Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna Reynolds.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Deanna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a child, I would watch America’s next top model, I often dreamed that one day I would be able to go on the show. At the time, I didn’t think that I was pretty or outgoing enough to ever pursue my modeling dreams. I was the total opposite of the girls on TV, shy and self-conscious. My uncle would always tell me that I was beautiful and that I should be a model.
Years passed but my dream to model never died, two years ago, I saw some professional photos of a friend and I built up the courage to ask her a ton of questions on how she began her modeling career. After speaking with her, she provided me with contact information of a photographer and a modeling coach. After a few photoshoots and classes, I began to build confidence in my modeling abilities and I continue to work on them at every event and opportunity I am presented with.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have faced many struggles during this journey. I do not meet the height requirement to do standard runway modeling but there are local none-paid opportunities for runway modeling. At my first model call, I was rejected. Yes, I was sad. I felt defeated and thought that I wasn’t good enough. I went home and practiced and the when next model call came around I made it. I have realized that just because you didn’t make it the first time, or didn’t do as good as you wanted to, doesn’t mean you weren’t good enough. It just means you weren’t what they were looking for at the time. So just keep practicing and your time will come.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As far as modeling, I do it as a hobby. I currently work full time at a local hospital doing clerical work. Of course, if the opportunity presents itself, I would model full time. I have met a lot of local models along the way. One disadvantaged of being a short model is that while on the runway, you have to give the allusion that you’re taller. Whether that’s wearing taller heels or striding down the runway to give the allusion or longer legs. I am most known for my stride. Other models have given me the nickname legs due to my stride. I may be 5’2 but can look a lot taller on the runway.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
As far as in Birmingham, Alabama there aren’t as many opportunities as there are in areas such as Atlanta, Georgia. I can say that there are a few leaders within the community that are trying to change this. I am looking forward to these changes in the future.
Contact Info:
- Email: bookdeannar@gmail.com
- Instagram: @deannathemodel
- Facebook: @deannathemodel
Image Credit:
Teej Gardner
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