Talia Kelly
Photo captured by Oh Jee Nam
Talia Kelly is a University of Texas in Dallas Pre-PA student and full-time model. She has been in Mary Kay catalogs, in JC Penny advertisements, but you might also see her at the Dallas Children’s hospital as a medical scribe.
Last winter, Talia and I met down on Magnolia Street in Fort Worth, Texas to talk about her life where she juggles two very demanding careers. We had been planning this meeting for weeks now, and I was excited to learn more about how Talia was able to handle it all.
Talia began her modeling career when her mom "kind of pushed her to model" her junior year of high school. Talia’s agency, Kim Dawson Models, has a casting call twice a year. “My mom basically applied for me,” Talia joked. Ultimately, though, “I’m glad she did. I like the environment. I meet really cool and artistic people from all different walks of life”
Talia shared with me how she manages both college and modeling, “I have been in makeup chairs at 7am while studying for a final I have at 2pm.” As it turns out, it all comes down to self discipline and multitasking.
Talia reserves her schooling for three days of the week and the rest of the week for her modeling. “It is all very unexpected when I might have a call to come in for a shoot,” she commented with her eyebrows raised. "It's like you are in a profession where you are 'on call.'" When I compared modeling to being a nurse, she laughed, and told me "I guess you could look at it like that, but not really."
“You have to be able to come in when you said you were available. No matter the time.” Talia leaned back, shaking her head. “Once, I received a call, and I said I wouldn’t be able to make it in time. Five minutes later, after I had rearranged my schedule, I called backed to find that they had already booked someone else!”
The more we talked about her modeling experience, Talia began to describe physical scrutiny that models face. “My waist is 27 inches and you have to be a 24 inch waist to be a runway model. It’s really funny that it is so down to increments like that. But you have to remember in the industry that you are just a coat hanger.”
“It’s not about beauty, every girl is just as beautiful, just in a different way.”
She fidgeted with her seltzer water and espresso. “When I was first starting out, my agents told me that I was ‘overweight for a model.’ So I stopped eating like I should have. I had perfect measurements, but I was really miserable.”
After a year of under-eating, Talia realized that her happiness and health was more important to her than her career as a model. “I wish that before I had known that I didn’t have try to act like someone else, just because I thought I’d be more wanted. Now, I would never try to act any other way than myself.”
“I had to start eating again. And it’s funny because as soon as I gained weight my agent said that I wouldn’t be able to find work.” Talia looked at me grinning, “and all of the sudden clients started to pick me up. I just went from doing mostly juniors’ clothing to doing mostly women’s clothing because I filled out more.”
“Now I eat healthy and happy. And it’s helped me learn that life isn't about looks. Just because you go to a casting and they don’t use you, that doesn’t mean you aren't pretty enough,” Talia said as she swirled around her espresso. “It’s not about beauty, every girl is just as beautiful, just in a different way.”
Talia shared with me how she keeps herself grounded. “I try look at everyone equally. My work has taught me that looks really are nothing. I have met girls who are gorgeous but have terrible insides.”
As our meeting was coming to a close, I asked Talia how she was able to do it all. “There have been so many times when I thought about breaking down because I am just so tired.” She said as she picked up her cup and dish, bringing it to the bus station. “But even when I am feeling down, I don’t let myself stop, and then, you know what? I just happen to keep on going.”