Introducing Rachel Rose Scott

Growing up in a small town in Louisiana, Rachel Scott always knew that she belonged in New York City. Although modeling wasn’t her goal at first, her mother often suggested that she maybe consider it. “I look exactly like my mom,” she says. “We’re like twins.”

At the age of 16, while riding home from school she heard a radio announcement about a Pro Scout model call. Although she previously had doubts about joining the modeling industry, she jumped at this opportunity. “The open call was at the local Holiday Inn. I made it through the first round. At the second round I met the booker for Elite Model Management and he signed me that day.”

While finishing high school, Rachel made frequent trips back and forth from Louisiana to New York. “It was tough. I missed a lot of school. I missed my first day of Senior Year because I was shooting in New York.” Soon after, Rachel moved to Harlem and lived with roommates. “I stayed in the model apartments a few times,” she said. “But I wanted to be independent.”

She and a fellow Elite model spent 2 months in Hong Kong, walking in Market Week shows for designers such as Calvin Klein, Valentino, and Versace. She also booked a campaign for the Hong Kong version of Forever 21. “Being in Hong Kong was a culture shock,” she recalls. “The language barrier was really difficult. One client got really mad and screamed at me because I couldn’t understand what he wanted me to do. In Asia they want you to copy exactly what you see in the inspiration picture. You can’t add your own interpretation.” Rachel also walked in a few shows for the Spring/ Summer 2010 New York Fashion week, one being Rebecca Minkoff. She describes the fashion week experience in one word: Crazy.

It’s been 4 years since Rachel first started her career with Elite. She’s currently signed with Race and in the next 5 years Rachel says she would like to go to college and major in English or Creative writing. “Id also like to have a serious relationship,” she said. “I’ve never really had one because of my career. In 5 years I’d like to try being a normal person [laughs]. But definitely still live in New York City.”

by Jasmine Pierce

High Fashion Mom

My name is Samantha Quarrier, I am from a very small town named Crestview in the panhandle of Florida where I was born and raised. Just as in the movies, I was the ugly duckling, the one no one let sit down on the bus ride to school, always having my hair pulled was tripped in the hallways, last chosen to play any school yard games. I grew up with a large family of five brothers and three sisters.

My sisters and I were adopted when I was an infant. My biological mother was a drug addict and has a lot of physiological issues. I had a happy childhood, and yet I always felt out of place. When I was around 14 or 15 I received a postcard from Barbizon school of Modeling. I asked my mom multiple times to at least attend the search, finally my persistence prevailed. I looked around at all the girls that were the same age as I, all with their beautiful faces, skinny and tall. I had the height, but nothing more. Needless to say, I was invited to attend the classes that they specially engineered to help build basic makeup, proper etiquette and runway skills.

As time went by I was more interested in modeling, so I went to a model competition just get an honorable mention, then another to receive runner up to the winner. I went to Miami to test with Elite model management of Miami. At this time I turned 16, and was at what I thought was my prime, a couple years went by with my fluctuating between trying to model, or acting. I went to California after working with an acting coach for almost a year and a half. After finishing the showcase I decided to finish my schooling and then pursue the modeling. As I turn 18 I was just out of high school and ready to become the top model of the U.S. if not the rest of the world. It was a close friend of mine that told me if I wanted to model then I should just go for it. I then got back in touch with Elite Miami, to who was bought out and now had all new agents. I went and was turned down because I wasn’t the look they wanted to keep in Elite Miami.

I came back home crushed because I felt as though I still wasn’t good enough for anything. I was constantly watching my weight and keeping my hopes up, keeping my eyes open for any new searches, or opportunities. Over a period of time, I went through a lot of different jobs but not one of them leading me anywhere. I was working at an upscale restaurant as a hostess. I sat a couple at a booth, explained the menu specialties and before I could walk away, the man spoke to me offering his business card. He explained that he was a photographer from the area and was interested in hearing from me. I politely took it and put it in my purse and proceeded to work. When I got home that night I looked at the card and googled his name and found that he was legitimate. That following morning I called and set up to meet with him to discuss having a test shoot. I knew I had found the break I was waiting for. When I went to the office, I found he was in business with his mother who just so happened to be a mother agent for local models. Immediately they were interested in finding me a great agent to sign me to.

There were only a couple of months and I was off to New York to show my look book to as many agencies as I could. Then finally after walking the city, I walked into Race Model Management and felt right at home. I was only to be in town for a week, so I needed to work fast. Immediately I was set up with test shoots and had great reviews. I was asked to stay for a bit longer to see how well I worked. Almost immediately I was picking up a few modeling jobs. All along keeping in touch with my friends and family in Florida, as well as promising my father I would still make it to his banquet .I told him I would be there to assist at the end of the month, as well as telling my boyfriend at the time that I was to be home soon. As work got to be slow I took the opportunity to go home. It was only to be for a week tops. When I got home, it turned out that I stayed a bit longer than anticipated. Then I was expecting a baby and the father of my child went into the Navy, so I stepped away from my dream, and out of the modeling lime light for my pregnancy.
Now that I have had my baby boy, being a model is back in the picture. I know it will take a lot of hard work to be back in the shape but I am willing to push myself to start again. He is a beautiful baby boy, so curious of the world around him.

Being a mother and having the father of my child in the Navy, it’s as though I am a single parent. The modeling door will be open for him when he gets a little older if it is what he would like to do. Since modeling is a day time job, I am going to try and peruse it again. My new dream and goal is to model in Europe for tear sheets. I believe modeling is almost the best way to travel and meet new people, I know it’s the best way to make friends. It helps build character and make you a stronger and more independent person. My confidence has come light years from when I first started modeling. Nothing should ever stop you from pursuing your dreams and reaching your goals.