Meet Trailblazer Natalia K Pierce

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia K Pierce.

Natalia K, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a fashion designer, my brand is called Pierce. It’s named after my stepfather who has been a solid rock in my life. Also, my adoptive mother but I don’t like her last name so I chose the better. I am also partnered with Dalton England the owner of The Tie Dye Company who is being showcased this year in Fashion Week. And I would like to start off by saying I am so proud of him an all his hard work. He makes clothing and gives it away. Doesn’t even make a profit from it. I have never met someone so special in my entire life who only creates art to give it away to spread pure joy and happiness.

I am a twenty-seven-year-old runway model, based out of Arizona and LA.
I work alongside Fashion Week, I don’t have a title or really have to do a specific job I just hop in anywhere they need me and learn everything I can. I call myself the “Know it all.”

I just did a show for Errol Isip and John De Dios in LA, California. Model Hunt International. It was amazing, I walked on a runway in front of celebrities and the biggest names in the Fashion industry, I wore KCRS the entire time, refused to wear my street clothes. Starstruck, yes. Very much so, but they were all just so humble. Errol and John put so much hard work into this event it was honestly the most beautiful experience. Not to mention I got to hang out with my idol Kentaro from Project Runway. If you don’t have the slightest clue who these people are, just look up their fabulousity, it will blow your mind. These are men strive to make women feel more empowered.

I am an artist, I have been since I was little. I paint and digital art my way into the hearts of the creative community. I also sell my paintings and works of art to fashion designers and book illustrators. I am also a writer. I write horror sci-fiction. I’m also working on a new project, I hope to be finished with and published by 2020.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
So, as I said, I am twenty-seven, an I do a lot but it has all branched off of the modeling industry and without it, I wouldn’t have anything.

Some bumpy roads I’ve endured with my time as a young model has been finding legitimate work. Now, for legal reasons, I cannot say the site in which I was encouraged to join to find work just starting off as a model. But, it rhymes with “hodel Heyhem.”

This is a site that prides itself on helping models connect with photographers to build their portfolios. I will say this right now. Join at your own risk. Most photographers I have experienced and again for legal reasons, I will say “some models have found success in this site”. I did not, that could be all my own doing so I won’t put blame on it.
I found photographers here were very creepy and wanted only to work with inexperienced models eighteen and plus. Just right there should give you a clue to what kind of modeling they wanted to shoot. For some of the more curious readers, it’s essentially provocative borderline pornographic. Why on earth people told me to join is beyond me. But, after a few years on this site, I found that the whole base of the website was crooked.

How does this help me find work? Well, it’s simply a website will not help you find work. A website will not teach you what you need to know. The photographers here will not help you with what you need to further your portfolio, an I found that most of those photographers have a hidden agenda. That has no association with helping you reach your full potential. Again this is my opinion nothing more.

If you want to dive into the modeling industry or the fashion industry, in general, I highly advise looking online where models have said they went to school, where they have studied, who has trained them and if its too expensive well guess what. We have programs for young designers at Fabric Tempe right in the heart of ASU campus. They take all ages into their programs. They have mixers and events open to all ages, all month long. Here, you can mingle and ask the questions you need to be answered. So many amazing designers have come from this venue, I highly recommend stopping in anytime from 9am-5pm weekdays and asking for a tour. I have done many runways at this school and I hope to do many more in the future.

For modeling, there’s a free “FREE” workshop for new models. It’s held by Shane Baker, he was a photographer of the year for Fashion Week a couple of years back. His polite prompt and straight to the point. If you are ever at one of his workshops, you have no clue what you’re doing. Just tell him, say “I have never modeled before can you help me?” His team which includes another amazing photographer “Mia” are very hands-on and can assess what you are doing wrong and right and instead of sugar coating it, they are straight forward and even give information on how to work better at it on your own time. Along with providing a long list of people to contact for a specific need. He has designers come in, magazine editors and even some elite models join the discussions. If you want to attend this just pop over to shanebakerstudios on Instagram or Google search and you will find a direct link to his registration page. This event happens every second Monday of the month at 6 pm and goes till about 8 pm depending on what we are shooting. A side note, never be late to this class cut off of entry is 6:15 sharp.

I will note however, his workshops are eighteen plus and not for gross reasons. But when we have a designer come in, they have us put their designs on and model them in a live photoshoot. We have changing rooms, however, it’s still inappropriate for anyone under the age of eighteen to be changing in a room of adults.

I hope these two tips help out anyone in need, as for the parents of young children or just adults worried about their adult children signing with agencies. A good keynote to remember is that “You never pay for your child to join an agency,” it is a scam. Just as if you were to join a company or start a new job. You never have to pay to be employed. You work, you get paid and the company or management takes a percentage out for any uniforms or necessities to perform the job correctly. An agency is the same way, if they want to sign your child/adult child they will sign them and then take a percentage out of their pay when they book a job an get paid.

Speaking of agencies, I have not been signed to one so I am considered a freelance model. I have managers/bosses if you will that mentor me and tell me when something new comes up that I should check out. How you get one is honestly still a mystery to me. When I figure out how I’ll post it everywhere. But, I had to do a LOT of “cattle calls” these are giant groups of models who go to a agencies open door/casting event and you sit in a room with twenty other people in the hopes that you will stand out from the crowd. I’ll tell you right now, this doesn’t happen. They will go on about how amazing they are and how amazing they can make you or your child. That’s great if they were you know signing you that day, but they aren’t. They are just trying to keep your interest.

I would personally stay away from cattle calls. Some agencies even uh push for a “one on one” meeting. And then, they set up a date and time and when you get there, it’s a cattle call. Just push for an obscure date and time preferably in the morning hours of a Tuesday. You might be able to sit down one on one with a talent agent.

Portfolio, it’s so hard to get a portfolio going or a comp card. I am still building my portfolio, I don’t have a comp card. I just kind of wing it. A comp card to those who don’t know is a mini-portfolio with your best pictures that are clear and diverse. It has your measurements and lists your information and gives some clue to the type of modeling you do. You can draft one of these up and print a bunch at office max for some pocket change. Doesn’t matter how big or small they are as long as everything is clear to see.

I really hope this helps some people out there trying to make this whole career or hobby happen. I wish you the best of luck. You can always reach out to me on social media and I will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Knowing more about me, well, I am a “Know it all” in every field of work/hobby. I pride myself on one particular skill set and that is, making people happy. I don’t just go into a meeting or job and do it to the best of my ability. I make friends with the owner, designer, other models. I make sure to leave every situation with a date to hang out or catch up. It’s the best move possible to not only create life long friendships but to also create solid working environments. Because of this sort of niche I have, I’m known by people I’ve never even met. So, when a friend or coworker needs information for a casting or needs to get a hold of a photographer, designer or agency. They message me. I can message anyone I need to and within minutes, they respond back to me. I won’t say I have some special ability, I am just straight to the point with what I need and then, I make sure to have all the information upfront for them to see. When you are vague or message someone for information and you start it off as a light chit chat. They won’t notice it. Cause they are working. You have to aim for the big stuff and progress slowly into the light stuff.

I pride myself on being me, being the crazy, messy, confused me. I don’t pretend to be anything than what I am. I don’t pretend to know anything than what I actually know and I don’t allow people to influence my opinions. I think this is what sets me apart from the pack. I break out in dance when there’s no music, I help other models who seem to be struggling. I reach out to designers who are just trying to make things work and I put 100% of myself into everything I do for others. I don’t ask for anything in return, I do it to spread the loving support people need when struggling. In the hopes that they will remember and do the same for the next person.

So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well-positioned for?
This is so simple, women have every opportunity. They can have anything they want in life. We have been told for so many years what we can and cannot do. But why? We are not some small-minded beings who are set to only do what society has told us we can. We are strong, we are formulated for greatness. So, what are women well positioned for? Greatness, we are women of the future. We are the key to success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shanebakerstudios.com/
• Email: kittylagerpierce@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/nataliakpierce
• Other: www.instagram.com/tie_dye_company

Image Credit:
Model Hunt International, Errol Isip, John De Dios, Kelvin Kam, By Calvin, Gwency

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