We were lucky to catch up with Debra Jacobs recently and have shared our conversation below.

Debra, appreciate you joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

When I talk about my first client, this is in reference to my first client in the Tampa Bay area. I initially started Debra Model Management in the Northeast as a Fashion Show Production company, where I also taught modeling. I opened my doors in Tampa as a boutique modeling school, during the height of the pandemic. Let me first explain why I opened at that time. It was November 2020 and I remember having concerns about kids staying home, missing friends, and possibly feeling down. Kids feeling depressed was widely reported in the news at that time, so I wanted to do what I could to help. My goal was to open my doors to give kids something fun to do in a safe, healthy environment. I started by advertising in a local newspaper, the New Tampa Neighborhood News. After the advertisement ran, I received a call from a mother who stated she saw my ad, and was excited, because she had been looking for a business like mine. She wanted her daughter to learn all about the modeling industry to see if modeling was something she might want to consider. We wore our face masks during each class and got down to work. She came to class consistently every week. I was absolutely amazed with her personal growth, confidence and self-esteem at the conclusion of the program. She also photographed beautifully. Just two weeks after graduating, she went on to sign with a top Orlando modeling agency and top Tampa agency. She booked a national Disney commercial, Coach print job, and she continues to attend numerous auditions and go-sees. I can’t tell you how proud I am of her. She’s only 10 years old. Her name is Mikayla Alexander. An amazing child and amazing mother Kimberely. I remain grateful to them both.

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the students who pass through my program and go on to do great things. One teen graduate in particular recently made me proud when she told me she was scheduled to participate in a pageant in Orlando. The fact that she felt she had enough confidence to get up on stage to compete against 60 other girls made me so proud. Not only that, she won 1st place during the runway portion of the competition. She couldn’t wait to tell me, so she texted me within hours of winning 1st place to say thank you for training me on how to walk. I love it when my former students contact me to let me know how they’re doing. She said she couldn’t have made it that far without my classes. Love that! Though I believe she always had the confidence. Kacy Hauck is a beautiful, intelligent, confident teen. I expect she will to do great things.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

In relation to this question, I will say my side hustle has been producing fashion shows since High School. My first major fashion show production was for a Liz Claiborne Spring Collection many years ago. I worked at this department store, and the manager at the time, knew I produced fashion shows. One day he came up to me and asked if I would produce the show. I knew Ms. Claiborne was coming, so I almost fell off my chair. Up until that point, I had only produced fashion shows for different clubs and organizations. He said he believed in me and gave me full reign. I recall asking for an all black glossy runway, and I got it. I was shocked. They made it from scratch. I selected and trained all the models for the show, and it was a success. I continued to produce shows for various malls, and I also scouted models to be in those shows. I produced several televised fashion shows. I eventually built such a huge client base and knew so many people in the fashion industry, that it only made sense to open my own modeling agency, because at that point I had discovered quite a few models along the way. My models did fashion show layouts for various publications, television commercials, bridal shows, etc. It was the first modeling agency in our small town at the time. I did this while maintaining my own professional modeling career out of state. Fast forward. I moved to Florida six years ago. I didn’t know anyone in the modeling or fashion industry. What I did know, is often kids or parents approached me and asking if I modeled, or how can they get into the industry. I didn’t see or hear much in my residential surroundings, as it relates to modeling, so I did research and found that indeed, there was nothing around that pertained to modeling. I put my thoughts together and decided to open a modeling school. This way I could answer all the questions people have about the industry, and train those who want to give it a shot. I make sure I don’t guarantee anyone will have a modeling career, only that I can provide the tools and know how to get them going, and they will gain confidence and self-esteem. To my knowledge, the business has been pretty well received.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Fortunately, I did not require funding when I started my business. I had a good job making a decent wage, so I was able to foot the bill myself. My first step was to meet with various real estate agents to find the perfect place to create my modeling studio. The main factors were safety, convenience, amenities, and aesthetics. In that order. I found exactly what I was looking for within the Tampa Palms Professional Center. I rent my space, so it isn’t so much of a burden financially. I opened November 2020, and I am still there today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.debramodelmanagement.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debramodelmanagement/
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/Debramodelmanagement/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRpK4SlAUSXve2ZvmC7GMrA