Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Sedory.
Rachel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always viewed myself as a performer and lover of story. My mom likes to say that I was performing before I was born- She used to be a character performer at Disneyland and at one point, she was performing in the parades while she was pregnant with me. Looking back on myself as a child, I think that my imagination could rival that of Anne Shirley’s. My parents tell me that when I was little, I would go on and on and in great detail about these dreams I had or some other story I made up and the more engaged my audience, the more likely I was to improvise and add nuance to my already outlandish tales.
It’s no surprise that I developed an affinity for reading and writing. I often lost myself in books or a creative writing assignment. My imagination certainly benefitted my schoolwork but it has also been integral to my own character development- I think my imagination was so strong that it protected me in a lot of ways. Looking back, I see it like a hedge that surrounded me, which kept my heart tender and optimistic through difficulties. I am so grateful for that because I believe those qualities have followed me into adulthood.
I fell in love with acting in Kindergarten when I was cast in my first play and I haven’t looked back since- I can honestly say from that moment on, I do not recall a single moment that I have doubted what I wanted to do the rest of my life; although my reasoning has certainly evolved. I continued to act, doing mostly theatre, throughout middle school and high school. When I graduated from high school, I didn’t have the connections or resources to jump right into the acting world of LA so I thought the next best thing would be to learn everything I could- so I decided to study acting in college. Staying true to all that I loved, I started college as a theatre major and English minor but that changed when our school implemented a new program. By my Sophomore year, I had switched to the BFA in Acting program which emphasized study in acting for film and television.
I used to really resent not getting the opportunity to start acting in the industry when I was younger. I believed that I was missing out on so much and I was so sure that if I had started earlier, I would be much more successful. Now that I’m older, I don’t see my personal trajectory as better or worse than someone who got their start younger- it’s just different. My journey is unique. I am so grateful for my experiences and I honestly would not trade the education I have, the memories I made, and the friendships I’ve cultivated for anything.
On the subject of gratitude…When I was a Senior in college, I started dating my FIRST boyfriend ever. That went pretty well because I ended up marrying him a couple of years later. Soon after graduating from college, I signed with my first agency and booked my first commercial. I was also hired for the first job I applied for after college- Tour Guide at Universal Studios. Unbeknownst to me at the time, a pretty coveted position that A LOT of people apply for but only a handful are chosen. At the beginning of my career, I was experiencing a lot of “Yeses”.
I never pictured myself as a model- probably due to what the majority of models looked like- There was no way I was ever going to fit in that world. Nevertheless, I was told fairly often that I should model. But it just didn’t interest me very much; so I thought…
A couple of years post-grad, I met someone I had admired from a far (through social media) for years. I didn’t know it then but that was a fateful day: I met Micheline Pitt during the launch party for her new clothing brand, Vixen. I will never forget, I got in line to meet her and when it was my turn, I said, “Hi! It is so great to finally meet you!” The first thing she said back was, “Do you want to model for me?” For someone who I admired so much to ask me to model for them- without knowing me at all, without ever having seen my work, was overwhelming and extremely encouraging.
I had done some amateur modeling before but Micheline gave me my first professional modeling experience. After that, she brought me on to a few other projects. It wasn’t long before I had a full-fledged portfolio with professional images. I signed with a modeling agency shortly after. Needless to say, I credit my entire modeling career to Micheline. She is still one of the biggest supporters and most encouraging voices in my life.
I deeply cherish those early modeling experiences- They granted me a lot of the confidence I lacked. As I continued to work, I saw the industry expand and make space for more body diversity. That is when I knew I wanted to continue modeling- I realized that I was getting to be a part of this immensely positive change. The status quo of the “ideal body” was not only shifting, it no longer had one definition. The world was finally getting to see much more varied representation of body shapes and sizes.
As someone who was told for most of her life that she did not have an “ideal” body, getting to represent women with my body type as an adult has been really healing for me. There is still much progress to be made in media; there are still many bodies and people groups that are underrepresented. But I am optimistic for the future- As long as those with influence continue to uplift marginalized voices, we will continue to see progress.
It goes without saying that this year has been unprecedented for everyone. I have needed to be more intentional than ever about acknowledging everything I have to be grateful for. One aspect of this year that I am particularly grateful for is the extra time I was given for self-reflection. Although I love modeling and am thankful for its role in my life, I do really want to shift my focus back to acting and writing. Being alone with my thoughts for such lengthy stretches of time has emphasized what is most important to me- that is and has always been storytelling.
Great, 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, the path has not been easy… As you can imagine, being in the industry comes with a lot of rejection. I mentioned earlier that I experienced a lot of “Yeses” at the beginning of my career. That was true for a time but as I continued putting myself out there, the “Nos” were plentiful. It’s funny actually that I am responding to this question now because just today, I was released from a big project that I was on hold for. Fall through happens all the time. Personally, I think I handle it well (you kind of have to in order to keep going), but I don’t know that you ever get “used to it”. I think you just learn to manage how it affects you.
I recently experienced a pretty significant letdown: Years ago, when I first decided to really pursue modeling, I went to an open call at my dream agency. I wasn’t convinced anything would come of it but I didn’t see any harm in trying so I went. As I suspected, I didn’t hear back from them and ended up signing with a smaller agency. After a couple of years went by and I had more professional experience under my belt, I felt a pull to pitch myself to the other agency again. This time, they offered me a contract. I was stunned- it was a dream realized. Unfortunately, the year I was signed with them was nothing like I expected. Admittedly, I was under the impression that being signed with a big-name agency was going to open a lot of doors.
The first half of the year, I went to a few castings but didn’t book anything through them and the second half of the year, quarantine went into effect and there were no jobs. My year contract with my dream agency came to an end and I was devastated. Though I was discouraged, I continued to show up for myself- I realized that I needed to be my biggest advocate. Much to my surprise, I have been booking more now as an independent model than I ever have before when I was signed. I’m not sure if I will remain freelance but I am grateful in a way for the disappointment- it challenged me to fight harder for what I want. It also gave me another opportunity to recognize that my value is not contingent on what is happening in my career.
While working toward careers in modeling and acting, one of the major roadblocks I’ve faced is not being a “standard” size. I am not technically plus sized and I am a little shorter than the average model requirement. I have heard from agents, brands, casting directors, etc. that they “love my look” but are not quite sure “what to do with me”. I have also been told from previous agents that my “in-between” size is what keeps me from booking more often. Which is very interesting because in the demographic of mainstream fashion, the majority of women are between sizes 6-14 but for whatever reason, that’s not where the fashion industry focuses its representation. In my opinion, there isn’t any one size that should be favored- all body types and sizes deserve representation. Fortunately, there is progress being made in this area and I do believe representation will continue to expand.
In addition to not being a “standard” size, having a particularly voluptuous figure has come with its own set of challenges. Curvier bodies tend to be over-sexualized, as if being curvy is in and of itself a sexual thing. It’s a very frustrating stigma that impedes on your autonomy. I often feel like I have to go out of my way to receive acknowledgment about something other than my appearance. I could really go in on this, as it’s something many women deal with, but I’ll save it for my memoir…*wink*.
Disappointment has taught me many valuable lessons but probably the most poignant is the necessity of keeping yourself grounded in who you are and why you are pursuing what you are pursuing. Success and opportunity will come and go; people’s opinions and culture’s standards are ever-changing- It is imperative that you remain steadfast. It isn’t easy, but I try not to place my self-worth in any ephemeral notion and especially not in the provincial world of Hollywood.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My hope is to emphasize the beauty in our individuality- including our bodies, our voices, and our stories while simultaneously fostering connection to one another. I intend on furthering this narrative through the jobs and projects I accept and cultivate within the industry.
I think I am rather resilient and I am proud of that. As someone who deals with anxiety and depression, it is especially difficult to get back up after being knocked down, I know many can relate. Being in the industry, there is a lot of getting “knocked down” so to speak but if you can always pick yourself up after, well that’s half the battle.
I’m still in the process of figuring out “what sets me apart from others”. Partially because I think I’m still growing into myself but also because I am less interested in what sets me apart from others and more interested in the ways we are all similar. What is most compelling to me about storytelling and why I love doing it so much is the profound way it connects and reminds us that we are not alone.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I have lived in or near LA my whole life so maybe I’m more inclined to feel this way because I’m from here, but I love that it is a large city with a small-town feel. Yes, everybody knows everybody but what I mean to emphasize is this – You will meet some snoody-patooties but most of the people here really just want the best for themselves and you, even if they have a strange way of showing it. LA is a city of dreamers and most people (who are grounded) have the perspective of “what’s meant for me will come my way and what’s meant for you is yours”. Not that jealousies and competition are absent, but I have personally encountered many generous spirits here.
What I like least about LA…I know it’s cliché but it is the truth- THE TRAFFIC. It is the #1 thing I dislike most about this city. And I won’t go into detail because chances are, you already get it.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @rachelsedory
Image Credit:
Mackenzie Breeden, Haldane Morris, Zenna Hodge, Isaiah Mays, Taylor Hotter, Lars Kommienezuspadt
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