Ford Models
Remember the beloved reality TV show? America’s Next Top ModelMany of the models who appeared on the show have moved on to other professions, such as acting to become a lawyer, because at some point, they wanted to be more than just acting. just Models. Naomi Campbell, for example, has been a successful model for many years, but she is also involved in other ventures and organizations.
Working long-term as a model can be tough, from the toll it takes on your body to your self-esteem. For Ford Curve model Courtney Granberry, starting her own business was a new career path that helped her overcome those challenges. But for some, like Campbell, modeling can be a sustainable career if you pursue other work. For example, JAG model Selena Ayala is still modeling at 41 and also has her own mental health and wellness brand, Routine.
Adora Mehara, a 23-year-old model, never thought about having a personal brand when she first started working in fashion, but has since worked in communications and creative counseling across a variety of industries (Mehara is signed to Ford), while Janelle Durham, 30, who’s also signed to Ford, used modeling to transition into the wellness field. These women offer insight into how to sustain a long-lasting career as a model and create new business skill sets while leveraging your personal brand.
Durham’s foray into the wellness industry was a strategic shift from modeling. She said she was intentional about making her career in this field and it was always her plan. She’s still early in her business and is learning and growing. The presence of women like her mother and aunts who have been business owners since she was a child is important to Durham. In an email, she revealed that they have always been mentors and sources of inspiration. “I would say I was raised by visionaries,” she said.
Granberry and her love of food comes from her father, a chef, and her Guyanese mother instilled in her a carefree, innate sense of travel. Granberry has created a personal brand around both loves with a show she wrote called “Models Eat Too.” This adventure is a step in the right direction for the 33-year-old. She considers her parents her emotional support system, which she credits with making her feel secure in her career. She said she relies on fellow models for advice.
“I truly believe I would not have made it this far without other models believing in me and mentoring me. Some say black women don’t unite, but let me tell you about the girls in my world. It would be disrespectful to stop at black excellence,” Granberry said. essence“Sometimes in this industry, things end and you feel like your time is over, but it’s a matter of times changing. I’m not just a model, I’m the embodiment of what you can achieve with persistence,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ayala and her mother had strategically planned for her modeling career. In 1997, when the 41-year-old began her career, her parents structured her as an S corporation with her as their employer. This inspired her to continue her entrepreneurial spirit and launch a new venture called Routine, an online business focused on nutrition counseling and health coaching. She said her second business in life was a journey of personal growth and learning. She calls the progress she has made “a testament to the resilience and adaptability that entrepreneurship demands.”
Selena began modelling at the age of 14 in the late ’90s, when personal branding was just becoming mainstream. In the early 2000s, she saw a shift in how personal branding was perceived in the fashion industry, as social media took hold and people were able to get a real behind-the-scenes look at career paths.
After earning her clinical nutritionist certification, she says she used her connections with internet platforms to share her knowledge in health education. With her mother’s guidance, her personal brand and business have grown significantly. “My mom is the driving force behind my business,” says Selena. She says she’s been investing in herself lately by reading business psychology books and taking online classes. Current affairs podcasts are also one of her favorites.
Mehra calls her entrepreneurial journey a “crescendo,” one filled with great opportunities and leaps of faith. She says she had just graduated from college when she started modeling. At the time, school hadn’t prepared her for the creative industries, and a personal brand wasn’t even on her mind.
She says modelling boosted her confidence and as she became more known through her work, she learned to assert herself and follow her intuition.Mehara’s career blossomed behind the camera as she began working with clients including designers, journalists and fellow models.
For models, especially black models, a different or new career path is always a plus. Sometimes what they call side quests can be more fulfilling than their current position as a model. These stories show that pursuing a new path can be beneficial for mental and emotional health. The modeling industry may seem boring and like it does more harm than good, but these models are determined to change that with their entrepreneurial ambitions.
