So Manawa, WI is where the story begins. I grew up in a small town of about 1,000 people, and the word hick doesn't even start to describe this tiny midwest town. First off, we don't even have a stop light. Second, tractors are as common on the roads as cars. Third, and last, Manawa is probably the least likely place to be the hometown of a developing young model. After all, in a town with one grocery store, three churches, six bars, and the title: "Home of Midwestern Rodeo" fashion is the LEAST regarded thing among its residents. People wear pajamas out on the town, to church, swimming, back to town, and to sleep at night, wake up, and repeat this cycle for as much as a week without the thought of laundering. Gross. Well anyways, St. Paul is the name of the Lutheran church in town, and when I was growing up it was home to a pastor named Kevin Arndt. Kevin was a pretty awesome guy. Him and his wife were very involved with the congregation, the private lutheran school in town, and the entire community as well. I was involved in the music for a Youth Service that was held at St. Paul Lutheran, and through playing piano for the worship team, I got pretty familiar with Pastor Arndt. The Arndt's had SOO many kids. I think there are eight to be exact. Now when you are one of eight it is pretty hard to stand out and become recognized for something other than being "one of the Arndt kids". Well Pastor Arndt eventually felt called to another church and moved his family to Alabama. Over the years one of the "Little Blonde Pastor's Daughters" grew taller and taller. She became more and more beautiful, and by the time she was 15, was hearing again and again,"You should be a model." After hearing this for a long time, she and her family started to wonder. Classmate and Model ,Claire Burkolts, showed photos of Michaela to Beth Boldt, a former Ford model and head of the Synchro model agency-the mother agent of Kate moss, Naomie Campbell, and Ashton Kutcher- by whom Michaela was officially discovered. When that many people tell you to be a model, maybe you should start to believe them. She was immediately signed to Elite New York's Development division, and the ball only kept rolling from there. When I talked to her dad he said "Michaela didn't pursue modeling, modeling chased her down and tackled her!" She has been to New York, Japan, and is on her way to New Zealand and Australia in less than a month where she is signed with one of New Zealand's finest modeling agencies, NOVA Models. I keep in contact with Michaela regularly regarding her modeling career, and I hear things from her that are common to every young and developing model in the fashion industry. The distance becomes terribly difficult, missing family and friends becomes nearly unbearable, and THE SHOES! THE DAMN SHOES WILL KILL YOU. I was talking with Michaela while she was in Japan, and she told me she had walked in heels for 8 hours straight and her feet were numb and blistered from an entire day of work. So yes, she has expressed how difficult it has been, for many different reasons, but the thing I try to continually remind her is that people would KILL to be in her position. She is gorgeous beyond measure, she has an undoubtable presence in front of the camera, and she was given all of these gifts for a reason. I encourage her, each time I talk with her, to realize the opportunity she has been given, and how amazing all of these things will be to look back on in 20 years. She has modeled in photo shoots with prestigious photographers, such as Steven Meisel, and I explain to her all the time how incredible her story is. Michaela is heading off to New Zealand in less than a month, and I cannot wait to keep in contact with her to see where her bright future will lead her. She has had some ups and downs, and been through some pretty difficult things throughout the last year, but through it all I think she is becoming a much stronger young woman. There is no doubt that she will go places. She has a unique beauty and strong presence for such a young age. I only wish her the best on her journey through the industry, and look forward to turning the pages of Vogue to see "The Little Blonde Pastor's Daughter" staring back at me.
So Manawa, WI is where the story begins. I grew up in a small town of about 1,000 people, and the word hick doesn't even start to describe this tiny midwest town. First off, we don't even have a stop light. Second, tractors are as common on the roads as cars. Third, and last, Manawa is probably the least likely place to be the hometown of a developing young model. After all, in a town with one grocery store, three churches, six bars, and the title: "Home of Midwestern Rodeo" fashion is the LEAST regarded thing among its residents. People wear pajamas out on the town, to church, swimming, back to town, and to sleep at night, wake up, and repeat this cycle for as much as a week without the thought of laundering. Gross. Well anyways, St. Paul is the name of the Lutheran church in town, and when I was growing up it was home to a pastor named Kevin Arndt. Kevin was a pretty awesome guy. Him and his wife were very involved with the congregation, the private lutheran school in town, and the entire community as well. I was involved in the music for a Youth Service that was held at St. Paul Lutheran, and through playing piano for the worship team, I got pretty familiar with Pastor Arndt. The Arndt's had SOO many kids. I think there are eight to be exact. Now when you are one of eight it is pretty hard to stand out and become recognized for something other than being "one of the Arndt kids". Well Pastor Arndt eventually felt called to another church and moved his family to Alabama. Over the years one of the "Little Blonde Pastor's Daughters" grew taller and taller. She became more and more beautiful, and by the time she was 15, was hearing again and again,"You should be a model." After hearing this for a long time, she and her family started to wonder. Classmate and Model ,Claire Burkolts, showed photos of Michaela to Beth Boldt, a former Ford model and head of the Synchro model agency-the mother agent of Kate moss, Naomie Campbell, and Ashton Kutcher- by whom Michaela was officially discovered. When that many people tell you to be a model, maybe you should start to believe them. She was immediately signed to Elite New York's Development division, and the ball only kept rolling from there. When I talked to her dad he said "Michaela didn't pursue modeling, modeling chased her down and tackled her!" She has been to New York, Japan, and is on her way to New Zealand and Australia in less than a month where she is signed with one of New Zealand's finest modeling agencies, NOVA Models. I keep in contact with Michaela regularly regarding her modeling career, and I hear things from her that are common to every young and developing model in the fashion industry. The distance becomes terribly difficult, missing family and friends becomes nearly unbearable, and THE SHOES! THE DAMN SHOES WILL KILL YOU. I was talking with Michaela while she was in Japan, and she told me she had walked in heels for 8 hours straight and her feet were numb and blistered from an entire day of work. So yes, she has expressed how difficult it has been, for many different reasons, but the thing I try to continually remind her is that people would KILL to be in her position. She is gorgeous beyond measure, she has an undoubtable presence in front of the camera, and she was given all of these gifts for a reason. I encourage her, each time I talk with her, to realize the opportunity she has been given, and how amazing all of these things will be to look back on in 20 years. She has modeled in photo shoots with prestigious photographers, such as Steven Meisel, and I explain to her all the time how incredible her story is. Michaela is heading off to New Zealand in less than a month, and I cannot wait to keep in contact with her to see where her bright future will lead her. She has had some ups and downs, and been through some pretty difficult things throughout the last year, but through it all I think she is becoming a much stronger young woman. There is no doubt that she will go places. She has a unique beauty and strong presence for such a young age. I only wish her the best on her journey through the industry, and look forward to turning the pages of Vogue to see "The Little Blonde Pastor's Daughter" staring back at me. 
Those lips! What a pouty face! Of course I've got the lower O'Brien 'pouty lip', but she has the perfect mouth! Can't wait to see where she goes ...
ReplyDelete