How did you get into modeling?
I’m from the Dominican Republic. When I was a teenager, a lot of people would tell me that I should do modeling because I was very skinny and tall. I was not really interested because I was really shy. But my mom was excited about it. She was the one who inspired me.
I was taking an English class with my sister and a lady that was there who had a modeling agency gave me her card. I took the card and gave it to my mom, and my mom took me there. It was a modeling agency and a modeling school. I went to the school because it was interesting. It wasn’t just a modeling school for professionals but also for a hobby. My idea of modeling at the time was a contest like Miss Universe but I didn’t want to do that. But this woman’s school had other classes like etiquette and runway classes. So I took classes for about a year and in the end, they had a ceremony and they even gave me an award. And then I joined the agency. I was about 15 years old.
The owner of the modeling agency took pictures of who she thought could model professionally. Then she took a trip to New York to show the pictures and one of the agencies was interested. They requested to see the models in-person and I was selected to come to New York. It was about 5 of us. I got a Work Visa and came after I finished high school at age 17. That’s how I started modeling professionally in New York, and it’s been almost 12 years.
What countries have you modeled in?
The U.S.–New York and L.A. I’ve been to Mexico and Colombia for specific jobs. Mumbai, India for 3 months, London and Paris.
Are there any brands that you’ve worked for that we would recognize?
More recently that you can still see in stores is L’Oreal Color Match, and other brands like MAC cosmetics, Fenty, Target, Kate Spade, Macy’s–brands like that.
What is something you enjoy about modeling?
I love that it’s not a regular job. You don’t know what to expect when you’re coming to set. Sets are different. Sometimes you’re shooting outside. It’s the creativity of it, specifically how all the creatives come together–it’s a team. You have the photographers, make up artists, the hair stylists and the models. Everyone comes together to do their part as a team to create something beautiful. It allows me to meet different people and go to different places. And I love the traveling. I get to travel to different parts of the world I would have never thought I’d go to.
How did you become a woman who follows Jesus / the Bible?
Christianity has always been a part of my life because my parents always took me to church when I was growing up. So when I came to New York to model, I tried to keep that in my life somehow. So I looked for churches but I was honestly not committed. It was a superficial relationship with God. That’s how I wanted it at the time because other things were my god. I was so focused on my career, myself, and getting the approval of other people to like me. But a few years after that from the ups and downs of trying to succeed in my career, I was just not happy.
I didn’t know what my purpose in life was. I thought life could not be just this. This doesn’t make sense. So I prayed more to God, asking him to show me my purpose because I wanted direction for my life. I didn’t know what to do after modeling. I was just waiting for my Visa to renew and it was just a very stressful time. I was like, “God help me!” While I was waiting for the Visa, I got to go to London with another agency. On that trip I met a woman named Maria Hart and that’s how I came to the church that I go to now. I studied the Bible with them and I realized that all that I knew about Christianity before–I wasn’t even doing! I didn’t know anything basically–even the basics. It’s like why was I even calling myself a Christian all this time? I wasn’t doing things according to the Bible so I started to make changes because I wanted to put God first in my life.
When I started to apply the Bible, I started to see the difference. And I decided to be fully committed because that’s the only way to do Christianity. So with that, I had to let go of what doesn’t please God. I got baptized September 1, 2019 in New York and my life was very different after that. It was not like before. Just a pretending Christian but now it’s real because the Bible came to life in my life. And so now I walk with God everyday.
What is one of the most challenging things you’ve had to face as a model as someone who strives to follow the Bible?
One of the challenges is the rejection of it. With modeling, you get a lot of “nos”. Because you go to castings a lot everyday, but you only get a few jobs. And a lot of times, you can put your identity in that and it messes with your self-worth. So knowing that my identity is in Christ and is not in my career and not dependent on what people say about me. That was a big deal for me. It was something that I had to learn.
Also, the challenge of standing up for your convictions because it’s a very dark industry. They want you to do things like the world–sexual (sensual) and immodest clothes. So saying “no” to those things. I tell my agency that I don’t do these kinds of jobs and to not even send me to those castings. It can happen with castings and confirmed jobs though. I spoke with my agency about it so the client knows, but sometimes there’s a miscommunication. So if I’m at a photoshoot and for example they give me a bikini–I don’t do bikinis or lingerie–most of the time they don’t have a problem with that. In the beginning I was nervous because I would think ‘they’re not going to like me, they’re not going to give me any jobs’. But I had to trust God and it worked!
Nowadays brands are more respectful of what the model says. But before, the model was expected to just do whatever they were told to do. You didn’t have a voice. Today, they’re letting the model speak up. However, there was a time when a manager was upset that I told a potential client my requirements in a casting, because it was a good client and they were interested. But they actually still booked me and accepted my conditions and just put me in other clothes that I was willing to wear. They actually became one of my repeat clients.
How would you advise someone to best handle this challenge by your (biblical) best practice?
Having a conviction from the Bible. At the end of the day, you’re doing this because of God and not anybody else. “I love God and know God loves me, and he knows the best way for my life, not me.” It’s a surrendering. Stand to it and don’t back off. It’s not worth it. Put God first in everything. Get a lot of advice as well, especially new Christians who don’t really know what to do in certain situations. Ask a lot of advice from people that are more mature that can help with the best decision to make, using Scriptures.
What’s a scripture that would be a great go-to when faced with this challenge?
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Remember that you are the light of the world and whatever career God allows you to be in, it is for his glory. It is to glorify his name, so you need to be the light in that place. People need to notice you. And sometimes the way that people notice you is when you’re doing something completely opposite from what everyone else is doing, that is according to God’s Word.
And for modeling, this is what I hold onto a lot:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
Your value is just because God made you wonderfully and beautiful no matter what other people say. And to not have your identity in that, but have your identity in Christ.
How do you keep yourself from being swayed and negatively influenced by the superficiality of the industry–a focus on materialism and outward appearances?
Being very deep in the Word and the kingdom of God. If you spend a lot of time at your job with people that are superficial or vain–that was us too before–now being a Christian, spend a lot of time with God and God’s kingdom. Definitely having your quiet times as a priority, especially in the beginning of the work day. Getting prepared with Scripture and prayer and spending a lot of free time with God’s people. Being surrounded by spirituality and spiritual people. I think that helps a lot.
What’s something that you’ve tried to do to be a light to others around you in an industry that can be dark behind the scenes?
An important part is being professional at your job. Honestly, I didn’t realize how much this counts. For example, a lot of modeling jobs are sometimes ecommerce focused. They have a lot of clothes, and you could be in the studio wearing about 80 outfits. It’s a lot of work. You’re changing, changing and then changing again. A lot of models can be lazy, be on their phone, complaining a lot. So just having professionalism at your job. Having a good attitude, doing it good, fast and with energy.
One time when it was a long day, the team said I was always smiling and had good energy and was on top of it. And I was thinking, wow I was just doing my job. Just think about all that you do is for the Lord. That counts a lot at work.
And talking about God as many opportunities as you can–making your conversations be ‘seasoned with salt’. [Colossians 4:6] For example, I spend the beginning of my workday at a photoshoot in hair and makeup sitting in a chair with the hair stylist and the makeup artist. That’s the perfect opportunity to talk–and talk about my life. And of course, when I talk about my life, I talk about God. So those are ways I try to be a light. Professionalism, positivity, and sharing my faith.
How has God changed your life?
Not having my career as my focus. That was a big shift. All my time and energy was spent to succeed. And it came with a lot of envy and jealousy. That wasn’t good. Becoming a Christian, I started to have a peace with God because he was the center–more important than anything else. Living everyday for God.
And I realized that the thing I became the most passionate about was studying the Bible with people, seeing them change their lives for God. I studied ministry after a year or two of being a disciple. I wasn’t thinking about doing it full-time. I was just studying to deepen my understanding and knowledge about the Bible and to teach other people. Then the calling for full-time ministry came to me and I had to think about it and decide while I was studying ministry.
A part of me was scared. I was thinking, ‘am I really being called to do this’? My Woman’s Ministry Leader, Brandyn, was the first person that made me feel like I could do it. I said ‘you really think I can do this’, and she said ‘yes I can see that’. A little after doing ministry work I had decided, I just had to surrender to it. I knew that this is what God was telling me to do.
I still do modeling. The good thing about modeling is that it gives me flexibility of time because you don’t have jobs everyday, so there’s a lot of free time. In my free time, I helped with the church and filled the needs. It was more training. What I learned is the practicals of taking care of people and leading people to Jesus. Then I, as well as my now husband, began to lead the Campus Ministry. Things evolved from Campus Ministry to a region of the church–Manhattan. I’m learning everyday and I love it!
How do you prepare for your work day i.e. your morning routine?
I wake up around 6:30PM. I pray, read my Bible, and journal. And then I make breakfast.
What are you reading in your quiet times lately and what are you learning?
I’m working on reading through the Bible right now. I just finished 2 Thessalonians. I usually read one book of the Old Testament and one book of the New Testament.
I’m learning that the works that we do for God should be prompted by faith. It’s not a performance to earn God’s approval. Because of your faith and love, you’ll work for God and do the good deeds that he plans us to do. It needs to be based on love, faith, and a pure heart or it can become a performance which is religiosity and that’s not what God wants.
Also learning to not be afraid to really teach people. There are scriptures about: teach, correct, rebuke, train and to build others up. But I can be passive and don’t want to say the hard stuff, so that’s what I’m learning.
After I read, I journal in my journaling Bible. There’s a prompt about the scripture and I journal about that.
What advice would you give a Christian woman who would like to pursue modeling as a career, or any career that celebrates appearance and performance?
Be strong in your faith. If you want to do modeling, you really need to be secure in God. You are the one to influence people and not the other way around. Surround yourself with the people of God’s kingdom. Remember that God gave you that [talent] to glorify his name and not for yourself. Our hope is different from the world. We have another home and that’s heaven and that’s forever.
If you live in the New York area and would like to do a Bible study with Esmerdis or with her ministry, email info@riseandshinebright.com or contact Esmerdis directly by direct message on Instagram at @galaxialorenzo (Model name: Galaxia Lorenzo).