Shardul Pandey: I welcome you Caitlin at SANGKRIT.net, please tell our netizens about yourself, your story.
Caitlin Kelley: I want to thank you for taking interest, and here is a piece of my story! If you’d like to know more, just let me know!
My name is Caitlin Kelley, I am 22 years old and I am a self made, International Model/ Actress. I do a little bit of everything, Print, commercial, fashion, runway… everything, and I am constantly travelling!
But, my life wasn’t always like this… I was just a little girl with a big dream and an extremely conservative family in an even more conservative town. I was never the pretty or popular girl, and I was always VERY different from my classmates… the very smart, artist, marching band student that was graduating early to go into per-med. My life was an academic pressure cooker, and I never really lived that crazy “consequence free” childhood of parties, and boys, aka I grew up very young. Then something happened and I decided to give myself at least one year of a normal high school life. I changed my major to studio art after deciding that I didn’t want to spend the next 12 years studying and falling into debt, just to turn around and make a bigger pay check to pay that debt off. I moved out on my own. After a year of college I still wasn’t happy, so I left school to just LIVE life. I got a job, fell in love, got engaged, and before I knew it… I weighed 230lbs. It was the lowest point of my adult life thus far. I was so depressed, and just unhappy. 2 years went by like this. Until one day, I had enough courage to really look at myself in the mirror. I looked HARD, pretending to be happy in a relationship, working a normal life, being very unhealthy and I said to myself “You’re unhappy…. What will make you Happy?”… and in the depths of my being, unafraid, I answered “I want to be a model.”… and that’s when things changed.
Now any normal person would be like “please, a model? you weigh 230lbs….” But I had wanted to be one since I first figured out what a model was… I remember obsessively watching America’s next top model, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows and coming to tears dreaming that it was me up there. I would research everything I could, just to learn.
So I gave myself a chance, I dedicated myself to losing weight ON MY OWN. And I did it in a healthy way with Exercise and a healthy diet. I tried out for ANTM 3 times without ever making it. I got connected with a group of beginning photographers in my home town and together we all learned the different sides of a Modelling Shoot just by referencing what we saw on TV or in classes. The work from that first shoot is to this day some of my best. I will never forget the friends I made there, I don’t know if they realize how important of a role they played in my journey. One shoot turned into two, and so on, my network and connections started to grow, and then my Name started to be recognized locally. Starting small, I did a show or ad shoot here , a commercial there; always putting up barriers for myself that if it dint work out this time, I would quit as to not waste anymore time on a frivolous dream. But every time, it was a huge success that lead to more opportunities, and that’s when I started making money…. I expanded my reach to the larger surrounding cities, including Chicago, where even after losing 100lbs, they told me I was too big, I felt defeated. But I never gave up, it felt like it was something I had to and was meant to do.
Now, about a year and a half later, this is my full time career, and my support system is unbelievable, it makes me so happy to now have the power to help guide younger models, as I needed when I stared. I have a full portfolio, and FRIENDS in every part of the industry that I need. I travel everywhere and am always working. Its amazing to look back and see how all the little things that didn’t work out, gave me that push just when I needed it, to get me father than I ever dreamed. I’m not trying to be famous, it is my passion, and the drive behind my passion is my family. I want to be able to take care of them; because my family is my heart, and without them, there would be no life worth living.
It seemed impossible, but our lives are what we make them! You can have, do, or be anything you want… Just go for it. What are you waiting for?
If you’ve got any questions or want to follow my story, here are my pages: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ModelCaitlinKelley
Instagram: @ModelCaitlinKelley, Twitter: @_CaitlinKelley
Remember that YOU are BEAUTIFUL, Much Love ~Cailtin Kelley
[heading]After 10 days[/heading]
Shardul Pandey: Tell me about your recent modelling projects?
Caitlin Kelley: That’s WAY too long to answer… I do about 6 projects a week, most recently, a commercial for Pantene
Shardul Pandey: What inspired your passion?
Caitlin Kelley: Being able to help my family while getting to see the world. / I love to feel like I’m moving forward and reaching for goals that others find impossible, I like to inspire.
Shardul Pandey: What has been your best fashion look?
Caitlin Kelley: I’d say that I’m pretty eclectic, so I love weird mismatching layers, I think it’s more the person on the inside that is the Fashion, so if you can be confident in something that looks totally ridiculous, it MAKES it fashionable.
Shardul Pandey: And biggest fashion mistake?
Caitlin Kelley: In highschool, I would wear Flip Flops, year round…. through the snow. I don’t know how I still have toes.
Shardul Pandey: Your beauty regime?
Caitlin Kelley: I wear very little to no make-up, and I wash my face with a combination of Biore and Clean and Clear once in the morning and then right before bed. DRINK LOTS OF WATER
Shardul Pandey: And your favourite types of outfits to model in?
Caitlin Kelley: Ball gowns
Shardul Pandey: Any least favourites?
Caitlin Kelley: Leggings… thus far
Shardul Pandey: Any ultimate goal?
Caitlin Kelley: I want to be a Victoria’s Secret Model or the next Angelina Jolie, with the goal of seeing everything the world has to offer, letting my parents retire comfortably!
Shardul Pandey: So how do you see yourself progress?
Caitlin Kelley: I want to be a Victoria’s Secret Model or the next Angelina Jolie, with the goal of seeing everything the world has to offer, letting my parents retire comfortably! For just a year in, i’d say in doing ok on my own, but i could use all the help I can get!
Shardul Pandey: What kind of shoots would you like to work on in the future?
Caitlin Kelley: Something a little more Edgy…., and RAW.
Shardul Pandey: Do you eat nutritiously? Tell me the diet you follow on a regular basis?
Caitlin Kelley: Yes!!!
Shardul Pandey: Tell me the diet you follow on a regular basis?
Caitlin Kelley: I eat only unprocessed foods, no pop! Lots of water, green veggies, and LEAN protein.
Shardul Pandey: How often do you exercise or go to the gym & workout ?
Caitlin Kelley: I workout nearly every day.
Shardul Pandey: What is your perfect day?
Caitlin Kelley: Wake-up, head to a paid shoot, get a good workout in with a light lunch, head to a “fun” shoot, and then have dinner with friends
Shardul Pandey: Easiest way to look pretty and glamourous ?
Caitlin Kelley: BE CONFIDENT. OWN YOUR BODY! and buy clothing that makes you FEEL sexy even if it isn’t what is the latest fashion. People with remember your smile and confidence more than what you were wearing, and if they don’t, well you don’t want to be around people like that anyway.
Shardul Pandey: Tell me your favourites.
Caitlin Kelley: Color: Purple, Film: Limitless, Actor: too hard to pick, Actress: Angelina Jolie or Anne Hathaway, Music: Dubstep or Indi, Food: Salads and Pizza, Hobby: Painting, Author: Rue Volley, Book: Blood and Light by Rue Volley, Destination: anywhere warm
[heading]After 1 day[/heading]
Shardul Pandey: When exactly you get started with modelling?
Caitlin Kelley: My first shoot was 2 Novembers ago, my first paid gig was April of 2012 and I became full time just a couple of months ago.
Shardul Pandey: What do you think, Is it important to attended fashion modelling courses? Does they really help newbies to get a foothold in Fashion Industry?
Caitlin Kelley: NO!!!!! if you have what it takes it just comes naturally, if you have the look but not the talent, an agency will invest their time in you to teach you, you never want to become cookie cutter, find what makes you Unique and then Rock it!
Shardul Pandey: Has modelling changed other aspects of your life?
Caitlin Kelley: Ohhhh Yesss!!! I went from the most normal “almost housewife” existence, to the polar opposite! nothing in my life resembles normality anymore other than my family that grounds me :)
Shardul Pandey: How you distinguishes a good model from a bad one?
Caitlin Kelley: That’s really hard to answer. Its all based on opinion. but again has more to do with Class and Confidence than many think.
Shardul Pandey: OK. If I change it to, what distinguishes a good photograph from a bad one?
Caitlin Kelley: Another tough one… I’d say that a good photographer can take even the least appealing subject and make it catch your eye and stare, in just a couple shots without needing much editing.
Shardul Pandey: Tell me about your favourite models?
Caitlin Kelley: I adore Candace Swanpoel, and Cara Delevingne
Shardul Pandey: Is there anything you dislike about modelling?
Caitlin Kelley: The Day to day can get a little lonely, and I hate to see people taken advantage of, which happens too often.
Shardul Pandey: Is there anything you dislike about the fashion industry?
Caitlin Kelley: I want people to see that Beauty lies in whats real, and imperfect too and its not about fame for everyone, its WORK, also, not all models are dumb or feel entitled or have had it easy because they grew up pretty. Its the hardest thing in the world. If you disagree…. go try it out. Long term, see how you feel about yourself when everyone around you is supposed to be critiquing your every pore. It takes a strong person and yes I’m crazy for choosing it to be my life.
Shardul Pandey: How you prepare yourself for a modelling shoot?
Caitlin Kelley: I research the part to prep my body, get lots of sleep, pack my model bag with all needed garments, snacks, and activities for down time to keep me busy.
Shardul Pandey: Where do you generally like to shop? Do you shop online?
Caitlin Kelley: I actually love second hand stores… you can find the most unique things, plus I love taking something that no one wanted anymore and making it beautiful.
Shardul Pandey: What fashion magazines & weblogs do you like reading?
Caitlin Kelley: Vogue, W, Marie Claire, Comso…. anything Fashion
Shardul Pandey: How you communicate with other netizens, specially your subscribers? How often you reply to them?
Caitlin Kelley: I really LOVE hearing from fans, I am just another person with a big heart! but I admit, things do get VERY busy and I can’t always reply as much as I would like to!
Shardul Pandey: How you access Internet? What device you use?
Caitlin Kelley: I do almost everything on my iPhone so that I can stay connected all day, but when I have bigger emails or loads of work I grab my laptop.
Shardul Pandey: Do you own a domain?
Caitlin Kelley: My domain is under construction but is: www.CaitlinKelley.net
Shardul Pandey: What is your ultimate message for netizens ?
Caitlin Kelley: You can have, do, or be anything you want… Just do it. What are you waiting for? Stop telling yourself that you can’t, and see how far you’ll go. Remember that YOU are BEAUTIFUL. Go out and make the WORLD your stomping ground. Design a life that you love.
