country and the world to judge it and give out some amazing prizes. What made me enter it this year was the opportunity to go to China for an all expenses paid, paid model booking. Who could give up a chance for a free trip to China, international modeling creds to add to my resume, and did I mention being paid to model in China?! lol

    Memories of my Last out of the country modeling related excursion. Ready to blow the dust off of my passport.
    Memories of my Last out of the country modeling related excursion. Ready to blow the dust off of my passport.

    I was a little self conscious about entering the competition, mainly because MOST of the people competing were literally half my age or younger (if you can guess how old I am, theres 50 brownie points for you lol), and a tad bit slimmer than me. I’m still slim just not supermodel skinny like I used to be! lol But I entered this competition because it was for a lingerie/swimwear client in China, and swimwear and lingerie is PERFECT for my body type so I thought I could walk away from this competition confidently with the winner’s trophy in the bag.

    So did I win?

  • 5 “Business Models” who are great at minding their business

    5 “Business Models” who are great at minding their business

    They say it takes several streams of income in order to be wealthy. Which got me thinking about other models who have done more than modeling to create more revenue streams. I like to think of it as Business Models Minding their Business. (cute right?! :-D)

    As a model, you should always conduct yourself as a business and these models have done that plus created seprate businesses that have generated more for them in addition to their modeling. Click  the next page to check out my short list.

  • How to Get Work as a Promotional Model #modeladvice #modellife

    How to Get Work as a Promotional Model #modeladvice #modellife

    Follow my blog with Bloglovin
    It’s a lot simpler than you think. If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen that I work a lot of events as a model for various beverage brands, in addition to the work that I do with my company (Pour Models) as a special events bartender and model. I make a good portion of my income as a promo model for various brands and I am always asked how others can get started doing this type of work. I know if looks fun and it is, fun that I get paid for having and I get paid to travel to do.

    Me as a Promotional Model for Remy Martin!
    Me as a Promotional Model for Remy Martin!

    With that said, here’s my advice on how you can get started working as a promo model making anywhere between $20 and $50 per hour and more!

  • Recap: Funny Moments at #NYFW – #ilaughed

    Recap: Funny Moments at #NYFW – #ilaughed

    New York Fashion Week comes around but twice a year and every time its filled with the seriousness of FASHION and STATUS (insert glitter sprinkle here). I personally did not attend any shows this season but with my poppin Instagram Feed, Chef Roble, and Nicki Minaj, I caught all the hilarity without having to hop the train the NYC.

    With that, here are 3 moments that occurred during fashion week that I found funny. If you don’t laugh, chuckle, or crack a smile…drink some prune juice 😉

  • #Goals…Let’s just say I’m setting some more…

    #Goals…Let’s just say I’m setting some more…

    Welp, summer is over according to the calendar. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of fun in the sun. For me, today marks the start of a fresh new month. What I usually do at the start of a month is plan out my bookings and figure out how to fill it a bit more or if its packed, how I’m going to survive such busi-ness! Lol I also take the time to review goals that I have set for myself in the past and think about new ones or keep the old ones and try my best to achieve them all. Some of my past goals have included:

    If you have been following my blogging habits (or lack thereof), that first goal that I mentioned was a failure lol but it only failed because I became busy with more client and model bookings. Even though it was a failure other goals were a great success and there’s more time for me this month for me to modify that goal, among others, and of course set new ones to achieve.

    With that being said, I wanted to take a different approach to my goals. I’m a firm believer in “The Secret” and I noticed that a few people that I follow on social media following the law of attraction and I’ve been watching their goals come to pass. The way I see it, if they can bravely put their goals out there and I can watch it unfold, I should have no problem doing the same. So here I go, my goals for September 2014:

    1. Acquire a booking or contract that builds upon my strategy for financial and career growth
    2. Do 3 photoshoots with various phenomenal photographers and clients
    3. Consistently blog EVERYDAY
    4. Vlog at least 2 times a month
    5. Continue to develop my ‘jumping’ skills
    6. Reach and maintain a new account threshold

    So now that it’s out there, I’m going to work on making it all come my way!

    Be sure to follow me on social media to watch it all unfold!

    Facebook – facebook.com/AleanElston

    Instagram – instagram.com/completebeauty

    Twitter – twitter.com/completebeauty

    Pinterest – pinterest.com/AleanElston