Lauren
Agencies
Mother Agency (MA): hous management
Answers to Q&A
What INSPIRED you to become a model?
I was a freelance model for many years and enjoyed working with new designers, indie creators and small businesses. I had considered myself done with being on that side of the camera when I studied fashion design, graduating last year. I met Dayna of Hous Management when she was casting Unbound 2024, my capsule collection final show at Fanshawe College. At the casting she met my little brother. He was in his first year at Fanshawe so I called him up, because I wanted gender diversity in my collection. I was surprised he came, and even more surprised he was a natural, but if he's anything like me I should have known he was going to be great ;) I asked him after why he decided to come and he said, “Because you asked me to!”
My brother and I are close, so it was wonderful to have him be a part of a really significant moment for me. Dayna scouted my brother, and after my final year she scouted me as well! She was considerate that I had a lot on my plate while finishing college, but the moment I was done she reinvigorated the part of me that loves the modeling side of fashion and that I could be a part of Hous and continue my modeling career.
What are you most excited about when it comes to modeling?
I'm most excited for the opportunity to show trans beauty. As a gender nonconforming trans person today I think it's important to show up for myself and my community in the modeling/fashion world. Our bodies and perspectives are beautiful and I'm looking forward to being a part of showing that!
Can you share with us some advice you have for models wanting to get into the industry?
I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is that being yourself pays off. Being authentic shows through in whatever you're doing. Someone wanted you to be in that room with them because of who you are, not who you are pretending to be or who they are expecting you to be. You miss out on so much growth when you don't put that same energy into nurturing your real self and what you believe in.
share a fun fact about yourself!
I’m a big appreciator and collector of vintage clothes! I worked at a great vintage boutique in Stratford, Ont for three years and before that I was a thrifter. It's grown into the thrill of finding really unique things. Between that job and school I’ve learned to recognize what different styles and stitching types come from what era and spotting iconic labels. Right now I'm in my “camping dad streetwear era” and keep looking for anything vintage Eddie Bauer!