Valerie
Agencies
Mother Agency (MA): Massardo Model Management
Toronto: B&M Models
Answers to Q&A
What INSPIRED you to become a model?
It first started for me in high school when I was in the Visual Arts program. My friends and I worked on multimedia projects like photoshoots, videos, posters, and collages, editing everything ourselves afterward. Our sets were pretty makeshift, held together with masking tape and shot on iPhones or the school’s DSLR cameras but I loved the entire process. I always felt comfortable in front of the camera, posing, expressing emotion, showing my personality, and bringing ideas to life. Those projects were what first made me realize that I wanted to pursue modelling and build a career in the creative industry.
At university, I continued doing similar projects on a bigger scale and gained more experience working on sets and collaborating with people who shared the same interests. My university town also had a strong film, TV, and entertainment scene so there were many casting calls, networking opportunities, and ways to get involved. I started taking on modelling and acting jobs for extra income and quickly realized how much I enjoyed being on set, both in front of and behind the camera.
As my friends and I began landing jobs and internships in marketing and advertising, I started getting more opportunities through the people around me. One friend worked for a company that regularly brought me back to model for their clothing shoots and through those shoots, I became friends with the photographer. He eventually asked if I was represented by an agency. I wasn’t at the time but that conversation made me realize I was ready to take the next step and it was validating to know that a professional in the industry saw potential in me too. He encouraged me to reach out to an agent he knew. That agent was Christopher Massardo. We met and that became the start of the next chapter in my modeling career!
What are you most excited about when it comes to modeling?
What excites me most about modelling is the opportunity to build something for myself while doing what I genuinely enjoy and seeing where it can take me. Modelling can lead to unique opportunities and experiences that you simply can’t plan for, and I find that really exciting. Every shoot is different so there’s always something new that keeps things fresh and pushes me creatively. I love working with different teams, meeting new people, and being part of interesting projects and ideas. It’s really fulfilling to see what everyone brings to a shoot and watch it all come together.
Can you share with us some advice you have for models wanting to get into the industry?
Keep putting yourself out there, learning, improving, and getting to know yourself along the way. Learn your poses, your best angles, what works for you, and what makes you feel confident in front of the camera. At the same time, stay open to new possibilities and don’t put yourself in a box. Take chances, explore different sides of yourself, and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. There’s room for so many different looks, personalities, and strengths
share a fun fact about yourself!
My classmates and I started my university’s first filmmaking club in 2024! I was one of the VPs of Cinematography and we created a short horror film!