OUR JUNE MODEL OF THE MONTH, STACEY HUGHES, GIVES US A SNEAK PEAK AT HER LIFE AS A TRUE MODEL.

Name: Stacey Hughes

TM: What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of modeling?

SH: Dancing and fitness are definitely big ones for me. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old and always feel most at home, centered and well balanced when I’m in a studio. For me it’s the best way in the world to express yourself and “get it all out” no matter what “it” might be that day.

 

TM: Where is your favorite place that you have traveled or a place you would love to visit? 

SH: My favorite place would have to be St. John in the Caribbean. I haven’t been there in many years, but am longing to go back. When I was 18 I worked on a cruise ship and we would get to go there weekly.

TM: What places have you visited with fitting companies?

SH: My favorite place that fitting has taken me is Seoul, South Korea. Great shopping that is open until 3am, and the food is incredible. Oh, and Taipei! The natural hot springs there are amazing.  I have been very fortunate to travel overseas a lot with both my fitting and former dance career.

 

TM: Have you met any celebrities during your modeling career?

SH: I recently fit Tommy Hilfiger’s new collection with Zooey Deschanel. The NY team worked very closely with Zooey and they took me with them to Los Angeles for fittings and line presentations. She was very down to earth. We all had a lot of fun.

TM: What are you career goals?

SH: I’d like to keep doing what I’m doing for a long time, but I’m always conjuring up additional goals. Eventually I’d like to open my own Pure Barre studio. I really have fallen in love with the method. I am also plugging away at my degree, taking online courses in my free time. I am hoping to be accepted into a program in speech pathology. However, I would be doing all of these on nights and weekends to work around my fitting schedule.

TM: How did you get started in fitting?

SH: I kind of fell into it. I was living in Hong Kong, dancing in a dinner theatre show. The HK English magazine had a modeling agency ad looking for very specific shapes, sizes and measurements. It just so happened that from years of costume fittings I knew I was a perfect match. I had no idea what the job was for my first few bookings with the HK teams, but they seemed to like me. I worked with many designers from NYC when they came over to HK. I was learning as I went along, and I was very fortunate to have great techs that would teach me. I was in very high demand in HK and never realized that fit modeling was a competitive industry until I moved to NYC.

 

TM: How do you keep your body measurements consistent?

SH: After years of having to do “weigh ins” as a dancer, and panic about weight, fitting has been a blessing for me and has taught me an immense amount about my body. Designers want you to be healthy and just stay consistent which is what the body wants to do anyhow. I don’t believe in depriving yourself, or yo-yo dieting. Been there, done that and it’s no fun. I love to work out, but if I’m tired, I will sleep in instead. Listening to your body is so important.

TM: What is your favorite type of workout?

SH: Well sometimes the fitting itself is a workout. My arm nearly fell off today for holding it up for so long. However, I do all sorts of things. I am an instructor at Pure Barre (a ballet/Pilates derived fitness method) and I also take many classes there. It is a fantastically difficult workout that never gets too easy. The better your form, the harder you seem to work.

 

TM: What is the hardest part about being a fit model?

SH: Standing for long hours can be pretty tough on the feet and body. But, the hardest part for me is not being able to talk a whole lot. There are many aesthetic discussions and decisions to be made during fittings, and they move quickly.

 

TM: What is your favorite healthy food? What are your guilty pleasures?

SH: My favorite healthy food choice is stir fry at Spring Street Natural.  My guilty pleasures are the guava cheese rocks from Big Booty Bread Co.  They are to die for!  Can you tell I don’t cook a lot?

 

TM: What is something most people don’t know about you?

SH: Maybe that I practiced Muay Thai, the combat martial arts sport of Thailand. I practiced in Hong Kong, NYC, and I have also fought in the ring before. I won by TKO in the second round. That is the most exhausting sport. Blood, sweat and tears is no lie! I stopped when I booked a tour dancing with Le Grand Cirque and never went back to it.

 

 

TM: What is your favorite type of clothing to fit?

SH: Haha- sweat pants. Seriously! Dresses get a close second.

 

TM: What tip would you give someone starting out in modeling?

SH: Be yourself and don’t let any criticism get to you. In this industry it is completely normal to hear many “no’s” before you hear a “yes.” You just have to brush it off and stick with it.

TM: What is the most important thing to remember as a fit model and/or showroom model?

SH: Be prepared. I always have a backpack filled with everything I can imagine someone might ask me to have flats, heels, a tank, leggings, etc. You name it; it is always in my bag

 

TM: What did you do before working as a model?

SH: I’ve always danced. I still perform, teach workshops and adjudicate dance competitions.

 

TM: How did you come across TRUE Model?

SH: When I moved to NY I shopped around a little bit for [other] managers, but hit it off with Dale Noelle right away. I freelanced at first, but got so busy with TRUE that I needed to be exclusive just to manage my schedule.

Yours TRUE-ly

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