Hello Global Grind,
This is model and Brooklynite Damaris Lewis. Recently, NY Fashion Week kicked off and with that comes the frenzy of long days for many models. Fashion Week is one of the most hectic times for a model, with some going on more than 10 castings per day, combined with fittings, shows and even editorial shoots. Besides all of that, you still have to do your day-to-day routines, such as going to the gym, keeping business meetings and dealing with things in your personal life. While there are many upsides to being a model, it is not always the glamorous job that it appears to be. It takes a lot of hard work to be a model.
This year, NY Fashion Week coincided with the launch of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, leaving little time for me to participate in many of the week’s events and shows. Although, I didn’t do the shows this season, I have done them many seasons before. The SI launch kept me very busy with three days of events between New York and Las Vegas. It is a huge press tour for SI in which all of the models from the issue do television and radio interviews, meet and greets with sponsors and fans, and host red-carpet events and parties. It is a very fun time. I am one of the models fortunate enough to appear for a second year in the swimsuit issue and I consider the SI team to be part of my ‘modeling family’.
Upon arriving back to New York from Las Vegas, I attended the Arise Fashion Show at Bryant Park. Arise is a organization that gives African fashion designers a platform to showcase their work to the international fashion community. This show features more models of color than any other show during NY Fashion Week. It was quite special to see the wide-range of beautiful models who walked in this show and will be something that I will always remember. Also, it was the first show that I attended as a guest, rather than a model.
Currently, I am in Paris to participate in their fashion week which will take place in early March. I love doing shows and walking the runways. I would love to see a return of the 90’s supermodels’ walk, as I feel the shows can be a bit sterile nowadays. Models used to strut down the runway with power and confidence. They displayed bodies that were strong and athletic, similar to my own, and were well-respected. They were celebrities themselves and commanded the best, which we should all do in life. My biggest goal as a model would be to bring back the spirit of that time and show that models are more than beautiful faces, but we are also intelligent, loving and passionate women as well.
Being raised in Brooklyn, I did not grow up living this lifestyle, but I am determined to give it my all. It is an opportunity like no other and I plan to make the most of it. Wish me luck Global Grind and I will give it my all to make you proud.
All the Best and Au Revoir,
Damaris Lewis
Follow Damaris on Twitter @MissDLewis
