Hometown Rankin - February & March 2016

Storming
the Runway
Susan Marquez
Too tall…Too skinny...Too beautiful? Avery Eaton never felt like she
fit in with her classmates when she was a child. “By the time she was in
the sixth grade, she was the tallest student in her class, even taller than
the teachers,” said Avery’s mother, Shelley Eaton. “She was a good
student, and very athletic but from the sixth grade on, it was difficult
for Avery. She was teased by other students and it hurt her deeply.”
While she was anything but an ugly duckling, Avery certainly grew
into a beautiful swan, gracing the runways of New York for Fashion
Week and more. Her height, physique and beauty caught the attention
of the right people in the right places at the right time, and now the
17-year-old is destined for a successful career as a major fashion model.
“People always told Avery that with her height, she should be a
model,” Shelley said. “She’s always loved fashion and had a strong
fashion sense from the time she was a toddler. She loves hair, makeup
and style.”
When she was 16, Avery got a job at W by Azwell, a women’s
clothing store in Dogwood shopping center. While there, she did all
the modeling for their Facebook and Instagram pages. “I liked it, and
thought I might want to pursue more modeling,” said Avery. “I couldn’t
find a modeling agency in Mississippi–there really wasn’t much
modeling in the state.” Instead, she went the fitness route, training for
her first fitness competition. She won the competition, and says that,
until this day, she is still obsessed with it.
“I was scouted by Jamie Ainsworth with JEA Models in Jackson,
and I went to a showcase in Oxford with agents from all over the world.
I signed with Funny Faces, a commercial agency, and was asked to come
to New York for a couple of months.” At age 17, Avery packed her bags
and moved into an apartment in New York with a couple of other girls
from the JEA agency.
Upon her arrival in New York, Avery went about setting up
appointments with modeling agencies. “I had to learn my way around,
learn how to use the subway, how to hail a cab,” she recalled. “I had never
been to a big city like New York, and it was pretty overwhelming.” But
the tenacious teen’s desire to succeed as a model superseded any fears
she may have had. She landed a contract with MSA Models. They flew
her to some auditions in Los Angeles and back to New York where she
began trying out for Fall Fashion Week. Almost immediately she
booked three shows.
At the Carmen Steffens show at Grand Central Station, Avery
shared the catwalk with two Victoria’s Secret models. “Those are the
models I look up to,” said Avery, who knew them all by name. “I walked
with Adriana Lima from Brazil and Toni Garrn from Germany.” Avery
walked in the number three spot behind the two super models.
Avery didn’t really know what to expect as she dipped her toes into
the world of high fashion modeling. “It’s a lot harder than I imagined!
I didn’t know it would be so competitive. There are girls who come
from all over the world to audition. It’s not as glamorous as it looks,
either. There were days when I had to cram five or more auditions into
one day. I was bouncing from Brooklyn to Manhattan and all over for
specific time slots. I had to arrive with my A-game, looking presentable.”
There have also been unexpected highlights to the business for
Avery as well. “My favorite thing is working with an amazing group
of creative people. From makeup to hair to the lighting and
photography, it is a collaborative effort to create a work of art.
I love being a part of it!”
While Avery wants to model as long as she is able, she does want to
go to college some day. “I’m not sure what I’ll study, but I think it will
be something to do with the fitness industry.” n