Madeleine B.

Measurements

Waist: 24”

Hips: 35”

Bust: 32”

Height: 5’5”

Weight: 105lbs

Hair/Eye Color: black

Tell us about yourself

My name is Madeleine B., and I go by Maddie. I’m 20 years old and originally born in China, but I was adopted and raised in Quakertown, PA. I ALWAYS had a passion for art. I played with makeup as soon as I was allowed, and I played dress-up and wouldn’t let my parents choose my clothes by the age of 3. I was also always singing and dreamed of being a pop star one day.

I basically did as much as I possibly could throughout grade school to see if I could find my niche and what I liked best; I played the flute, did color guard, danced, sang, etc. but I still have trouble deciding what avenue truly suits me best. I was going to Northeastern University in Boston for business because I didn’t think there was any possible way to really get into real modeling or dance, but modeling has opened a lot of doors for me to continue being creative, which I’m very grateful for.

Tell us about your modeling experience. 

At first it was very hard. Being new to the industry, most models aren’t sure how to safely go about everything. I got a lot of scam offers/messages and not only is it hard to decide who to trust, but it’s also hard emotionally, getting your hopes up and then getting let down finding out someone was faking their identity. For a while I was starting to think no “non-scam” company or photographer would want to work with me.

However, things have gotten a lot easier since obviously I have more experience with what scam messages and accounts look like. I also generally built up more experience and a portfolio, so I can be a bit pickier about the jobs I take on.

I will say though, I would not be doing this if I did not truly have a passion and love for it. The reason I continue to model is again, it’s opened up opportunities for me to dance and sing as well, which I never thought would even be a possibility. Not to mention, the community I’ve found through the other models I’ve met! I’ve honestly never met any group of friends more supportive and sweet. I feel that I can go to any one of them if I have a question about an agency, payment, or even Instagram account.

The only ongoing difficulty I’d say is I don’t feel that this type of career is taken very seriously by peers and family, which is understandable but discouraging. It sometimes feels as if some people feel disappointed to see that the high school straight A student doesn’t want to continue academic work for the time being. However, this is what I want for my long-term career, so I feel that I shouldn’t hold back anymore. I’ve proven myself right that I can book paid work and get recognition for my work, so I’m even more confident in myself that I CAN do this, and my time and money are paying off.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is to be a social media influencer because of the freedom they have in their career. I’ve always wanted to pursue multiple creative avenues, and social media is the modern way to do all of them at once. Essentially, social media would give me more freedom in my work schedule as well as the content I make.

What does it mean to be your own kind of beautiful?

It means to not get discouraged by society’s arbitrary beauty standards. Although your body type or face may be “out of trend”, that says nothing about your beauty.

First and foremost, a kind heart and soul is more beautiful than any physical attribute someone can have. Second, what people think is beautiful or healthy or “goals” will constantly change. For example, when Kim Kardashian was first popular, I was glad she had a message of being her own kind of beautiful and shamelessly went against what was popular at the time. However, what I wasn’t so happy to see was how quick everyone is to follow her and try to change themselves to be like her. At the end of the day, we can all celebrate what makes us unique without shaming others or opposing personalities.

How would you describe your fashion style?

My fashion sense is definitely all over! I guess I feel most confident in a grunge/punk style. I feel very cool and edgy. But I also love pastels and ribbons, so it definitely depends on the day and my mood. Any day I don’t go out, I’m probably wearing sweatpants though!

Who or what inspires you?

Other models I’ve met are very inspiring. I’ve met single moms, students on the verge of being homeless, as well as the complete opposite. It’s inspiring alone to see everyone getting along and willing to listen to each other's life experiences and where they came from without judgment. But I also find it incredibly inspiring how single moms and more mature models will be determined to start their modeling careers without having previous experience.

What is your advice to someone who is just getting started with modeling?

Go to open castings and meet people! Networking! Having model friends to ask questions will make life so much easier.

Describe some obstacles you have overcome in your life and how that has changed or shaped you.

I’ve dealt with a lot of mental health issues growing up, as much of my generation has. My issues in particular just made life in general hard. It’s hard to trust people, hard to read, and even hard to think. After developing these issues, I could immediately empathize much easier with other people struggling or “acting up”. I also feel that getting through these challenges helps me to give myself confidence that I can generally get through hard things in life. I would definitely be much less compassionate without having experienced those struggles.

What makes you beautiful/handsome?

I think the most beautiful thing about me is my growth and openness. Although I’m not perfect, I truly always try to do what’s right and constantly wonder about what is morally correct in a given scenario. I feel that I’ve made strides in transitioning from thinking of myself to thinking about everyone.

What would you say to another girl/guy your age who is struggling with their confidence?

All confidence is, is believing in yourself. If you’re looking to get into this industry, just practice! Practice posing, photoshoots, and walking with friends or photographers and coaches you’re already comfortable with. For myself, I gained a lot of my confidence in terms of modeling in just going out for castings and getting more experience! I found that after a few shows and shoots, walking and posing became more natural to me… (and sometimes, your confidence can make or break what your walk and poses look like!) Sometimes you have to think to yourself “I got this and I look great”, and if you believe yourself, that will translate into your modeling.