local storiesOctober 2, 2023

Rising Stars: Meet Kylah Cotharn

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylah Cotharn.

Kylah Cotharn

Hi Kylah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up I’ve always been influenced by pop culture and high fashion. I loved the idea of putting yourself out there to the world and showing your talents and personality to everyone. I knew I wanted to be in the spotlight. I loved walking in heels since being a young girl, just playing around the house. I first began modeling when I was 17. I always studied fashion and supermodels, especially of the 80s/90s, I pretty much knew what to expect in that industry.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Everything began when I moved from my hometown Chicago to Los Angeles. I graduated high school online so I could focus on modeling. Unfortunately for me I missed out on things like Prom and Homecoming. I think that’s why I enjoy modeling so much now, because I model beautiful dresses on the runway or in a photshoot. It basically gives me closure for not being able to dress for my Prom day. Starting out as a teen in Los Angeles was hard. I was still trying to find my look and my confidence. I went to photo shoots and auditions for commercials, but I knew there was something that I wasn’t delivering, I wasn’t getting booked. I stepped back from modeling, went to college for a couple of semesters. I switched majors a couple times to eventually go to cosmetology school. School was great but I just didn’t feel like myself. I was missing my spotlight. Learning that nothing ever comes easy in this life, I figured I should try modeling again.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Things changed for me in LA when I realized I wanted to specialize in runway. I had seen my first Victoria’s Secret show on cable, I thought they were the most powerful women in the world. I saw their confidence in the way they walked and their facial expressions. I saw what I was lacking, why I wasn’t getting booked at the time. I wanted to be just like them on that runway. I took my first runway class in California and basically runway came natural to me. I finally saw that I have the ability to model. I felt confident and powerful for the first time ever. I learned that runway made me feel powerful. It helped to me find my look and in a way, my identity.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
For models who are just beginning, I suggest downloading the Vogue app to your phone. There’s Vogue Magazine and Vogue Runway. Both of them will basically teach you everything you should know about the industry. You want to make sure you know what you’re talking about amongst other fashionistas. I still use these apps to help with my fashion knowledge.

Contact Info:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runwaykylah/?next=%2F

Image Credits
@christianpurdie @malandraboutique @gallerie.aj @themodelexperience @paradox_portraitslv @lfp2go

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