Publisher's Synopsis
My life's work is Living the Dream and sharing its secrets. Suzanne Von Schaack shares her knowledge and insights of modeling and the fashion industry. She is often asked how to break into modeling, and in this book, Suzanne answers frequently asked questions and presents her formula for modeling success. She is passionate about the modeling and entertainment industries and generously shares her knowledge through teaching, mentoring and now offering this book as a guide to your success. With over 40 years of experience in the modeling industry, it is with sheer joy and excitement that I present my book, Modeling Success. I have had an exciting and lucrative career as a model during the 70s, 80s and 90s in NYC, Los Angeles, Paris and Milan. I am in gratitude to all of the agents who have represented me over the years and to the many clients who have booked me. I dedicate this book to all of you who share the same dream that I had as a young girl... to become a model. This book is packed with information to inform you and to guide you along your journey to make your Dreams Come True. So many of us grow up having dreams that seem beyond our reach. I am one of those people. I lived in a small farm town in the Midwest. I loved this quaint, simple town Darlington, Wisconsin, where I grew up. I'm not sure if those who grew up in that town of 2,000 people had the same lofty ideas and dreams that I had, but I knew I wanted to one day move away to see the world and discover new things. I was very tall as a young girl. I was teased and called "Giraffe" because I was so much taller than everyone in my class. Other people would tell me that I should be a model. One day I stumbled upon an advertisement in the newspaper regarding model training in Madison, Wisconsin. It was there that my dream began taking its first flight. I eventually made it to NYC to be in a modeling competition. After that competition, I stayed in NYC. It was then that the hard work began. It wasn't easy for me in the beginning. It took time for me to get my career off the ground. But I did it! I worked with some of the best photographers and designers in the business. In NYC, I was represented by Wilhelmina Agency and later the Ford Agency. For runway, I was represented by Mannequin Agency and Foster Fell Agency. I also had agents in Milan (Ricardo Guy Agency) and in Paris (Glamour Agency).After living and working in NYC for 14 years, I moved to California. I continued my modeling career in Los Angeles, where I pursued acting as well. I have booked several roles as an actor, but I am most known for my modeling career. I am also known for producing charity fashion shows. When I look back at my career as a model, I can't help but think that had I met the right mentor to guide me in my journey, I could have moved my career along much more quickly. When I meet young people who have the dream and the potential to be a model, I offer them the mentorship I wish I would have had in my own career. I coach them in private or online classes and introduce them to agents to help them obtain representation. However, I found myself asking, "What about those young people who live in rural areas like I did, who don't have any idea where to begin or how to make their dreams come true?" As a result, I decided to write this book, hoping that it would reach everyone everywhere. I have put all of my knowledge and expertise into this book for all of you who share the dream to become a model. This book is for those who live near or far. It's for those that live in a big city or perhaps in a small, quaint, simple farm town in the Midwest, like where I grew up and dared to dream.
