Modeling & Acting 101 - A Model/Actor's Diary

Thanks to all of my readers that took my poll, asking whether I should be on Twitter or not. To be honest, I've been fighting the Twitter bandwagon for a while now LOL but I want to give you guys what you ask for so I am happy to announce that you can now follow me on Twitter @daniadenise . Be patient with me as I eventually learn how to navigate the Twitter-verse...but I'll definitely be sure to Tweet regularly when it comes to castings, go-sees, shoots and anything else that I get into when it comes to modeling and acting. Gonna do my first Tweet in a few minutes...wonder what it should be about?

I'm pretty sure you've read at least one blog post where I've mentioned doing bridal shows. The production company I work through is called Brocade Weddings and they put on bridal fairs in Northern California. Since last year I've been one of their bridal models and have had such an amazing time being a part of the Brocade family. This year the budget is bigger, the designers are stepping up their game and the models are definitely on point. This past Sunday we did the biggest show of the season, which took place at the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco. There was tons of media there, one of the local radio stations and both bridal shows were packed. Sometimes it's hard to track down photos, video and other footage from our shows since we don't know all the press people that are invited but luckily one of my fellow bridal models pointed me to a YouTube video that the company has been using to help promote the events. The footage in this video is...

Kso Wrote: whats your email? i cant find it  Hi, Kso! I put my email address in a comment below yours but also wanted to post it here, just in case you didn't have a chance to check that previous post. You can reach me at: daniadenise@gmail.com. If you click on my Blogger profile here on my blog, my email address is also listed there.

Lauren Wrote: Hey! I'm 14 years old.. almost 15, and I have wanted to be a Victoria's Secret model/angel for the longest time. I've already had some print experience for International companies, as well as American companies. But not any runway experience at all. Now that I am taller then I was when I last was discovered by an agent, I'm going to be talking to agents in New York that liked me while I was younger but wasn't tall enough. I'm about 5"8 now, very skinny, but from looking at the current VS angels, especially Rosie or Miranda, I do seem to have the correct body type. It has been said that I have an exotic look, but are natural freckles (not sun damage) be anything that they would be interested in? I am pretty fair skinned with semi-dark brown hair. With that aside, I weigh around 100 pounds and by the time I am 18, I'll probably weigh a little more and have more shape. With that said, would print and runway experience before...

Anonymous Wrote: Hey Dania! You mentioned that you write about skin care, I was wondering if you had any tips for getting rid of under-eye circles? Thanks!  Howdy! Ah, under eye circles...they're the worst! There are a few different ways to approach this but it is important to first identify the cause. Common culprits include not getting enough sleep, maintaining a poor diet and not drinking enough water. However, if your under eye circles run in your family, then you'll probably want to invest in an eye cream or serum that is formulated to help deal with this issue. Hylexin is one of the leading products on the market that is specially formulated to correct the problem. If you want to learn more about Hylexin, here is a link: Hylexin Product Page However, if you're simply in need of natural remedies, then you can check out this information, which was taken from one of the articles I wrote about the subject for the website CareFair.com: Natural Remedy #1: - Co...

One of my goals was to completely revamp my portfolio (my physical "book," not my images online). My reason for doing this was to make sure that when I attended in-person castings, especially in the Los Angeles area, that my images would be of the best quality and truly show my diversity in looks--not to mention they needed to be updated anyway lol. I wanted to have more lifestyle images in my new port so I put together the concept shoot called "Lazy Sunday," which is basically a candid look into the life of a couple in love. I contacted my fellow model, Cameron Clark, to play my hubby. I hired Peter Kyong of Kyong Photography, who I had worked with previously on two other shoots. Because the shoot was commercial in nature, there was no need for fancy hair, makeup or wardrobe styling, which made things really convenient. Once I had my crew in place, I began doing research online for locations. Cameron suggested a bed and breakfast, which was an awesome idea, s...

It's only March and, boy, have I been busy! Here's a quick recap of projects I've done lately, modeling/acting-wise: 1) Lifestyle/Couple Shoot: I mentioned this project a while back and was very happy with the results. I shot with my friend, fellow model, Cameron Clark, and photographer Peter Kyong of Kyong Photography. Everything took place on location at the Atherton Inn Bed & Breakfast. 2) Finished a two-day shoot for a music video for artist Macsen Apollo. I played the lead girl/love interest. It's not one of those booty-shaking/club videos, either lol. It has the old school feel to it where there is actually a storyline being followed. We also got to shoot on a green screen for the special effects...I can't wait to see the finished product, which I hope will be done in the next few weeks. 3) Modeled in the Trends Era Black & Red Valentines Day Event in Oakland, where I was one of three models showcasing local designer, Amanda Howard, of Exceptio...

Category: Makeup For Female Models If you've been actively modeling for a while, chances are you've probably got a nice little collection of false eyelashes. Keeping them in good shape will give you the ability to use them over and over, which is very convenient, whether there is a professional makeup artist on-site or you're responsible for your own makeup. However, over time the lashes tend to get pretty gunky and crusty from the constant application of glue--especially when it gets onto the lashes themselves, which happens sometimes. A makeup artist taught me this trick recently that saved me from having to toss out my favorite falsies: 1) Take a Q-Tip and dip it in regular rubbing alcohol...you won't need much. 2) Gently swab each false lash in one direction, repetitively where the glue is caked on. 3) Make sure to go in one direction, starting from the lash line down each time. Do not go back and forth. After doing this for a few minutes, the caked on glue...

Bobbi-Jean Wrote: Hi its me again, Bobbi-Jean! I was told that if you tan outisde by the pool or something that the UV rays can make it look like you age faster! Is this a myth or is it true?  Hey, Bobbi-Jean! I'm so glad you asked this question because that is totally 100% TRUE! I'm also a beauty/skin care and fitness writer so I definitely know all about this topic. UV rays penetrate deeply into the skin's layers, where they do damage to healthy skin cells. People that tan for years, starting when they are in their teens, will end up aging pretty badly because of the excessive amounts of UV rays they have exposed themselves to. It leads to premature aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, skin that looks "leathery" in appearance and even age spots. However, if you wear sunscreen or sun block and regularly reapply as needed, you can still be out in the sun without worrying about UV damage. Although the signs of this type of skin damage usually don't sho...

Anonymous Wrote: i love it im defenitly fitted to become a high fashion famous male model(: whats the age range in the male model industry?? Hey, Anonymous! The good news for you is that male models tend to have much more longevity in their careers, compared to female models. In most cases (not all), male models start around age 16-18 and can stretch their career well into their 30s and 40s or beyond. What's interesting is that most male models tend to be in demand as they get older...it's just something about the way men age that makes them more appealing as the years go by. This gives them flexibility and diversity in the types of work they can book, from print work to editorial and runway. Female models, on the other hand, are in their modeling "prime" between 14-21 (I am referring to female models in the high fashion, runway and editorial fields and am not addressing the commercial/print, lifestyle and mature modeling categories). So as long as you take car...

Bobbi-Jean Wrote: Hi, Im Bobbi-Jean. Im 14 and have modeled when I was like 8 with my sis. Anywho, being a VS angel is a dream of mine. I have always been in entertainment. I love to act, cheerlead competitively, and love love love modleing! I live in FL, but will be moving to either NY or Cali when Im older, so which modeling agencies are best for me?  Hi, Bobbi-Jean! In order to answer your question more accurately, I'm gonna need more information from you, like your height and measurements (bust, waist, hips in inches). You're still young so you definitely have time to grow taller--depending on your family genes of course. If you want to be a VS model, you're going to have to be at least 5'8" to be seriously considered (and 18 years of age, too). And like my post on the subject states ( "Want to Be A Victoria's Secret Model?" ), the best way to increase your chances is to sign with Elite, Ford or another top modeling agency in the New York...

Aberwaa Wrote: Greetings Dania. I am a 30+ model and have found your blog to be valuable! I have many years of pageantry experience, and have modeled on-and-off for the past 9 years - with a number of TFP gigs. With that, I have decided that I wanted to work with an agency; I have spoken with a few agencies that have alerted me that they already have someone with my "look". Dang it! So, can you recommend any agencies in the DC DMV/Baltimore/PA area? I reside in DC. Im sure you have a better insight than I do. Additionally, I was contacted, after a casting call, by Wilhemina PA, and offered a 2 year, exclusive, contract. I passed on it. I was informed by the rep that I need to pay $2700 within 2 months before I could be represented. As you may know, Wilhemina PA is an affiliate of Wilhemina, and after speaking with Wilhemina NY and LA, I was told that the operations of PA was up to PA. (Thus, Im thinking that affiliates operate differently from the ...

Category: Grooming For Female & Male Models Never underestimate the details when it comes to attending a casting, go-see or photoshoot. All models, male or female--regardless of what type of modeling field pursued--should pay attention to the little things, namely their fingernails and toenails. Models should make it a point to check their fingernails before going into any casting or shoot. Are your nails presentable? Do you have grime under your fingernails? Are your nails even in length? If you are wearing open-toed shoes, are your feet and toenails overall clean and groomed in appearance? I carry my nail file in my purse and keep it with me at all times. For castings and go-sees, I use the pointed tip to clean underneath my nails before stepping foot into the building. On shoots I do the same thing but also add a clear top coat of polish so that in the photos my nails look clean and shiny (male models don't technically have to do the clear polish lol). Even if the sho...

To celebrate Valentine's Day I had the pleasure of participating in a fashion show that wasn't quite a fashion show lol. Let me explain. Through Facebook I ended up networking with a photographer out of the Bay Area, who wanted to hire me for an event. That event turned out to be the Trends Era Black & Red Valentine's Show. The event would be showcasing the designs of a local designer named Amanda Howard, who has her own line called Exceptions Design . There were three models total and it would be taking place in the evening. I saw it as a great networking opportunity so I agreed. The event wasn't actually a traditional fashion/runway show, however. The idea was that each of the models would wear one of Amanda's outfits and participate in a live photoshoot, where the audience could watch. After the shoot, we were free to mingle with the crowd and tell people about our outfit and give them business cards to help promote the line. I showed up early (as i...

Category: Pictures For female & male models This Quick Tip is for freelance models with Gmail accounts. When submitting to modeling gigs on Craig's List (yes, if you wade through the crap and scams, there are some legit projects to be found), you've probably noticed that there is a 150 kb size limit when sending pictures. To avoid this limitation, use the "inserting images" feature in Gmail. It allows you to put your pictures into the body of your email, where you can resize them as needed. The perk: it doesn't affect the total size of your email so you can add multiple pictures without worrying about having your message bounced back because it is larger than 150 kb. If this function isn't already available to you, you'll have to go to your Gmail account and click on "Options." From the drop down menu, select "Labs" and look for the lab titled, "Inserting Images" and make sure "enabled" is highlighted. Save ...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, I have recently decided to get into modeling, and was planning on doing some freelance first to build my portfolio. (I'm 18) I like the idea of representing myself (business minded I guess)but Im wondering if I do happen to sign with an agency can/how much freelance can I still do on the side? Like do agencies have issues with their signed models doing freelance work? I guess I'm just worried that I may be able to get more work on my own, you know? By the way I'm only 5'5 so I won't exactly be walking any runways in Paris anytime soon so it's not like agencies are begging for me lol :)  Hi, Anonymous, great questions! Let's get you some answers. =) Most agencies have no problem with their signed models freelancing on the side, especially if you're not doing high fashion or editorial stuff. Technically, you do not have to tell them that you are...that's a judgment call that each model has to make for him/hers...

Category: Heels For female models I hope I'm able to explain this in a way that you'll understand. Okay, ladies, when you're in really high heels and are required to walk down a flight of stairs, the chances of a mishap occurring are very high. To reduce your odds of falling, walk with your feet parallel to the stairs instead of stepping with your foot pointed out towards the ground. Not making sense? Check out the following examples: DON'T: DO: While walking down the stairs in your heels like in the second picture may look weird, it's nowhere near as bad as eating the pavement, should you take a tumble. So play it safe when it comes to those stairs!

So in case you weren't aware, I'm also an actor. Just like in modeling, sometimes it takes a while to see the final results of the projects I've worked on. Last year I shot a viral commercial for a new sports gaming website called Thump.com. I was one of four "Thump Girls." It was an amazing shoot that was so much fun because not only did the commercial feature three other models from my agency, Models, Inc., we also got to shoot with a World Series of Poker champion, Phil Hellmuth. Later on that evening we also got to take pictures with a former NFL star/49er, Bill Romanowski. He was shooting another commercial spot for Thump but we weren't in that one. Anyways, after the shoot wrapped, we had no idea when the commercial would be live online and I had almost totally forgotten about it. Luckily, I saw one of my fellow Thump Girl's posts on Facebook and it motivated me to check Thump.com just for fun...little did I know the site was up and running, in...

Kool-Aid Wrote: ok so im 15 and 5'7" and want to be a VS model i hope i grow another inch but anyways is it okay if i start at 18 b/c i dont have parrent consent to do it now?  Hi,  Kool-Aid! In order to become a VS model you have to be at least 18-years-old so in your case you have to wait until then anyway before pursuing this route, which is great because you won't have to seek permission from your parents.