I Got to Model for Target in New York...OMG!

Heeeeeyyyyyy Ya’ll! It’s been a minute since I have been inspired to write, I believe it’s because of the current climate of the world. But I wanted to share that ya girl got booked in February for a modeling campaign with Target! Now I know you’re like what? February? and you just telling us?! Well I have 2 reasons for the late news.

First and Foremost February 2020, was extremely tough for me. On February 3, 2020, I learned while at work that a friend of mine who I loved deeply passed. I was distraught and had to leave work early. Later on that night as I was getting ready to go back to my friend’s mom’s house to comfort her, I watched my step-father take his last breathe and die. Ya’ll that was the most traumatizing thing I’ve ever witnessed. It’s still hard and it’s even harder to open up to you all but I’m being transparent which is big for me (Aquarius). So I had to mourn two people at the same time.

The second reason the news is late, is the campaign was set to drop May 3, 2020. However, the pictures haven’t been dropped so I’m thinking CORONAVIRUS *Cardi B Voice* Even if the photos never drop I am completely fine with that because the experience was amazing and ya girl got paid..chile PAID! Mind you its all gone because Amazon but still…just kidding…am I really?

Getting the Gig

So as most of you know I am a Fashion & Lifestyle Blogger. I find it hilarious that most of my family and mom’s friends haven’t comprehended that yet and like to describe me as a model. I guess you can say they manifested it for me…haha. So I’m just posting on the gram, you know styling like I always do..haha and a casting agent slid in my DMs in January.

He introduced himself and presented the opportunity and asked if he could email me specifics. So I let him email me and the email contained the brand and a long list of questions asking about my exact sizing and I also had to submit a video of me turning around showing my entire body. Now I was skeptical at first because ya’ll know there are all kinds of scams out there. So I hit up one of my friends who’s currently signed to a model agency and living in New York. She confirmed that the casting agency was legit.

A month went by and I hadn’t heard anything so I was convinced I didn’t get the gig. I was thinking it was probably best since I didn’t think it would be good to be traveling since I was helping my mom plan the funeral and it was just bad timing. On February 6, 2020 I received an email confirming I got the gig. I was ecstatic but also feeling guilty about being excited. My mom convinced me that I have every right to be excited and that I needed to go. She said my loved ones would want me to do this. I booked my flight that night because the turnaround was hella fast. The shoot was set for February 12, 2020 which was my birthday by the way :-) . What a treat right?!

With the shoot happening during the week, I left work at 5pm on Tuesday, February 11th and rushed to the airport. I landed in New York at about 11pm. Had the shoot on Wednesday, February 12th and left Thursday, February 13th in the morning and went straight to work. Ya’ll who do I think I am?! I was exhausted but it was all worth it.

The Day of the Shoot

First of all I was cursing my Uber driver out in my head because he missed his turn and where we were headed it seemed you had to drive miles before being able to make another turn. When we made it to the destination I hopped out and power walked to the studio, thinking lawd I can’t be late for my first big modeling gig.

When I arrived it was like a legit set… photographer, his assistants, about 4 other models, hair, make-up, a manicurist, Target execs. I was like okay a girl could get use to this! There was a beautiful spread of delicious breakfast. Grits, sausages, croissants, bagels, etc. I kept it light because I already was nervous and I didn’t want the food adding to the stomach knots.

Everyone on the set was extremely nice. The hairstylist and I chopped it up about New Orleans cuisine, her career journey and what she loved most about New Orleans. I mean we had time since baby girl had to curl my whole head with a tiny curling iron…haha.

We also had a beautiful spread for lunch! It was sooo delicious!

I also I met some bomb ladies. I don’t care what anyone says, all models are not stuck up. I was in the room with some gorgeous ladies who modeled full-time and are signed to agencies. I have to admit I was a little intimidated but when the photographer said I worked the camera like I had been doing it for years and that he couldn’t believe it was my first time…chillleee it was the boost and reassurance I needed. It was a legit photo-shoot ya’ll…I was getting hair and make-up touch ups every few shots I was like a girl can get use to this!

It was an amazing experience overall and what prompted me to really share my experience is that I wanted to offer some encouragement. God will really come through and bless you in the midst of a storm. So whatever you are going through just stay prayed up and have faith in him. Journaling and reciting daily affirmations has really helped me during this time. And shout-out to my close friends and family. Family is suppose to be there but my friends really stepped up for me in my time of need and I have continued to thank them over and over.

I hope ya’ll enjoyed that little recap and hopefully there are some more big time modeling opportunities in the near future. I’m going add that “Plus-Size Model” to my bio on the gram.