On Modeling
- Iliana Alvarez
- Jul 6, 2017
- 4 min read
Do what makes you Better, Do what makes you Happy!
I love modeling; Not only the process but also what modeling encourages me to do.
Modeling demands more from me than many other careers do. Watching what I eat, exercising, and getting civil amounts of rest are all things that I would probably not take so seriously if it wasn't because of modeling.
This career path also inspires me to me set the best example that I can for others, it encourages me to work constantly on improving myself and to be the best I can be.
My favorite part of modeling is working alongside other Artists. Thanks to this career I have met some of the most wonderful creative loving and unique individuals. I've met people who have taught me so much and whom I'm fortunate to be able to call friends.
Modeling has taught me about artistry, communication, storytelling, planning, organizing, collaborations, and team work.
I've learned how to better communicate through the use of many mediums; I've learned how to tell stories through images and videos, and how to better express myself and how to understand others better.
Through Art we create, we teach, and we communicate.
How it all began...
I was three-years-old, and my mom's biggest obsession. Maybe because I was her first, maybe because she was a single parent, I don't know. But no matter how insignificant silly or strange my actions were mom would always consider them photo-perfect moments. She was my number one fan. Anything I did would put a smile on her face and turn her into a photographer. From putting some giant-sized sunglasses on, grabbing an empty beer can from the trashcan, sucking on a lemon and making ugly faces, whatever it was it would always light her face up with joy. She was a Photographer, and me her supermodel :D. We still have those pictures :D. Capturing every absurdity of mine was moms favorite pass time. It didn't take long for my three-year-old self to realize how happy my silliness was making Mom. And what fuel did this become. ...and that is when it all began.
I was Moms little muse, and making her smile was my first addiction.
The years passed and mom enrolled me in every extracurricular class she could afford. I took Dance, Modeling, Drawing, Painting and many other classes. These classes brought with them personal growth development and some very embarrassing times. Like the time I danced a song that pretty much had me dancing like a Gorilla "Como Los Gorillas" in my city's biggest theater. More than just smile I made mom literally laugh out loud that time :D.
There was another time when I played the role of a boy in a school play. Well, least to say my acting was so good that everyone in the neighborhood was concerned and believed that I had turned into some sort of tomboy overnight: D...and the embarrassing performances I continued.
I would persuade others to participate in all of my craziness or as I liked to call them"my Art-making projects". Even my best friend was victim to these. She once suffered a 1st-degree burn thanks to my fabulous idea of decorating empty coca-cola plastic bottles using a hot glue gun. Not knowing the glue would melt through the plastic we both ended up running around the house yelling and screaming because of the burns on our crafty little fingers :D. I'm sory Nitza!
There was also the time when I showed my high school crush a portrait I had drawn of him. Oh God! did I come off a little too strong :D. It was scary how like him my drawing looked, that he just did not know what to do. LOL, it totally freaked him out :D, but hey that was like ten years ago and he still has this drawing, so HA! it couldn't have been so bad.
Many years and stories later ...
Performing Arts continues having my heart.
I want to continue to use my arts to inspire.
Model what I want to see more in this world.
Make memories
Inspire and work with others
Grow as an Artist
and most importantly bring a smile to those I love.
I love you Mom!
I model because I love myself, because I love it, and because I know that this career demands me to be at my very best and that is okay, I wouldn't want to live my life any other way.
I would like to see us women being portrayed in what I call "a better light. The "curvy body" has for years been connected with "sexy" but being looked at as jus "sexy", makes it challenging for me and women my size from being taken seriously in the art of editorial and high fashion modeling. I want to help people who do not fit the current "fashion model standard" be accepted and taken seriously in fashion modeling no matter their size or height.
My message "Being an Artist is about what you make, what you communicate, how you inspire, and what you teach. Not about your Gender Size Nationality, Weight or your Height"
As an Artist, my responsibility is to model women in a "better light" To embrace women by portraying beautiful tasteful and classy images. To highlight our positive aspects as best as I can. To encourage the world to stop seeing strength in purely masculine terms but to also start making the correlation of strength with us, women.
I love my being, I love my curves, I love my sexuality, and there is so much more to love. I love and admire my strength, my determination, my perseverance, my mind, my optimism, and my soul. I want to invite you to do the same and love all that you are.
Slowly but surely I am making moves, and I encourage you to do the same. To go after your dreams.
Please I welcome you to share your story, your goals, aspirations, and dreams, you never know who may be out there listening, waiting on someone like you to share their story.
As always with love,
-Iliana
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