Kahneeta

A while back I had the opportunity to work for Oregon getaway resort and spa Kahneeta. We spent several days filming TV commercials and a few days shooting some stills at the awesome grounds. Above is one of the stills from our five day fun fest! They ended up using this still on Billboards all over the state. The commercials will be on air this Spring.

Sun & Stripes

While enjoying my time under the white hot African sun I had the opportunity to shoot a few tests. Here is one look from my shoot with photographer Joseph Ou from Cape Town, South Africa.

Photography by: Joseph Ou

Styling by: Jackie Chantler

Hair & Makeup by: Tess Brown

   

Model Citizen

A day off in Cape Town .

I arrived to Cape Town on the 9^th January and was met by a generous driver named Brian, we exchanged a few words about all aspects of Cape Town, the rich and the struggling, the developed and undeveloped and I told him of how I wanted to see and be involved in it all. Brian (who m I am almost adamant was sent to be by the grace of god) runs and outreach program named Jorvan Outreach, which was set up to help those with disadvantaged backgrounds and everyday living. I knew instantly that I wanted in.

Within a week I was travelling to the Black Township of Khayelitsha, I was immediately greeted with smiles from small faces and, as I stepped out of the car at Mamma Rose’s community kitchen the children flooded in dozen by dozen. It was only by spending an hour with the children did I realize how grateful they are for nothing more than interaction. They did not ask for anything but their eyes asked for fun, so we raced, we played a few games and since that moment I cannot stop thinking about them, or Mamma Rose and her accomplice who run a non profit community kitchen, the joy in their eyes from helping the community was a multiplication of millions compared to the joy in mine who only spent an hour there.

It goes to show how helping someone who can never repay you truly gives you a true meaning of living.

I also visited three other projects that day with Brian, including a high school where I got to speak to the teenagers and hopefully induced them with as much empowerment as possible. We also stopped by at Philippi’s Children Centre, where all the children were having naptime, I loved what all the people involved in these projects where doing, but I was deeply moved by the community kitchen in Khayelitsha, I couldn’t help feeling like being there for a short amount of time was almost like observing a species, so I have agreed with Brian I will go back and commit more time there on my day off castings and work.

If you feel like you would like to get involved I almost encourage you speak to Jorvan Outreach – jorvanoutreach@telkomsa.net

Kirsty – Topco Models

Kirsty Parsons is a stunning model from Wales and a model citizen. Diving into volunteering in a new country, Kirsty is the type of person who touches the spirit of everyone she comes in contact with. I had the joy of being her roomie for my first month here is Cape Town. She wrote this in hopes to encourage other models visiting Cape Town to dive in and help. 

Rep Me Right

Making the choice to leave my mother agency wasn't a difficult choice but where to place me was a bit harder. After the disaster that was mainland China I wanted to go someplace more... Me. Nina, being the genius that she is, knew I would love Cape Town. Placement with my agency here was all Nina's work, whereas in China where she did the leg work and then I went and interviewed agencies. Nina shopped me around and decided to place me with 3D Model Management, a hip boutique agency here is Cape Town, SA. Most agencies here have models joining them for Season; the busy work season that is summer.

Check me out on 3D Model Management's main board

My Portfolio/Page

BrokeGirlStyle Interview

My girlfriend Nicole Burron over at www.brokegirlstyle.com interviewed me for #FashionFollowFriday. Check out her blog for style tips, interviews and more. Here is the interview! 

Name: Emma Pelett

Connect with me! 
Instgram: Epelett 
Twitter: @Epelett
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emmapelett 
https://www.facebook.com/epelett

City of residence: Cape Town, South Africa

Zodiac sign: Cancer

You're attending the Oscars, which designer do you want to wear walking down the red carpet?
Versace atelier

Favorite shopping spot:
For high style: Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 
Cheap thrills: 580 West Nanjing Rd, Shanghai 

Were you "discovered" or did you choose to get into modeling?
I guess you could say a little bit of both. I have been acting in television commercials since I was a little kid but my folks never wanted me to get into modeling. When I was in my early 20s I competed in a beauty pageant. After the pageant someone in the audience approached me saying I should enter a cover model contest. I figured what’s the harm and entered. Several months went by and I heard nothing. I totally forgot about it when they magazine emailed me saying I’d won. A few weeks later I flew to New York to shoot the cover of the magazine, with photographer Steve Azzara. I had such an amazing time and felt so glamorous I decided to peruse it when I returned to Portland. 

What was your first modeling job?
Yeyo Tequila campaign, shot by Quavondo

Who are you currently signed with? 
Mother agency:
Option Model and Media
Portland, Oregon
optionmodelandmedia.com


Current management: 
3D Model Management
Cape Town, South Africa 
3dmodelagency.com

Who is your dream photographer to work with?
Mario Testino
Which designer would you love to sign with for an ad campaign?
Dolce & Gabbana

Who is your favorite local photographer to work with as a model? 
In Portland, I love to work with Christine Shields. Her shoots are always relaxed. She makes me feel so comfortable and sexy. Christine really knows how to capture a woman’s beauty.

If you had to describe your "look" what are the best three words to describe it? Vintage sex appeal

What is the biggest complete you have ever received regarding your work?
Having Maxim publish my work in august of 2012. 

What is one thing about modeling you feel the public does not know or has the wrong perception?
That all models are tall and thin. I’m neither tall nor thin by model standards and I book lots of work as a lifestyle model and commercial actress.

What is a photograph that leaves you in awe and why? 
I love this photo, by Miles Aldridge, because it is a beautiful social commentary of the way women in our society are consistently looking outside themselves to be what society tells us is beautiful.

If you had one piece of advice you would like to pass along to other inspiring models, what would it be?
This is a job; if you treat it like one from the start it’ll make you life so much easier.

On The Move

Over the past few months I've been thinking about my carrier as an actress and model. While in China, for my day job as a buyer for City Liquidators, I visited agencies in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. Each city had a different clientele and feel. The agencies offered some great and some pretty crappy opportunities for work. In the end I decided that the quality of life wasn't worth it to work in mainland China. (I'll be posting some of my China adventures soon) Once home from China I met with my amazing agents at Option Model and Media to work up a plan. I wanted to increase my client list, resume, and eventually get awesome representation in Los Angeles. This isn't impossible but would take much longer working in the Portland market. Don't get me wrong, I love Portland. I love everything about it. The people, my family, my small business, the food and the creative culture. The sad reality is that there simply isn't enough work for me or my look. I'm not yet old enough for the young mom look and I'm not exactly the outdoorsy type. I do book work in town and I'm thankful for those jobs.  This is my passion and I want to be working all the time. I decided to go where the work is. I wanted to follow my dream and be working, auditioning, and stretching my acting muscles everyday. Simply being in class and auditioning a few times a weeks was no longer enough. So I packed up my apartment, moved my stuff into my parents garage, and left town.

I'm solo in a city, country and continent I've never been to but have always dreamed of visiting. I don't know a soul here and I'm terrified, but it's the best damn feeling in the world to jump into the deep end and start following your dreams. I'm embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. Wish me luck!

Photo from Visit South Africa 

I'm Booked: The Tempted Soul

When Faceout Studio called me wanting to do another book cover, I was game. Now it was time to channel my inner Amish girl and get to work. The shoot location was at the beautiful Lion and the Rose bed and breakfast. The victorian decor in this cavernous inn was so beautiful. Every room has a different style and feel. After hair and makeup we headed down to the sprawling porch to get started. We tried several different places on the porch and nearby stairs. We tried a lot of different looks, positions, and places. Monica was sending images over to the studio making sure the publisher was happy with the images. We got the shot. Now time to wait for the book to be published. Turns out the publisher loved the image but the background just didn't fit. So they switched up the background and viola!

Photographer Tyler Gould shot the cover, Madeline Roosevelt did hair, makeup, and bonnet placement, and Monica Watson produced.