Three Cheers For Teens: Tara Brose

Tara Brose (MSA Models)

Although I heard countless stories prior to our introduction, I first met Tara face-to-face at a coffeehouse in SOHO, New York City. She is an incredible person who exemplifies what it means to fearlessly pursue a vision, trust God, and succeed.

Her responses to the questions below will not only encourage aspiring models but also show the trials one faces when following his/her dream and the triumphant outcome.

When did you first discover your love for modeling?

-- I always dreamed of becoming a model for as long as I can remember. When I would complain about being taller than all the boys growing up in elementary school, or feel awkward because I was taller than my older sister starting at a young age, my mom always told me that I should be proud of my height because one day I could become a model. I think she was saying that to make me feel better, but I actually believed her. 

 

Tell us about the moment you decided to pursue modeling? Who helped you achieve your dream?

-- I decided to pursue modeling in high school. I began in Atlanta, Georgia, but it wasn't until I decided to move to New York City that I really started to achieve my dream. Before it was just a hobby, or something I would do for fun when I had the time. When I finally made the decision to take my first semester off of college and move to NYC, I was finally on my way of turning my dream reality. 

My parents were a huge part in me finally pursuing modeling, but especially my mom. Without her encouragement and support, there's no way I would have made the move and be where I am today. 

 

How long did it take for you to find a “breakthrough”? What led to that opportunity? 

-- It is extremely hard living in NYC, especially when you're 18 years old. I don't think my "breakthrough" came until I finally decided to be comfortable in my own skin and be who I truly was. This was something that took a lot of time, lessons learned, and trials that I needed to go through. I was doing anything and everything I could to keep busy, find jobs, continue shooting, and make enough money to live off of. My biggest breakthrough was after I graduated college and started doing fit modeling full time. That is when I finally had steady work and no longer had to live from paycheck to paycheck. ((Fit modeling is working directly with the designers of a company to create the perfect fit of a garment. It is within the production process, after design and before the products are in the stores. Most people don’t know this job exists, but there is a lot of hard work that goes into making each and every garment fit the way the designer intended for it to fit. I spend my days trying on tons and tons of clothes, and working with the design and production department of multiple companies in order to fit clothing to my body. I work as a size 2 for some clients, and a 4 for others.))

 

What are some of the obstacles you’ve had to overcome while pursing your goals and how did you conquer them?

-- When I first moved to NYC, I was constantly told that my skin was very bad and broken out, that I needed to lose weight, and that I was too short to model. 

I really did have horrible skin when I first started modeling. It actually was bad for several years, and I tried every skin care line you could think of to try and fix it. Every doctor would say that my acne was hormonal, but nothing seemed to help. Finally I realized that I was allergic to gluten, and now my skin looks and feels like a brand new face! I am very careful about not eating gluten anymore, and I do oil cleansing to clean my face. Having clear skin is very important for modeling, and I am so thankful that I don't have to worry about that anymore. Of course I have occasional breakouts, but they are nothing like what I use to deal with. 

As a fit model, I have to maintain my weight and measurements. I no longer am being pushed to lose weight, and also I can't gain weight, but I literally have to stay the same size. This has caused me to be much healthier because I am maintaining my natural weigh and measurements. I am not trying to be a certain size that I am not meant to be. This may sound crazy or seem very hard, but my body naturally stays the same for the most part, so this is not overly challenging for me. I am not someone who fluctuates often, which is why fit modeling has been so good for me.

As far as my height goes, obviously there is no magic formula to get taller! However again, as a fit model, they like my height. I am the "average" height for the clients that I work with (at 5’7) and I am exactly what my clients need. I don't have to stress about being two inches too short anymore because I don't do as many fashion jobs as I use to. And when I do, I don't care that I am shorter than the other girls because I am comfortable with who I am. 

 

Do you have any advice you’d like to give teenagers pursuing a similar dream?

 -- Absolutely! I would say that whatever is in your heart to do, go for it and don't let anyone tell you that you can't. Let that be what motivates you and keeps you moving forward! Most importantly, know your boundaries and who you are. Be you. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. In the modeling industry, there is SO much competition. But at the same time, there are SO many different companies and clients that are looking for different things. Just be yourself, and you will find a client that is looking for exactly you! Until then, keep moving forward and do not get discouraged when you hear a million 'no's' because it will be worth if for the time you finally get a 'yes!' 

 

Tell us about your accomplishments.

 -- It is now almost exactly 7 years after I moved to NYC after high school. I am 25 years old, recently married, and have been modeling full time since I graduated college in 2012. As a fit model, I have worked with clients such as Armani Exchange, Opening Ceremony, Steven Alan, American Eagle, Almost Famous, Onia, Whit NY, Swiss Army, Mara Hoffman, Joe Fresh, Vince Camuto, Amoi, and more. I have worked as a showroom model for companies such as Vanilla Star, Vogue, Splendid, Nike, Jessica Simpson, Helly Hansen, and New York & Company. I've done print work for Cosmopolitan Magazine, Seventeen Magazine, The New York Post, BB Dakota, Lauren Conrad for Kohls, Kings of Cole, and others. I have done background work for television shows and movies, such as Gossip Girl, White Collar, It's Complicated, Law And Order, CSI:NY, The Beautiful Life, and more. I have done runway shows for Sachika, Belabunda Swim, Oakley, Victor Harper Bridal, SARAR, and more. I am so thankful that I didn’t give up when I wanted to. Even though it has not been easy, it has been the adventure of a lifetime and I am extremely happy to be working in a field that I am so passionate about!

 

What are your goals for the next ten years?

-- Wow 10 years... Who knows where I'll be! I think it's important to have goals, absolutely, but I've always been a very spontaneous person. I could not have ever dreamed of where I am right now, so I honestly don't think I could dream up the next 10 years even if I tried! I will definitely have kids by then, which means a lot will change as far as modeling goes. However, I recently started a fashion + lifestyle blog (www.taramichellebrose.com) that I intend to grow and see flourish in the next few years. There is definitely more longevity in modeling than people think, so I do believe I could continue with it if I wanted to. It wouldn't be as much fashion as it would be fit, commercial, or lifestyle jobs, but all of which I love to do! I don't know what all I will accomplish in the next 10 years, but I know that it will be exciting!

Click here to visit Tara's blog.

 

 

The Writer's Conference: What Every Writer Needs To Know

The publishing industry is a magic trick.

People like its thrill, excitement, and outcome but they don’t know how the “trick” is performed. Some assume that it just happens—the pretty lady just happens to survive being sawed in half; the wordy document on a writer’s computer just happens to turn into a bestseller. Others believe in the poof—poof, the white rabbit disappears; poof, someone has an agent and a three-book contract with HarperCollins.

I’d like to apologize now for the major spoiler.

JUST HAPPENS AND POOF DO NOT EXIST!

I’ve been a part of the publishing world ever since I self-published my first book at age fifteen—three years ago. At the time, self-publishing wasn’t looked at as a credible publishing venue, which forced me to be my own advocate and publicist. I worked seven hours a day on my books—writing, editing, formatting, and marketing. It didn’t take long for me to learn that JUST HAPPENS and POOF were illusions.

Self-publishing has finally gained the positive reputation it deserves—credible, independent, time-consuming, a task for the relentless and fearless. Countless writers, authors, and professionals have told me that self-publishing is too much work for them, which doesn’t make such sense to me since working with a traditional publisher forces a writer to be dependent on someone else’s calendar and preference.

Stepping off the soapbox…

“Hard work and minimal success” should be the publishing industry’s subtitle. To breakthrough, an author has to query to the right agent, at the right time, have a book that appeals to the current trends, contract with the right publishing house, and pray that booksellers will give their work the time of day. Once a book makes it to shelves, the promotional work begins.

In other words, every aspect of the “equation” has to be flawless for a book to be successful.

Don’t feel discouraged. Although it is difficult to publish, there are ways you can boost your odds.

Last week, I was in New York City attending the Writer’s Digest Conference. My mission was to pitch my latest book to agents. I was successful! Even though it took several nights of freak-outs, a lot of praying, and hours of rehearsal, I managed to present my work to nine literary agents.

My best friend, Tessa Emily Hall (author of Purple Moon), found her publisher at a writer’s conference. Like she informed me, I want to inform you of the benefits of attending a writer’s conference.

The Strand Bookstore (New York City)

 

What is a writer’s conference?

A writer’s conference is an event designed to help writers develop their craft, network, and become aware of the current publishing market.

Why should I spend hundreds of dollars to attend one?

Writer’s conferences present a unique opportunity. They allow you to have face-time with professionals in the industry, learn insider secrets, and also connect with other writers.

Connections determine success! The people you know will decide how far you go.

Invest in yourself. A few hundred dollars might be your “foot in the door.”

What should I consider when choosing a conference?

Are you attending to learn more about the writing craft or to pitch?

If you want to develop your writing ability, attend a conference with a variety of writing-geared lectures and credible speakers.

If you’re in the market for an agent, choose a conference with a good number of visiting agents who represent your genre.

How can I prepare for the pitch?

Finish your book. Don’t pitch unless your work is ready to be sold.

Prepare and practice your pitch. Do this well in advance. You need time to write, practice, revise, and revise again. I changed my pitch ten times before the conference and rewrote it two hours before my pitch session. Be ready for last-minute changes.

Research. Make a list of the agents who represent your genre. Know what they’re seeking. Also, be aware of current book trends and know how your book might fit into the tough marketplace.

 

Below are some tips to help you craft an effective query letter. I’ll post a pitch tutorial vlog next week that will include pitch etiquette, proper format, etcetera.

The Dreaded Query Letter…. (Visit QueryShark.com for more tips)

A query letter is a business letter meant to demonstrate your competence and entice agents to read your pages. Remember, formulating a query isn’t a creative writing assignment. You don’t have to showcase your writing abilities. Queries are supposed to be straightforward.

To an agent, your book is a product, not a piece of art.

 

There are two questions you must answer when writing your query.

1.      Who is your main character?

2.      What does s/he want?

How to convey what the book is about:

1.      The main character must decide whether to________

If s/he decides to do (this), the consequences s/he faces are________

The book’s stakes are of dire importance! I cannot stress this enough. If an agent reads your query and does not believe your main character has anything to lose, s/he will not ask for pages.

 

A query letter should include:

-        Word count

-        Title

-        Any publishing credits you have

 

Instant rejection phrases include:

“Fiction novel…”   DUH!

“Sure bestseller.”

“Oprah.”

“Film potential.”

“Dear agent.” – “Dear Sir or Madam.”

 

DON’T ASK RHETORICAL QUESTIONS!

Proper query format….

Subject: Query – Title by Author

Dear (Name of Agent),

If you met them at a conference, tell them.

First: Answer the question “what is this book about?” Have a line break every three lines.

Second: Your writing credits and bio.

Third: Genre/ Word-count/ Title

Closing: Thanks for your time and consideration.

Your name

Email

Telephone

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Physical address

 

Welcome To New York

Expectations.

We all have them.

When we buy a cup of coffee, we expect to taste coffee. We expect our cars to crank. We expect people to act like us and feel shocked when they don’t.

Expectations.

They hurt the best of us.

I am currently in New York City to attend a writing conference. I’ve been anticipating this trip for six-months. In my imagination, I saw myself striding through the city like a celebrity —fashionable, confident, with perfect hair and perfect makeup. I could see myself biking through Central Park, lounging on the rail of a ferry with Manhattan glistening behind me. I fantasized riding the subway and maybe, just maybe falling into Zac Efron’s arms when the vehicle lurched to a stop.

I had expectations. Crazy expectations. And over the past few days, I’ve learned that one of the biggest mistakes people make is to have unrealistic expectations of themselves and the world.

I’ve sure learned my lesson.

 

Day one.

At the airport, I was body-scanned. Thoroughly. My luggage was probed—the security guards thought my business cards were bullets. Anyway, after being suspected of terrorism, I flew to New York City and arrived at my apartment. I ate dinner at a diner, walked to Radio City and the Rockefeller Center, and prepared myself for the best week of my life.

New York City is beautiful, chaotic, and unceasing. People move fast. They drive fast, live fast. Millions of people crammed onto an island and they merge with each other, crowd into crowd, rarely conversing or smiling. Even though they’re surrounded by so many faces, everyone seems alone.

 

View from my apartment building's roof

Two of the cats who share my apartment

Day two.

Early morning and a trip to the local bagel shop. Very crowded. Bagged bagel to go. Not good. I’d been told that the bagels in NYC were the best. I was expecting the BEST, but a bagel can only be the BEST when it’s warm, smothered in cream cheese, not cold and plain.

My mom and I purchased metro cards for the subway and mapped our route. We were going to meet Tara Brose (model and sister of Tessa Emily Hall) for coffee in SOHO. We did, but it took a while for us to make the commute. The subway is confusing! My mom and I navigated London and Berlin without a problem, but New York had us baffled. When we finally reached SOHO, we got lost, wandered block after block before finally arriving at the coffeehouse. By that point, I didn’t look like the celebrity I’d envisioned myself to be. I was sweaty, sticky, with frizzy hair and smeared lipstick. And my shoes were giving me blisters! Wonderful!

SOHO

              Tara arrived—fashionable, confident, with perfect hair and perfect makeup. She is such an amazing person. I loved talking with her, drinking some truly terrific coffee, and being in an air-conditioned, toilet-accessible building.

 Afterwards, my mom and I returned to the dreaded subway and attempted to commute to the Staten Island Ferry. We ended up in Brooklyn—not our desired destination—and after an hour of hopping trains, we made it to the ferry. Let me mention that I didn’t fall into Zac Efron’s arms during the ordeal.

 

I saw the Statue of Liberty. I walked miles, block-to-block, U-turn, block-to-block again. By the time I returned to the apartment, I was starving, hot, my feet were covered in blisters and my makeup had sloughed off. If there was an award for CRANKIEST PERSON, I probably would’ve won it at that moment. But there wasn’t enough time for me to grovel in my pain and frustration. My mom and I had tickets to see Wicked on Broadway. Finally, a chance for me to look AMAZING! Black leather dress, high-heels, red lipstick—I was ready for a night on the town.

Wicked was incredible. I met one of the lead performers and was feeling good. My mom and I walked to Times Square. Everything was good. Better than good. Great! But adversity should be my middle name because on our way back to the apartment, we got lost, forgot to eat dinner, and fought the masses for miles. My leather dress and high-heels didn’t seem so spectacular anymore. Quite the opposite. My feet were on fire, blistered, oozing, about to contract gangrene and fall off. CRANKIEST PERSON suddenly became I AM GOING TO MUDER YOU IF YOU DON’T FEED ME AND PEEL THESE DANG SHOES OFF MY FEET.

My poor mom managed to half-drag me back to the apartment, feed me a dinner of carrot juice and hummus, and let me prop up my mangled feet.

Word of advice. Fashion doesn’t matter! No one cares what you’re wearing. Dress for comfort. You don’t want to be miserable. Tennis shoes and exercise shorts are the way to go!

 

Day 3.

The subway strikes again!

My mom and I were headed for Central Park but ended up in Harlem. For a brief moment, we feared for our lives and then quickly called a cab. We went to Café Lalo, a wonderful restaurant and set of the film “You’ve Got Mail.” Best lunch, coffee, and desert I’ve had in a while. We, then, stepped outside…only to be caught in a downpour. Using takeout menus as umbrellas, we ran through the rain, laughing, and stood under an awning with an older lady for several minutes. The storm strengthened. We ran to a deli. No umbrellas. We ran to a grocer. Umbrellas and a flower shop!

Umbrella Prototype

 

By that point, my shoes were filled with water. My clothes (the same outfit I was wearing the day earlier) were soaked. Standing in the rain, surrounded by wet strangers, I realized that all the frustration and twisted plans were memories I could laugh about with my mom. Flexibility would make my trip amazing, not pretty clothes and achieved expectations.

Perfection is an illusion, a lie we tell ourselves. Nothing is perfect in this world.

Amused by our misadventures, my mom and I walked through Central Park, went shopping for new shoes and dry clothes, and enjoyed a nice dinner of sushi at a local restaurant.

I found Kyle and Cora's rock from JUST STRENGTH!

        If life went according to plan and fit our expectations, it wouldn’t be interesting. Adversity gives our stories plot-twists, intrigue, and a chance for God to mold us into better people. Loosen up. Inspect your expectations. Are they realistic? Does perfection dictate your happiness? I challenge you to find joy even when things go wrong.

Look for laughter in the storm.

And blistered feet.

Newsy Tuesday

Because of my approaching conference, I’m taking a leave of absence from Blogger to focus on final preparations. When you hear from me again, I’ll be in New York City. All of my crazy experiences will be shared on this page—travel tips, awkward moments, mishaps, pictures, everything. But until then, follow me on Twitter @PrimeWayWriter, Instagram @authorcarolinegeorge, or check out my Facebook page. I’ll be posting continuous updates.

Thanks for your support and readership! Below are contest information, a list of upcoming posts, and several reader recommendations.

Future Posts:

·        Welcome To New York

·        The Writer’s Conference: What All Writers Need To Know

·        Three Cheers For Teens

·        The Pitch (Video Blog)

·        Student Vs. Author

For Writers: Check out author Tessa Emily Hall’s Monday Minute Challenge! It’s a wonderful contest that tests your writing skills.

Book Recommendation: WARM BODIES by Isaac Marion

Coffee Of The Day: Chock Full o’ Nuts

CONTEST: Don’t forget about the Social Media Challenge! To enter the contest, post the hashtag #IAmTheVestige on your social media account. Each post will act as an entry. The more you tweet, Instagram, blog, and Facebook #IAmTheVestige, the more times you will be entered into the final drawing. There isn’t an entry limit. Post as much or as little as you want. Just know that the more entries you have, the more likely you are to win the PRIZE PACK!