by Editor Madeline Figueroa-Jones
Katie Reed was our first unsigned model to grace the cover of PLUS
(January 2009). Her look, her pictures and the way she moved gave us
enough confidence that we decided to shoot her and bring her to the
public for everyone to meet. What happened next is nothing less than
the dream that most aspiring models have. Getting signed and working as
a plus size model. Catch up with Katie...
[Maddy] The last time we met with you – we were planning the January
2009 issue. You were our first unsigned model to grace the cover of
PLUS. How has your life changed since then?
[Katie] After I did the cover for PLUS, the ball started rolling. I was
discovered by my manager, Jacquelyn Willard, who works for Matrix
Models in New York. She developed me a little more and gave me some
great insight to the business side of modeling. She set up a meeting
for me to meet the agents at Wilhelmina. I walked out those glass doors
with tears in my eyes and with the contract in my hand.
[Maddy] Tell me about being signed with Wilhelmina. Can you tell the
numerous unsigned models who read our publication how you prepared to
meet with them?
[Katie] The main thing I focused on before going in was how I would
feel if they said no. I knew that if Wilhelmina didn't sign me it
wouldn't mean that I failed. I really felt that I had already succeeded
just by moving to LA to seriously pursue my dream. So for me, I
had already made it.
[Maddy] You are incredibly fluid in the way you move... How did you become so comfortable in front of the camera?
[Katie] Well thank you! I shot with a lot of photographers and had plenty of mirror time to help me with that!
