When most people think of the modeling industry, their minds are immediately filled with shots of pure glamour – sparkling jewelry and glitter blinding with the pop of camera flashes, walking down the runway in only the finest of haute couture, and living life to what most can only describe as “fabulous.”
But what is it like for the fledgling models who are only beginning their careers at the young age of 16? Jennifer Henken is one of these new models on the scene.
While she did have modelling experience from when she was 7 years old, she hadn’t picked it up again until recently. A year and a half ago, at Downingtown East High School, a scout representing Main Line Models called out to Jennifer, complimenting her on her beauty and asking if she had been a model before. When the scout found out about Jennifer’s previous experience, she insisted that she get back into it again and set up an appointment.
Main Line Models, which still remains Jennifer’s agency today, works primarily with local companies and designers around Philadelphia, setting up ads for these designers, as well as engaging in high fashion with Philly Fashion Week.
Jennifer has set up many of her photoshoots herself, however, often through her Instagram account. The photographers connect with her to set up the shoots. She shows up with clean nails, no makeup, plain clothing and the right undergarments for what she will be wearing on the set. “A clean slate, basically,” she told me.
So far, there have not been any photoshoots she’s disliked in the slightest. All the people she has worked with have been very nice and friendly towards her.
“My favorite photoshoot so far was with a Project Runway designer, Mah-Jing Wong.” Since Wong was one of last season’s Project Runway finalists, this was the most exciting and fun photoshoot Jennifer has had. Wong had uploaded pictures of her on both his Instagram account and his website, garnering a huge source of publicity for her.
However, the life of a young model is not without its hardships.
Jennifer has to take cyber school courses rather than attend classes at her high school. Although there are a few classes that she must take in person, the amount of traveling she has to do and her time-consuming career commitments get in the way of being a full-time high school student.
On the other hand, her career has only affected her family positively. She says that she believes they have been brought together as a result, and they are very supportive of what she has to do.
“My mom knows that sometimes I just have to go to New York this week to meet up with six agencies,” she says. “She’ll tell my sisters … ‘Jenni and I have to be in New York this week; we need to make a game plan.’”
Other than school and family, she also says that she must socialize with adults far more than she previously used to.
What she hopes for in her career now is to be able to get signed with an agency in New York. It is very important to Jennifer to sign with the right agency. She does not want to rush into a contract, and wants to make sure that the agency will be able to place her in the right direction for a successful modeling career.
Presently, Jennifer is preparing for a trip to Paris in May. Her agent’s partner, located in Boston, works with the European Model Showcase, an event that brings to Paris American- and European-based models and agents that they believe have strong talent. The models are lined up in front of global agencies, such as those in Greece or Spain, in hopes of getting signed with them.
While the event does not have any photoshoots and it is strictly for signing purposes, if Jenni does gets signed by one of these agencies, it is possible that they could request her to stay in Paris for three extra months or more, depending on the season, so that they may work with her.
The life of a model is far more than meets the public’s eye of watching them through the lens of colored gels on photosets and underneath the bright white spotlights of the runway, but this life certainly seems to fit well for Jennifer Henken.
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