Grafton Teen Models on International Stage
By Paul J. Rellinger

GRAFTON — Melissa J’s modelling career may have taken her to Asia and back, but deep down she’s just a good ol’ country girl.

After modelling for little more than a year and a half, the 19-year-old Grafton woman signed a contract with Select Models, which saw her spend three months in Instanbul, Turkey.

If not for a chance meeting in 2011 at Northumberland Mall, Melissa would not have known the excitement of being an international model.

“I was walking through the mall, with no makeup on and this woman walked right up to me and asked me if I would be interested in modelling,” Melissa said.

That woman was Audra Anderson — owner and president of Mode Elle, a model and talent agency headquartered in Belleville.

“I had never really been interested in modelling before,” Melissa said. “When I was nine, I would take my mom’s heels and strut up and down the hallway though. When I got started with Mode Elle, I started to get excited about the possibilities.”

It was not even a year later when possibilities took her halfway across the globe.

During the 2012 Canadian Model and Talent Convention in May, she was scouted by one of the top modeling agencies, Istanbul Select Models.

“I had never been in a plane before then and going to be in a strange country for three months, so I was nervous. I really didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “But Istanbul was incredible. I felt like a celebrity. Before I left I was seeing photos of myself on H/M billboards. It was an experience I’ll never forget.”

During her time in Istanbul and back home in Canada, Melissa modelled everything from swimwear to dresses and lingerie to pajamas — including 50 photo shoots in the time she was there.

Melissa will admit while wearing close to nothing in front of the camera was intimidating and nerve racking, working with other professionals made the experience easier.

“When I was surrounded by four or five photographers at a time and half a dozen makeup people, who all tell you how beautiful and sexy you are, it’s a bit of an ego boost,” she said. “In the heat of the moment, you kind of forget what you’re wearing or look like and start enjoying yourself.”

But when the camera flashes stop, with all the makeup off and her hair tied back, Melissa likes to ride horses, ATVs, go snowmobiling and snowboarding.

“I’m such a country girl at heart,” she said. “If I wasn’t discovered at the mall, I would never had pursued a career in modelling.”

Although she loves being outdoors or being in front of a camera, Melissa admits she does have one guilty pleasure.

“I’m a huge gamer,” she said with a laugh. “I love playing (Call of Duty) Black Ops.”

For now though, modelling will take a backseat to Melissa’s education. She started at Sudbury’s Cambrian College in September, majoring in business administration.

“I want to be a real estate lawyer one day,” she said. “I’ll still do modelling, but not as much and probably shoots closer to home. But if I got the chance to work in Miami, I’d go. I’d love to work there.”

Whether modelling is in Melissa’s future or not, she’ll never forget the experience.

“It changed my life and my outlook on life,” she said. “It made me realize how lucky I am to live in Canada and to get opportunities not a lot of people around the world get.”

So between camera flashes, Melissa will keep her nose in her school books — or squeeze in a quick game of Black Ops.

You can check out the article online here;
http://www.northumberlandnews.com/community/life/article/1561112–grafton-teen-models-on-international-stage

Congratulations Melissa!!

Local model off to Japan
By Dale R. Clifford

Examiner Staff Writer

Cavan’s Jordyn H. says she has always wanted to travel. Now she is getting that opportunity in a way she never imagined.

The 14-year-old daughter of Gary & Kim H. is going to Japan to work under contract as a teen model for the Tokyo Agency, Team. She left with her mom Sunday and will model in the Japanese city for the next 70 days, returning home June 11.

Her flight actually goes from to Toronto to Chicago then across the ocean. It is the first time she has even been out of Canada and only the second time on a plane. Her previous travelling experiences, she said, have been to Manitoba (on the plane) and Quebec.

“I have never really travelled before,” said the Grade 9 student at Holy Cross Secondary School. “I will get to see a different culture and it will be a full-time job. It will be an amazing experience. I have no idea of everything I will be doing yet but will soon find out. I love it all and I’m looking forward to it.”

Jordyn, who began modelling about six years ago when she turned nine, said she first connected with the Tokyo group in Toronto in November. It was arranged through her agent Audra Anderson after a first meeting with Asian agents at a model and talent convention in the provincial capital in May.

“We had great feedback from that,” said Jordyn. “They wanted to meet me in November. It went really well. They said they were very interested. They told me they liked that I was tall (5’8” and 115 pounds) and had blue eyes (laughs). That is a bit different for them. When I first found out I was chosen, I had butterflies and it was a little overwhelming. But it is exciting. ”

Jordyn began modelling with Mode Elle Model & Talent Agency in Belleville and after participating in her first convention, they placed her with the children’s division of Ford Models, which represents more than 2,500 models globally. She was with Ford for two years.

Much of her work has been modelling clothes for such groups as Zellers and Sears and at shoots in Toronto. As far as she understands, she will be part of a 12-member Japanese team.

Jordyn, who has three older brothers and plays defence for her Holy Cross and Peterborough bantam BB IceKats hockey teams, said she first became involved in modelling when walking through Lansdowne Place with her mother and seeing an ad for it.

“I was interested in acting so we filled it out and got a call,” she said. “It went from there. I just love modelling and want to make it a career. I love being in front of a camera, getting makeup, dressing up and posing. And I like to travel.”

Jordyn, who looks up to supermodel Liisa Winkler of Canada, said while in Japan she will keep up with her schoolwork via email correspondence and will have to write exams up her return.

That’s all right with her. It will all work,” she said confidently.

Congrats to Mode Elle Child Star
ROBBIE F.

who is up for a national award at the

Robbie is nominated in the category of “Outstanding Performance - Voice”
for his role as “Owen” in the Disney Jr. cartoon Stella & Sam!
The 10th Annual Actra Awards will take place on Saturday February 25th in Toronto!

Way to go, Robbie!! We are sooo proud of you!!