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Beth Walkemeyer is currently 26 years old and she has been a full-time freelance model and traveler for the past two years. She’s passionate about the ocean, conscious living, and forever striving to be someone that can make a positive difference in the world no matter how big or small. She’s also very passionate about supporting organizations that rescue kids from trafficking. Her love for the ocean, surfing, and daily adventures are what got her into swimwear modeling and now she’s spreading her wings and making her way into the fashion and commercial world. She loves food so you can always find her close by to an acai bowl, a good coffee, ramen, or french fries.
StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Beth to discuss her journey in the modelling industry and here’s what went down:
1. How did you get into the modelling industry?
I have always wanted to be a model for as long as I can remember. I didn’t start in the industry like most people at a young age, I was about 20 when I first started reaching out to brands and agencies. I started getting a lot of work around the time that Instagram was taking off as well and went from there.
Photo Credit: by Becky G Photography
2. What do you like most about being a model?
I love that it has taken me traveling around the world. Being a model is definitely a lot more than it looks. it’s a lifestyle of looking after your body and continually working on how you can improve from posing, walking, and dealing with clients.
3.The downside to being a model?
The downside can be the pressure you feel to be your best all the time. I think models are their worst critics. However, agencies and clients can also be extremely harsh on what they expect from you at times.
4. What has been the most memorable experience of being in the modelling industry so far?
My most memorable experiences have been the travel I have done and the people I have worked with. My happiest memories are when I’m working with a client or a photographer that I vibe with.
5. Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?
I’m not sure what you mean by interesting, but the people that have stood out to me are people like France and Jesse. The kindest and the most professional team I have worked with to date. Another favourite is Bonnie Hansen, her work is just incredible. The way she can style and work with her models is something very unique.
6. What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while in the modelling industry. This can be about the industry or about yourself.
To not let anyone tell you, you aren’t enough. Do not take “No” for an answer, and do not restrict yourself because of insecurity or the feeling that something is out of reach.
7. Is your family supportive of you being a model?
I think at the beginning they were not happy about it because I was mostly doing swimwear. So they didn’t like the idea of that at all. But as my social following grew, it had me traveling around the world and it became my full-time job they became more understanding of it.
8. If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?
I would have started younger and gone to agencies way earlier. My problem was a huge amount of self-doubt but also not having anyone that could help direct or support me with what I needed to do.
9. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Honestly, I can’t even think of anyone giving me advice in the modelling industry. It’s probably one of the hardest places to get any advice (laughs).
10. What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.
I have a lot of things I would still love to achieve! Miami swim week is a big one, fashion weeks, and a magazine cover or a few. The rest I’ll be keeping private.
The ‘LIGHTNING FAST’ Round:
1. Last good movie I’ve seen: Bad Boys
2. What do you consider beautiful and why? I think kindness is the most beautiful thing in the world. If someone has good looks but they treat others poorly, they become so ugly to me. Outer beauty will fade, but inner beauty and how you treat others will leave an impact forever
3. What haven’t you done yet that you wish you could? Runways, I really lacked confidence when I was younger and I wish I pursued it more. So now I am!
4. Complete this sentence: “If I had no fear, I’d… ” I could honestly do anything and everything. I wouldn’t feel limited to be able to achieve anything.
5. What is the one “flaw” you wouldn’t change about yourself? It’s not really a flaw at all, but I am built more athletically than most models because I’ve always been such an active person. It has made it harder to do fashion modelling however it’s perfect for many other types of modelling and I LOVE how strong and capable I feel in my body.
Jason Harris
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