Lights flash as cameras eagerly snap shots of Sophomore Chloe Dick while she poses in a floral dress for her photo shoot. She has wanted to be a model since she was young, and launched her career in April of this year.
The clothing company Starling initially recruited Dick when she caught the eye of a representative while she and her mother were shopping. When the representative asked Dick to model for them, she agreed after doing some research on the company.
A couple weeks later, the company collected her clothing size along with a few other girls and then whisked the models into hair and makeup. Once they changed into their clothes, they stepped outdoors and learned how to pose, and the photo shoot began.
“Their clothes tell you to dress how you want and express yourself,” Dick said. “It teaches you to express your style and be who you want to be.”
Starling is targeted towards young girls and has a large collection for all seasons. Dick has modeled for their Fall and Winter 2014 “Sportsluxe,” “Folklore,” “Pink Romance” and “Lounge” collections, as well as their Spring and Summer “Natural Explosion,” “Wanderlust,” “Paradise Cove,” “Nautical” and “Lounge” collections. Her next photo shoot with them will be sometime in February.
Dick is sometimes lumped into the anorexic model stereotype. However, she has made a deliberate choice to stand up against this label and not allow other peoples’ opinions on aesthetic beauty and weight to affect how she views herself.
“The definition of beautiful doesn’t include the word ‘skinny’ in it,” Dick said. “It is stupid to starve yourself.”
Instead of admiring famous models who alter their natural eating habits, Dick looks up to models like Adriana Lima and Cara DeLavinge because they exercise and eat healthily to maintain a good figure for the catwalk.
Dick has picked up a few pieces of advice for anyone who wishes to become a model.
“You want to look like you’re natural and having fun,” Dick said. “But never change yourself for anyone. Don’t be hurt if they don’t pick you for a photo shoot, because that’s just one person’s opinion on you.”
As for her own career, Dick is trying to make modeling a main focus, hoping to someday make it to the catwalk. Currently, it hasn’t majorly impacted her life.
“My life hasn’t really changed at all,” Dick said. “I’m still crazy Chloe!”