Two models originally from Neosho were featured in the popular magazine, LA Weekly.
The title is L.A. Weekly’s Best of Los Angeles Budget Edition 2009, which is the year’s biggest issue and appeared on magazine shelves for the week of Oct. 2-8, 2009. The models, Sarah Marie Hilker and Nickie Jean Richards, appear not only on the front cover and throughout the magazine. As an added curiosity, Hilker and Richards never met until the day of the shoot for LA Weekly.
Hilker’s mother, Sally Hilker, brought in the magazine to the Neosho Daily News recently.
The Daily News asked Sarah and Nickie various questions about their modeling career and here are their answers.
How did you end up on LA Weekly?
Sarah: “My friend, who is also one of the current photographers for LA Weekly, contacted me as she thought I’d make a great Elvira for the issue, which is 1970s themed. I was available and thought the idea would be fun, so I agreed to do the two-day shoot.”
Nickie: “I was asked by the photographer hired for the job.”
How did you get involved in modeling and was it a dream of yours?
Nickie: “ I got involved in modeling from people on the street asking to take my picture. Yes, it was a dream! I am an artist and a love for the aesthetic draws me to it in many ways....”
Sarah: “My sister and one of her friends actually wanted to try out for a model search that came to Joplin looking for fresh faces for agencies. My mother agreed to take them, but only if I tried out as well. I had no interest in such things at the age of 10. I had wanted to be a veterinarian up until that point. My sister’s friend and I were both invited to go to a convention to be presented in front of agencies, but she was not. I had never really considered such a career path, but was excited to explore it although I felt really bad for my sister. Even though the conventions are known for being scams, my mother ended up paying for me to go and I didn't receive much of an outcome. This didn't matter as I was determined to keep trying. (Modeling) quickly became an obsession. I was hooked from my first photo shoot. I’m so happy I’ve made it this far.”
Sarah’s entire school career was spent in the Neosho R-5 School District. She went to Goodman Elementary, then went to Neosho Middle School and continued into Neosho High School in the 2000/2001 school year. She was active in drama, P.E. and English. Sarah stated she wrote a lot of short stories and poems that won awards and were published. In her second semester as a junior at high school, she dropped out and obtained her GED.
Nickie attended NHS from 2000 to 2001 and was active in art, as well as sports. She moved away as a sophomore. From there, she kept active in sports including track and volleyball. Nickie was awarded artist of the year upon graduating as well as prize winner in the New Mexico State Fair for her watercolor paintings.
Is it hard to model?
Sarah: “Modeling is definitely not as easy as some might think. It all depends on the route you want to take. Having an agent is definitely beneficial, but is not always necessary. You do have to be business savvy. You have to take care of yourself. Eating right and exercising is definitely a must. You have to be creative. Modeling and acting are very much the same field. In acting, you have to emote and memorize lines. In modeling, you have to portray the entire story with your body language and expressions without words. The more looks you can pull off, the more money you will make as long as you are always professional, know your niche market, and exceed your client’s standards. You have to have a thick skin because everyone is always judging you on your appearance. If you can’t take harsh criticism, then this is not the industry for you. Sometimes, you also have to deal with people with poor attitudes.”
Nickie: “Oh yes, it is extremely athletic. You must be able to hold crazy contortions for hours at a time. You have to do it as well as accentuate your body, It is hard to explain. It is a lot of awkward poses for a long period of time. I suggest yoga to help. A lot of my poses remind me of the intensity of it.”
During Nickie’s career, she has been on books for Chad Michael Ward to LA Weekly to fashion shows in Albuquerque, N.M., to Web pages to Pasadena Art Center to gallery shows in LA. Just recently, Nickie has been in a movie called “Gamer” by the director of Sin City and 300, as well as Crash Season 4 on Showtime.
Sarah’s career has ranged from doing countless small fashion shows for malls, charity events, etc., to catalog work for companies like Lip Service. She has done music videos with DJ Hell and Enrique Bunbury, acting work on the shows “C.S.I.,” “Heroes,” and “Criminal Minds”, art modeling for some of L.A.’s best artists, and various other modeling, acting, and promotional L.A. work for events. Before Sarah moved to Los Angeles, she did commercial and fashion work in Springfield for Styles boutique and Shaebelle boutique, as well as Brown Shoe Co. located in St. Louis and with one of Missouri’s top photographers, Eyeworks Photography, located in Joplin.
What advice would you give others who are thinking about a modeling career?
Sarah: “The most essential piece of advice I can give anyone is do your homework! This is a big, complicated business. There are so many websites set up to help aspiring models out there. Check references on EVERYONE you work with. Never go to a photo shoot without a mature escort when working with a new photographer unless there are going to be other staff members present like hairstylists, make-up artists, wardrobe stylists, art directors, clients, etc. When you’re shooting for your portfolio, staff gets smaller and smaller, so always make sure you have someone you trust around you. Your safety should be your top priority. You also need to move where there is work. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Miami are all very big markets in this industry. If you can’t get there, at least get to a major city in your state to up your chances. If you live in a town where there are no legitimate agencies, your chances of work are very slim.”
Nickie: “Be prepared to be a hard worker. Success is a very lonely place. Do not look to it for self acceptance as rather self expression.”
What is next for you?
Nickie: “More art is in store for me.”
Sarah: “Eventually, I will probably go back to school or learn another trade in this industry like make-up artistry, but right now, I’m just going to keep modeling and making art as long as I can.”
