 |
By Angela Martin-Hinds |
Port of Spain, T&T: It was the experience in Milan which finally made her realise that modelling was not for her.
It was the dead of winter and she was one of ten models living in a two-bedroom apartment in Milan. The place was so small, that they were forced to convert the living room into a third bedroom. There was also a language barrier. None of the other models spoke English and privacy was limited.
There was no computer, no Internet, just a fax machine to tell them where the next casting call was.
Everyone was there for one thing and one thing onlyto land that elusive modelling contract which they fervently hoped would skyrocket them to fame and fortune.
Competition was fierce, but for Heidi Stollmeyer who was accustomed to quite a different life, this was not what she had visualised for herself.
And before long she was on a plane and heading back to Los Angeles.
Now back home in Trinidad after two years of modelling in Los Angeles 23-year-old Stollmeyer sat down and recounted her experiences in LA and Milan stating candidly that although it was not all bad, modelling for her was certainly not the fairy tale world depicted in magazines.
Five foot eight and a half inches tall, Stollmeyer is gorgeous at any angle, but mind you, this is no spoilt Barbie Doll.
"I never really planned to be a model. It was just something I decided to do to make extra money while I waited for my work permit to come through in LA," she quickly pointed out.
Stollmeyer left Trinidad for Boarding School in Canada in 1996. After three years she found herself fed-up with the cold and yearning for a warmer climate up. She began contemplating her next career move.
"I knew I had to get out of Canada. I told my parents I wanted to further my studies, but I wanted to go somewhere that was warm, sunny. We finally decided on California. My boyfriend and I packed up and went to California. I enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, majoring in marketing and merchandising. I was 20 years old."
But, according to Stollmeyer, it was not easy to just walk into a job, degree in hand.
"I did not have my work permit as yet, but it is well known that America is the land of opportunity. There is always some way to make money, " she laughed, brown eyes twinkling.
Stollmeyer began calling around to the different agencies enquiring about modelling jobs.
"I had always liked modelling having done a few ads in Trinidad. I also had a portfolio which had been done by photographer Ephraim Hunte and I knew it was a good way of making some money on the side while I waited for my work permit to come through."
She signed with Elle Models, but the first thing stylist and make-up artist Richard Bowman told her was:" Get rid of the blonde hair."
"I am a natural brunette, my hair had been dyed blonde for sometime, but according to Bowman blonde hair was high maintenance. Also, he said it was not the ideal look for me. Second, piece of advice from Bowman: "Get rid of the portfolio and get a professionally done portfolio."
Stollmeyer did as instructed and set out to work, trudging to casting calls all over LA.
"The agency received 25 per cent of what I made. I did music videos, hairshows, CD covers shows for Redken hair products and some runway modelling, even doing a modelling stint on the very popular show, Good Day LA."
But, Stollmeyer stressed, she harboured no illusions. She was in a cutthroat business and had to fight for every job she got.
"Practically every man and women in LA is aspiring to be either an actress, model or actor. Everyone walks around with their calling card from the waiter to the busboy. Everyone who is serious about making a name for themselves in the business has an agent and only a choice few get the lucrative contracts."
Stollmeyer said a year and a half after arriving in LA, and after receiving her work permit the agency sent her photo to a modelling agency in Milan and asked her if she would be willing to be stationed there.
"I initially felt it was a great opportunity and grasped at it."
But, her joy was to be shortlived.
Stollmeyer said she arrived in Milan in the dead of winter only to discover that she would be sharing living space with ten other girls in a small two-bedroom apartment.
"There was absolutely no privacy. There was the language barrier to contend with. The place was like a revolving door with models coming and going to various casting calls all hours of the day. No one was willing to be friendly or form sincere bonds. It was extremely competitive. There was no computer, no internet. Communication from the agency was through the fax machine telling us where the next casting call was taking place."
Stollmeyer said the first thing she was told when she arrived in Milan was that she had to lose several inches off her frame.
"I was amazed. I weighed 115 pounds. The agency informed me that it did not matter how much I weighed, but what I measured. The booking agent took out a measuring tape and told me: 'This is where you areThis is where I need you to be. Take the tape home and come back when you have achieved the ideal measurements.'"
But she explained: "I had seen what striving to be overly slim had done to other models, the unhealthy practices and I refused to go that route."
She added: "There was also the problem of the right look. While modelling in LA, I was told by the people at Elle that I had the desired European look. I got to Milan and I was informed that my look was more suited to Switzerland and Miami."
Stollmeyer said: "No one was going to destroy my self esteem because for me modelling was not the ultimate achievement I was seeking, where I would take any steps, no matter how drastic, to succeed. It was simply a pastime for me while I looked to greater things. I saw women become puppets and slaves to the profession. Anyone in the business will tell you the fashion industry is packed with a lot of fake, insincere people. It's an atmosphere which does not allow your true character to emerge. Everything is based on being perfect, hiding and camouflaging the flaws."
Stollmeyer said when she decided to return to LA she knew it would only be for a short time because her eventual destination would be home, to her beloved Trinidad.
"But before doing so I wanted to qualify a little more, to be more marketable to a prospective employer or be equipped enough to run my own business. I had always loved make-up, the whole artistry of make-up. I had already qualified in marketing and merchandising. The next move was learning how to develop product lines."
And Stollmeyer sought out the best to take her to that level. Back in LA she contacted famed make-up artist, Barbadian born Marietta Carter Narcisse to teach her. Carter-Narcisse had worked on such movies as Dangerous Minds, Beverly Hills Cop, Malcolm X, Fair Game, The Negotiator, and What's Love Got to Do with It, just to name a few.
"Her product line 'Calypso' has been featured in In Style magazine, Ebony magazine, Essence and many others. Her products were being used by people such as Angela Bassett and Michelle Pfieffer. She taught me how to develop skin care products. She knew I was interested in the natural look and she showed me how to attain that."
"Do I look as if I am wearing any make-up? she asked. And as I answered, "NO" she pointed out. "I am wearing two sets of foundation, concealer, lipliner and two lip glosses. It's all about blending" she exclaimed with a satisfied smile .
Stollmeyer returned home at Carnival with 60 packs of make-up which were developed to her stipulations in a lab in LA.
"I also chose the packaging. I called them Carnival Kits. They contained eye pencils and glitter dust in a vareity of jewel tones. They were a hit and sold out in no time."
Confidence oozing, she adds: "I am seriously considering a career as a make-up artist. I also see room for another product line in Trinidad and Tobago. At this stage however, I am quietly weighing my options. I know whatever business venture I finally decide on it will cost money, time and dedication, but I am not afraid. My experience in Los Angeles has not only strengthened my character, but has shown me that I have the potential to overcome many hurdles."