“Even healthy model measurements did not shield me from industry pressure.”
Alice Laura is the founder of Alice Laura Models, an international staffing and modelling agency based in Dallas. From modelling pressure to building her own agency, this conversation reveals the unseen reality of the industry. A journey through image, identity, and redefining success beyond beauty.
You’ve worked in spaces where appearance matters a lot. Have you ever felt pressure to fit into an image that didn’t feel like you?
Yes, I have. During my time modeling, I was pressured for certain jobs to lose weight, even though I already had healthy model measurements. That was something I never liked about parts of the industry, because I don’t believe people should be pushed toward unhealthy body standards just to fit an image.
That experience definitely influenced the way I built Alice Laura Models. I want the models we work with to look healthy, confident, and like themselves. I would never ask one of our models to lose weight for a job, because I think professionalism, personality, presence, and overall well-being matter far more in the long run.
Many people see modeling as glamorous from the outside. What parts of the industry do you think people still misunderstand?
People often see the glamorous side of the industry, but they don’t always see the amount of work, pressure, and stress that happens behind the scenes. There are definitely beautiful and exciting moments, but modeling is still a job that requires professionalism, discipline, and a strong work ethic.
I think many people underestimate how important reliability and attitude are in this industry. In the long run, it’s usually not just about looks. The people who succeed are the ones who stay professional, work hard, treat others well, and remain humble no matter how successful they become.
Alice Laura Models focuses on education and professionalism alongside beauty. What made you build the agency in that direction instead of following traditional industry standards?
I felt that models are often reduced to just their appearance, even though many of them are incredibly intelligent, educated, and accomplished people. I experienced that myself while working as a model. There were situations where people automatically assumed I was “just a pretty face,” even though I was often more educated, more traveled, and spoke more languages than many of the people I was working with.
That experience really shaped the vision behind Alice Laura Models. I wanted to build an agency that values people as a whole, not just for how they look. Our agency is also a fusion agency, so besides traditional modeling, we work with corporate events, conventions, luxury events, and brand activations. In those environments, looks alone are not enough. You need people who are professional, socially intelligent, polished, adaptable, multilingual, and genuinely good with people.
I saw that there was a gap in the market for an agency that valued personality, character, professionalism, and intelligence just as much as beauty, and that became the foundation of the company.
Was there a moment in your career that changed the way you see the modeling industry today?
Yes. One thing that shaped my perspective is that modeling was never my main career focus. I worked in the industry while studying, but my original path was actually diplomacy. I completed my master’s degree in political economy, lived and studied abroad, and learned six languages. Because of that, I always viewed the modeling industry a little differently and from more of an outside perspective.
I never saw modeling as something I personally wanted to do long-term, but during those years I observed a lot of toxicity within parts of the industry. There can be a strong focus on image, competition, and superficiality, while not enough attention is given to people’s well-being, intelligence, or character.
That realization definitely influenced the way I built my agency. I knew that if I ever founded a company, I wanted it to be more holistic and value-driven. I am also very selective with the clients and projects we take on, because I try to build a business that aligns with my values rather than simply following every mainstream industry standard.
You speak several languages and have worked internationally. How has communication shaped the way you manage people and build relationships in business?
Speaking several languages and living in different countries has taught me that communication is about much more than just words. Even when people speak the same language, there can still be cultural misunderstandings because every society has different ways of communicating, different expectations, and different sensitivities. Something that seems completely normal in one culture can be interpreted very differently in another.
That experience has made me much more aware and adaptable when working with people internationally. I try to approach communication with empathy and understanding instead of making assumptions.
Building my agency in a foreign country has definitely also been a challenge at times. Learning the business culture, understanding the social dynamics, and navigating all the small unspoken rules took time. But in the long run, those experiences helped me become better at managing people, building relationships, and connecting with clients and talent from very different backgrounds.
What is something the modeling world celebrates too much, and something it doesn’t celebrate enough?
I think the modeling world sometimes celebrates artificial perfection too much. Personally, I really believe in natural beauty and in taking care of yourself in a healthy and holistic way. I am not someone who judges people for Botox, fillers, or plastic surgery, because everyone should make their own choices, but for me, nature, health, and authenticity are still the most beautiful things.
I also think the industry could do more to celebrate substance, values, and positive impact. Fashion and modeling have enormous influence on culture and consumer behavior, and I would love to see that power used more to support ethical brands, ethical fashion, sustainability, and companies that genuinely contribute something positive to humanity.
Your agency works with conventions, trade shows, and corporate events, which is very different from traditional runway modeling. What skills do you think are most important in those spaces?
Our agency works a lot in corporate environments, conventions, luxury events, and trade shows, so the skill set is very different from traditional runway modeling. Of course appearance and presentation still matter, but interpersonal skills are honestly much more important in those spaces.
The people who do well are usually excellent communicators, outgoing, polished, proactive, and genuinely good with people. Hospitality skills, sales ability, lead generation, and emotional intelligence are extremely valuable because our talent often represents a brand directly in front of clients and customers.
I also think professionalism is everything. Being on time, well prepared, properly dressed, researching the company beforehand, understanding the brand story and products, and not waiting to constantly be told what to do all make a huge difference. The best talent are the ones who bring positive energy, confidence, and initiative to an event.
Have you ever turned down an opportunity because it didn’t match your values, even if it looked good for business?
Yes, I have. There were opportunities that may have looked good from a business perspective, but the companies or products simply did not align with my personal values. I think when you work in branding and representation, you also carry a certain responsibility because you are helping promote and influence what people consume.
For me, long-term integrity is more important than accepting every opportunity. I would rather build a business that feels authentic and aligned with my principles than promote something I genuinely do not feel comfortable supporting.
What kind of person usually succeeds long-term in this industry, even if they are not the loudest person in the room?
I think the people who succeed long-term in this industry are often not the loudest people in the room, but the most reliable and professional ones. The models and talent who truly stand out are usually the ones who are proactive, prepared, and genuinely care about doing a great job.
That means showing up on time, researching the client and understanding the brand story, being polished and respectful, staying humble, and consistently going above and beyond expectations. In my experience, long-term success rarely comes from looks alone. It comes from attitude, work ethic, emotional intelligence, and how you make people feel when they work with you.
If someone wrote a completely honest book about the modeling industry, what chapter do you think would surprise people the most?
I think the chapter that would surprise people the most is how much hard work, uncertainty, and emotional pressure exists behind the glamorous image people see online. From the outside, modeling often looks effortless and luxurious, but behind the scenes there is a lot of competition, rejection, travel stress, long hours, and pressure to constantly maintain a certain image.
I also think people would be surprised by how psychologically complex the industry can be. Many models are extremely intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious, but they are often reduced to their appearance alone. There can also be a lack of stability because your career is constantly dependent on trends, clients, and public perception.
At the same time, I don’t think the industry is entirely negative. It can open incredible doors, allow people to travel the world, meet inspiring individuals, and build confidence. But I think the most honest version of the story would show both sides equally, not just the glamorous one.
After all your experiences across countries, cultures, and industries, what truth about people have you learned again and again?
After living in different countries and working with people from many cultures and backgrounds, I realized that at our core, human beings are actually much more similar than different. No matter where people come from, most of us want the same basic things: to feel safe, respected, loved, understood, and connected to others.
I also learned that you cannot judge people based on nationality, culture, status, or appearance. There are kind and genuine people everywhere in the world, and there are also difficult people everywhere. What matters most is the energy and character of the individuals you choose to surround yourself with.
Traveling and working internationally also taught me to stay open-minded and humble. The more cultures you experience, the more you realize that no single country or society has everything figured out. Every place and every person has something you can learn from.
What is one thing people often misunderstand about you?
I think some people may initially assume that because I own a modeling agency, I must be very superficial or only focused on beauty, fashion, and appearances. But if someone takes the time to really get to know me or understand the vision behind the agency, they usually realize I am actually very different from that.
I have a wide variety of interests beyond the fashion world, and I would describe myself more as an old soul than someone focused only on image or trends. I care a lot about culture, psychology, ethics, communication, travel, and understanding people on a deeper level.
Beauty can open doors in this industry, but I have always believed that character, intelligence, energy, and the way a person treats others are ultimately far more important and lasting.
Editor’s Note
This conversation opens a real look into the modelling world, beyond what people usually see on screens and campaigns. It follows a journey shaped by early pressure, international exposure, and the choice to build something more honest and values-driven.
Through her experience in modelling and later building Alice Laura Models, she reflects on how appearance often takes priority over everything else, even when people have so much more to offer. Over time, this led her to focus on a different direction one where professionalism, confidence, and character matter just as much as looks.
A strong thread through the interview is the idea that success in any industry is not only about image, but about behaviour, attitude, and how people treat others in everyday work life. As she shares, “The people who succeed are the ones who stay professional, work hard, treat others well, and remain humble no matter how successful they become.” She also reflects, “Character, intelligence, energy, and the way a person treats others are ultimately far more important and lasting.”
In the end, this story is not only about modelling. It is about pressure, growth, and the quiet decision to build something more meaningful than appearance alone.
