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

Hi Clarissa, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

The learning process for modeling, as with most things in life, is all trial & error. I don’t think there would be a way to have sped up the process simply because it has to do directly with the love you have for yourself & your bravery to be vulnerable. In my opinion, to be a successful model, the confidence has to be there 100%. It’s an art form that requires you to be extremely self aware of your physical body. Knowing your angles when there’s a lens pointed at you, how things will be perceived from a camera’s perspective and just being entirely present in your body. When I was first starting out, I did not have the confidence in myself that I do now. I was self conscious of everything; my nose & side profile, what to do with my hands, how lanky I was & awkward I felt. I was constantly comparing myself to other, more successful models, picking apart my own looks because I didn’t perform like them. Granted, I was between the ages of 15-18, comparing myself to models who were in their 20’s at the time. The self-love & appreciation process came along & I was able to turn that comparison tendency into learning points. I knew that there was no changing my bone structure or how I was being perceived by others. I started watching my favorite models & asking questions, taking in all the information I possibly could & putting it into practice. Lots of time in the mirror, taking note of what looks good, what looks awkward, etc. Practicing that self love & building that confidence to know my body & be completely present & vulnerable for myself. Breaching out of my comfort zone to take risks & try new things on sets or shoots with friends. That confidence factor is not something that can be sped up & I wouldn’t want to, to be honest! I’m very happy with the way things have panned out for me & it was all just a matter of getting out of my own way. I still practice being vulnerable to my craft & continue to learn new things as I go. That’s all any artist can really hope for at the end of the day!

Clarissa, 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?

My name is Clarissa Jane! I’ve been modeling since I was 15 years old, took some breaks in between then & now, but am proud to now work full time as a model in Austin, TX. I was able to break into the modeling world from a friend’s mom actually! My friend was signed with an agency in Dallas & her mom would talk to my Dad about wanting me to be signed as well. My Dad wasn’t too keen on his baby girl being exposed to that environment at such a young age, but with a little begging and batting of my eyelashes, he finally agreed to let me try. I got invited to the agency, was signed on the spot & the rest is history!
I’ve been able to navigate the intensity of the craft pretty successfully thus far, having my expertise in high fashion, editorial print & runway. When I’m hired for a project, my mindset is that I am there to help bring visions to life. It’s my job to take the director’s blueprint & make it a reality that everyone on that project can be proud of. The beauty in modeling for me, comes from getting to be apart of something that’s bigger than myself. Whether it’s a product, clothing, brand, or a concept, there’s a story to be told & a narrative to portray, not just something nice to look at. I get told often “Modeling is easy, you just have to stand there & look pretty!” but in reality, it is so much more than that. The depth to the craft runs far beyond the first glance. It’s art; the goal is to make the viewer feel something. In every project I’m apart of, I strive to tell a story behind the still image. It’s an honor I hold high to be trusted with someone’s project.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think a lot of the struggle I see non-creatives have when peering into the life of an artist is the emotional vulnerability required to be successful in your craft. It’s hard to be vulnerable. It’s hard to train your brain to grow beyond your comfortability. Inside the brain of a creative individual is a sight to behold & if you don’t have that itch to scratch, it can be hard to understand someone who does. I believe that every single human on this planet carries emotional depth just as much as anyone else, creative or not. I think the distinguishing factor is that a more creative brain chooses to lean into that emotional depth & use it as fuel for their craft & self expression. Outside looking in, it may not always look pretty. Artists fight emotional battles all the time, going through mental turmoil in the name of art. You know, you may see a struggling artist, actor, musician, model, make up artist, etc, not making any money, barely getting by, struggling to find work, yet they’re still pushing. I personally will hear several inputs from non-creatives asking “Why would you pick that career”, “That’s not a real job”, “What’s your back-up plan?”. At the end of the day, someone with a passion for the arts is just as dedicated as someone with a passion for medicine. The fulfillment from performing is unmatched & that deserves to be supported just as much as a more conventional job in society.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I truly believe that especially in today’s world of technology & AI, the best way to support artists & creatives is to keep hiring real people for the growth of the arts. It’s terrifying knowing that AI could take over, stripping artists of their jobs. It’s not just a job, it’s fulfillment and what keeps people going. That means of support is directed towards the people in charge of creative projects.
To the people in society, if you have an artist friend, or friend of a friend, the best way to support is simply just listening to them. Go to their shows or galleries, ask questions, like their content, spread the word of their craft as often as you can. When people think “support artists”, their minds immediately go to financial support. Something a whole lot deeper than money could ever be, is the feeling of emotional support from peers & strangers. I’ve walked runways that I’ve had no one from my personal life there to support me & it can feel really sad! What helps me through those moments are strangers from the audience or other models that will come up to me & ask questions, or congratulate me on a good performance. More often than not, I have my people in the audience watching me perform & that feeling of them just being there & showing up is all I personally need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://missclarissajane.wixsite.com/clarissajane
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissajane_
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/clarissajaane

Image Credits

Alex Helm
Evangelos Koutsavdis
Deonte Lee