Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylore Simone.
Hi Taylore, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I believe my passion for creativity was within me ever since I was in my mother’s womb. My parents told me the story of a time I leapt when music started to play. My parents also told me about the origin of my name. They heard the name Taylor from an actress who was on a soap opera and decided to add an “e” to the end to make it unique. My passion for fashion is even etched within my name, which means “clothed with salvation” and coincides with the word “tailor”. When I was a toddler, my parents were at an event, and the next thing you know, I was being passed around the crowd because I was so cute. I was grabbing attention at an age when I could not even talk yet.
When I was around nine years old, I was enrolled in a modeling agency because of my natural ability to pose in front of the camera. Later on, when I started high school, my height was noticed, so I had the option of either wearing a pair of heels and strutting down the runway or wearing a pair of sneakers and running down a court. Well, I was not a huge fan of sweating all the time, so the rest is history. I chose to wear the pair of heels. I was later enrolled in another modeling/acting agency, where I gained valuable skills that landed me the awards of strongest runway walk and top model. I also received 9 out of 10 callbacks from agencies that wanted to sign me.
I fell in love with acting through my love of movies and seeing how the actors/actresses would bring their characters to life. Movies are my way of escape, allowing me to dive into the characters’ world and see how they see the world. During college, I decided to minor in Theatre to home in on my performance skills as an actress. In the meantime, I became a freelance model and booked my own modeling and acting gigs to maximize my bookings. I remember when I booked a commercial, and I told my Theatre professor that I would have to miss class because I knew she would understand. Like the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.”
After graduating from college, I decided to take my career into my own hands by becoming a full-time freelance model and actress. Being freelance means, I am responsible for the direction of my career in all regards. I am my own manager, agent, branding team, and all the roles that it takes to propel a talent’s career forward. What I realized throughout my career is when you want something to happen, you make it happen yourself. I realized that I have to be my own “Agent of Change” to make things happen, and it did. With my being able to take charge of my career, I have booked four films, one national episodic, eight commercials, two music videos, numerous bookings as a brand model, and more gigs in counting.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, it has not been a smooth road. What road is truly smooth without any bumps in it? I had to learn through experience what to look out for, especially in this industry. There are people with ill intentions who exploit this industry. There was one instance where I was scheduled to go to a house to get pictures taken, which is not the safest environment for a model. However, thank God, my parents came with me, and the photographer was legit. However, now I know how to determine scams, ill intentions, and any red flags.
I am also saved, so I do not accept any gigs that would make me compromise my relationship with God. In the entertainment industry, some do not regard God, so I have to be careful which gigs I choose. I have to frequently check myself to make sure I do not compromise by getting caught up in the glitz and glamour of this industry.
Moreover, I, at one point in time, did not have any social media, which is a free marketing tool that can push a talent’s brand. I did not want to be caught up in a virtual reality to the point where I was not in tune with actual reality. However, my makeup mentor at the time suggested that I make social media accounts because it is needed in this industry, so I decided to establish my social media presence to have further reach. It proved to assist with booking more gigs through networking, which is really important because you never know how well connected your connection is. I also booked more gigs through social media by consistently posting content that shows I am constantly working, which creates value. Consistency is definitely key.
As a freelance model and actress, I am responsible for booking all of my gigs. It was definitely a struggle initially because I was not well connected. However, over time, I gained numerous connections, and I am constantly being booked. Another challenge that I have faced was being located in a place that is not known for being a hub for this industry. However, I have learned that it does not matter where I am located but where I want to go. I had to change my mindset. Once your mindset changes, everything changes.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance model and actress who uses her platform to inspire others with a foundational theme of not compromising. I am known for showing others who relate to me that they can do the same things that I am doing as well and even more. Recently, I have been giving industry knowledge on how to break into the industry and start booking paid work to aspiring and established models and actors/actresses.
I am most proud of being able to be reachable to those who are seeking my knowledge because they are seeing value in what I am doing. Brands that I have modeled for and developed a relationship with have requested my creative input and direction for shoots. Film directors and crew have also requested my creative input and industry knowledge. That just goes to show that people are watching you. I am just honored that people are seeking my knowledge. It took numerous experiences and wisdom to get to this point and I still have a lot to learn.
What sets me apart from others is being myself. The fact that there is no other you in the world makes you unique automatically. I am also a Christian, so I have to ensure that I am a representative of God and a good example to others. I have turned down roles because some did not align with my morals and values, and that is ok. There will always be more opportunities and even better ones. With my knowledge of the industry, I am thinking about creating an educational series to remove the secrets of breaking into the industry all while being ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If anyone is interested in booking me for any modeling and acting projects, collaborations, mentorships, and interviews, you can reach out to me via email at booktayloresimone@gmail.com, FB @ Taylore Simone, and on IG @misstayloresimone.
Contact Info:
- Email: booktayloresimone@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misstayloresimone/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misstayloresimone
