Today we’d like to introduce you to Lola Chél.
Lola, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Lola Chél. I am a fashion and beauty model based out of South Florida. I technically started modeling in high school. I tried out for the fashion show put on by my marketing class called DECA. Only seniors were allowed to be designers but the students in the class could be models for each design. One of my closing your friends put me in her scene and that was my first time ever walking a runway.
Fast forward to college; I went to Florida International University. There I joined a modeling troupe spearheaded by a new friend of mine named Jamal Morrison. While at FIU, I participated in this modeling troupe for about four semesters. What time I went from just being a member to joining the eboard. Some of my roles over the time that I was in the modeling troupe included: technique coach, fashion stylist, and vice president. After my final semester and the troop, I began to freelance more frequently.
In freelancing, I learned a lot of things about the modeling industry, both good and bad. From my first time being scammed as a model by an “Agency” to shooting with a photographer who made me super uncomfortable to getting my first paid modeling job. But through all of these experiences and many more, I slowly started to realize what I wanted to do as a model and set my goals.
At first, I thought I wanted to be a runway model. Then slowly realize that the runway scene in my market was not very strong and did not pay very well. Not only that, I wasn’t the ideal height for most runway jobs. So I pivoted and through a management company of a friend, I was able to take some really good test shots and get the attention of a boutique modeling agency in Miami. From there, I signed with them and was able to get maybe one or two really good-paying jobs a year but I wasn’t working as consistently as I would like to.
So I had two options: I could wait around for this one agency to give me more work or I could go ahead and sign non-exclusively with several other agencies and get various jobs from all of them together. Needless to say, I chose the latter. After securing a boutique fashion agency in Miami, I went after a few Talent agencies as well as commercial agencies. In my market, commercial modeling was king.
Though I did not want to spend my career as a commercial model with my face associated with the likes of hospitals and restaurants, I did like the pay that they provided. Though I liked the pay, I didn’t lose sight of what my goals were. Consistently networking and making true connections, I got a model referral to an agency outside of the South Florida market in Tampa. When I signed with them, I was now able to get access to jobs that were outside of the State of Florida.
By this time in my career, I had come to the realization that I wanted to be an international fashion and beauty model. Interestingly enough, I didn’t know how to make that a reality on my own. I still freelanced a lot, even though I had agency representation. I knew that the ability to work outside of the United States and appeal to a larger audience was what I wanted to accomplish in my career.
To date, I have done:
* Magazine spreads in publications like Feroce, Volant, Italian magazine Faddy, and more.
* Fashion shoots for Hot Miami Styles, Little Wild Things, Branded By CB and more.
* Hair jobs for companies like Luster’s, Oui Doux, and Bijoux Hair.
* Cosmetics campaigns for iT Cosmetics and The BN Collection.
* Travel Campaigns for Karisma Hotels.
* Music videos with artists like Lil Wayne, Cardi B, Bramisto, Dj Khaled and More.
* Television shows such as Grand Hotel and Deco Drive.
* Commercials for Mercedes-Benz, Verizon, and Solis.
* Infomercials for various products.
* And so much more.
In the last year or two I have through my various agencies and extremely personal and social branding, I have been able to secure Television shows, music videos, magazine spreads, SAG work, infomercials, cosmetics campaigns, fashion shoots, hair jobs, and so much more. Now I have a global audience following my personal brand. I have campaigns, videos, and print work published throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and France to name a few. My face has been seen over 1 BILLION times worldwide. Best of all- I’m just getting started.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the biggest obstacles is getting consistent pay. Though I have elevated my rates and got an access to higher-paying jobs, it’s still difficult to across-the-board get paid what I’m worth. Because I’ve decided that I’m worth a certain amount of money per hour per day, or per project, I find myself turning down a lot of jobs that don’t meet that criteria. Though this mostly works in my favor because my time is put to correct use – there are days that I don’t work but I could have and that’s still something that I have to get over mentally.
It’s an adjustment but as you continue to grow in the industry, and your price does as well, you’ll realize that it is quality over quantity. You’d much rather do one job for $2000 versus ten jobs for $200 or work for $20 an hour for 100 hours. Once that mentality locks in I feel like my next struggle will be getting double-booked way too often lol.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
The models making money academy is a place where models go to slay and earn pay. I teach models through various classes, courses, and books on how to become better models, no matter where they are in their modeling journey. I have over 500 students in my Academy and that number is growing every day. The best part is that you can get into the Academy for free and enjoy The Model Mix: Everything You Need To Prepare To Become A Successful Model
For $0!! Just like with my blog LolaChel.com I’m very big. I’ll be giving models the resources that they need to make money.
As an internationally working, multi-agency represented, professional model and coach, I’m very proud of both my models making money Academy and my blog because they allow models to educate and elevate themselves to their greatest potential and paycheck.
What sets me apart from many of my other professional models and professional model coaches is that I actively do both and I really listen to my audience. I create courses that help them in the areas of modeling that they need it and I do it at affordable cost with a personalized touch.
All of my courses come with one on one coaching for me. While my classes allow students to get the answers to the questions for an affordable rate and then, of course, if you need a quick pick me up read that will help you get to the money I also have an e-book available in the Academy as well. And even if you don’t have any money, I still have free resources from Models on my blog and my Academy, on my Instagram and on my YouTube.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I wouldn’t be possible without a lot of people. From my family for always supporting me in my dreams, to my college professors that let me think outside of the box, to my founding modeling troop that gave me the tools I needed to get started modeling, to the clients who have helped me perfect my craft and make money, to my friends who are always giving me feedback and support on what I am doing, to my significant other who literally deals with all of the behind the scene things that happen with and to me as I continue to push myself to bigger achievements- I thank them all!
Pricing:
- How To Make Money As A Model In 3 Easy Steps https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/howtomakemoneyasamodel – 50% off with coupon code MODELMAKER
- What Type Of Model Are You A Complete Guide To Finding Where You Can Make The Most Money In The Modeling Industry https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/whattypeofmodelareyou – $150
- Being Prepared As A Model The Complete Guide To Excelling At Everything The Industry Throws At You https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/beingpreparedasamodel – $150
- Building Your Model Portfolio The Complete Guide To Crafting A Portfolio That Will Get You Booked https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/buildingyourportfolio – $200
- Getting Social A Complete Guide To Networking Yourself To Success On and Offline https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/gettingsocial – $200
- Getting Representation The Complete Guide To Becoming a Successful Freelance And Agency Represented Model https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/gettingrepresentation – $250
- You can get 10% off all courses with coupon code – LOLAC1
- The Model Mix Everything You Need To Prepare To Become A Successful Model https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/p/the-model-mix – FREE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://modelsmakingmoney.teachable.com/
- Email: lolaxchel@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lolachel/
- Other: https://m.youtube.com/lolachel/
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