City Secrets: Model spotlight-Amber La Day
In an industry where standards are as high as the stilettos that grace the runway, there are a small percentage of women that manage to find success within the modeling industry. These women represent the mold the modeling industry has created pertaining to the physical and personality traits a model should have. For decades, if you were pursuing a career as a model, and did not fit into this assumed mold, your chances for success were slim to none. Success meant having a waistline as narrow as a runway and living in a major metropolitan region where fashion is one of the leading industries. Who knew there was a model right here in rural Charlotte, NC that did not fit the mold at all, but still has found success in this demanding industry?
Amber La Day lives in Charlotte, NC where she has planted her seeds of success. Born in Anchorage, Alaska and raised in Milwaukee, this free spirit attended college in Atlanta, GA at Spelman College. After college, she moved to Seattle, Washington. Seattle brought on many challenges for Amber, which resulted in her decision to reside in Charlotte, NC where she had only planned to live for 6 months. 4 years later, she looks back at the strides she has made here in the Queen City as she plots her next move. “I feel like I can smell my dream…” Amber stated in pure excitement over what the future holds for her.
Admitting that modeling was not something she neither planned nor always dreamed of doing, Amber La day mentioned she fell into it after seeking photographers to produce headshots for her. She needed headshots to pursue a career as an actress, which is her lifelong dream. But after discovering her natural talents behind the lens and her ability to inspire these photographers who are also artists, she began building relationships with various ones within the region. “Photographers are key to a model’s career…” she advised. She began to pay attention to photographers in the field, and made sure she practiced due diligence by researching any photographer she decided to work with. La Day comments, “Always ask for referrals.” She wants aspiring models to understand they do not have to do anything on a shoot they are uncomfortable with. La Day always managed to keep her center and stay true to her beliefs. She describes her best shoot as “fun, conceptual, and energetic”. She even got to practice her acting skills because she had to pretend to be a 1920’s jazz singer. The “Harlem Nights” theme shoot was inspired by Ape Shoot Photography almost 2 years ago. Although Amber enjoys everyone’s work, one her favorite artists is a Haitian photographer named
Marc Baptiste.
What really makes Amber La Day so different from most models is her pure awareness of her fellow neighbor-mankind, and the importance of nurturing your inner self. She believes real beauty lies within. She is driven by her passion for art and people. “I am focused on living right so that I can join my loved ones in heaven. I heard they are waiting on me.” Through this gesture, the message she wants to send is that material things do not matter. “This period here on earth is life, but it is not your lifetime. Life does not end here. I want to take this time I have here to get my soul right for when real living begins.”
She admits being human and making mistakes. She, herself, has had to step out of a situation she created by focusing on superficial things. She is strong, independent, and enjoys her single lifestyle.
Advice she leaves for aspiring models and models on the rise is “be yourself…be hungry…and go get it…” She also says to surround yourself with people that have drive and also want more for you. “Don’t pay modeling agencies to represent you…” she mentions. She adds if they want to represent you, they will make you an offer. Amber La Day has had an agent before, but currently lands her own jobs. Her most recent achievement is that she is the poster child for Tyler Perry’s play “Laugh to keep from crying”. “Don’t waste your time. Get paid to work and work with professionals who you know will deliver opportunities through your photos”.
Amber La Day has shown and proven that the mold has been broken within the modeling industry. She has revealed that in addition to being beautiful, being smart, humble, and just yourself will definitely take you places. Currently, she is taking acting lessons, writing, plotting her next geographical move, and always praying.
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City Secrets: Model spotlight-Amber La Day
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