By Ally DeJong
Staff Writer
“Everything has to be pin-point perfect. There are so many beautiful girls in the world, and it really makes [me] think twice about [my] confidence,” said Kelly Reiter, a freshman who has modeled for New York’s fashion week. Reiter also practices Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting and is an aspiring actress.
A year and a half ago Reiter was asked by the clothing store Bebe if she would be interested in modeling for them. Once she tried it, she learned that she had a real passion for it.
“I loved it; it was a lot of fun,” Reiter said. “I love being able to control the room, just having everyone see what [I’m] going to do.”
Modeling is a tough business to get into. Many enter, and few end up on a runway in New York City, like Reiter has.
“[Modeling] is so competitive. It’s all about your connections,” Reiter said. “Once [models] find the right people [they’re] going to be really well off, [they] just have to push through that first step.”
Although Reiter doesn’t work with an agency, she has still been able to make connections and find modeling jobs.
Because of the recession, money is a delicate issue for many small modeling corporations. But Reiter’s eyes are on bigger things.
“Since it is Chapel Hill, there is not a lot of money to be made,” Reiter said. “Once [models] have the credentials, and have done things in New York and bigger markets, [they] are treated better. The jobs with more money open up.”
Despite the enjoyment Reiter finds in modeling, she has also come across challenges in the industry.
“[Modeling] all depends on looks,” Reiter said. “Everything has to be perfect: weight, height, face, smile, poses, everything.”
Reiter says that some people treat her differently because she is a model.
“A lot of girls often ask me for connections because they want to get into modeling, or they are typically more mean to me,” Reiter said.
Another challenge Reiter has come across is the occasional client who asks her to change her appearance for jobs.
“I had to dye my hair for modeling jobs. Although [an agency has] never really said, ‘Lose weight,’ it depends on the market. In print they want to look at the model, runway they want to look at the clothes. So they want [models] to be sticks,” Reiter said.
Since modeling is based on physical appearance, the typical modeling career length is more transient than an average occupation.
“I do [want to keep modeling]; I think it’s really fun, but [a modeling] career is over by 25. It’s not a long-term thing,” she said.
Once Reiter started modeling regularly, her father pushed her to learn key defense mechanisms to protect herself in uneasy situations, so he had her get into MMA fighting.
“I love being able to protect myself,” Reiter said. “I know if someone tried to do something to me, I would know what to do. Being in [the modeling] industry, [I am] put into a lot of situations [I am] not comfortable with and I just feel so secure now.”
Although Reiter says she would like to get into real matches, modeling prevents her from doing anything but training.
“[My fighting instructors] mentioned me doing [MMA] competitively, like in a ring or tournaments. But I can’t with modeling because I would get all cut up and bloody,” Reiter said.
On top of modeling and martial arts, Reiter has found time to step into the acting world. Her grandfather always wanted her to become an actress, so she decided to give it a try.
“I had never been an actress; I had done one monologue in my entire life. I went to an open call not expecting anything and I got called back,” Reiter said.
After Reiter had her second audition, she scored a lead role on a feature film. She started filming last month for The Guild, a science fiction film that Reiter said would be released next year.
“Everybody is so amazing,” Reiter said. “The whole project is so much fun and so professional. These people are so great; I have never worked with anyone like them before.”