Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Rain.
Hi Kylie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey began right before graduating high school. I broke my collarbone in a car accident and missed out on my senior year of soccer, a sport I’ve played since I was 3. My healing process left me constantly depressed, I was over school. There was this huge shift in my life where I decided I was no longer the high performing student athlete I once was, nor did I want to continue being that. I started playing around with modeling just to see what would happen and took a “gap year” to travel and find myself. Modeling was something I truly fell in love with. I did plenty of tests shoots, worked on minor sets, and truly took pride in learning what modeling actually is. After a year of just doing random, mostly unpaid gigs, I was fortunate enough to sign with Ursula Wiedmann Models. Modeling in Atlanta is rough, it’s not taken seriously like in New York or LA. But, I’m turning passion into purpose every step of the way. I’ve gotten to work with so many cool brands and truly push my career. I’m still only modeling part time, however it’s been a blessing as my serving job alone would not be affording the bills in this economy as a 22 year old.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For me personally, this road can be like rush hour with the two right lanes shut down. I’ve gotten much further than a lot of women who try to model in Atlanta, but there’s simply not a market out here. People out here don’t want to compensate for work, so while there’s plenty of businesses, the opportunities can short to nothing. A struggle I personally face is finances. What most people don’t know is it can require a lot of money and sacrifices to become an established model. If you’re not willing to travel for long periods of time or have the money to invest into yourself, it can be a very tricky game of just trying to be recognized.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a model, working towards becoming a modeling coach. I specialize in commercial modeling & have years of experience from teaching at a modeling school. While my legs may be very long, I don’t do runway modeling, haha. I’m most known for being the girl that’s making it happen. I come from South of Atlanta, in McDonough, and I’d never met a single person from the south who modeled or ever even spoke of it.
I’m most proud of my ability to be my own person. No matter what happens, I know what I want out of life. Following my intuition has gotten me this far. I’ve gotten to work with brands and on sets I would’ve never imagined when I first began. I didn’t really know what I was trying to get myself into.
What sets me apart from most is that I’m not afraid to do things my own way. I think the average person is scared, so they play things safe; they take the more promising routes. I simply can’t convince myself to do things I know I won’t be happy doing. I’d rather die trying than not try at all.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I absolutely view myself as a risk taker. Now, have I invested some crazy big money into a stock yet? No. But, I’m willing to take risks on myself, regardless of what the outcome may be.
I don’t believe in playing life safe. I have other interest, but I don’t have a “plan B”. I believe having a plan B means you don’t believe that you could actually make plan A happen. It’s not about knowing the outcome, but envisioning the type of person you want to be and the way you want to live YOUR life. The older I’ve become, the more I realize I don’t plan to move to New York or be the huge supermodel I once thought I wanted to be. But, the objective never changed, I will get paid to be me and to do me, regardless.
The bigger the risk, the more reward.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @im.kylierain
- Youtube: @im.kylierain
Image Credits
Lucie Keen
Zero restriction (brand)
Fabrik (brand)
Marcus Ezell
Butter London (set)
Champion
America’s Mart (Apparel markets
