Hi! My name is Maya Nikiforova and I would like to share my career story of how I fulfilled one of my dreams and the lessons I learned.
I have always wanted to be a doctor, as my grandmother was a doctor and so is my mother. I was drawn to sports because of my family, which is very keen on basketball. I never wanted to be a model until the age of 15. You might ask why and the reason is that I was a shy and sensitive girl with flaws - a crooked tooth and a broken nose. I had zero confidence. I could sense that people saw me as an ugly duckling. My family did not have the financial means to "correct" my shortcomings and I had come to terms with them. After a while I had to put braces on and I was very happy about that. One day my mother came home from work and said to me "I showed your photos to a friend of mine and she told me that she has an acquaintance who works in a modelling agency and runs a modeling school, she said you should write them an email". I was very surprised, but I sent the email.
They replied back and we set up a meeting at their agency. This is how it all began. I passed their modelling school and it was time to visit one of the agency's bookers. This was the day when my self-esteem was ruined. The booker said I had a baby face and that was not what they wanted at that time. They also said I was not tall enough (I was 171 cm then), I had to lose weight and that overall I wouldn't be able to work as a model. I was depressed for a long time and I had problems with my hormones, binge eating and I became self-critical to the point of pain. It took me a long time to recover. However, there came a time when I wanted to take pictures and got interested in modelling once again. I started working with photographers I found on Facebook or Instagram. Every time I saw the results of the photoshoots, I started loving myself more. After several photo shoots had been uploaded I received offers from agencies that wanted to work with me not only from Bulgaria, but also abroad. I didn't take them seriously because I thought I could go through the same experience I had before. I wanted to be a model, but I wasn't ready for it. After a while I decided I didn't want to be in an agency. That's why I gave up my dream to become a model and only worked with photographers I found online.
Yet…
Two years later, I received a message on Instagram from a model of Alia Models offering to send my profile to her agency. I have to admit that I spontaneously agreed, as I thought that nothing would happen. To my surprise, the agency reached out to me. I heard from Kirillka. She explained everything I wanted to know about the modeling career. He offered me a contract. I was still full of doubts. However, I realised that I was offered the opportunity to work as a model for a second time. Not everyone is given this opportunity and not everyone has the qualities to become a model. Kirilka saw the potential in me. I decided there was no valid reason why I wouldn't give modelling a chance. That's how I became part of Alia Models. Kiki organised some test shots for me after which she told me: "Girl you were born for this!" Her words affected me on a very personal level and I think that is when I changed. Now I am self-confident, I believe in myself and I love myself more than ever. Another dream I had was to go to Milan not as a tourist, but as a model working with an Italian agency. Three months after joining Alia Models agency, my dream came true and I went to Italy to work as a model. It was in Milan where I realised what it means to be a model. I had castings almost every day. I had to make sure I was always on time. Some agencies offer a car to drive the models to casting locations, but I didn't have one. I had to make do with public transport. The castings were in different locations and sometimes I didn't even have time to stop for 10 minutes. On my days off I explored the city. We had to follow strict rules. For example, we had to be back at the apartment before 9 pm. But on Saturday nights, we could stay out until later. There were days when I had to go to the agency’s office to have my measurements taken and shoot new polaroids.
There are advantages and disadvantages to working as a model abroad. One of the benefits is that I met many models from all over the world and we shared stories related to modeling or our personal journeys. I also explored the beautiful city of Milan, improved my English, and learned to get by on my own. One of the drawbacks, in my opinion, was the great competition. As I said, I was self-critical to the point of pain and I was often triggered there. I ate much less than I did in Bulgaria, because I wanted to be slim like the other girls as in Milan 98% of the models are very slim and that is why they work. One day during a working engagement I felt faint and I suspected it was because of the small amount of food I had eaten. When I returned to Bulgaria, I went to the doctor and found out that I have anemia and the doctor told me that if I continue to eat the way I do, my period may stop. That's gained the weight I had lost, because good health comes first. Most people think that being a model is easy - you just put on clothes and take pictures. Few people know that 1 or 2 kilograms can make a huge difference. We do not allow ourselves the consumption of fast food every day. We should always convey emotion in photos and smile even when we are exhausted. We have to be very patient. When working abroad we have to live with other models in the same apartment even if we don't like someone. To be a model, you don't just have to have a vision, you also have to have skills. Here are some lessons I learned from my modelling journey:
"Love yourself more than anything".
"Building confidence is what can help you get through anything."
"Modeling is a skill that must be constantly improved."
“Modelling is full of opportunities - a chance to see the world and discover yourself. If an opportunity comes your way, you should take it, because not everyone gets that chance".
"It all depends on how much you want it and whether you're ready to give it your all."
"If you have doubts about yourself and your abilities, go back in time and remember where you started from and how far you have come.”
Author - Maya Nikiforova
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