Signed at 15 Years Old, Sophomore Model Gray Harris Follows her Dreams
Deana Trautz, Reporter
November 7, 2017
Like anything, the model life doesn’t come without hard work. In order to sign with agencies apart from Mazza Models, Harris must meet specified measurement requirements.
Her goal is to get to 35″ hips and 18″ thighs, but until she achieves that, she is unable to sign.
“It’s a lot of pressure, but I understand that it’s part of my job,” Harris said. “It is also good because that’s how my body is naturally when I am healthy, so it’s good to have that keeping me at my best.”
To reach her goal, Harris says she aims to exercise five to six times per week for up to two hours. However, this is hard to keep up when she is at school for theatre rehearsals until 7:00 p.m. most school nights. Harris says that she does try her best to eat clean and stay on top of the workout routine that her trainer gave her.
“I’m going to be honest, it’s not easy keeping up with it because I’m a pretty lazy person and a huge sugar addict,” Harris said. “I make my best attempt of following it, but I definitely cheat more than I should.”
She says that even though it isn’t always easy, prioritizing her health has benefited her.
“Having to stay fit seems like a burden sometimes, but I look and feel so healthy and confident,” Harris said. “I am really proud of myself for getting to where I am because my motivation has been so low in the past, but I pushed through it and I’m in such a good place now.”
She is not a girl of one title either. Harris says that along with acting, which she wishes to pursue later in life, she also writes, sings, designs clothing and loves watching Netflix. As for writing, Harris is currently working on two novels and many songs.
Harris describes herself as: persistent, curious and imaginative, but says that many people don’t see the real her. She says that because of her model status, people assume that her confidence is actually arrogance.
“As a model, many people assume I’m very self involved and pretentious, which I think is really funny because that is so far from true,” Harris said. “I’ve struggled with anxiety all my life, and on and off depression. My image of myself hasn’t been very positive.”
I’ve gained so much confidence in myself and have become more comfortable in my own skin”
Not only has her experience improved her modeling skills, but Harris says that it has grown her confidence and helped with anxiety.
“It has helped me become more sociable and able to work under pressure and with many people,” Harris said. “I’ve gained so much confidence in myself and have become more comfortable in my own skin.”
Ever since she began to model, Harris says she has noticed that people look at her more and in a different manner.
“I’ve gotten an influx of positive attention since I started modeling,” Harris said. “Because people know who I am now, there are more people than in the past that I notice look at me.”
Harris says that she doesn’t really pay attention to those staring at her as she walks down the hallway, but instead just keeps to herself.
Along with being a part of the modeling agency Mazza Models, Harris has had recognition on several other bases, including the Austin Monthly Magazine, being the face of
The Lip Service XO‘s website and getting featured in Behind the Chair’s Moroccan hair show photo gallery. That’s not all; Harris was featured in Vogue Italia’s “best of” and “picture of the day” last month on Oct. 4, which she says she gave her a different feeling of accomplishment.
“It was so cool because I’ve never been in anything like that. Vogue is such a big thing to land,” Harris said. “When the photographer I worked with told me and sent the link, I got so excited in class and started jumping around.”
She says that she will be able to use the Vogue Italia picture in her portfolio from now on to help show the work she has done and what has been published.
“It is insane how far I have come and I’m so thankful for everyone who’s helped me get to where I am,” Harris said.
Strike a Pose
