Navigating the fashion industry and high school

My posts will elaborate on what it's like to be a model including NYFW FW2020, travel, signing with multiple agencies, and the daily life of a model while still being in highschool.

[julesnohner]

My future plans

My last day of high school is June 4th (also my birthday conviniently) which means I’ll be graduating. I’ve already decided that I won’t be going to college this coming year. I will be pursuing modeling as much as I can, for as long as I can. I expect to move to New York within the next 5 years or so. I do plan on getting my AA degree online within the next 2-3 years. That way I can transfer said college credits to any school I want later on down the road. I will further my education and complete my bachelors degree at some point in the near future, just not the regular on-campus, dorm room way. When I do get my bachelors degree, I will major in business and most likely major or even double major in interior design. I have so many hope in dreams for my future and I will do my best to make them really happen! 

[julesnohner]

Back to work?

With our final few weeks of the school year are upon us, it seems like things are starting to improve for my line of work. I’ve just received word that in June, if things regarding the Coronavirus remain the way they currently are (or even improve), then the modeling industry (at least here in the twin cities) should start up again. It won't be much, there will only be a maximum of 3-ish people allowed on set at a time, social distance must stay I practice, hand sanitizer must be supplied, commonly touched surfaces shall be wiped down often, and the talent will enter the area exactly at the designated call-time and the group should disperse as quickly as possible once the day’s work has been completed. We expect to slowing resume work sometime in June or July. We are all hoping that we can get back to what we love, very soon. I know that everyone involved in the modeling/fashion industry would be very pleased by some new income! :)

[julesnohner]

My quaran-rou-tine

During quarantine, my daily schedule as a model and as a student, consists of: school work, working out, and a LOT of downtime.

To start off my days, I go down to my basement where I have a nice little exercise area set up. I walk on my treadmill for an hour (where I watch tv as a distraction), I punch my heavy-bag for roughly 20min, then I do abs, arms, back, pilates, hips, legs, the works. It does get repetitive but music helps me get through it without feeling the inescapable boredom that comes with the shelter-in-place law. Working out in the morning helps get it out of the way so you can enjoy the rest of the day without worrying about fitting it into your schedule later.

My school workload consists of five classes. Me and my sisters typically start doing our work around 10am and we are done for the day within 2-4 hours depending on what we have going on that day. 

Healthy meals help break up my day along with spending some time outdoors. I am so thankful that the weather has been this nice, this early. Especially in Minnesota in the spring time, and it’s consistent (knock on wood).

The rest of my downtime is mainly spent watching tv/movies/youtube videos. Lately, my personal favorites have been: the Vampire Diaries, the Originals, How I Met Your Mother, Survivor, the Star Wars movies, Star Wars the Clone Wars (absolutely devastating, still not over the ending), and all of the Marvel Avengers movies in order, which I am currently watching for the second time of 2020, this time I am watching with my parents. I have also been attempting to stay caught of with producing social media content on Instagram, TikTok (currently editing a video), and I would love to finally start a Youtube channel! I am also temped to produce singing and art content as well.

I’m assume that my days are similar to everyone else in quarantine who are at home and out of school/work. I would love to know what others things people are doing to fill their time! 

*Ooh, also, my family is getting two kittens tomorrow! I can’t wait :)

[julesnohner]

Everything is gone

It was recently announced that we, students in the state of Minnesota, wouldn't be going back to school this year. I was expecting this to be the case but hearing it for real, it hits you, and it hurts. 

As a senior in the graduating class of 2020, and I think I speak on behalf of all of us when I say: this sucks. Really and truly. It’s devastating. So much has been stripped away from what was supposed to be the greatest time of our entire education thus far. 

Our prom, gone. Our last season of spring sports, gone. Senior night and parent night, what's that? Our senior all night party, never got the chance. Senior skip day, technically we’re the champs. Senior prank, I could only imagine. And now, our graduation. 

The other day, we as students, had to take a survey where we voted for one of two options for an alternate graduation. Option 1 is a drive through graduation where the graduate, already dressed in cap and gown, is the only person allowed out of the vehicle, where they walk up onto a stage and receive our diploma and a picture, we get back in our car (hoping that our family was able to capture the special moment through the car window) and drive away. Option 2 is waiting until late July or August in hopes that we could even have a graduation ceremony, depending on how much worse this pandemic gets. With option 2, there's a (high) chance that there would be no graduation at all.

I chose option 1. Because at this point, anything is better than nothing.

Yesterday, my high school hosted a parade where we could drive one lap around the school (we have multiple connected parking lots all the way around the building) as we wave and say goodbye to all of our teachers who are lined up outside. It was bitter sweet but really nice to see certain teachers and staff members again. 

It’s been a rough time in quarantine, mentally and emotionally. There’s close to no modeling going on right now, the closest thing we have are little self made photoshoots or selfies for instagram. 

On top of all of that, we still have school work and subjects to teach ourselves. And I’ve just recently found out that one of my classes deadlines is in 11 days instead of early June. 

Things are definitely, going.

[julesnohner]

Modeling during the pandemic

As a student, schools have fully transitioned to online, distance learning. There are several means of communication and websites to help schools stay in touch and teach us students from a far. But can the same be said about modeling?

Yes! My mother agency, Arquette (link in previous post), has prepared us to be able to work from our own homes. She had us email her about all of the resources we have in order to conduct our own photoshoots for clients. These resources include: professional cameras, studio lights, props, wardrobe, backgrounds/backdrops, natural lighting, go-pro’s, drones, etc. My agent is continuing to work hard and submit us models for work. Clients can reach out and we can do the shoots at home to the best of our abilities. As models, we observe every detail that goes into successful photoshoots, so we know what it takes and how to pull it off. My agent has also been super helpful by supplying all of us models with daily fitness videos (pilates, yoga, etc) and providing us with websites for healthy, paleo eating. We’re all set. Now I just have to balance the two!

[julesnohner]

Arquette & Associates LLC is a full service talent agency that provides clients with a variety of talent from models, actors, dancers, and athletes.

The link to my mother agency’s website (Arquette) where you can find me in the women’s board under my full name Juliana.

[julesnohner]

Bigger priority: class or shoots?

During my junior year of high school, I was doing multiple photoshoots and bookings on a weekly basis. Some of them even included having to drive 8hrs to and from Chicago or Madison, WI. This means that I often had to choose between being present in class or going to a modeling gig and having to make up school. I usually chose to miss school, because I could always make up the work I missed. You don’t always get that same opportunity when it comes to photoshoots. 

I did however try to limit the amount of school I missed each month. Whenever I was working out a shoot time with my agent + the photographer, I would try to make the call-time not interfere with my class schedule. That way I would only miss a few periods at a time. Looking back, I don’t regret a thing!

[julesnohner]

Milan vs. Corona

Before this whole Corona virus outbreak, I had planned on going to Milan for 2 months this summer for modeling. I would travel alone, much like I did in New York, and stay in a model apartment for June and July as August is Europe’s off season/vacation time. But now, seeing as Europe has been affected the most so far by this worldwide pandemic, those travel plans have definitely been put on hold. Not to mention that all other markets are closed down for the time being. But at least this could give me a chance at having a fun last summer after high school, if this whole quarantine thing clears up by then.

[julesnohner]

My third and final show for nyfw fw2020 walking for Simay Bulbul. More photos can be found on my instagram, my username is jules.nohner

[julesnohner]

My first NYFW

~This is gonna be long~

I signed with Nova management in November and I was able to fly out to New York to work and walk in fashion week for the very first time! I traveled alone and stayed for exactly three weeks. Instead of renting a room/bed in a model-apartment, I stayed with my aunt and uncle who live in Mineola, NY which is an hour and a half train ride away from the city. 

My experience was amazing, I absolutely love New York and can see myself moving there within the next few years. My trip did start off a little bit rocky having to navigate two airports and figure out a three hour train ride while carrying a backpack and HUGE suitcase. I got used to the train system and subway system very quickly and became familiar with Manhattan within the first week. I had a meeting with my agent and fellow models right away along with some new digis (short for digitals a.k.a “headshots” and full body pictures to show clients what my body currently looks like). I also had my first fashion week casting that same day. Then, I had a full two empty days where I hadn't heard anything from my agent. I was getting really worried thinking that I wasn’t going to be that successful and that the trip could be a waste of money. I know that might sound dramatic but being alone in a new city with nothing to do, it’s easy to get discouraged. Needless to say I did cry when I faceted my mom which is actually super normal when us models are away from home. But then I started getting casting, and A LOT of them, I didn't have a break until the three weeks were over.

I typically had 3-5 castings every day. These castings had certain windows of time that we had to get to them by and I always tried to get there AT LEAST 15min early. There could be multiple castings at the same time, there could be hours of downtime in between them, some of them take less than 5min and others take up to an hour. I think I had a total of 30 documented castings in my google calendar and even more that I had to get to on the spot! 

Getting homework done was a challenge. Being out and about running around the cities almost all day/every day, it was hard to find time. Carrying my laptop around wasn’t exactly an option either. But I did what I could and everything turned out fine.

I ended up getting three shows, one of which I closed (a big honor, I’m very thankful). The first one was actually outside on the JFK airport runway itself! It was so cool, but, absolutely freezing. The minimal clothing, open wind, and rain in 40 degree weather was definitely not enjoyable. But once I stepped out onto the runway, the cold went away and I only felt focus and happiness. My other two shows were just as amazing, the crowds of people in attendance along was unbelievable. There were lines formed around multiple blocks just to get into the event. I have done several runway bookings here in Minneapolis but nothing compared to the shows! 

I got to meet so many amazing girls and make lots of friends. The exposure is also a plus, but overall it was incredible. In the small amount of free time that I had (that wasn't spent doing homework), I got to do a little sight seeing! I went to the Vessel and got to go to the top of the Empire State building! That view trumps everything, it’s so surreal up there. 10/10 recommend :)

[julesnohner]

Altering my senior year for modeling

This last summer going into my senior year of high school, I decided to convert to a part-time, online student so that I could have extra time to travel and focus on my career as a model. I only needed four more credits to graduate, so I spread those out across the entirety of the school year. In order to make this work I had to talk to my counselor, my school’s principal and vice principal, and the administrative director. They were all so helpful.

I was supposed to go live in Asia for three whole months in the fall, but it ended up not working out and I’m so glad it didn't because then I wouldn't have signed with my current New York agency! And thanks to being an online student, I was able to go there on two separate occasions before the new year. One of those times being New York fashion week Fall/Winter 2020, which I will discuss in my next post.