Natalie
Agencies
Mother Agency (MA): Citizen Agency
Montreal: Together Model Management
New york: divide Management
London: Linden Staub
Seoul: Nous MGMT
Answers to Q&A
What INSPIRED you to become a model?
It was never a goal of mine to become an international model, but my early ambitions of becoming a professional ballerina lead me here instead. On a random Wednesday during grade 10 science class, I received a message on Instagram from one of my favourite dance wear brands, Ainsliewear. They had seen my ballet photos on my profile and offered me the opportunity to model their upcoming spring collection. I took the opportunity as a lucky one-off experience and ended up working with them a few times again after that.
From there, I was discovered by a dance photography teacher who needed a dance model for his weekly classes. I happily modelled for these shoots in exchange for the free photos but still had no interest in making it a career. With enough encouragement from my friends though, I eventually decided to apply to some Vancouver-based agencies. Days, weeks, and months went by without a single response, so I eventually just dropped the idea.
It wasn’t until about 3 years later when I came across a TikTok from a local agency looking for new faces. I decided to apply one-last time and luckily, my agent saw enough potential to offer me my first contract. Since then, I’ve worked with high-profile clients across Canada and hold multiple international contracts in industry-leading markets such as London and New York.
What are you most excited about when it comes to modeling?
The collaborative aspect of modelling is most exciting for me because I’ve been able to work with so many different teams from around the world and learn how their journeys have shaped them as artists. To witness the understanding and respect between each artist and their craft is a truly inspiring process; I’m always amazed by the ability to execute such extraordinary visions.
As a model, it’s an honour to be chosen as the face of someone’s art and having their trust to express their story. Because of my background in dance, I really enjoy the freedom of expression through movement. Having a natural awareness of my body makes it easier to follow direction when needed, but I feel as though my most valuable contributions have been a result of my own discretion.
Can you share with us some advice you have for models wanting to get into the industry?
A piece of advice I’d give, especially to young models, is that you should always be able to define yourself from your work. It’s fun to experiment with different styles of fashion or makeup, but it can be difficult to maintain a strong sense of identity when you are constantly being casted for roles which may not resonate with you. There might be trends in how casting directors perceive you, but that doesn’t mean you have to conform to those expectations in your real life. You can be selective with the shoots you choose to participate in, or remember that work is just work.
share a fun fact about yourself!
Fun fact, I’ve recently discovered a new passion for movement direction! By combining my experience in dance, choreography, and modelling, I can build off a strong foundation to guide the flow of movement and physical expression of others. So far, I’ve been able to work with developing models on creative shoots, but eventually I’d love to use my skill toward commercial work, film, and fashion shows.