Today, we’d like to introduce you to Alison Kay Bowles.
Hi Alison, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started modeling with I first moved to New York City in 2018. I was always told that modeling would be impossible for me because I was under 5’8″ and from a smaller town.
Well, closed mouths don’t get fed… I was living in the city of opportunity and the worst they could say was no. I walked into an agency and they ended up signing me. I booked my very first casting and my career continued to go up from there.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! The industry is so incredibly flawed, and that is something that I have been continually working to change. I was told I could never do runway because of my height, and at first, I would wait in line for hours at castings just to be turned away and not even given the chance to walk. I waited for years to walk my first show… but I never gave up.
Now the same people call me asking me to be in their shows. I open & close shows at New York Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week. My mission is to show other models that it IS possible to achieve whatever it is that they want.
There’s a lot of work to do in the industry… and I could do a whole other article on that in itself. I frequently talk about this with other models on my Instagram to expose flaws (and things that quite frankly should be illegal) in the industry to inspire change and also to motivate models to rise above the narrative.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a model and influencer. I work mainly in beauty, swimwear, fashion & runway.
I’m known for breaking the mold in the industry when it comes to height restrictions. I now coach runway lessons and also offer 1 on 1 session to aspiring models and influencers on how to break into the industry and develop a strategy to build their brand (and their pockets!!).
I’m most proud of the fact that I have done the things that have never been done… I was the first petite model to model for MAXIM Magazine, and I have gone on to walk in numerous New York Fashion Week shows and Miami Swim Week Shows as a petite model.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can schedule 1 on 1 coaching sessions via Zoom here: https://calendly.com/upriseconsult/modeling-social-media-personal-branding
For modeling bookings contact my agent: talia@nymmg.com
For Influencer partnerships contact: partnerships@alisonbowles.com
You can support me on my social channels.
Instagram: @alisonbowles
TikTok: @alisonkay
YouTube: @alisonbowles
Snapchat: @alisonbowles
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wanderinheels.com/links.html#/google_vignette
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonbowles
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alisonbowles
- Other: https://calendly.com/upriseconsult/modeling-social-media-personal-branding
Image Credits
@meganeclaire
