We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ameera Surka. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ameera below.

Ameera, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Big box America, and corporate America often leave out a huge part of our demographic; petite and plus size people. Representation in its various and respective forms, carry so much weight in a young person’s development. I often times find outfits online that I like; but when I try them on myself, I don’t like them at all. It took me a while to realize that what was happening was I was buying clothes based on an unrealistic image. Imagine scrolling through an online store or attending a runway show, and seeing someone that looks just like you. That’s my career goal, to bring greater representation to the fashion industry as it plays such an integral role in our identities!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My modeling career actually stemmed from a very dark time in my life. I had just gotten out of a toxic relationship and was finding who I was outside of that toxicity. I soon came to realize that the person I was seeing in the mirror was not the person I was inside, and needed to see myself in a new light. So I scheduled a photo shoot. I very quickly fell in love with being in front of the camera, and soon realized that my passion and love for modeling could be turned into a career. I now specialize in print advertising, and commercial video; and have dabbled in runway and promo modeling as well. I am discovering a new passion for acting, and I’m excited to see where this new Avenue of interest leads. My most proud moments are when other models local to myself, tell me that they have began their modeling journey because they saw me doing it. I love so much to be able to be an inspiration to others, the way that others have inspired me. Often times I draw inspiration from those whom I’ve inspired, especially when I find myself in lulls of work or ruts.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

So much of modeling is who you know, confidence and networking. I can vividly remember a time that I was trying to cast for a New York fashion week, designer, and week over week could not getting any response. Finally the time came for that show, and I was already in New York City for another show. So, rather than taking no, for an answer, I confidently walked my way into the backstage of that show, as though I was supposed to be there; walked straight up to the designer, and asked if I could cast on the spot. He said, yes, I walked, and got casted for that show taking place within the hour. I was so nervous walking into the building, afraid that I was going to be figured out. Still, I had a mission that I was determined to complete, and the worst they could tell me was no. I realized, then that sometimes the first “no” is not the final “no”.

How did you build your audience on social media?

It took me quite a long time to begin to build a social following; and an even longer time to realize that, just because you have followers, if they do not engage, you do not have a true following. While I am still in the process of building my social media following, I think that the best way to grow a genuine fanbase, or following base is to post consistent content that always provides some sort of item of value. As an influencer, you must treat your brand as a business. I think as women in the industry, we are often blindly convinced that you must post promiscuous or risqué photos to generate a following or likes; and while that generates likes, they’re not likes that translate into paid work. I personally believe that maturing in the industry is understanding that there is ultimate value in the quality of your followers rather than quantity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.akmodels.org
• Instagram: @aks.themodel
• Facebook: Ameerasurkamodels

Image Credits
Spencer Oliphant Lens of Atom Keegan-Gouda Renders Joshua Gaffney Photography