September 03rd 2011
Look Out Modeling World, Danielle Is Coming

Summer has ended and I am sure a lot of you YO! readers didn’t let a day pass by with out doing something you love. Some of you may have been busy putting in you hours on the J-O-B while others were lazing on the beach. Some of us may have been busy planning an escape plan to prematurely end their summer camp! This weekend we caught up with a young lady who was at camp this summer and guess what? She had no intentions of “escaping”. In Saint Lucia, especially now, one can see the rise in model agencies and well, models. But how many of them are trained and understand the world they are stepping into. Meet sixteen year old Danielle Samuel, a young lady who over the summer vacation took that step into fine tuning her modeling career, when she attended a modeling camp in New York. Forget about being the next Top model, she is ready to be THE best model out of Saint Lucia.

First tell our readers a little about yourself.

I am a 16 year old fun-lover. I formerly attended the St. Joseph’s Convent but now I attend the Bonne Terre Preparatory High School. I’m very approachable with a touch of sass. Two of my most important aspirations are to be well-educated and to build a career as a model.

What are your hobbies?

Some of my hobbies include salsa dancing, listening to music, reading and writing.

When did you decide you want to take up modeling seriously?

I decided around age 11. I have always been serious about my decision and I try to do everything possible to make my dream a reality, regardless of the feedback I would receive from time to time. Watching ‘America’ Next Top Model’ over the years has been a major influence. When I model I don’t feel like Danielle Samuel, I feel like a whole new confident person and I love that feeling.

Tell us about the modeling camp you attended this summer.

The Modeling Camp is a summer camp for girls ages 13-18 wanting to explore their aspirations of becoming a model. It taught us the skills we would need to become brilliant models and also introduced us to different modeling agencies such as Elite and Wilhelmina. The camp is based in 3 different locations - New York City, Los Angeles and Virginia. If anyone is interested they can visit www.modelingcamp.com for more information.

How difficult is it for one to be considered for the camp?

Actually it is quite simple and the program is available at a first come first served basis. You just fill out the registration form which is accessible on the site and pay the fee and voila! However, the spaces are very limited and fill up quite quickly.

What did you learn from your experiences at that camp?

I learnt about the different types of modeling – runway, editorial/high fashion and commercial. I also learnt how the acting and modeling industries are linked. And finally I learnt about casting-calls and different ways to strut down the runway.

How can you apply what you have learned at the camp in everyday life?

Well aside from all the things I listed previously, I also learnt how to be resilient and confident. Casting Directors can sense when a model is confident or when he/she is not and they can easily criticize you and turn you down. You in turn have to be able to take the criticism and get back up and continue persevering. Those are lessons that help me everyday to overcome the negative people who try to bring me down.

How is your family taking in your passion for modeling?

They are very supportive. And as long as I keep my education first, they always try to help me in anyway they can.

If it would come down to you having to choose between modeling and school, who would win?

School would most definitely win. Education is an integral part of any kind of success or career; whether you want to be a doctor, lawyer or like me, a model. I think that an education will help me make the right choices in life.

Finally, what is next for you? Tell us what else we can expect from you in the future. It doesn’t only have to be on modeling.

Well I am about to begin my final year at secondary school, and I am looking forward to “acing” my CXC subjects. After that, I plan to go off to pursue my first degree in Psychology and Performing Arts.

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