Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Schackmann.
Kristin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Originally a Midwest girl, I grew up an only child in Naperville, Il. I went to a private school kindergarten through 8th grade. There were only about 30 kids in my class each year for every grade. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time together. I hit my growth spurt early. I was always the tallest kid from elementary school through junior high. I did get made fun of for being tall, especially by the boys, who hadn’t hit their growth spurt yet. I had a core group of best friends but still would come home crying because of the cruel, hateful things kids would say. Words are a powerful thing. They can stick with you throughout your life if you let them. Once I got to high school, I didn’t get made fun as much anymore. I was still the tallest girl standing over 6′ foot tall since junior high and having a curvy figure at a young age made it hard for me to shop where my friends did, date, and feel like I fit in.
Dance classes, competitions, and performances were a huge part of my life from the age of 3 years old all the until college. I also was in several theater productions and played volleyball. I had the girls’ basketball coach approach me every year about joining the team. I like watching basketball, but playing wasn’t my thing. I’m not aggressive. I loved the grace and beauty through the expression of dance. That was more of me. Usually, I see parents put their children in all these activities and sports to keep them busy. Dance was something I asked my mom to let me do because there was just something about it that I loved. It was an outlet where I was able to enjoy myself, make friends, and I was good at it. I remember a time when I wanted to join the ballet company. I went to the audition. I did well. I was good enough but too tall and bigger than all the other girls/boys. My dance teacher said I could be an apprentice. Crushed me. Why was my height/weight such an issue? Explain that to a kid. I was better off sticking to tap, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. My teacher wasn’t even sure that I shouldn’t take a pointe class. I had one other time that really crushed me. I was homesick with the flu and lost about 10 lbs. Yet at that point in time, I was not overweight for my height and age. I went back to dance class where my dance teacher said I looked great because I lost weight.
Height and weight always seemed to be an issue for me. I had a family member constantly tell me if you lose 30 lbs, you’ll look great. Again there it was words that I was having a hard time erasing from my brain. I felt I had to be skinnier to fit in and make other people happy. I went through a period of trying diet pills and diets to lose weight. But who was I really doing it for? I tried to dive into the modeling industry in my teens but was told I was too young. I guess that was the nice way of telling me no. I had seen plenty of girls my age and my height in the industry but not my weight and curves. I put that dream on the back burner. The only real plus size woman I saw at that time was Emme, but she was older than me and still fighting more to be in the modeling industry as a plus-size woman.
Skip ahead a few years. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Family and Human Studies. I worked in the social work field for several years working with children and families that had been involved in child protective services. I dealt with the reunification of children to their families, women in prison, and foster families. I still this day love helping others but always had a passion for fashion and modeling. I did a few small modeling jobs throughout college. I always had people tell me I have a pretty face and should model because I’m tall. It wasn’t until a client at my social work job asked me what I was doing here helping them because you should model. I went home and really thought about it. I decided to figure out how to get back into modeling. I submitted myself for different model calls. I had a test shoot with a lingerie company, Hips and Curves. I wasn’t completely confident in myself yet and didn’t book that job. It did discourage me a little. I had no guidance into the industry and have had to figure most of it out on my own. I went to another casting for a runway show that would be held in NYC. The production was Full Figured Fashion Week, which is considered the Oscars of Plus. There are several days of fun, networking opportunities, and runway show. I made it to the top 100, but it stopped there. I didn’t have any good or professional photos to make it to the final cut. I tried again the next year while still working my other job. I had better photos and finally made it! I cried. I was so happy. Going to NYC to participate in such an amazing production really boosted my confidence in going after something I had wanted to do for several years. The experience and knowledge I learned from Gwen DeVoe, creator of FFFWeek, and Sharon Quinn, the original runway diva, was priceless. I met some amazing brands, designers, models, volunteers, supporters, and fans of the plus-size industry from participating in FFFWeek. Some of the top supermodels have walked in FFFWeek in the past, such as Ashely Graham, Liris Crosse, Rosie Mercado, Christina Mendez, etc. I was able to participate a second time in FFFWeek 2 years later for their 10th Anniversary. 2018 was a great year for me. I was able to walk in the 10th Anniversary of Art Hearts Fashion LAFW S/S and F/W, as well as, Miami Swim Week.
I have come a long way in my confidence in myself and as a model. Like anyone else, I still have my days where I struggle with self-confidence. I look at photos from 5 and even ten years ago and see how much I didn’t believe in myself but managed to power through with a smile on my face. I look at those photos and can’t believe that I thought that I was fat. When today, I’m currently at my highest weight but have the power to do anything I put my heart and mind into. Modeling has been my main focus the past several years, but I would love to incorporate my psychology/social work background into it. I would like to start a program in and out schools for children, their family members, friends, acquaintances, or anyone that struggles with self-worth and self-confidence. I want to teach people how damaging words can be and linger and what can be said that is positive and uplifting instead. I hope this would help lead to less self-destructive, self-sabotaging behaviors, and less bullying as children get older.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have not always been a smooth road for me. I battled a lot internally but would never show it. I chose to go into an industry that is based on what your measurements are and looks. You can get a lot of no’s before you get a yes. I got that a lot growing up and didn’t believe in myself. Social work was also like a therapy for me. If I can help someone else, I feel like I’m helping myself. While I still get a lot of no’s, I have gotten several yes’s from people that have believed and supported me.
I also lost my mother to lung cancer over ten years ago. She was a non-smoker, but it wasn’t until it was too late to gain the knowledge I have now to help her fight mentally and physically. Lung cancer is more prevalent among non-smoking females. Second-hand smoke is often considered worse than actually smoking. I lead a mainly plant-based lifestyle the past few years when my significant other decided to make the change for his health, mentally and physically. My mother was my main supporter. She was usually the one to take me to all of my rehearsals, competitions, school functions, etc. I wish I could share with her all that I have accomplished in my career. My father is still around and living in a suburb of Chicago. I also have several aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Midwest. I was the only one that ventured to the West Coast to start a different life. While Illinois will always be my home, the west coast has given me so much more than where I could have imagined I would be.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kristin Schackmann story. Tell us more about the business.
I have been a freelance model for several years and also signed with Envy Model Management in LA/Vegas in 2018. I have worked with some amazing companies such as Ashley Stewart, Cacique Intimates, Grace In LA Jeans, Gyv Me Body Swimwear, Melissa Mercedes, Nordstrom, POPFit Clothing, René Tyler Plus Size, Swimsuits For All, Tia Lyn Lingerie, and many more. I also have been a featured model on several new programs, campaigns for René Tyler Plus Size and commercial. I have walked in Full Figured Fashion Week in NYC to LAFW to Miami Swim Week. One of my favorite jobs was working with world renown photographer, Erwin Olaf. The dutch photographers’ works have been in galleries and magazines all over the world. Mr. Olaf has photographed Dutch Royalty. His most current series titled “Palm Springs,” which I am in is currently featured in galleries from Amsterdam to Shanghai with many of his other series celebrating his forty years of photography; along with his new book, “I Am.”
I have been featured in several Pinup Magazines. I also was the first covergirl for Crusade of Curves. Crusade of Curves celebrates the plus industry with several events, runway show, and vendors for the plus size women and me. The event happens yearly in North Carolina put on by Mallory Richardson.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
While I have seen the fashion/modeling industry progress over the last several years, I have also seen it regress, as girls are still trying to fit an industry standard to gain more recognition and work. Some brands and designers are still close-minded. There will always be people that don’t want change. Change is the only way we grow as individuals, brands, society, etc. Some brands are only jumping on board with adding plus size and other options for the money. The fact is there will always be plus size women and men in this world. They would be crazy not to include all types of models i.e., all sizes, heights, ethnicities, etc. in their campaigns. I hope in the next 5-10 years in the fashion industry there will be even more diversity. Everyone wants to be able to relate to someone they have seen in advertisements because I know I want too. To this day, people think you have to be tall to model. I have been turned down because I’m too tall. What about people that are petite or average height? That’s something we can’t change. Better representation needs to happen more often.
Contact Info:
- Email: kristinschackmann@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristinleighxo1
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristinleighxo1
- Other: Press: emma@medeirosfashionpr.com
Image Credit:
Betsy Pettet
Brooke Chouset
Daniel Rodriguez
Devaun Lennox
Nancy Houser
Rick Jones
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