OCTOBER 2016
"TEEN MODEL OF TH MONTH"
BETHANY GRACE ATHENS
WEST VIRGINIA
When people think West Virginia the first thing that comes to mind is not a model.
It's normally the last!
I'm here in the industry and I'm stepping my way inch by inch to prove I am more than a girl from a small town. I am a model. Every girl dreams of wearing the latest designs and fashions as a child but I wanted more than that, I wanted to be a face that stood out, to prove quite a few people wrong.
High school wasn't pleasant for me, I mostly kept it all bottled up how I was bullied I didn't want anyone to know.. I would cry to my mom every night how mean and cruel someone was to me..
They never even noticed how hurt I was, no one noticed because I did what I had to do to look "cool" and to somewhat make it seem okay..
Shortly after a my senior pictures were taken by a family friend and photographer Savanna Perry, I fell in love with being in front of the camera it felt natural.. I felt beautiful inside I could imagine myself being more than everyone said! I pushed through the following year going to Tech school and modeling for local photographers here in the state, until I discovered Americas Next Top Model was coming to a near by state for auditions.. I was beyond thrilled to take off of work that Friday from my new career and drive 5 hours to DC with my mom and a friend to audition!
Little did I know I'd be picked up by a scout to do a photo shoot that day.. It all began with me running through the mall trying to get hair and makeup done to meet Mrs. Rowray to do an on set shoot!
It was my first real light into the industry. Monique pushed me over the following years to do bigger and better growing my talent as a model getting me through so many obstacles in life.
As my career list grew in the industry so did the names of agents, photographers, models, designers. Now I'm beyond thankful for each and every person I have met along the way who has made me who I am, I'm not where I want to be quite yet, I will continue to climb obstacles and move forward to the light I want. It's out there and I'm coming for it.
It's normally the last!
I'm here in the industry and I'm stepping my way inch by inch to prove I am more than a girl from a small town. I am a model. Every girl dreams of wearing the latest designs and fashions as a child but I wanted more than that, I wanted to be a face that stood out, to prove quite a few people wrong.
High school wasn't pleasant for me, I mostly kept it all bottled up how I was bullied I didn't want anyone to know.. I would cry to my mom every night how mean and cruel someone was to me..
They never even noticed how hurt I was, no one noticed because I did what I had to do to look "cool" and to somewhat make it seem okay..
Shortly after a my senior pictures were taken by a family friend and photographer Savanna Perry, I fell in love with being in front of the camera it felt natural.. I felt beautiful inside I could imagine myself being more than everyone said! I pushed through the following year going to Tech school and modeling for local photographers here in the state, until I discovered Americas Next Top Model was coming to a near by state for auditions.. I was beyond thrilled to take off of work that Friday from my new career and drive 5 hours to DC with my mom and a friend to audition!
Little did I know I'd be picked up by a scout to do a photo shoot that day.. It all began with me running through the mall trying to get hair and makeup done to meet Mrs. Rowray to do an on set shoot!
It was my first real light into the industry. Monique pushed me over the following years to do bigger and better growing my talent as a model getting me through so many obstacles in life.
As my career list grew in the industry so did the names of agents, photographers, models, designers. Now I'm beyond thankful for each and every person I have met along the way who has made me who I am, I'm not where I want to be quite yet, I will continue to climb obstacles and move forward to the light I want. It's out there and I'm coming for it.
