A Minister Making Sense of Her Modeling Career

The other week I had an audition at Universal Studios. I was the mother of a beautiful little girl.  They asked us to act as if we were in the theme park very excited about the fireworks, roller coasters, etc.  We spoke about the rollers coasters with excitement, actually jumped up and down, and pointed towards the imaginary theme park.  It was fun! 

After the audition I looked at the little girl and smiled.  “You did a great job! Hi five!”  She smiled at me.  After that I started to process the audition. “I didn’t know the name of any of the roller coasters! But, we did our best and we did well.”  The beautiful little girl looked at me with anxious eyes. As we walked alongside her biological mother the baby girl looked at her and asked, “Mama, will we not get the part since we didn’t know the name of the roller coasters?”  I could tell her heart had speed up. Her mother looked at her and said, “Sweetheart, we do this for fun. Just have fun! This is all for fun!”  The beautiful girl looked at her mother with an anxious smile. My heart tensed up as I looked at the baby girl with concern.  I could totally relate.

In order to survive in the entertainment industry, regardless of how old a person is, you have to have some thick skin.  I entered this business and submitted my pictures to agencies because I wanted to try it out.  I wanted to have fun taking pictures and share with others through smiling!  But, I quickly realized that modeling, commercial acting, film acting, commercial print modeling and working with agencies and client’s is a business. Either they like you or they don’t.  Either they like your look or they don’t.  Either your pictures are good enough or they are not.  In order to take this business seriously you have to get training, superb photos, and find your market. Out of the 6 agencies I have signed with, once I submitted my pictures to them they called or emailed me back within 30 minutes of my submission. The other’s never responded.  This is a yes or no business. 

When working with agencies if you are valuable to them, they invest in you. If you are not, your call will not be answered and your email will not be responded to.  Intense hugh?  I guess as I write this, I am working to make sense of it myself.  Working as a model gives me the flexibility to be able to help fund ministry initiatives, such as Testimonies of Hope: The Intercultural Christian Devotional Website at testimoniesofhope.org.  I am grateful for the opportunity to move forward in the entertainment business, however, I have to get thicker skin!

I continuosly have to remind myself that God thinks we are so special he knows every hair on our heads. "But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12: 7)." We are fearfully and wonderfully made. "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14)." We are valuable, loved, gifted, rare jewels.

Regardless of the career we are in we often have to prove ourselves, to show our worth to a client/employer who then confirms and affirms our value.  This is the reality of the world.  However, as children of God we must remember that ultimately our value comes from God who loves us unconditionally. This agape love gives us value regardless of if someone says yes or no to us.  Regardless of if someone says we are pretty or not.  Regardless of if someone says we are smart enough or not.  Because of God’s unconditional love towards us we can stand and be confident in our God given gifts and talents. We can let our light shine. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5: 16)." That is what life is ultimately about.

So when I go for my next audition. Or get my next “first” in commercial print modeling and commercial acting I will walk in without anxiety, but the confidence that comes from knowing that our Heavenly Father has our back and that he will always see us as rubies, gems who he loves and values unconditionally. 

If I ever see the beautiful baby girl auditioning again I will tell her that regardless of what the world says, “You are God’s ruby, you are priceless, gifted, talented, smart, and loved.” 

Peace Ya'll,

Argrow "Kit" Evans

Testimonies of Hope: The Intercultural Christian Devotional Website Launch at testimoniesofhope.org

Spreading Hope and Love this Valentine's Day with the launch of Testimonies of Hope: The Intercultural Christian Devotional Website (Wooo hooo! Thank you God!)

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We pray that you are blessed by our Hope Artist Reflection's and Hope Writer Devotional's! Head on over to testimoniesofhope.org Welcome to the Testimonies of Hope family!

In Hope,

Kit Evans
Founder, Testimonies of Hope: The Intercultural Christian Devotional Website
testimoniesofhope.org
info@testimoniesofhope.org

Reflections: First National Commercial Call Back and Making Sense of Life... "Relax, I Got This!" - Jesus

"Relax, I Got This" -  Jesus

Last week I had my first call back for a national commercial.  There were about 6 other women who had call backs, 6 men, and 6 cutie pututie boys. I knew my lines, my on camera husband was Omarr Dixon (http://www.omarrdixon.com/) and my son was so sharp with the casting director's recommendations.  We had fun! It felt good. However, I did not receive a call back for the job. I'm learning that in this business it's not necessarily about how well you  perform, but it's also about what the casting director is looking for. For whatever reason I did not get this particular job, but this just means that there will be another opportunity for me. 

Over the last 8 months I have been working to figure out next steps post graduation.  I graduated from seminary in May 2012.  When I first graduated I asked myself:  What in the world am I supposed to be doing?  I applied for non-profit and faith based jobs.  Networked my butt off!  Started dream chasing in the area of modeling! Started a speaker's academy program to move forward with my speaking business.  I moved across the country to be closer to my family.  Worked to foster new and healthy long term relationships.  Over the months I have worked to listen to my heart and to also see what actually is sticking.  I figured if I put the time into something that I enjoy and it actually sticks or something good comes out of it...keep walking through the door.  

When I first started with the modeling agency I thought that this was a great opportunity to try this with an agency at least once.  I told myself "at least I can say I tried."  I did my first modeling gig with Disney and it was a lot of fun. I didn't think I would get other calls. As opportunities present themselves I am realizing that modeling, acting, hosting is a business.  It is a lot of fun, but there can also be a lot of pressure to get the job, get the call back, and make the money. I actually got upset when I saw how much money someone makes for doing a national commercial.  As a former public school teacher I was actually offended because there was absolutely no comparison.  

As I move forward I am realizing that God has a plan for everything and everyone. I am seminary trained, called to ministry, and God has me in this field doing this type of work.  Really? Romans 8: 28 notes, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."    Romans 12: 6 reads:  "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly."  The text goes on to speak about different spiritual gifts. 

All things work together for good and we all have some type of gift that God has blessed us with.  Even if it seems random it is still a gift and can be used to build the kin-dom of God.  I have a t-shirt that says "Relax, I Got This" -Jesus.  We have to put in the hard work here on earth because "faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (James 2: 17) I also truly believe that God is often behind the scenes making things happen; sometimes when we least expect it.  God has our back!

On February 14, my friend Jacalyn Barnes and I am starting Testimonies of Hope: The Intercultural Christian Devotional Website at testimoniesofhope.org  Check it out!  If God gives you a voice and a gift, use it to build up the kin-dom!  I encourage you to move forward in those gifts while also letting folk know where your gifts come from, God.   

"Relax, I Got This" - Jesus. 

Blessings Ya'll,


Kit