How did my modeling career get started? Well it is really simple actually.. I'm sure lots of you out there get Seventeen, Teen.. magazines like that.. Well, I sent in one of those ads for those modeling agencies. Yanno those ads that say, "Be a model or just look like one". I was 13 when I sent that in. I received a postcard in the mail from the closest Barbizon Modeling Agency in my region and they wanted to interview me. I went to the interview completely mortified not knowing what to expect. It was really cool. The lady, JoAnn, that interviewed me went through Barbizon a long time ago and was really sweet. All went well, and I ended up signing up for modeling classes!!
By the time the started classes, I was 14, and ever since then I have been with my agency, Barbizon. This all started in 1996 and I've learned so much from the business and gained so much more experience than I ever thought one needed to know!!! So if any of you out there are interested in model/acting and being discovered, you always gotta give your best!! Someone is always scouting for new, fresh talent so be aware of your surroundings! Take the risk like I did and live it to the fullest!
Since then, in January of 1997, I had my first photo shoot w/ photographer Jonathan Roth. In April of 1997, I was one of 400 in the Harrisburg area to audition for a trip to New York. I was one of 40 chosen to represent our agency. It was a worldwide modeling/talent convention called "IMTA". As some of you may know, this is where some of todays HOTTEST stars were discovered.
This is actor Shane West and I
While I was in New York, the first day there I met Shane West (aka Eli on "Once and Again"). We became instant friends and he showed me around.. introduced me to other contestants and even celebrities. I remember he always gave me advice and wished me luck before an audition. His roomate was Ben Gould (aka Nicky Farrina on "Saved By The Bell: The New Class), and Shane introduced me to him one of my last nites there and Ben and I hit it off pretty well!!!
Shane's advice to me
While there, some of my friends were discovered. My friend Adriane was discovered by Katie Holmes agent and is now doing work from time to time in NY. She was offered to play Shawn's girlfriend on "Boy Meets World", however she turned down the role because she is more interested in modeling. My friend Drew, now 8 (he was 5 at the time), he is currently doing catalog work and commercials through McDonald/Richards in New York. Last I heard, my roomate Jackie was going to go to Los Angeles to do commercial print work.
Shane West, Rachel Clark, Ben Gould and Jamie Bustamante (aka me)
As I mentioned before, some of today's hottest stars were discovered there. I mentioned Ben Gould and Shane West.. Katie Holmes was discovered there in 1996, and I actually got to capture a glimpse of here threw the crowd of people. Other stars included:
Some celebs I got to meet while there:
Other celebs are:
Me (9) and Kenny (5)
Me and Leslie Carter 8.20.00
I once got offered to go to South Carolina to a convention called AMTC (American Modeling and Talent Convention) in which I was asked to go for acting and I also got offered in 1999 as well to go to Europe for 3 weeks to tour Europe and sing!
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