Meet Lily Vachon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Vachon.

Lily, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up in Maine, was very quiet, and a very humble beginning for me. Got through high school and realized I was bigger than the town I was living in. I needed more creativity, inspiration, culture, and opportunity. First pair of high heel Timberlands I bought, everyone at my high school thought I was crazy, like “what are you wearing?!” That’s when I knew fashion was the field I needed to be in.

After graduation, I moved to Providence, Rhode Island to attend fashion school and that’s when I started modeling my freshman year. It all started with one amateur portrait shoot, and then just went up from there. I started doing a lot of brand work, and started to excel in the streetwear sector and then from there branched out into beauty/ editorial. I have met so many amazing people through what I do, and that is what matters most to me. In college, it was always a grind, working two jobs and taking six classes, and then my day off (usually Sundays) I would choose between Boston or New York and do day trips with two or three shoots in that one day.

Fast forward to today, I am in Los Angeles, 22 years old, a year in a new place, and just making the most out of everything this place has to offer. I have modeled for over four years now, and don’t plan on stopping. I am still mainly pursuing that industry, but am now dipping my toes in styling, magazine production, photography, and scouting. I have been working the hardest I have ever worked, and it just doesn’t stop. Also, working a day job on Melrose helps with connections and being around high-end clothing, nothing but good energy. There are a lot of new and upcoming ventures I am working on and I can’t wait to share them with everyone.

Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely hasn’t been the smoothest, but its been nothing but love and lessons. I try to take any mistake or negative interaction as a lesson and just teach myself the game. Some of the struggles with modeling are just timing issues. Not getting pictures back, cancellations, paid on time, etc. Just handling those things professionally and knowing how to deal with that, really helps and that’s one thing I have had to teach myself over the years.

You have to be really straight forward and know your worth in this industry. I wasn’t strong at first, but the more work I do, the more I am building my brand and value so, there’s nothing to do but handle business with a clear and straight mindset about what you want and deserve.

I will say though that I’ve had pretty good luck working with wholehearted people who have my best interest. There hasn’t been any crazy situations that I have had to deal with or anything (knock on wood). There are so many people here to make magic with, so knowing that just makes me hungry to connect with people.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am definitely known for modeling. That is what I excel in and have spent the most time perfecting. Continuing down that road, my goal is to work with bigger streetwear and beauty brands and get my name out there more. Being so new here, the opportunities are endless so I am geeked to make these things happen in my favor. I am most proud of the amount of work I have done in the last four years. Sometimes, in the grand scheme of things I downgrade myself and feel like I haven’t done anything. Then I reflect on my Instagram page and realize I have actually done a lot of work, so looking back and reminding myself I can do this, and I have done it really makes me feel on top of the world, proud.

What sets me apart from others in the modeling is my energy, I can have fun one second and just switch up and strike a million poses the next and get serious. I also have an athletic body type, so doing swimwear shoots really helps me gain confidence and I want people to know you can do anything no matter your body type. I can and have done runway, and I am 5’5, I’ve shot for swimwear brands and I have an athletic body type. My work ethic, drive, creativity and ability to be punctual also sets me apart. I am completely independent, so any shoots you see are my own connections and visuals. I travel myself, get clothes, do my own makeup, contact people, scout locations, everything! So through being independent, I have learned a great work ethic because I can’t let the team and I down.

In the past, I have done styling, creative direction, scouting and photography and those are all fields I have a great respect for and would consider still pursuing as well.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see myself working with top designers and brands. Moving to LA, only a year in, I really have so much time to make connections and knock things off my list. I can also see myself getting stronger with being a businesswoman and carrying multiple things on my plate and representing, so many, strong models who are independent.

A couple of big goals are to model for Air Jordan, Nike, Fenty Beauty, Off-White and Rhude. There are so many, but these brands I really have respect for years and would be a dream to execute editorials for. I need to do what I can do to make this happen, and I have no doubt.

Pricing:

• 200/ hr fashion shoot
• 500/ day rate fashion shoot
• 400/ videos
• 800 full day/ video

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @lilyvachon

Image Credit:
Alex Toderica, Atreyu Key, Esli Avila, Tayo Jr., Brandon Ilic, Ola Bakare, Kai Kaden

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