Meet Studio K Model Kelsi!

MEET KELSI!

photo by Tetyana McGowen

RYR: As a Studio K girl, you're obviously into modeling, acting, fashion, pageantry or           something of the sort, so what made you want to get involved in the industry that                     you're in?

Kelsi and her sister Calie.
photo by Mean Muggin Media 

K:  My sister was my biggest influence that made me want to get involved with  modeling.  She is an inspiration to me, and has helped me along my entire modeling experience. 

RYR: What has been your favorite experience so far?

K:  My favorite experience with modeling so far is               meeting so many different amazing people. From the           MUAS and Hair stylists, to the unique businesses and           all the wonderful  photographers. I really love getting out of my normal habitat and everyday life to meet new people.

RYR: If you could have any modeling or acting gig, what would be your "dream job?"
   
K:  modeling for the cover of a popular magazine would be my dream job.

RYR: This industry is often stereotyped.  What would you tell someone who has a negative         view?
   
K: I would want to tell everyone who has a negative view on modeling that it's not like     what you see on tv or in a movie. Believe it or not it's a hard job sometimes, but                     always fun and exciting. Us models put a lot of time and effort into what we do. An               there are so many great people who come together for our photo shoots or runways,           and work even harder to make us look our best. 

photo by Mean Muggin Media 

RYR: What is one unexpected thing that you've learned through your experiences in the   industry?

K: One unexpected thing I've learned through my experience is how much work                   everyone puts in to make the perfect picture come to life.  

RYR: If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking at starting out in the                     modeling/acting/pageant world, what would you say?

    

K: My advice is : To never give up. Always keep a positive attitude and stay confident in     who you are!   

RYR: Have you ever been compared to a celebrity?  If so, who?

    

K:  Yes, everyone tells me I look like Kristen Stewart (Bella from the Twilight series)... 

Kelsi

Kristen Stewart   

RYR: If you could be on the cover of any magazine, what would it be and why?

    

K:  If I could be on the cover of any magazine I would love to be on the cover of Vogue. 

RYR: What is your biggest pet-peeve?  (I just like hearing the answers to this one!)

    

K: my biggest pet-peeve is seeing people drink after each other. I think it's disgusting!     Lol  

RYR:  Rock Your Runway likes to showcase the different "runways" that people like to                 rock.  The term runway is obviously used in modeling, but for this blog, I like to relate it to anything in your life, something that you are passionate about.  So, other than the obvious, what would you consider your "runway" to be?

    

K:  To me it's not SOMETHING in  my life that's my personal runway, IT IS my life that     is my runway. I try to always stay confident, an do and be the best I possibly can in             my life. 

Kelsi is a dedicated model who is working hard to pursue her passions.  We loved getting to know her better and we have to agree that she looks a lot like Kristen Stewart!  hehe!

Summer Fashions on Full Plate

I had the opportunity to film another segment for Rebecca Regnier's Full Plate on 13ABC.  This time, we discussed some of my favorite summer fashion do's and don'ts!  The episode aired this weekend, but if you missed it, you can check it out here!  Special thanks to Rebecca Regnier, and to my models Kelsi and Nikita.  Also, the dress and fashions modeled on this segment can be found at Sofi Stella Boutique in Monroe, Michigan.  Such a cute shop with fashions for children and women with very affordable prices! Check them out and make sure you mention that you saw this episode!

I'll be heading back next month to join Rebecca and a SPECIAL GUEST will be coming along with me, so stay tuned to find out who!!!

  13abc.com: Breaking News, Weather and Sports


Hope you enjoyed!

Summer Do's!

We are in the heart of summer, but has your fashion caught up?  Here's a few "do's" to add to your summer looks so you can stay on trend!

DO wear an adorable summer shift dress or circle skirt.  This is one of my favorite trends this year.  It's feminine and girly, but can be done so classy.  Summer dresses are easy to throw on with sandals and a jean jacket to keep it casual or heels and accessories to dress it up.  If you need a summer go-to, a cute flowy dress or skirt would be it!

Photo by: Flair Promotions
Wardrobe by: Ragazza Boutique

DO accessorize with hats.  Fedoras, facinators, floppy summer hats, they are all over the place right now. Throw one on to look sophisticated and stylish while also protecting your skin from the harsh UV rays of the summer sun. This is an easy accessory to add to any simple outfit to liven it up! 

Photo by: Sarah Modene Photography
Wardrobe by: Francescas

Photo by: Flair Promotions
Wardrobe by: Ragazza Boutique
Hats and Fascinators by: olive m'lou  

DO wear your hear in a cute side braid or fishtail.  Beachy waves are a typical summer hairstyle, but this year we are all about the side pony.  Have fun with this bohemian chic look and make it sleek and tight or loose and messy....either way, you can't go wrong!

Photo by: Sarah Modene Photography
Hair by: Allie Hessey & Giselle Veller

DO wear fun and bold prints on the bottom.  A printed short, color-blocked skirt or colorful palazzo pant are all the rage, so make sure you have one of these in your closet this year!  And of course for summer, go with fun, bright eye-catching colors! The key is to keep the top simple so the overall look isn't too busy. Geometric prints are going to be big in the fall, so adding this to your wardrobe now during the summer will even keep you ahead of the trends!  

    

Behind-the-scenes as I filmed a Summer Trends segment for Rebecca Regnier's Full Plate show on 13abc
and interviewed at Miss Heart of Ohio USA (photo by: 214 Productions)!

CFDA Fashion Awards - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

The Council of Fashion Designers of America held their annual CFDA Awards recently to recognize some of the top designers and fashion icons of the industry.  Many celebrities were in attendance and some, well, they probably should have just stayed home!  The trends were all over the place from drapey looks to cutouts to asymmetrical hems.  Here's a few of my YAYS and NAYS of the night!

Let's start with my not-so-favorite...  

Okay, I get the whole peplum thing, but this Dior dress takes it to a whole nother level!

I do think that you typically can't go wrong with the classic black dress, but these two look like they are headed to graduation....where are your caps sistas???

Oh Lupita, you were doing so well with all of your chic and beautiful looks recently that this Suno pants outfit is just plain sad. 

Iman is typically known for her sense of fashion, but I am just confused with this one!

Okay, so this is my "the ugly" even though I do still think he is funny! ;)

Okay, let's end on a high-note now with some of my faves...  

Just simply stunning!  No crazy, over-the-top jewelry (which I usually am a big fan of) and no dramatic makeup or hair.  Just simple, classic elegance at it's finest!

Okay, okay, I know some people are over the whole peplum thing, but when done properly, I am a huge fan still.  I also love me a good jumper (not overalls!) and this Giulietta jumpsuit is just beautifully done...classy!

I love that Blake is pulling off this short Michael Kors number so perfectly.  She looks like a Bond girl, pulled straight from the movie set!  And look at those nude/pale pink toned pumps...you can't ever go wrong there!

Now this is a black gown done right!  I love the asymmetrical shoulder and slit at the bottom, it adds just the right about of interest and design elements to it!

The cropped tops are back, whether I want them to be or not.  This Broke Girl has done is right though with just a little peek of stomach showing paired with an elegant layered skirt in a tasteful hem length.

This was my absolute favorite look of the night.  Three words...GLAM-OR-OUS.  From the hair and makeup to the beautifully beaded Monique Lhuillier gown with the intricate arm detail and cutouts placed perfectly, this overall look is a HUGE hit for me!

AND THEN THERE'S THIS...

I know I said I was going to end on a high note, but I can't post this blog without mentioning the most talked about look of the evening.  I honestly don't even know what to say here!  I'm a pageant girl, I get being drenched in rhinestones, but there's something to be said about leaving a little to the imagination and with this gown, there's no imagining anything!  And to think, she wore this while accepting her "Style Icon" Award.  I just would like to have seen it with a nude lining or something...let's try to keep it classy, Rihanna!  

And who are we kidding, the fur is doing nothing here.  

Happy Awards-Attending! 

Just Say NO to These Summer Trends...

I do love fashion and I do love how people can express themselves through various trends and styles.  However, that being said, there are a few trends out there and I think we should say goodbye too!

1. Overalls - really?  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a good, fashionable jumper or romper, but jean "coveralls?"  I do love that trends tend to come back around, revamped, but these?  Why or how these even came back in style is a question that I don't know I'll ever be able to answer, but the trends from the 90's should really stay there!

2. Chunky, boxy shoes.  Do I even need to explain why this one needs to leave as quickly as it came back?  The Birkenstocks and Doc Martins were definitely "in" back in the day, but the key word in that sentence is "were" as in past tense.  Yes, I'm totally guilty of rocking these bad boys back in the day, but no thank you now!  Please, I don't know that I can handle looking at these boats on people's feet for another minute!

3. Nails - okay ladies, getting manicures and having fun with gels and polish is great, but those weird bell-bottom looking nails or the dracula-style, as I call them, ultra pointy tips are just plain odd!  Especially if you are trying to do anything in the pageant or modeling worlds, natural and well-kept nails are the way to go!

4. Oversized Flower Power - okay, really?  When did this happen?  I do love me a good fascinator or floppy hat to go with my cute summer dress, but these insanely large flower crowns are just a little much.  I guess if you go to garden parties all the time then they may work, but really, when was the last garden party you attended? 

5. Jean Underwear - yep, that's what I'm calling them.  You know what I'm taking about.  Those really short short jean shorts where the inner lining of the pockets stick out because they are just too short.  I don't know about you, but I'd rather not walk around looking like I'm wearing a denim diaper!  Yikes!  Add a little class to your wardrobe and please go for a longer length.

I try to keep my posts positive and trendy, but I just had to speak my peace on these few items!  Thanks for reading...happy trending! :)

I want to compete in a pageant....WHERE DO I START??!!

The pageant bug has bitten you!  You've watched your friends post photos with new friends having fun in glamorous gowns.  You've read about how someone just won a title and is preparing for the next big adventure in some really cool location.  You've witnessed as girls get opportunities that you didn't even know existed and now you want in on it  So, you're taking the plunge and signing up for your first pageant.  You do a little googling and quickly become overwhelmed...."WHERE DO I START??!!!"

No worries, I'll share a few things you should look for as you sign up for your first pageant experience.  I can't share everything, after all, I am a pageant coach, so if you need more than just what will scratch the surface here, then contact me and set up some one-on-one time at my studio so you can head to that first pageant totally confident and fully prepared!

First and foremost, no two pageants are the same.  Okay, so they may be similar, but they are hardly ever the same.  There are many things that differ from one pageant to the next, but some of the obvious things include areas of competition, scoring, available age divisions and style.  What, am I going too fast?  Okay, I'll use this blog post to break those down a little further for you...

          Areas of competition - the areas of competition are the part of the pageant that you actually have to compete in.  Some areas may include interview, photogenic self-introduction, talent, swimwear, fitness wear, fun fashion, formal, community service, etc.  Again, the keyword is "some."  Not every system is going to have swimwear just like not every one has a self-introduction.  The important thing when signing up for a pageant is to know exactly what you are signing up for.  If you don't have an on-stage talent, then competing in a pageant where talent is mandatory is probably not a good idea!  That being said, some pageants then offer what we call "optionals."  These are things you can compete in as an option...meaning, they are not mandatory and your scores from those optionals won't count towards the actual pageant scores.  So, if you have a talent, but you're still working on developing it then signing up for a talent optional competition may be a good place for you to start.  Well, what did you learn here?  Know what the mandatory areas of competition are and what might just be an option.

          Scoring - It's a pageant...you're being judged, so you are getting scored.  A winner is chosen based off of who has the highest scores from the judges.  This is generally done on some sort of scale.  It could be 1-10, 1-20 or ranked or whatever they decide.  Most pageants will include how their scoring is handled in the paperwork, so make sure you read up on it!  That being said, each area of competition accounts for a certain percentage of your overall score.  For example, a pageant may have interview, fashion and formal as their areas of comp, with all three being equally weighted at roughly 33% each.  Great, so if you bomb interview, then you have the other two stage areas to make up for it.  But another system with the same three areas may have interview weighted at 50% of your score with fashion 25% and formal the last 25%.  That tells you that interview is a heavier weight of your overall score, so that's one area you'll want to make sure to excel in.  Some pageants are heavily dependent on your talent, so if talent is 50% or higher of your score, then you'll want to make sure you're talent is spot-on and really strong!  Regardless of the percentage though, you should always make sure you are completely prepared for EVERY phase of your competition. Make sense?  Know the percentage breakdown of the areas!

Available age divisions - most pageants are broken down into divisions so that a toddler isn't competing against someone in their 30's.  This keeps the competition fair and balanced.  Some pageants are broken down solely based off of your age, while others are by age AND marital status, meaning, some pageants have separate age divisions for those who are married or for those who are not but yet in the same age group. Every division then has it's own separate group name based off of what that particular pageant likes to call it.  For instance, one system may have a 9-11 year old age division and call it "Pre-Teen," while another with the same breakdown may call it "Junior Teen."  Basically, when signing up, make sure you know what age division you are in and know what the title is that you are competing for!

          Style- okay, so this just may be the most important part of signing up for a pageant...you need to know the pageant's style.  Some pageants are what we call "conservative" while others may be more "glitz" and then there's everything in-between!  Just knowing the style of the pageant alone can lead you to success.  A conservative pageant is going to look for more of the natural overall looks.  This means, certain age divisions may not be allowed to wear makeup, while others will not be allowed slits in their dresses or deep-plunging necklines.  Knowing this ahead of time will help save you from unnecessary point deductions.  Glitz pageants are more like what you see on the tv show "Toddlers & Tiaras," heavy makeup, spray tans and fake hair for little ones.  There's nothing wrong with the different individual styles of pageantry, but it will be important to figure out which style you personally want to pursue and then find a system to match your needs.  When I first started, I signed up for a more conservative system and bombed because I wasn't doing the "pageant-patty" things they looked for, but then I tried one that was a little more glam and high-fashion and ended up doing really well.  So success can really start with choosing the right system for YOU.  Bottom line, know the style of the system that you are signing up for and follow their rules!

Clearly, there's a lot to pageantry and these are just some of the many things to consider when doing your research.  That's just it though...do your research!  Google.  Bing.  Ask friends who have competed before.  Talk to strangers.  I don't care what you have to do, but get the knowledge!  Most pageant websites will list the director's name and contact info, so don't be afraid to ask questions to them directly before you sign up for anything...most deposits are non-refundable, so do your homework before you pay.  Speaking of paying, look into all of the fees too while you're at it.  Is it just a one-time entry fee?  Are there mandatory program ad page fees?  Do you have to pay for dinners or other tickets on top of the entry fee?  This will be important to know for your budget.  Also, consider what will happen if you do go and end up winning....after all, that really could happen you know.  Is there another level that you'll have to compete at?  What is that info...dates, location, etc?  These are all things to consider for your wants, needs, schedule, budget, etc. Worse case, come see me at Studio K Coaching and I'll help ya out! ;)

Moral of the story (in case you're one of those people who don't really like to read and just scroll) DO YOUR HOMEWORK before signing up for anything!!!

Meet Studio K Model Madison!

MEET MADISON!

Photo by: Clover Storm Photography

 

RYR: As a Studio K girl, you're obviously into modeling, acting, fashion, pageantry or something of the sort, so what made you want to get involved in the industry that you're in?

M: I am currently trying to get into the modeling and acting industry. What made me really want to be apart of this was when I was younger, and I watched a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie. They were very good actors and models, and I would always say "I want to be just like them!" Ever since then, this industry has always been a dream of mine. I see the teen models in the magazines and the young actresses be very successful, and I strive to make similar accomplishments like them.

 

RYR: What has been your favorite experience so far?

M: My Favorite experience so far would have to be the portfolio building workshop that I participated in! It was so much fun, and a really good introduction to the modeling business for me.

 

 

RYR: If you could have any modeling or acting gig, what would be your "dream job?"

M: My dream job would have to be having the lead role in an action movie. I find those movies to be very challenging to act in due to all the special effects and green screens needed to create the movie. Even though it would definitely be a challenge, I feel it would be a great accomplishment if I ever get the opportunity to do one.

 

RYR: This industry is often stereotyped.  What would you tell someone who has a negative view?

M: Even though the industry is much stereotyped, the way I see it is that you don't know unless you try. People don't see all the hard work and dedication put into modeling or acting, or the amount of rejection that is present to many if not everyone who is apart of this industry. All people who stereotype this industry see is a pretty face on screen or in a picture, yet they don't see the amount of effort put into getting the opportunity to act or model. I would tell someone with a negative view of this industry to try it and see if their negative view remains the same.

 

RYR: What is one unexpected thing that you've learned through your experiences in the industry?

M: Personally, I learned that there is a lot more work put into this industry than I originally thought. I am very new to this, and I never realized how much effort someone needs to make to become a figure in the industry. I knew coming into this new that very little actually make it big, but I never realized how small that number was until I was introduced to modeling and acting.

 

RYR: If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking at starting out in the modeling/acting/pageant world, what would you say?

M: The main thing I would tell someone who is starting out in this industry is to never give up. You are going to be rejected, told you aren't good enough for a job, and told you are not what they're looking for. Instead of giving up, get back on your feet and work even harder to improving yourself to be better at what you do. Prove to the people who turned that they were wrong. This industry is very tough, so you can't let down and stop striving to be better. Nothing comes easy in life, but the good things come to those who work for it.

Photo by: Clover Storm Photography

 

RYR: Have you ever been compared to a celebrity?  If so, who?

M: In fact I have been compared to a celebrity, and that person is Jennifer Lawrence. She has talked about how hard she's has had to work to be where she is today, which is what I am currently in the process of doing. She's not afraid to be who she is, and she doesn't necessarily care what people think of her. She is such a good role model for young girls dealing with their weight, appearance, and the who they are. She is one woman who I aspire to be like.

 

RYR: If you could be on the cover of any magazine, what would it be and why? 

M:  If I could be on the cover of any magazine, I would have to choose Seventeen magazine. This magazine doesn't seem to try to show the models as being something they aren't, and I can relate to the models. They genuinely seem happy and proud to be in the magazine, plus it showcases who they are as a person through the pictures. 

 

RYR: What is your biggest pet-peeve?  (I just like hearing the answers to this one!)

M: A pet peeve of mine is when girls feel as if they need someone to depend on; such as a boyfriend. Personally, I feel that these girls need to show that they can be strong, independent women who don't nee a man by their side. It doesn't look the greatest when girls constantly need someone there for them. I find it awesome to have girl who can prove to others that she can stand on her own two feet and can rely on herself.

 

RYR: Rock Your Runway likes to showcase the different "runways" that people like to rock.  The term runway is obviously used in modeling, but for this blog, I like to relate it to anything in your life, something that you are passionate about.  So, other than the obvious, what would you consider your "runway" to be?

M: My "runway" would have to be my gymnastics. I have been a gymnast for thirteen years, and it has been my rock. I have grown up with such great coaches and teammates who have helped make me who I am today. I have gained grace, strength, and a certain confidence to myself that I know I would not have today if I had not become a gymnast.

 

 

Rocking the Photoshoot!

As much as I love getting the opportunity to do some work in front of the camera, I absolutely love even more working behind it.  Recently, I've been able to coordinate and style a few different photoshoots and they have been AWESOME!

I was able to coordinate a shoot for some of my Studio K models to help build their portfolios.  I partnered with Kevin Charles Salon in Sylvania, Ohio and a few of their stylists worked on hand to offer some fun styles for the models.  They did everything from sleek straight looks to curly waves to crazy edgy hair.  So many great styles.  Kevin Charles also opened up his location for us to hold the shoots which worked out perfectly!  I also partnered with Tiffany Taylor, a top notch makeup artist and Independent Sales Director with Mary Kay.  Don't let the MK name fool you though, this girl has mad-makeup skills!  She always says, "this ain't your grandma's Mary Kay" and that couldn't be more true!  And lastly, the wonderful photographer, John Flynn from Clover Storm Photography came in to photograph the gorgeous models.  John shoots lots of pageants, shows and he's worked a lot of different fashion shoots.  I'll let his work below speak to just how talented he is!  I have to admit, this team has been awesome and I'm so happy to be able to offer these portfolio building photoshoot sessions for our talent!  Here's a few of the recent shots....

 

 

 

I also recently had the opportunity to style an editorial photoshoot for Sarah Modene Photography.  Sarah is another amazing photographer who specializes in photo sessions for seniors graduating from high school.  She has a staff of hair and makeup artists on hand for every session she does, so her shots really are unique for each "model."  She wanted to put together a shoot to help promote her business and she asked me to help style it.  We really wanted to make it different and fun, so I contacted my friends at Blue by Atlas Bridal Shop and they graciously agreed to let us borrow some gorgeous gowns and dresses and then my dear friend Mindi Marshall, an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot let me borrow some beautiful jewels to help accessorize each girl. 

For the first look, we wanted it to be upbeat and fun with bright colors.  I kept calling this "bubblegum."  To me, the colors just looked like bubblegum!  haha!  I had the girls bring chucks or some sort of canvas tennie to pair with the colorful dresses...this just added a youthful twist which I felt was appropriate for Sarah's target audience.  Here's a few of my behind-the-scenes pics, but head over to Sarah Modene Photography for some of the finished photos! 

 

 

 

I wanted to then go with a more "Hollywood Glam" or "red carpet" style look for the second set of photos and I feel that with the black, gold and pops of red, we were able to do just that!  And the cars were just a cool addition...I mean, why not?!!

 

 

I just love putting things together that are unexpected and fun and these shoots have allowed me to be creative while offering a different experience for my talent and those that I work with.  Buzz on over to my Studio K facebook page for more photos from all of these sessions!