Teresa Wyatt
Model/ Actress
When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion model and why?
I always wanted to be an actress when I was a child. I went to acting school and I remember the person taking the head shot saying SMILE! I fell in love with the camera. Growing up people would stop me and say you should be a model, you are very pretty and have a beautiful smile, I thought most of these people were just being nice. Growing up I didn’t have any role models who looked like me. In high school I saw Anna Nicole Smith in Guess and I thought to myself I am going to be the next her, but for the Black-Mexican Community. I wanted to represent Curves for all teenagers and women. Growing up there was a lack of billboards and magazines that represented plus size women. I remember clearly when I was 11 years old, I was shopping at Lane Bryant for a size 14, I had a different mind set then, I thought the store was for old ladies that were fat. Looking back I know I was depressed because my friends were wearing cute clothes in one digit numbers and I was 11 years old wearing a size 14. As I went through high school I became a LAPD Police Explorer and I lost 30 pounds. I went from a size 14 to a size 11-12, modeling had always been in the back of my mind but didn’t know how to go about getting into the industry. Life took over with work and I moved out on my own when I was 21 years old. I was 5’9 and I weighed 175 pounds, I wore a size 14-16, when I started going to clubs I began comparing myself to my friends and family members once again. They had the cute outfits and were still in one digit sizes, I had to realize that I was different in many ways, my shape, my height, my size and my heritage. I started using diet pills off and on for about 5 years, I was surround by people who were not confident in their self image and I took on their emotions, I have always been confident but it was during this time that I allowed others images to be my image. Once again at the age of thirty I was being told I should model or asked if I was a model. I became curious about modeling and I happened to stumble on plus models on Myspace and fell in love with all the models I came across. Finally I saw thousand of Ann Nicole Smith’s. There were models of every color. I wanted to be them, I mean I did fall in love with the camera at age 6, I new in my heart I still had the desire to be a model and to be a role model, I love to express myself in many different ways and by modeling I can become anyone I choose to. It is truly Freedom of expression.
Describe your personality?
I am warm, enthusiastic ,very passionate and excited about new ideas and people I am curious and inquisitive, I have a lot of interests, in so many different areas of life, I believe life is a great big adventure with so much to discover.
I am caring, I have suffered a lot growing up in my life but now I am happy, I have developed a great compassion for other people and I am always willing to help people out when ever I can.
I am resilient, I have come through many hardships and have become quite a tough old nut, (I am 37 years old) with a golden heart ( I look younger than my age), it takes a lot to get me down.
Besides modeling, you also do some acting, tell us about that.
I decided this year I want to pursue part time acting, I love telling stories and I think its easier to hear a story from a screen then meeting the people who the stories are about. I love to become other people, I get bored being myself and I get to play people that I am not, like a drug addict, single parent, murderer, housewife, right now I am learning the basics of acting, acting also helps with modeling as I have to express feelings on photos.
Who, in each industry currently (Acting & Modeling) inspire you? Why?
There are too many people to name, however a lot of people inspire me to live my best and dream my dreams, I have a lot of creative champions, they speak to me thru wisdom or knowledge. Even the most depressing person you can learn from, I take what I need and leave the rest.
You have been a busy lady this year; tell us what you are doing currently?
I do work a full time job at a Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation, I spend 40 hours week during the day being a receptionist & going to casting calls, in the evening I’m taking a course called the” Artist Way & Achieving Your Goals”, I spend time researching plus size companies and plus size models and everything and anything that has to do with entertainment, fashion, Art, people. I also take workshops on commercial acting, runway walk. I will also being handling Public Relations for an up and coming lingerie company.
What does fashion mean to you?
Freedom of expression, being yourself anything and everything goes.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Apart from this, I enjoy developmental work, which always demands for fresh thoughts and you automatically meet new people. It is said that ,”An idea can change your life and that of the people around you.”
Any insight you can give to people that are pursuing and/or are looking to further their careers in our industry?
Learn to handle rejection, keep going, don’t give up and all stepping stones lead to another stone, research, network, learn, take classes, ask questions. If you’re watching TV learn production company names, learn the names at the ending of show credits, research people in the industry, whether it be acting, modelling, or music. Everything is connected and I believe in 6 degrees of separation and synchronicity.
What can we expect from you in the future?
A whole lot! I want to tap into everything music, acting, more modeling, I love being an artist and being able to express myself however, I also love being a business women and want to own several companies, I haven’t decided where my focus will be as I love everything and I am curious about everything, expect a hard working women who will help inspire our community to be the best we can be, and will be giving back.
Where can we find you on the web?
You can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teresawyatt and also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/teresawyatt