How did you first get interested in modeling and acting?

Tiffany:I always loved the idea of being a glamorous model or actress. I auditioned and took part in a few plays at the local theater.

Gina: Tiffany always had this thing for memorization (songs and TV scripts), and she was very comfortable and natural getting her photo taken. She has this beautiful voice and sings ALLLLLL the time! It is a drive she has always had. Something that is just TIFFANY.

Did you originally start with Barbizon of Akron for self-confidence, or modeling and acting, or both?

Tiffany: Mainly for modeling and acting; I listed with Z-Models when I was eleven years old for modeling, but I received no work from them.

Gina: We took her to a place in Cleveland and paid a ridiculous amount of money for photos and then heard nothing. Then we signed Tiffany and her younger sister up at Z-Models, where we were charged monthly for photoshoots, plus we paid a substantial beginner’s fee. Nothing happened with that agency, nor did the girls receive any kind of training/guidance from these agencies.

Tiffany, do you feel Barbizon of Akron helped with your self-confidence?

Tiffany: Very much so, the training gave me confidence to know how to dress myself appropriately and do my hair and make-up correctly. Aside from that, knowing that I didn’t need to be a twig to be in this business was very reassuring.

Did Barbizon of Akron help with the acting and modeling skills?

Tiffany:Because of the classes I know what to do when I’m on an assignment or an audition, I’ve been educated to be professional, confident, outgoing, and prepared.

Gina, from a parent's standpoint do you feel Barbizon of Akron helped Tiffany?

Gina: Yes, Tiffany had a lot of self-esteem, but the training helped make that even stronger.

Many times I hear people say that someone should not have to go to a modeling school to model or act—your thoughts on that?

Tiffany: We were skeptics in the beginning, as many people are. There are a lot of scam artists out there and we had been through that situation before, but the directors at Barbizon of Akron and Pro-Model and Talent Mgmt. explained the industry to us in a way that made a lot of sense: For any career you choose, training is mandatory. No businessman will send out employees who don’t know how to manage the job requirements. Plus, Barbizon of Akron had been around for 60-some years and out of the same location for over twenty years. I knew people who had been through the classes and were pleased with the results of their modeling education, therefore we were very trusting that the classes would be worth it, and rightfully so.

Gina: Tiffany stated everything pretty well. I truly believe that you can’t do any job without training.

Tiffany, what assignments have you done with Pro-Model and Talent?

Tiffany: Oh wow, I’ve worked a lot through Pro-Model and Talent, and all of my assignments have been incredibly diverse. I was an extra in an infomercial, a bride in a print advertisement for Oasis Floral, and just recently, I was chosen for a bridal fashion show which was a lot of fun. Having my hair and make-up professionally done and wearing those elegant and expensive gowns made me feel like a princess. Also, I’ve done a lot of promotional work at local WalMart stores. I talked to shoppers about products like Venus Embrace razors and Axe shower gels. I also spent a couple of days handing out chocolate chip cookies to hungry college students at the University of Akron.

Tiffany, from a teenager’s point-of-view do you feel that attending Barbizon of Akron would be beneficial to other teens?

Tiffany: Oh definitely. In high school you go through a lot of changes personally and sometimes face a lot of ridicule in social situations. I have seen just how much confidence the teenagers who go through the Barbizon of Akron training have, socially, physically, and professionally in the world of modeling.

Gina from a parent’s standpoint is there any advice you can give to another parent considering Barbizon of Akron?

Gina: Barbizon of Akron gives a person confidence. You don’t have to go to Barbizon of Akron just for acting or modeling. If you do it for modeling/acting, it is a tool for training. I divided out the cost per hour and it is no more than what we pay for music lessons, voice lessons, personal trainers, etc. - all the things we were paying for to enhance, improve, and teach our children. Like many things in life, what you put into it is what you will get out of it. We had faith in Barbizon of Akron and it has helped train, teach, and enable Tiffany to grow. I’m glad we didn’t let the BAD agencies make us quit! What we paid for is the Barbizon of Akron training and Tiffany has made the money back many times over. It is all what YOU want to get out of it. I recommend it to many people and have only good things to say about Tiffany going through Barbizon of Akron.

Tiffany and Gina, any last words of advice you can give to a teen considering Barbizon of Akron?

Tiffany: Be open to learning about modeling and acting, whether or not you’ve received training before. The instructors know what they’re talking about and from experience, the more you take in the more prepared you’ll feel when you start working through Pro-Model and Talent. Be positive and always keep your drive to work in this industry. Sometimes it’s frustrating or assignments will come in slowly, but you’ll be rewarded if you stick to your guns, work hard, and keep your faith.

Gina: Everyone at Barbizon of Akron and Pro-Model and Talent has always been so helpful and wonderful to Tiffany. They all make her feel that she is great even if she isn’t a size 4. They are always positive and help promote the very best in her, and offer opportunities for her to learn and grow. The Barbizon of Akron classes are soooooooo educational for the fields of modeling, acting, and life!