Living in style – My journey through New York’s competitive beauty industry

[Editor’s note: Stacey Farnet is an LSU alumna who appeared on the cover of 225‘s September 2011 fashion issue. This is her own account of moving to New York City and her first few months as a professional model.]

I’ve heard it said that the best way to make it as an actor is to work behind the scenes and learn the ropes of the industry in hopes of meeting all the right people who will, one day, put you in front of the camera. The modeling industry must be the same, right? Well, this year I decided to test that theory on my own.

For some reason, ever since I was little, I have been fascinated with the modeling and fashion world. Maybe it had something to do with the glamour that always surrounded it. A fashion degree was my obvious choice in following this passion. After interning at Esquire and going behind the scenes of the magazine’s fashion editorial, I graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising from LSU and decided to try the modeling side of the industry.

Marilyn Agency, ranked among the top five for women’s agencies in New York and Paris, was my top choice. They represent many supermodels, including Adriana Lima and Naomi Campbell, and many Victoria’s Secret Angels. This couldn’t be more perfect; I would be working in fashion while meeting the people who would help get my modeling career up and running. Well, maybe one day I’ll learn that everything doesn’t always go my way!

And so the journey begins.

I moved to New York City in February. After visiting several of the best agencies in the city and being turned down because I’m not 5’8″ or taller—I’m 5’7″—I started working with Basic Model Management, primarily doing print work. This is where it got complicated, because I had assumed that once an agency picked me for work, that’s all I would need to do. I was wrong. So much effort goes into getting jobs. Details like test shoots, castings, go-sees, comp cards, portfolios, handling rejection—oh, and looking perfect all the time, even after running across Manhattan and through the subways in all weather conditions.

When I landed a position as an intern, my role could not have been more different from modeling. I was working for the top women’s agency in the city and seeing these models come in daily, picking up their designer goodies—clothes they never wanted, anyway—and hearing their agents negotiate daily rates.

Five grand a day was not worth their time.

My tasks were a bit less glamorous, but just being in this modeling powerhouse every day was enough to keep me on track towards my goal. It was definitely inspiring to see girls go from completely unknown to famous faces on billboards within months. Being backstage at Fashion Week, seeing the different shows and going on photo shoots and castings with the new models were some of my favorite parts of the job. Another perk came along when they needed more girls to be in the CFDA Awards Accessories video for Style.com. That’s where I came in! It was definitely an experience I’ll never forget.

I met models and photographers from all over the world, exotic places like India, Paris, Russia and Brazil. All were vastly different, with such interesting stories. My favorite was a 19-year-old French model who literally became a well-known face over the course of a few months. She looks like a young Cindy Crawford, and I recently found out that she booked Victoria’s Secret. No big deal, right? Witnessing all of the action that takes place behind the scenes has truly been worth my experience at Marilyn Agency.

As my internship was wrapping up, I finally had more time for my own castings and test shoots. I was discovering that this was all just a balancing act, and the schedule of a model is always unpredictable.

Skechers shoes, Abercrombie & Fitch, Matrix, Aveda, Psychology Today, Manhattan Bride, designer showrooms and look books—these were just a few of the initial castings I attended.

At each, the majority of the girls were taller than 5’8″, and they all looked vaguely European. Not me.

After casting it’s a waiting game, and I only hear anything back if I book something. But on the days that I do book jobs, all the stress and waiting is worth it.

I recently shot with Manhattan Bride—you can find me in the September issue rocking several different wedding dresses. I also shot for a Milbon hair ad and recently modeled for Glamour Kills clothing.

Funny story, I actually got the Glamour Kills job just by going to the movies. While I was in line, the marketing coordinator for Glamour Kills approached me, and asked if I’d like to model for their new line. She handed me her card, and three days later I was shooting. Glamour Kills clothes are sold at Urban Outfitter’s and Zumiez, which makes it a great company to have behind me. I’ll be on their site glamourkills.com this month.

Though a lot more work goes into modeling than I ever thought growing up, it is opportunities like this that keep me excited and working towards my dream. I’m just going full force into exactly what I always wanted.