MISS LALA WITH..... RACHAEL WILLIAMS

Miss Lala had a chat with up and coming model Rachael Williams.  Rachael has been causing quite a stir since she was first introduced into the modelling circuit.  Having worked in the London, Miami,  New York, Rachael has become a firm favourite in the modelling industry. Not just a pretty face, she also heads up her own company called "We Girls Rock".  I sat down with Rachael to talk about her career in modelling, her beauty secrets and plans her for 2010.

1.  How did you get into modeling?

I always had a passion for modeling, ever since i was 14 years old. I saw an advert in my local newspaper for an agency that was recruiting new models. I made an appointment to attend a test shoot with them, and saved up for weeks just to pay the £100 registration. I waited for months to hear back from them, but never heard anything, so i decided to godown to the agency only to find that they never existed! I never received any pics or my money back.

After that my parents were skeptical but i kept on going; to build up my confidence i did lots of unpaid university fashion shows and photo-shoots to build up my portfolio. Then i took my book around to the London modeling agencies, i was rejected by all of them. So i was in two minds about continuing so i held back a little while while i finished college.

I then won Miss Black Britain, which was a big confidence booster and gave me a little more recognition as a model in this industry. I learnt alot in this year about the modeling and the industry and after i finished university, I decided to model full time and since then I have been working full time. I have travelled to Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York Greece, Turkey and many more places, working at fashion week, for well known designers and brands!

2.  What’s been your most memorable job and why?

My most memorable job was when i was doing a a job for an African Magazine a few years back. I was so excited as this was my first ever spread in a magazine so just like any new model i wanted to look perfect for the shoot. So i read up on tips on 'how to prepare for a shoot' on the internet and one of them was to eat little to stop yourself from bloating. So i thought i wont eat at all. Halfway into the shoot i felt very weak and fainted. The ambulance rushed down to the shoot and ran tests on me, luckily my sugar levels were low so i just had to eat! This was very scary as i had never fainted before and to do so on a shoot, i felt a little embarrassed. So now i make sure to eat breakfast before every job and bring along a few snacks....just incase!

3.  Has your current experience as a model of colour been mostly positive or negative?

Overall my main experience as a model has been positive, Im my own boss, i decide on all the work i do, i get to travel nearly every month, all the jobs are different, im always meeting new people, there is no routine and sometimes, i get to keep the clothes!! On occasions i do experience negativity from clients, agencies and the even general public in regards to my weight, my complexion, my attitude, my style e.t.c but  i dont let any of that bother me as i know where i am going and i do not need to entertain that along the way.

4.  Have you found that there has been an increase of other models of colour since you started, or does the modeling industry still have a long way to go in recruiting models of colour?

When i started out, what attracted me to the industry was that there was quite a few models of colour that actually working within the industry despite all the negativity surrounding it. So i aspired to be like them. As i have grown within the industry about 80% of those same models have disappeared of the scene! Im not sure the reason behind this as there could be many but what i do know is that this industry will  try to break to purposely break you down. But you have to keep on fighting for what you believe in, and for those of you who have done i say thank you, as i would not be where i am if you had not made the impact that you have.

However, although there are many models colour 'breaking' it in this industry we still do have a long way to go before the agencies and the designers will begin to recruit them based on their individuality, not just their race!

5.  Being a darker skinned model, have you found that amongst black models there is still a divide when it comes to skin tone (light skin vs dark skin).  Why do you think this is?

I believe that the industry is moving on and this debate is becoming history. Darker skinned models are becoming noticed just as much as those who are lighter skinned.

6.  Which other model has inspired you and why?

I have been inspired by Tyra Banks entrepreneurial skills, Naomi Campbell's determination and Heidi Klum's continuity.

7.  What advice would you give to other aspiring models?

Do not take to heart criticism. Enjoy every job that you do. Network as much as you can.

8.  Where would you like your modeling career to take you in the next 5 years?

I aim to be recognized as an international, Fashion and beauty model and I would love to travel more (one of my aims in life is to visit every country...so i hope modeling takes me all around the globe).

9.  Give us one of your top beauty secrets?

I love to make my skin and hair care using natural products. here are my top 3.

1. A honey face mask- I mix together Honey and olive oil and lave on my face for 15 mins once week.

2. Heated Hair Oil- After i have shampooed my hair, i use a combination of natural oils that i just heat in the microwave and leave in my hair as i blow dry.

3. Sugar Scrub- I exfoliate my skin using brown sugar and olive oil 4x a week to remove any dead skin cells and promote glowing, soft skin.

Quick fire

Bath or Shower   BATH

Nights in or Late nights out NIGHTS IN

X Factor or Strictly X FACTOR

Couch Potato or Action Jackson ACTION JACKSON

Team Naomi or Team Tyra TEAM TYRA

Health Freak or Junk Food Junkie JUNK FOOD JUNKIE

West Indian take away or Chinese take away WEST INDIAN TAKEAWAY

Make Up on or Make Up off MAKE UP OFF

To Weave or Not to Weave NOT TO WEAVE

Sunny days or Winter days SUNNY DAYS