Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Paes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Rachel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I first realized I wanted to pursue a creative path around 2020. It was right after the pandemic was becoming an issue in the US. I was at a corporate job that I really didn’t like, and had been working at for several years. Honestly, the pay check and my amazing coworkers are what had kept me there for so long. I was let go from this job in May of 2020, with no other options lined up and no idea of what to do. Now when I look back I honestly think it was part of my destiny, and I’m so grateful for everything that happened leading up to it. It was after I was terminated that I had some time and space to breathe and really think about what I wanted to do in life. My line of work had not been fulfilling for the most part. And I really didn’t like having a clock-in/ clock-out type of schedule. There was no creativity in that career. I have always loved music, art, writing and photography but wasn’t sure what I should focus on. After taking some time to relax and rejuvenate, I prayed for the clarity and resources that I would need to pursue a creative path that was right for me. Shortly after I got a download telling me “apply to modeling agencies”. Even though at first I thought I was crazy to try, I just went ahead and did it. I submitted to a few agencies with digitals and about a week after that, I was signed to one of the top modeling agencies in Los Angeles. That was in October of 2020, just a few short months after I was let go from my job. After getting signed it took a couple months to land my first commercial gig, but after that work became more consistent. I loved the freedom and creativity it offered me. I am still so in awe of what can be accomplished if you just surrender to the divine plan, and have an open heart and mind to the guidance you’re being given. This is when I knew that I could make a career of my own, and pursue an artistic path.

Rachel, 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 an author, model and content creator focusing on travel, beauty and lifestyle products. I first started my creative career as a model after getting laid off from my job during the pandemic. I wasn’t sure what to do after I was laid off from my job in the height of the pandemic so I took some time off and slowly recuperated from serious burnout/ health issues and work related stress. I got signed to my first modeling agency later that year after submitting to a few agencies on a whim. This started my creative career. One of my first loves (besides photography/modeling) was writing, but i’ll get to that later :)

When I began modeling it was such a blast. My first and second major commercials (for Dick’s Sporting Goods and Captain Morgan) opened my eyes to the creativity, fun and community involved in this field. Getting to collaborate and be the canvas for other creatives, and to be part of a team, making a concept come to fruition, was awesome!

After I started modeling, I discovered UGC (user generated content) creation and started making video reels for brands. I started with a brand I use everyday and really loved. I had no experience but after emailing them, they gave me a shot and the rest is history! A few months later, with that same brand, I was chosen to create a reel for them in collaboration with Whole Foods! Super awesome! And from there I continued to collaborate with other brands doing makeup tutorials, and beauty reels. Shortly after this I had an idea to pitch to hotels, to create content for them, because I really love traveling. Through research and cold emailing, I was able to collaborate my first stay in a boat hotel in the canals of London!

As I kept progressing through the modeling industry, I started to feel it resonating less with my spirit. I wanted more freedom and autonomy, and more of a say in my career, as I feel I wasn’t getting this at the time from my managers and agents. I also felt that I wasn’t fulfilling my deeper potential and fully using my God given gifts. There were aspects of modeling that made me feel hyper aware of my appearance, and I had never been like that in the past. I was always confident in myself, but many times it brought out my insecurities. So I knew I needed a change, and to add more projects to my life that would fulfill me while also being of service to others.

This is when I started writing again. I would constantly journal my thoughts and even song lyrics. During this time, I was going through a bit of an identity crisis, as it felt like my old career did not suit me anymore, yet I didn’t have a new one to step into. I was in a lot of emotional turmoil and my self talk was becoming very negative; I had become stuck in a victim mindset. I really wasn’t sure what to do, until I got the idea to start messaging myself. It was hard at first for me to speak aloud positive things to myself but I loved writing, and texting was even easier. So I committed to sending myself at least one message a day of encouragement, gratitude, understanding or positivity. And that’s what I did for a few months. I created a Tik Tok account sharing my messages to myself online, and shortly after, I got the inspiration to compile a book from the messages I had. I had a feeling it would be helpful to others, since it helped me so much, to get through a rough time. We are all connected!

Shortly after this, I created the manuscript, designed the cover and layout of the book, and self published it on Amazon. I would say, this is the work I am proudest of so far, because I know it’s going to be of great help to all kinds of people. I know it will connect with others because many of us struggle with the same issues; self doubt, being hard on oneself, emotional regulation, shame and guilt, resentment, and a host of other feelings, that we don’t always give light and support to. I wanted to empower and uplift people to realize that your humanness is okay! And that you can change your mind, and this creates the foundation for a wonderfully rich and abundant life. Your self talk is the most important dialogue you will ever have. And if I can inspire even one person to be more kind, understanding, loving and compassionate with themselves, then this alone is a gift!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn (actually more of a personal narrative/story I had to unlearn) is that I am powerless or incapable of doing certain things on my own. I began feeling restless in my industry because at times I felt I wasn’t getting the work or opportunities that I should have. But this is what actually spurred me to create my own opportunities and shoot my own shot. When I started doing UGC and travel work, I had never done it before. I had an interest in it and was just dipping my toe in. At first, I cold emailed hundreds of hotels to get my first collaboration opportunity. And eventually I did, it just took persistence and a lot of trial and error. Even when I wrote my book, I had no idea what I was doing. I just started. And that’s half the battle. You really have to cultivate that self belief and know that truly, only YOU have the power to change your circumstances. And you really can create opportunities for yourself if you’re open to the ideas ands inspiration you get, even if it sounds absurd or crazy at the moment. Even if you have no idea how to get to that goal, it is totally possible, if you follow your inspired ideas and do the work.

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

Being a creative is rewarding to me because I love being able to use my creativity and inspiration on purpose and for a purpose. I never felt accomplished in school and even though I loved learning, nothing really sparked my interests. I was always really good at cramming for tests and passing with average grades but I never felt like I gravitated towards anything. Until I went to high school (it was a performing and musical arts school) and realized I had an affinity for artistic endeavors. I was able to do some of the things I enjoyed and developed a further creative inclination and love for the arts.

Another thing I love about being a creative is collaborating with others artists. Some of my best friends are photographers, chefs, digital creators, and other models that I have met thought gigs and other networking events. I love learning from them and many of them inspire me in my own art and creation, almost like they are my muses!! Many of them show me different ways of thinking, of perceiving the world, and we collaborate on projects to make a collective vision come to fruition.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbeijos
• Other: my book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQWC77JP

Image Credits

Photographers:

Daniela Blagoeva
Mikayla Hooper
Larry Barnard