I hesitate to write this post out of fear of seeming arrogant. However, I just got to say I attempted to become a “real model” when I moved to LA nearly 8 years ago. At the time my hair was “boring,” I was far too “inexperienced,” and I “lack[ed] confidence”. (All quotes courtesy of agents at open calls.)

A couple years later I tried the rounds again- hello, Ford, LA Models, Click, Wilhemina… you name it I tried it. By that time I was “too old to start”, didn’t have a book, or was “exactly like a model we already have.”

Finally I threw in the towel. After all modeling wasn’t a passion of mine; it just seemed like an excellent way to sustain me until I could make money as an actress. So much for that idea. Or so I thought.

Shortly after I haphazardly fell into modeling for friends with successful companies who often referred me to other lines. I became a “light” sometimes model and it’s been great fun and helpful cashflow. Interestingly enough, lately I’ve found myself just a teensy hint confused, if not a little tiny dash of WTF.

Around Christmas I began getting texts and emails from people I know, some very well, congratulating me on this Express campaign:

Well, let me just say that I am not the one reaping those rewards but the highly successful Caroline Trentini. She shortly after haunted me again when the Victoria’s Secret show aired. The texts of congratulations came flowing in again. The teachers at Karis’ preschool even assumed that’s why they hadn’t seen me in a while.

VS

In short, I’m thankful I can tell Drew, “People think I’m a Victoria’s Secreeeet model” (read like a boastful 6 year old) but also thought, “Hey, why can’t I even sign with a low-level agency and book a knock-off Ugg campaign?”

Ah, well. Maybe it’s God’s way of omnipotently protecting me from a looming eating disorder. Been there, done that.

<3

PS- I wrote this in the morning and now, at 8:30PM, my non-blog reader friend Kenny just texted me this picture with the note, “Is this you??” Just drivin’ the point home.