It was about 7 years ago, maybe more, when I was up at Mt Hood Oregon hosting a show “The Abominable Snow Jam” for Fusion TV on Fox Sports Net. I was loving life, surrounded by my fellow athletes, but do to my serious snowboarding accident, I knew my career as a pro snowboarder had come to an end. Of course I was, and I still am, sad that that was my truth… but I had my shows and found my new found passion of sports commentating and being a TV Host. (Always a blessing in every mess we get into, big or small, we just have to see it and embrace it)
Anyway, as lunch time came about that day, we went into the gorgeously unique and beautiful Mt Hood Lodge, (it’s famous for where they filmed the movie the Shinning with Jack Nicholson) and there before my eyes was a real deal Victoria Secret photo shoot happening!! They were shooting their Christmas catalog. I was completely blown away and in total aww. I wanted to be part of that shoot! What a dream… to be a professional model! The creativity, the beauty, the inspiration, and everything about it made me dream about a life of modeling some day. I turned right to my show director and I said “I am too short for Victoria’s Secret… I think I want to pursue fitness modeling” He smiled, chuckled and said, “Lauren, if anyone can find a way, you can.” My mind raced!! I got home and got right into the gym and committed to a workout almost every single day of the week, of some sorts. I saw those gals in that lodge and I wanted to give my self the best body I had ever had, this was my gift to my self and this was my goal. I was inspired!
In 2008, I got a phone call from my agent, asking if I was fit enough to do a feature in Muscle and Fitness Magazine, as they wanted to do a story on me. I WAS SHOCKED, SCARED, EXCITED, BUT MOST OF ALL… I WAS READY! I flew to LA from Tahoe (the plane I was to be on canceled the flight and I booked another one out of my own pocket on a different airline!) Nothing was going to stop me, this was a dream come true! My manager picked me up from the airport, we hit Starbucks and we sped down the freeways of LA to my my first official shoot. I brought what I thought would be appropriate to wear, though they had their own stylist for the shoot, but sure enough the stylist loved what I brought, saw my creative vision and went with it, (I got lucky) I also brought my snowboard, as I was being featured for that stint in my life, along with my TV show, Destination Wild, that was airing at the time on Fox Sports Net. It was a day of GLORY!!
Since getting that publishing, in one of the most respected magazines in the world, (my Dad had it everyday by his bed side as I grew up) it has been a slow, uphill climb, but today, I can truly say I am a working professional model. It is a far fetched dream turned to a reality for a short gal like me. I am barely pushing 5’3, and far from being a skinny girl, and as we all know. No one ever would think at that height you can do it. But on the shelves, TODAY, I have a two page spread in the Collectors issue of Oxygen Fitness Magazine, a two page spread in 7 different Stand Up Paddle Magazines world wide, and since 2008, up until now, I have been seen in many different magazines, catalogs, and have even done a run way show in Hollywood! Finally, I feel the doors have truly opened, because now I can shoot regularly if I chose to or not.
I want to inspre and let all women (especially the short ones) know that there is a world out there of opportunity. We can be and we are accepted and loved for our bodies just the way they are. No need to be tall thin and anorexic looking! Healthy, beautiful, and curvy is honored, appreciated and adored! Hooray! So eat your ice cream, workout, diet when nessasary and get ready for that shoot! You never know when you will open the door to that dream coming true, you just have to be ready when they come knocking.
Success is when hard work meets opportunity. I want to always be ready… and I want you to be, too!
xo
LA~
