My first casting call

If you were to ask me if I enjoyed it, the short answer is yes. Long answer is a bit more complex. A few months ago, I applied for a campaign in regards to a popular makeup brand, Laura Mercier. They replied to my comment on TikTok, so I thought I might’ve had a leg to stand on. I sent a short video in prompting why I wanted the role and why I love the brand. To my surprise I opened my email a day before the casting (it was a Monday by the way) and they invited me to pick a time to go.

I took my last day of PTO for this. I figured why not go and see what comes of it and if nothing does, then I got to experience my first ever casting call. Welcoming me with open arms, they had beverages, food trays, makeup surrounding the place, and lots of photo ops. I felt like a princess in a bank building castle of NYC being waited on my makeup artists and elites.

I met a few other girls chosen for the casting and was immediately humbled. Stunning, tall, smooth skin, you know the rest. It’s discouraging walking into a room of beautiful women, but for me I felt honored. In a sense where I was maybe on the same level or wavelength to even be in this room. I think a piece of confidence shining through my video prompt was what initially got me hired for the 15-minute gig. Did I mention it took a whole 20 minutes and a $98 dollar parking ticket? That’s the rookie in me.

After meeting the team, having my shade matched, taking a few photos, and being asked a moral of questions–I was sent on my way with a goodie bag. A goodie bag of products worth about the same as my parking ticket. Probably could’ve took a trip to Sephora but it’s about the experience. You never know who you’re going to meet or what will result in something like that. It was totally out of my comfort zone.

My resolution last year was to do more things out of my character. I think this one takes the cake. I went out of my way to pursue something I have little experience in. Not only that but I’m definitely not qualified or a model by any means. I’ve dabbled with eComm shoots that fell into my lap but nothing major. I was always heavy on ‘if the opportunity presents itself’ and less on putting myself out there.

Prior to getting invited I couldn’t have imagined it, once I did I couldn’t have not imagined being the face of the campaign. It’s like a job interview, they always make you feel like you’ve got in the bag. Until the rejection comes–in which this case, it did.

I can’t imagine the life of an influencer or model getting 10x more of the treatment and being paid on top of it. If I could take away two things from this experience it’s that the city is expensive and to take risks. I’ll definitely continue to strive and apply for opportunities like this in the future.