Behind the Scenes of Modeling Magic

Last year, I was able to experience events that I never thought were possible, especially for someone like me, a black disabled woman. Not only was I selected to be in a JCPenney shoot, but I also got a chance to be a part of a T-Mobile commercial, but we will talk about that part at a different time. I was so excited and happy, and a sense of enthusiasm came over me. 4 years into my injury, I’ve accomplished so much, but these two events were by far the most exciting.

Rolling onto the set for JCPenney was exciting. The atmosphere buzzed with creativity and calmness. I was told to come hair and makeup ready, and that I most definitely did. Their makeup and hair artists did their camera-ready touch-ups; the stylist picked out the outfits that I would be wearing and then took me to my personal dressing area that was made just for me. Since I had to change between 3 different pairs of jeans, it would have been easier and quicker for me to change on something like a bed instead of my wheelchair. Days leading up to my shoot, I was in constant communication with my agent and people on set on what would work best for me, dressing room-wise. When I got to set, I never would have thought they had a whole basically queen size bed waiting for me. It was perfect. I was able to change clothes and get back to set just as quickly as the able-bodied kids who were shooting that morning. I definitely was proud of myself, like I had won a gold medal or something.

The clothing I modeled on was beautifully designed and, more importantly, comfortable. As I slipped into the different outfits, each transformation brought out a new facet of my character. The real magic happened during the photoshoot itself. As the photographer clicked away, I could feel the excitement in the air. The director would tell me to turn this way or that way so they could get different angles of the product I was modeling. I learned to connect with the camera on a professional level, finding that every pose was an opportunity to tell a story. Now as a person who loves to take pictures, this was right up my alley.

Reflecting on that experience, I have gained such an appreciation for the world of modeling and advertising. I used to glance at fashion magazines and commercials, thinking they were simply about pretty faces or stylish clothes. Now, every image tells a deeper story. I understand the energy, time, and passion that go into crafting each visual. Behind every seemingly effortless model is a narrative weaved from teamwork, creativity, and resilience.

In the day I spent modeling for JCPenney, it was a transformative experience. It opened my eyes to the beauty of collaboration and the hard work that goes into each frame captured in an ad. I will never look at commercials or advocacy campaigns the same way again; now, I see not just the models, but the massive team behind them—and to see someone that looks like me meant everything. A young black, disabled, not a size six woman representing a whole community of unrepresented people put the biggest glow on my face that any pregnancy would. This experience has ignited in me a passion and flame not just for modeling but for the acting as well. I pray that I will get many more opportunities in the near future to dive into this incredible world.