40 November 2022
poses and looking at the camera. I also teach
them the 'model walk.'"
Guest professionals, including a motivational
speaker, give workshop participants makeovers.
At the end of each session, parents are invited to
come see what their children have learned.
"e girls perform a mini-show for their
parents," says Bradley.
e trips to New York Fashion Week gave the
novice models a chance to see what modeling
high-end fashion is like.
"We had a lot of fun, too," Taelynn says, noting
that the models visited a Nickelodeon park at
the end of their week in New York along with
participating in a video shoot and taking photos
in the city to use in their portfolios.
Taelynn, who has modeled for well-known and
local boutique brands, started designing her own
clothes this year.
Bradley says she drew her designs in crayon.
"When Taelynn is designing, she draws on
Barbie-like pictures but will extend the heels into
boots and so forth. en we will go thri-store
shopping to find baselines for her designs. She'll
cut something apart, then add flowers or jewels.
Ballard and her mother, Sina Bradley, go thrift-store shopping to find baselines
for Taelyn's designs. She'll cut something apart, then add flowers or jewels.
Taelynn says her designs pop into her head and she puts them on paper as
quickly as she can.
