YOU DONâT NEED AN AGENCY TO BE A MODEL (BUT THE RIGHT ONE CAN STILL MATTER
I started modeling at sixteen.
I didnât grow up in New York or LA. I was living in Minnesota, working a shift at Marshalls on Christmas Day, a day I wasnât even supposed to work. Somewhere between working the cash register and counting down the hours, a woman approached me and asked a question that, at the time, felt almost unreal:
âAre you signed? Have you ever thought about modeling?â
The funny thing isâI had.
That question had already found me long before she asked it.
My First Introduction to the Industry
Before that day, I had already dipped my toes into the world of modeling. I attended programs like John Robert Powers, ProScout, and Barbizon. But like many families, mine didnât have the financial ability to pay thousands of dollars just for access to rooms, opportunities, or promises that werenât guaranteed. So when that woman approached me at Marshalls, my first instinct was skepticism. I assumed it was a scam. But after doing my research after the fact, I realized the agency was legitimate and that moment became my real entry point into the modeling world. Thatâs how it started. Not with glamour, but with curiosity, timing, and trusting her and the universe.
New York, for the First Time
After I finished high school, my agency planned meetings for me in New York. It was my first time in the city. My first time traveling alone. My first time being trusted by my parents in that way. We stayed in constant contact the entire trip, but I still remember the feeling of independence, navigating the city on my own, walking into agency offices I had dreamed about, sitting across from people whose approval I believed would shape my future. I met with nearly every agency on my dream list. And one by one, I was told the same things:
âBeautiful girl but not the right fit.â
âWe already have someone who looks like you.â
âCome back in a few years.â
After New York, I returned to Minnesota.
I continued modeling locally.
I focused on my education.
At the time, it felt like a detour. But in hindsight, it grounded me. I earned my bachelorâs degree in communication with a focus on global business something that would later become more valuable than I could have imagined. After graduating, another opportunity presented itself. A model who had previously been signed with my Minnesota agency was transitioning into scouting and had strong industry connections. She set up meetings for me in Milan. In the end, Boom felt different.
They appreciated my height.
They didnât try to shrink me.
At six feet tall, I had learned quickly that not every market celebrate height the way people assume. âYou should be a model, youâre so tall,â sounds flattering, but internationally, itâs more nuanced. European sizing, proportions, and standards donât always align with height alone. Boom saw me anyway. Iâve been signed with them for about five years now, and through that representation, I booked meaningful, career-defining work.
The Rejection That Didnât Stop
Even while signed, I still dreamed of expanding- London, Paris, Germany. But during that period, my look was often overlooked or deemed ânot right.â And after a while, the repetition of that feedback becomes heavy. So I stopped chasing validation. I told myself something different:
I know what I want to build.
And I will become a brand that canât be overlooked.
The Shift That Changed Everything
For over a decade, I tried to get representation at the highest levels. I followed the rules. I waited for permission. I believed silence meant I wasnât enough. But at some point, I realized something crucial: Agencies donât make models. Models make agencies relevant.
I networked intentionally.
I collaborated with creatives who shared my vision.
I invested in my portfolio.
I submitted myself for freelance work.
I built relationships directly with brands.
And I created content consistently, authentically, strategically. Social media didnât replace agencies. It revealed the truth.
Brands care about presence, professionalism, reliability, and clarity. They care about who you are, how you communicate, and whether you understand your value. Eventually, it became clear:
I wasnât trying to break into the industry anymore. I was already working in it.
Redefining Representation
Hereâs the part people rarely say out loud:
Wanting an agency isnât wrong.
But signing just to feel legitimate can be.
Not every agency is built to support longevity and representation. Some are transactional if youâre booking, youâre valuable; if youâre not, youâre expendable. And that kind of pressure isnât sustainable. The right agency should feel like a partnership.
Respects the brand youâve already built
Understands the clients you want to work with
Aligns with your long-term vision
Supports growth instead of fear
An agency should add clarity, not confusion.
When Alignment Actually Matters
There may come a time when an agency reaches out and if the energy aligns, the vision aligns, and they respect the autonomy youâve earned, that can be a powerful next step. But signing with a big name just because it looks impressive? Thatâs not enough. Your intuition matters more than status.
Rejection didnât push me away from modeling. It pushed me toward ownership. You donât need an agency to be a model.
But when the right one comes along, it should recognize what you already are.
I know who Iâm becoming.
And I am building something that will never be overlooked.
You donât need an agency to be a model. But when the right one comes along, it should recognize what you already are.
Augustah Allen
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