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

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The biggest risk I have taken in my life thus far has also reaped the biggest reward; that being my choice to challenge the social constructs surrounding the selectivity of settling on a career and investing in my passion to pursue modeling. When I arrived on the University of Minnesota Campus my freshman year, I had my my mind made up: I was to be a neurosurgeon. I spent late nights in the library, joined every premedical club on campus, got a job as a medical scribe, began volunteering, and applied myself in all ways I deemed necessary to accomplish this occupational endeavor; yet, something was missing. I convinced myself that working harder would fill this void, but COVID-19 had other plans for me. As students were sent home and course work was put on hold, I was forced to figure out what I enjoyed outside of school. After returning home, I was encouraged to attend a photoshoot for one of my home town friends, which was completely outside of my comfort zone, as the most creative activity I had engaged in prior was an assigned art project. I debated for many days before reluctantly showing up to the shoot and surprising myself, enjoying every second I spent in front of the camera. The excitement was exponential and my eagerness to continue exploring this creative side of myself only grew after my first photoshoot was published.

I continued to model throughout my sophomore and junior years and my passion to pursue modeling quickly surpassed that of operating. While I still had a lust for learning, I could no longer ignore my intense desire to creatively inspire others. I was faced with a choice: continue on to medical school, which promised comfort and career security, or challenge myself by completing my undergraduate degree and exploring my future as a fashion model. As a type A who had her life planned out for a decade, this was no easy choice.

But, I chose to take a risk on myself, because the reward was worth it. And the risk paid off. After graduating in the spring of 2022, I worked relentlessly to expand my modeling career and in a matter of months, I was pictured on the cover of France’s November issue of Glamour Magazine. That year, I walked for 5 designers at New York Fashion Week, was invited to International Digital Fashion Week, and received over 10 publications.

The lust for learning never subsided, and I continue to pursue this passion part time as an equine therapist for adolescents with addiction, eating disorder, and trauma outside of Los Angeles. I proved to myself that I didn’t have to choose just one – that I could nurture both my academic and creative curiosities simultaneously. More so, I proved to myself that challenging my comfort zone and taking a risks opens up the opportunity for personal growth.

Emily, 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 am a fashion model focused on dynamic movement and posing, trained by Coco Rocha. My goal as a model is to serve as a muse for those around me, working to inspire, invigorate, and impel creative boundaries. In both the professional and personal realms, I can be described as dedicated, determined, and driven, displaying passion, perseverance, and power whenever I apply myself. I am, by nature, a goal-oriented perfectionist.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I was scouted by a Minneapolis based modeling agency while still in college and traveled internationally with them in hopes of being signed by outside agencies – agencies that could book me full time work and help me transition from student to successful model. I met with dozens of agencies, spending thousands to travel and be seen, and yet didn’t receive a single call back. I felt defeated and invalidated, as if my photographs didn’t deserve publication, my measurements didn’t meet the societal standards, my work ethic didn’t exceed expectations, my talent didn’t turn the right heads. Despite having doors closed in my face and constantly hearing “no”, I remained focused on my dreams of being a fashion model. I never signed with an agency, but it turns out I never needed to. I achieved just as much success as an independent party.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In our society, we equate our self worth with external appearances, and this is no different in the world of fashion and modeling. Growing up, being beautiful is engrained in our existence.

When I entered the world of modeling, I had to quickly learn that my body was a commodity, something that a brand or campaign was shopping for. Sometimes, they had already selected someone who had the same hair cut, sometimes, they chose to cast their friends instead of new faces, and sometimes, I simply wasn’t what the casting director was looking for. I had to unlearn that my beauty and desirability corresponded with my value as a human being. I had to separate my success from my self worth. I had to stop taking the industry’s selections so personally. I had to learn that being passed over didn’t mean I wasn’t just as beautiful, but that there was simply someone else better fit for the job.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emilywinzenz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilywinzenz/