The notion of modeling conjures up visions of grandeur andglamour. But how does one model in Boston? By hitting the circuit.Retailers need new faces for ads, catalogs, and runway shows.Corporations need models for brochures. But landing good jobstakes stamina. Here, at different stages of their careers, are fourBostonians who are making it happen. Adrianna Farley
You might have seen her in Foot Locker. She's the poster girlkneeing the soccer ball. Or in Talbots Kids. Her 6-foot-tallpicture greeted customers in stores last winter. Then there was thefull-page Filene's newspaper ad last month.
Adrianna Farley is a model on the rise. Only 11 years old, she'sin demand almost every week by various clients: Ames DepartmentStores, Papa Gino's, BJ's Wholesale Club, MediaOne, and Hasbro.
At 4 1/2 feet and 60 pounds, with freckles, and brown hair andeyes, Farley has the girl-next-door look of the moment. And she'sloving it. 'It's fun,' she says. 'I get to go to new places likeRhode Island. . . . I've seen myself in newspapers and magazines.'Best of all, she says, 'People do your hair and makeup for you. It'sexciting.'
Farley has been modeling since 1997, when her family signed her upwith an agency. 'At the time, she was playing a lot of tennis and itwas getting really expensive. I thought, `If it works, she could payfor her own lessons,' ' says her mother, Michelle. Now Farley is sobusy modeling she doesn't have time for tennis.
Despite her schedule, Farley has maintained her life as a normalfifth grader at an Easton elementary school. She's still playingsoccer, still taking gymnastics, and dance lessons. But she can'tbite her nails anymore. And, in case she nicks her legs or arms,she can't be too aggressive in sports. 'That's how I used to be,'she says.
To attend all her shoots, Farley skips school occasionally orleaves early. 'I make up the work,' says the straight-A student, whooften does homework during downtime on the job. Says Michelle, 'It'sall a huge balancing act. We want to make sure that nothing getstaken too seriously on any end.'
A typical job for Farley lasts one to two hours. In studios,photographers sometimes direct Farley on poses but often let her doher own thing. 'Usually it's hands on your hips or head,' she says.'Always smile. Show your teeth. Nothing too wacko.'
The biggest thrill for the Farley family? Walking through theSouth Shore Plaza in Braintree and coming upon the 6-foot poster ofAdriana at Talbots. 'None of us were prepared for it,' saysMichelle. 'They had photographed two girls. We warned Adriana, `Itmay be you, it may not be.' We just stood there amazed.'
Farley's goal is eventually to move to New York. 'It would bekind of neat going into Seventeen or some magazine like that,' shesays. 'Hopefully one day I can be a supermodel. To model forAbercrombie & Fitch -- that's my favorite store -- or the Gap or theLimited, that's the ultimate.' Oneka LaBennett
Oneka LaBennett is a reluctant success story. She has modeled onTommy Hilfiger's runway, in TJ Maxx's ads, and in Vibe magazine. Butall that takes a backseat to the doctorate in anthropology she'searning at Harvard. 'I'm hoping to teach someday,' says the25-year- old Somerville resident.
Until then, earning $1,200 to $1,400 a day modeling three to fiveoutfits for Filene's ads isn't a bad option. 'They give you lunchtoo,' she says.
The 5-foot-8 1/2, 112-pound LaBennett never even consideredmodeling until three years ago. Walking down Newbury Street, someonemistook her for a model. 'I was just a poor student. I startedthinking, `I could use the extra money.' '
Figuring her flexible schedule would be a plus, LaBennett took theplunge. 'You can decide how much time you want to devote to it,' shesays. For her, that means spending four hours a month in shows atSaks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, and MaxMara, or doing print campaigns forlocal retailers.
LaBennett, a native of Guyana, doesn't talk about her modelingwhen she's at Harvard. 'It's not a secret, but it has nothing to dowith my academic career,' she says. But when she appeared on a giantMarshall's poster on Boylston Street two years ago, the word got out.'Everyone I know saw it,' she groans. Not that she's ashamed, mindyou. LaBennett just doesn't like to be typed as a model.
'I think there are a lot of negative stereotypes about models.People think models are anorexic, have easy lives, are verysuperficial and airheaded,' she says. 'Often times, a model is thelast person whose opinion or comfort is considered. A lot of clientsthink models don't eat so they don't feed you. Or they have youstanding for hours in uncomfortable shoes.'
LaBennett, who eats 'like, 10 meals a day,' has no interest inpursuing a full-time modeling career. 'The computer I'm using thismorning was bought with modeling money. It's been a godsend. Ican't laugh at it,' but 'I've always been a really good student. Ienjoy modeling because it's secondary to my career. It's a nicedichotomy. As a student, everything is so cerebral. Once in awhile, I get to be glamorous.' Tim O'Toole
When Tim O'Toole posed in a photo with a friend in 1991, he hadno idea the snapshot would lead to an international modeling career.His friend sent the photo to a Boston modeling agency, which likedO'Toole's look. The agency called him in.
He was sent to Filene's 'for a look-see,' and 'that very dayFilene's said, `Put this jacket on,' ' says O'Toole. 'They shot me.It ran in The Boston Globe the next week.'
A 1987 graduate of Northeastern University, O'Toole was working asa freelance video producer. 'I decided to model for the extra cash,'says the 34-year-old. 'I started traveling, doing print work forretail stores. I went to Florida to shoot L.L. Bean in the winter.I decided to stay because there's a big modeling scene in Miami inthe winter.'
In Miami, O'Toole posed for catalogs for such department storesas Hills and Dillard's before meeting a scout from a Tokyo modelingagency. Just a year into the business, O'Toole -- who didn't speak aword of Japanese -- hopped on a Tokyo-bound plane.
The 6-foot-tall, blue-eyed O'Toole was a hit. He modeled formagazines, department stores, mail-order catalogs, and TVcommercials. 'They like that all-American look: blond hair, blueeyes. . . They like Western culture, but to them, it's not Americanunless a Western model is modeling it.'
Months later, O'Toole ended up in Milan doing runway work forfashion shows and spreads for Italian magazines. 'Milan is like atraining ground. It's a mecca for modeling. There are a lot ofphotographers there, a lot of magazines. The chances of gettingeditorial work for your book is good.'
But not so the pay: A typical magazine spread for a novice modelmight pay $300, and a runway show $500, he says. 'There's a joke inMilan,' says O'Toole. 'You have to pay the magazines to be seen.'
Throughout his experiences, O'Toole maintained a residence inBrighton. Now he works with agencies in four US cities, as well asone in Milan and one in Tokyo, traveling to model for companies suchas J.C. Penney and for magazines such as Esquire and Details. 'Someclients will pay for your flight to come down. Some won't,' he says.'But if I have a booking in Atlanta for $1,300 a day and I can get aflight for $300, I can still make $1,000 in one day.'
He has also found work closer to home. 'Today I'm shooting up inGloucester. It's a catalog thing for Northern Isles, the sweatercompany,' he said.
A native of Medfield, O'Toole is committed to the area. 'It wouldbe better for me to be in New York, but I'd rather not. I'm aBostonian at heart. I like the quality of life here.' Linda Cole
Linda Cole was born into fashion. As the daughter of YolandaCellucci, owner of Yolanda's boutique in Waltham, Cole knew majordesigners such as Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass when she was achild. At 5-feet-9 1/2, it's no surprise that Cole -- who is also acousin of Governor Paul Cellucci -- went into modeling. But in1977, when she started in New York, 'you had to be a very blond,blue-eyed all-American girl to make it,' says the brunette. 'CybillShepherd and Cheryl Tiegs were huge. Being dark and Italian, I wasturned down a lot.'
Cole even changed her name from Linda Susan Nicole Cellucci toLynn Nicole, since it sounded 'less ethnic,' she says. But atcastings, people kept calling out 'Lin Da Cole' by mistake so sheadopted the name.
At 128 pounds, Cole was considered heavy by industry standards.'I dieted myself crazy,' she says. 'I remember eating an apple,cottage cheese, and a bran muffin a day.'
After being rejected repeatedly by agencies in New York, Cole tookthe advice of a friend and moved to Milan in 1980, where she foundsuccess doing fashion spreads for Italian magazines and catalogs, aswell as runway shows.
Cole, who grew up in a Waltham house across the street from theboutique, agreed to move back to Boston in 1984 after meeting herfuture husband, Sebuh Petrosian, during a US visit. Petrosian wasattending Boston University. 'I went to see Saks, Lord & Taylor,Jordan Marsh, and Neiman Marcus,' she says. With her internationalexperience, she quickly developed a list of clients, includingTalbots and local designers Alfred Fiandaca and David Josef.
In 1988, Cole had her first son (she has two now, ages 10 and 5).'At the time, people said: `Oh, your career's over. What are yougoing to do now?' ' she recalls. 'It turns out modeling is perfectfor moms. In the morning, I do house stuff and work out. Then I cando a show from 11 to 1:30. Pick up my little one at 2. Take my otherson to karate at 2:30 and still get dinner on.'
Being older has its limits, says the 36-year-old Cole. 'I have abeautiful body for my age, but I can't compete with an 18-year-old. .. . I've become synonymous with Frugal Fannie's.'
Then there's her role as a suburban mom. 'When I pick up theboys, people ask, `What do you do?' To say the word `model' almostsounds conceited. I say, `I'm in fashion or retail.' '
Cole sometimes reflects on her former international career. 'Ihave friends I see on TV all the time. Sometimes I think, `If I hadstayed, I might have broken through.' But I wanted to be married andhave a family. I don't have a trillion dollars, but I'm reallyhappy.' SIDEBAR A new agency in town The New York modelingagency that discovered Elle MacPherson and Whitney Houston hasarrived in Boston.
Last month, Click Model Management Inc. merged with Models Inc. ofNewbury Street, creating an international agency.
The merger comes at a time of strong growth in the Boston areafashion scene. DKNY, Ermenegildo Zegna, MaxMara,Niketown, and Akrishave opened stores here in the past two years, and Nordstrom isscheduled to open in Providence in August.
Joey Grill, president of Click, said Boston was attractive becauseof area retailers such as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Filene's. 'We workwith them now, but we thought we could service them better if we werelocal,' he said.
Click calls itself the third-largest US modeling agency, withoffices in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami,as well as in Paris, and has more than 1,500 models.
Suzy Marden, who cofounded Models Inc. in 1991 with KristieRaymond, said they courted Click. 'It's the wave of the future tobecome part of something bigger than yourself if you want to grow.'Raymond said the merger means Models Inc.'s 250 or so models will nowbe promoted internationally. Raymond and Marden will manage ClickModels of Boston Inc.