Tag: healthy

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A Model’s Unfiltered Thoughts on Agencies

Photo by Annika Forslund

I’ve been quarreling with myself on this topic for months now. I have provided you with plenty of info on modeling agencies in the past. However, I feel there is a missing element. Bias. Today I will impart my bias in regards to the topic of agencies. Today I will open up.

While I have not had a horrendous experience with agencies, like some, it has not been particularly pleasant either. Often, agencies have felt very intimidating, even bully-like.

A model is hardly ever allowed to be herself. She is scrutinized in detail. She is never good enough, always expected to fill in this role of the unattainable. As a society, our beauty standards are warped. They are unrealistic. Yet, young girls are expected to conform. This is what it feels like to be a model. Moldable.

At age 15, I was told I had too much baby fat. My legs have been called doughy. Some people have told me I can’t “make it” due to my size. That I have to conform. I have been pressured and harassed about my skin, urged to see a dermatologist I couldn’t afford, for a problem that was occurring because of my genes, and because I was unhealthy. Being with an agency has always been a stressful experience for me. I was always pressured one way or another, bullied strategically, bossed around, and strung along waiting for my paychecks.

This is my bias. And the experience is not too different from those girls around me.

Girls. We are women, young women. Yet, why do I keep calling all models girls? It is because even I feel diminished as a model sometimes. We are girls. Young. To be manipulated. Some never grow up. Some never learn. Some girls grow up learning from this industry and are left wondering what is wrong.

Agencies not paying their models has become a norm. Clients paying months after a job. Sexual harassment on jobs, and bullying. How can they get away with this?

For one, the industry remains wildly unregulated. On the other hand: we let them. A year ago, I decided I no longer wanted to be taken advantage of by a shady company with only their own interests in mind.

Unfortunately, a model can’t advance her career much without an agency.

To be fair, I have had a lot of exciting moments with my agencies. I have been in Mercedes-Benz fashion week. I have booked huge, lucrative photo shoots. I have been given the chance to book career-changing campaigns. I have been in Anna Wintour’s office building. There are always the plus sides. I often found myself in exciting jobs and opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten without an agency.

Without having been with the agencies I have been with, I wouldn’t be where I am as a model today. My portfolio is strong. My experience is strong. From the platform of being signed with an agency, I have been given the opportunity to expand and grow, not only as a model, but as a woman.

Here’s the thing. We can change this. Together. The fashion industry doesn’t have to be a harsh reality, but a positive environment.

My experiences in the fashion industry have pushed me to create a revolution. I want to promote positive change and health. Poor, low quality living is generally secretly applauded by many industry peers. Young girls loosing too much weight is celebrated! This helps perpetuate and encourage eating disorders among young girls across the globe.

So I need your help. Soon, I will be launching a crowd-funding campaign for We Speak, the agency of the future. I’m creating a healthy branding system for retail and fashion brands to use to encourage healthy living, and healthy women.

If you help fund and promote this mission, you are contributing your piece of a huge undertaking and fashion revolution. The industry has made small movements to a more positive industry, yet the experiences detailed above are still very much alive. Are you ready to roar?

www.facebook.com/wespeakny

Be Fierce!!

Briauna Mariah (:
Founder of We Speak
(917) 274-7324

P.S. We are on the lookout for experienced, healthy models in NYC! Email briaunamariah@gmail.com for submissions (our email system and site is currently undergoing construction!)

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Healthy Whole Wheat Pancakes for Two (Option for Vegan)

A while back, I bought four 5lb bags of Bob’s Redmill 100% Whole Wheat Flour. You may think I’m crazy, but it was a good deal! So, many many months later (possibly nearing one year), I still have three bags. Normally I have a fruit smoothie with flax seed in the morning, but I’ve decided to tackle my cravings for delicious, sweet, filling food by using that whole wheat to make pancakes!
If you like a lot of sweetness, you may want to add more sweetness by substituting the topping for something you’d prefer. As for me, I’m trying to stay away from sugar so this recipe is just sweet enough for my morning breakfast. Also, there’s a whopping 13 grams of protein in it!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup – 100% whole wheat flour
1 cup – vanilla coconut milk
(Add an extra splash for desired consistency)
1 large egg*
1 tbsp – your fav healthy oil
1/2 tsp baking powder**
1/4 tsp baking soda**
Cinnamon for taste
Salt for taste
Drizzle of agave

Topping:
8 frozen strawberries
Splash of vanilla coconut milk
Drizzle of agave

*Vegans – you know what to do! Substitue with applesauce, greek yogurt, etc. Substitutions are easy. You can’t really mess up pancakes as long as you have the right consistency and proportions.
**Baking powder and baking soda are peculiar to me. I’m still not 100% sure of the difference, but I’ve just used baking powder here. Just a dash. I’ve never had a problem with this as long as you don’t put too much of one of the two powders.

Instructions:
1. Blend all ingredients for the batter in a medium bowl until smooth
2. Heat pan on medium heat with oil, butter, or non-stick spray.
3. Scoop 1/4 cup portions of the patter into the pan and cook until the edges start to cook through and the bubbles on top of the pancakes start to pop. Flip the pancakes and cook until golden brown. Here’s a tip I’m learning: I tend to overcook my pancakes thanks to uneven heat. It’s a pain, but I adjust the heat low when it gets too hot so the pancakes cook slower and don’t burn.
4. Repeat step 3 until all your pancakes are cooked.
5. While you’re making the pancakes, blend in the ingredients for the strawberry topping in a small blender (I use my nutribullet). It’s just enough sweetness to give the pancakes something delicious and gives them the perfect moistness.

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Butterless, Eggless Chocolate Chip Whole Wheat Cookies

I was doing some experimenting with a chocolate chip cookie recipe and came up with some delicious butterless, eggless chocolate chip whole white wheat cookies. I didn’t have regular 100% whole wheat flour, but I’m sure it would turn out similar with any healthy flour of the sort. I also didn’t have brown sugar, so I’m going to write exactly what I did, but I suggest doing half brown, have regular like normal.

I basically took your traditional ole chocolate chip cookie recipe and replaced a few items for healthier ingredients. Here it is! Continue reading “Butterless, Eggless Chocolate Chip Whole Wheat Cookies”

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Model Diet: Beef Broccoli Lentil Soup

Ok, the combination of ingredients described in the title might already sound a little weird to you. I was skeptical at first because I know usually broccoli is chopped up fine and in a thick, cheesy, creamy soup. But I just went with it because I love broccoli and I wanted some yummy soup for the crowns to soak up juice in.

This is 100% my own recipe and I found it to be sooo yummy and satisfying. This recipe is for one model-sized serving. Continue reading “Model Diet: Beef Broccoli Lentil Soup”

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Model Diet: No-Oil Stir-Fried Veggies

They say you should eat the rainbow for a healthy selection of vitamins and minerals. I have been experimenting a lot with no-oil stir-fried veggies. I make sure I always have an assortment of vegetables available in my fridge and freezer (and fruits!).

Did you know… you can stir fry veggies with or without oil? I was stoked to find out I didn’t need the oil to make this healthy snack. Continue reading “Model Diet: No-Oil Stir-Fried Veggies”

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Portland Fashions

I was in downtown Portland for a casting today (yeah, I nailed it) and I’ve been passing a LOT of really great boutiques over there.

I’ve also modeled for a few awesome boutiques. You may have already seen my photos up on www.letrainbleu.com. She has so many great designs in her boutique! I loved modeling them, especially the coats!

I had the pleasure of working with Neon Threads recently, as well. They carry a lot of vintage items, like dresses and coats from the 80s. If you want to reminisce in the good times, if you like the styles from those time periods, if you’re looking for a good Halloween piece, or whatever your reason, it’s a great place to check out! www.neonthreadsclothing.com. There were even a lot of great pieces (like the one I’m wearing below) that would make great clothing for a cool editorial spread *hint* *hint*

In town, there are a lot of athletic boutiques. Portland is all about being fit & biking! I love the mixture of fashion and athletic wear going on. It makes me want to go buy a whole new wardrobe just to go out for a run! Continue reading “Portland Fashions”

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Biking in Portland, OR

Did you know that Amsterdam is the bicycle capital of the world? 40% of the traffic flow there is from bikes. You know what’s even cooler? Portland, Oregon is the second bicycle capital of the world. Seattle doesn’t even make it on the top 10.

So, what a great exercise and method of getting around, right?! I went outside today and got my bike ready. Okay, yeah, maybe not so much! One thing Seattle and Portland do have in common is the climate: RAIN! Ever since I’ve been here, it has rained every time I decided to step outside.

I have been biking to town several times (5 miles each way), for fun and for the exercise and I went to the store once (2 miles each way). I attempted a trip to the store today, got a few blocks, and got soaked. This has been the only time I am truly disliking the rain. I never got to bike much in Seattle, so the rain was never too much of a bother. In fact, most of the time I kind of enjoy the rain. Continue reading “Biking in Portland, OR”

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Meal Planning: One Cucumber Per Week

I’m sitting here, wondering what is in store for me when I leave for Portland on Friday. I’m extremely excited to work and connect with people in Portland.

What originally inspired me to make this trip is the fact that I’m getting so many emails from my agency, Ryan Artists, and I haven’t been able to make it to more than 3 castings. I almost feel as if there is more going on down in Portland in terms of the fashion industry and modeling, than there is in Seattle.

There are more reasons to justify this trip, too. One reason is that, recently out of high school, I haven’t had the chance to live out on my own yet. Living a month “on my own” in Portland will be a great learning experience.

And I’m already learning some things. Like, say, how DIFFICULT IT IS TO MEAL PLAN! My family never really meal planned before, but we’ve been doing it for at least the past year now and it SAVES a lot of money and it’s easier to EAT HEALTHY. Continue reading “Meal Planning: One Cucumber Per Week”

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Exercising = Feeling Good, Looking Better

A few months ago, I began a daily exercising routine. The plan originally stemmed from the desire to expand my modeling portfolio into fitness to reach specific industries such as Portland, but it’s also just a great thing to stick to for a healthier lifestyle. And let me tell you, it feels great. I hope you’ll give it a try!

I can say that I impressed myself with my persistence in “getting fit.” And it has paid off. I feel really good and I’m more toned, so it’s definitely helping with my overall model figure. Really, the only thing to it is persistence and knowing how your body works. I hope you give this a try and impress yourself! Exercise and eating right are the only things that will bring you great physical health.

This may not be how fitness instructors would put it, but I have talked with one about my routine. And how I put it is if you’re running and feel the burn in the areas you’re toning, you must be doing something right. If it weren’t as simple as that, I probably wouldn’t be doing any exercising. Continue reading “Exercising = Feeling Good, Looking Better”