Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Rose.
Hi Valerie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started freelance modeling back in 2016, I was in college and the creative community (modeling photography I modeling photography, videography fashion, etc.) was really bustling in the Charlotte area, as Charlotte was and is still a growing city! I had just been having a good time taking pictures with some friends and posting them to Instagram and a lot of photographers and videographers started reaching out to me to shoot which was surprising to me at the time since I never thought I could model! This then led me to my love for modeling that I didn’t know I had the potential to pursue. At the time, I was living in South Carolina so I would travel all around North and South Carolina to shoot with new emerging photographers videographers and other talents. I would be able to attend things such as creative meet up‘s where I could find very talented photographers, videographers models to create with and it was just a very beautiful time. Due to my collaborations, my following on Instagram began to grow! I was able to monetize myself for modeling jobs and still do to this day! I guess to me that was my beginning, I still am a freelance model today and I love it so much. I took a year and a half off for personal reasons but upon moving to LA this year, I was able to explore a new city and find new opportunities to model in California which has always been a dream of mine.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road is smooth… There of been many struggles not only physical obstacles but mental and emotional obstacles as well. Modeling is not an easy thing to pursue though it’s romanticized! In the beginning, I was judged for what I did, but I had to let go of that and do what I loved. Back when I started freelancing, it was less common for people to take pictures and create content like I did especially from where I am from which is a very traditional southern place. I didn’t fit the mold that everyone was used to and different sometimes causes people to react in negative ways! Along with the popularization of collaboration comes people who are out to take advantage of young models who are looking for opportunity and that was something I was unfamiliar with and so I was in situations that were more uncomfortable but I’ve learned my lessons and I have been able to properly set boundaries and follow my own rules due to experiences. It is scary that people will take advantage of young women and men in the industry and that’s not just modeling that’s in anything. In the end of it, all the lessons I learned from these experiences are worth it and I believe I am the person I am today because I learned and grew as a person!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am many things and I don’t like to limit myself to just being a model or just being an influencer or streamer or an entrepreneur. I have a lot of things that I enjoy and love and I have a lot of things that I will be accomplishing, I am working on many projects and art in many forms—I will be releasing music this year, I will be working more on my canvas paintings, and I will be continuing writing poetry to hopefully publish a book. I am streaming daily and continue to grow my social media! I have been working on my personal business endeavors and plan to release products I’ve been working on this year! Right now, I am heavily focused on modeling, yes…because I have always loved it and I have always done it…At this point, it’s a part of my everyday existence because I love creating portraits and I love creating things and I am as we all are canvases for our own unique creation and self-expression and I think that’s such a beautiful thing. I would say I’m most proud of my ability to do many things and I am proud of the fact that I want to not only propel myself but also others… I am proud that I have been able to do this for as long as I have and mostly, I’m proud that I’ve been able to find myself in all of it.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think really important qualities or adjectives that I would dedicate to any success to is love, persistence, passion, consistency, creativity, drive, positivity, genuineness, uniqueness, self-expression, communication, go getter. I’m sure there are so many more but those are coming to mind right now.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeriebabyrose/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCofX2d2jMu_R5iY9e0afsOw
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJWMHFju/
Image Credits:
Madison Lara Tran Kemani Stylzz Kelly Nguyen
