We recently connected with Paris Jeter and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Paris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Industry standard in my world is very cut throat, harsh, and matter a fact. I’ve modeled since before covid, and watched the industry get even harder as we came back out into the public. We’re not used to talking to real people outside of screens and zoom meetings, that we forget models are still real people, who go through real life. I run all my classes and practices differently, some may say I talk to much during them, but it’s all to make sure my models know that this is a safe space to learn, and be vulnerable. I use calm and gentle teachings, I’ve seen models be yelled at and insulted. This only discouraged them and killed their confidence and love for the craft. I try to encourage and let every model be themselves. You never know who’s in your class until you actually meet and talk to them, which will either be very brief in the beginning, or after everything is over, and if you wait till it’s over, you want to make sure that first impression is great and that they grasped everything in your class.
My last show I coached, my youngest model was 14. I never knew during the casting call, but I remained my same calm and gentle self, all the way through practice, her first practice was rough because she was so nervous, I mean she’s 14 and around all these adults who also don’t know she’s only 14, but I kept my mind on the prize, which was to make her comfortable. Her mother was one of my models as well, I didn’t find out until we had some downtime during practice, which is what I use to get to know my models.. I told her “As a mom, your child will always be safe here, she’s in a room full of moms, and has a coach that would never kill her confidence.” I meant every single word of it. In the End, not only was our model baby walking in multiple sets, she had learned runway choreography, and even got the chance to open for one of the designers. Her mother came to me before Show day and told me. “……She’s gone from being scared and not wanting to go to practice…to beating me getting dressed and by the door ready on practice days….”
I take pride in knowing that I can build confidence, I never want to diminish it, I believe you can teach without fear, I believe you can be gentle and still see great results. I do it every day.

Paris, 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 Paris, or Big P (my sister gave me the nickname one day when I was feeling discouraged. And we took it and ran with it.) I am a Professional Model, and Model coach I am a third Generation model, my mother and grandmother modeled before me. My cousin is a photographer and he just asked to shoot me one day once I got more serious and less scared about it as an adult, and I flourished from there. I started modeling off and on in 2017 and became more consistent in 2019 right before the pandemic.
I am in the business of building confidence, and making you a better model. If you’re coming to me to learn this as a hobby, or as a professional I teach both. I also teach all shapes, sizes, and genders. I am proud of my vision for inclusivity, and my gentle approach, it’s not every day that you meet a Model coach with a gentle approach. I truly love that about myself.
I want you to know when you step into my presence, you are a model, whether you’re doing this for hobby, confidence, professional, aspiring, agency, or freelance. You are my equal, and I’ll never belittle you or insult you, but only shape and build you to be the best model you can be.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am 25 (this will be important later) I was on a group zoom interview with a casting director for a company. During the call everything was going great. Until I was asked what kind of modeling I do. Now at this point I’ve been published, and have been casted for LAFW and NYFW. So I answer that I do both print and runway. A comment was made that I didn’t get paid for those, and that I would look old next to an 18 year old on the runway and that it was time for me to just focus on print. I was absolutely discouraged, and appalled. After the call was over, she still tried to get me to focus solely on print. I never answered anymore of her emails anymore. I was booked for Paris Fashion Week shortly after that. Always bet on yourself!!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My transparency and willingness to help everybody, hands down. If somebody needs help no matter where we are. If it’s an event people come find me. And i’m always willing to help. I was lent a hand, so If I can help I always will, if I can’t I will find somebody who can. Once people saw that I was a team player, people helped me grow my team, and helped me find likeminded people. I’m one of the best Modeling Coaches in the city, but I could not have done it without my network at all. I appreciate them to the fullest

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paris.michelle__/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paris.p.jeter?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://linktr.ee/parismichelle__

Image Credits
Bryant Brown Tony Winstead Victor Fox