We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christie Perez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always wanted to be a model, even as an adolescent. I feel like its the dream job most young girls have because it looks so glamorous. Unfortunately for me, my desire to persue such a life was stagnated by an incredibly overwhelming social anxiety and lack of confidence. Avoiding large social settings or circumstance where being the center of attention could be possible was the norm.

The first door that I stumbled upon opened in 2017, while helping a friend who was putting on a fashion show. I joked about myself being on the runway and after a bit of back and forth banter, I convinced myself to do it. At that point in my life my daughter was a teenager, I had gone through a divorce, went through weight loss and was trying to learn to have more confidence in myself. I constantly told myself to take positive risks because I was tired of having so many regrets and passing up opportunities to try something new simply because I was scared.

Even after that show it was months later before I stumbled upon another opportunity to take stage again. I hesitated, but convinced myself to have another try at it. This time was different. The women I met in this group were so friendly, supportive and caring. I also loved the fact that they did things to give back to our community. That was the deal clincher. As we met up to practice, get to know each other and hold benefit events my confidence evolved. By the time we walked our big show that December I was hooked. Walking the runway gave me butterflies in my stomach, it was nerve racking, but it was also exciting, invigorating and gave me confidence. Yet it still wasn’t what set me on my path.

The following early year of 2018 I was contacted by a photographer who wanted to a shoot. Again I hesitated because it was something new and outside my comfort zone, but again decided to take the leap. Meeting and working with Tony Welscher, who has now passed, gave me a new way of seeing myself. I had more poise, a desire to create, this exhilaration, happiness in my soul and vision for my future. For the first time in my life this was the moment I knew what I wanted to do.

Now acting, that’s another story.

Christie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in California, but lived in Korea until I was five, therefore, Korean was my first language, Unfortunately its a language I lost due to being bullied in school. When I came back to the states my mother was already with my step father and we began our travels due to his career in the military. I went to many different high schools due to family issues and absolutely did not know what I wanted for my life. After graduating highschool I went into the military which was an entire experience in itself. That was regrettably short lived due to an accident I had during training. Coming back home was difficult because I felt lost with no clear cut plan. I found a place, a job, and eventually married and had a child.

It wasn’t until years after my divorce that I stumbled upon the industry that I’m now in, simply by reaching out to a friend who needed help. Now I model, walking the runway for everything from couture, bridal and street wear, just to name a few. I’ve also been featured in magazines, online advertisements for beauty products, restaurants, real estate, apps, healthcare, boutiques and many other products and businesses. Representing many different companies as a promotional model is also a part of the services I provide.

The things that set me apart from others in this industry is not only my diverse background, but more so the passion that I bring to my work. Not being younger may be seen as a short coming in the modeling industry, but what I lack in my youth is far made up for my drive, discipline, reliability, knowledge, ability to be expressive through my photos and absolute love for what I do. Aside from those attributes, I also don’t look my age. I provide my clients a way to tell the story, whether in a music video or within staged settings in a lifestyle shoot or for their product. I love learning about their business, their product and become very passionate about being a part of helping them achieve the goal set forth with my involvement.

I am most proud of the strides I have made throughout the years. I continue to learn, grow and thrive in my creative nature and have been blessed to continue to get opportunities. Though I am also very proud of being able to have done all the things I have been able to do as a freelance model in the last 5 years, I have very seriously been contemplating traveling to different agencies next year in hopes of reaching a national market due to larger companies only going to agencies to hire.

My brand, what I represent is diversity. Not just in my ethnicity, but also my age. Though the industry has improved and is continuing to open their doors to what is not the norm I would like to see more people like myself, when I open a magazine, see advertisements, billboards and in the media. I strive to be a role model, not just for young ladies, but for all women in all stages of their life and to also take every opportunity on my platform to help others and give back to communities.

What started out as a dream that so many young girls have has turned into a passion that I live for every single day.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Some might think being a model or actor is easy and looks so glamorous, but it’s also hard work. We put our bodies through a lot with shooting in extreme weather and circumstances. One must be be diligent in keeping up with health and exercise. We are constantly going to model calls and castings, so having a strong mentality to be able to get through time and time of receiving rejections is needed because reality is there are alot more no’s than yes’s. If you are a freelance model or actor you have to push yourself to constantly look for work all day, everyday and constantly networking is so important. You don’t have the stability of waking up each morning knowing you have income to pay your bills. This also means that sometimes you can’t do the things you want to do because you don’t know when that next opportunity will be so you need to work every chance you get. Constantly working on bettering ourselves in our craft is necessary. Learning how to market ourselves to businesses is imperative. It also means being very organized, self motivated, self driven, having resilience and sacrificing.

Last, but not least for those that struggle with being introverted or having a lack of confidence, this is a difficult industry to be in.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being my own boss and having the flexibility with my schedule are a couple of the positive points to my job. For myself, as nerve wracking and as much anxiety it has put me through at times, it has also given me more confidence in myself, changed the way I saw this industry from the outside and opened my eyes to so many possibilities. It has pushed me to meet people, think outside the box and grow in so many ways as an individual. Walking the walk is definitely harder than just talking the talk.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.perezchristie.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christieperez0412

Image Credits
1. Photographer: Miguel Hampton, Makeup Artist: Tameka Elliott, Dress: Classy Sassy Boutique 2. Photographer: James Napier, Makeup Artist: Autumn Skye Huse 3. Photographer: Brad Campbell 4. Behind the Scene Shot for a Beauty Brand 5. Photographer: Courtney Hale 6. Photographer: Alicia Carlton, Designer: Scooter Ray Minyard, Hair: Deidre Williams Brooks @ The Edge Salon, Makeup: Scooter Ray Minyard, Assistant: Jeanette Moore 7. Photographer: @inspirephotos, Makeup: @mayas_artistry_palette, Hair: @miss_bombshell_mel, Gown: Sew Trendy Accessories 8. Photographer: The Story Teller Studio, Designer: Soreyda Benedit-Begley