CONFESSIONS MODEL SPOTLIGHT: Payton Heron

I am so pleased and honored to present our next Confessions Model Spotlight: Payton Heron.
I regard her as one of Second Life’s fashion legends who have helped made what fashion modeling is today and paved the way for upcoming models. While many models have all come and gone, Miss Heron’s career have withstand the test of time as one of the top, hardworking, and most recognizable supermodels in Second Life’s fashion industry. She is represented by SL’s Top Fashion Agencies and garnered many high acclaimed awards including Runway Model of the Year 2008.

Here is Payton Heron’s Spotlight Interview:

Q: Please tell us about yourself how you ventured into the modelling industry.

PH: I came into SL in May of 2007 and in July 2007, I met Isabella Sampaio of Style Guru who changed my life.  She helped me with my avatar transformation from California beach girl to beautiful blond avatar. She helped me find stylish clothing and get rid of my noob freebies. My intent was to become a model in SL and fulfill a lifetime RL dream.  I entered the Miss SL Tropics competition in August 2007 and became a finalist…and thus my start into SL fashion modeling.

I am known for my attention to styling, strong commitment to be a good model, mentor to new models and always doing  the best job I can when I am cast for a show, magazine editorial or video. In my 2 ½ years modeling,  I have accomplished a lot in SL modeling and the fashion industry.

Q: Please tell us about some of your accomplishments within the modelling industry and describe what would be one of the most defining moments of your modelling career.
PH:
Accomplishments –
MODELING COMPETITIONS:
TOP 10 Finalist in MIss SL Tropics, August 2007
First Runner-Up, Miss Diva Style, September 2007
Winner Miss Photogenic, Miss Diva Style, September 2007
TOP 10 Finalist, 2nd JCNY Collection Model Search, October 2007
2nd Place, 3rd JCNY Collection Model Search, November 2007
TOP 10 Finalist, Miss SL Universe, January 2008  (name changed to Miss Virtual World)
Top Model Winner, KaDeWe Week 7, February 2008
2nd Place KaDeWe Top Model Competition, March 2008
TOP 10 Finalist, WOMAN 2008, March 2008
Runway Magazine Model of the Month, April 2008
Winner, EFA Runway Diva, July 2008
TOP 20 Finalist, Impressionne Natural Beauty, August 2008
TOP 5 Finalist, The Face of PhotoLife, October 2008
***WINNER, RUNWAY Model of the Year 2008, December 2008***
Winner, 2009 Fashion Expo Top Model, June 2009

Fashion Shows – 135 + 27 weekly shows on Treet TV (MODA Spotlight)

Magazine Covers –  4

Magazine Editorials & Advertising – 65

Videos –  13

TV –  7

Movie – 1

The most defining moment for me was when I received the honor of RUNWAY Model of the Year.  Having been in many competitions and come in 2nd or 3rd, I was always admiring my peers wins.  Then I finally won an award that recognized all the hard work I had put into modeling in SL.  And of more value was that this award came from photographers, stylists and designers votes NOT any popularity contest or media decision.

Q: You have certainly established yourself well within the modelling industry. Please tell us what you believe are the essential elements to being a successful model.  Do you have any advice for aspiring models?

PH: To be truly successful in SL modeling, there are many technical skills you must master but more importantly, you have to have passion and dedication.  This choice to model in SL, must be important enough that you will make real commitments to the craft. Lots and lots of practice are important but also being flexible to change, always being on time and prepared and the desire to be the BEST you can be.

MY advice to aspiring models is always the same:
1-    Get the best training you can afford and then continue to take classes that offer advanced training
2-    Do the best you can ALWAYS
3-    Have passion for what you are doing
4-    Be valuable to your agency and desiners
5-    Never complain and Have fun

Q: What do you like and dislike about modelling?

PH: Like:  I love modeling.  I have met some of the most amazing people from around the world and fulfilled a life long desire to model.  I have also been able to use my RL marketing skills to benefit designers and the fashion industry in SL.  I just love to model!!!!.

Dislike:  I hate whiny models who think they are entitled to special treatment for who they are.  They are not willing to put the work in the achieve top model status.  It takes a lot of time and work to make it to the top.  I also hate, hate, hate lag but that is a LL problem and nothing I can do to stop it.  I just learn to live with it and do the best I can.

Q: Please tell us what motivates you to be a model. Who inspires you the most and what is your inspiration?

PH: I am motivated by my own desire and passion. There is no one person who had helped me become who I am .  It is just what I wanted to do and have realized almost all the goals I set forth for myself as a model in SL. My inspiration is simply do the very best I can at all times and to represent the designers and their designs in great fashion.

Q: What are your plans and goals for the future in modeling?

PH: I plan to continue doing runway, print and video for as long as I am cast to model.  I do however hope to realize my one final goal and that is to be a designer’s model and represent  their brand.  Hopefully a designer will see me and chose me to be their Brand Ambassador.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

PH: I feel that modeling in SL has grown since I began in the fall of 2007, some good and some bad.  I would hope that designers, agencies and business owners all realize that modeling is a large and important part of the commerce of SL and thus , models,  need to be appreciated and compensated for the time we devote to making SL fashion such a wonderful and important part of the SL experience.

Miss Heron’s Flickr Page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paytonheron/