CLT to NYC with Morgan Fries.

www.CharlotteFashionGuild.com

Model, Morgan Fries, is what I like to call a "diamond in the rough".  It is rare that you meet a model that is goofy, warm-hearted, giving as well as astonishingly beautiful.  Morgan and I had the pleasure of working together at a local restaurant in one of Charlotte's many boroughs.  I was waiting tables to launch my business and the beautiful Morgan was hostessing until she moved to the Big Apple to attend college and to work with ADAM Model's.  

Morgan was a star in the Charlotte fashion industry.  She won many awards, walked in every show and was always the life of every event.  Her style was very East Coast chic, which I am afraid was under appreciated by many in the area.  However, now she is able to blossom into the successful women that I know that she will become.  That is why Charlotte Fashion Guild would like to acknowledge Morgan Fries.  She sets the standard of everything that a model should be.  There are many models in the Charlotte fashion industry that have the potential to make it "big".  However, very few of them have the personality to succeed in a very cut throat world.  It was a pleasure to interview and to feature Morgan   as our first honorary Model.  Here is what she had to say;

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself?  

I am 19 years old, I just recently moved to NYC, I am an only child if my dog harley doesn't count. I'm from Charlotte NC, at heart i'm a real country girl who loves big trucks, southern voice and mudding. I really enjoy fashion, all through high school i've been voted best dressed all 4 years.  I am now attending The Art Institute of NYC for fashion design. Ever since I was a little girl, all I can remember is trying on my mom's clothes, dancing around her room, and wanting to wear her heels down the street. Oh and also I'm a sucker for black and white movies.

How are you liking the city that never sleeps? 

You know its funny, because in the area that I live in, which is Brooklyn, everyone is in bed at 9pm. Even me; that is if i'm not up doing a project or just hanging out with my roommates. I love the big city, it's definitely different from back home.  I'm not use to just walking out my front door and having McDonald's or the grocery store being right around the corner. Soho and Times Square couldn't get any better! $1 pizza is right across the street from school, every possible shopping store is at every corner in Times Square…How thankful can I be?

Why did you decide to relocate? 

I have always said "You have one life, live it." There are too many wonderful and amazing things out there in this world, why stay in one place that you have known your whole life? Go out and explore new things, eat something completely out of your comfort zone, make mistakes, fall in love. Life's not meant to be spent in one place.

How old were you when you started modeling?  Did it come naturally to you? 

I believe I was 17 when I first started really modeling. I mean I did pageants when I was a little girl, but it wasn't till I was a lot older that I really started doing shows and photo shoots! I was raised in the church with my mother,  we always dressed up, i've always worn heels, and my momma and I both were up to date in fashion. My momma always said I'm going to become a famous model one day.  She always supported me on all my decisions, so I thank my mom for always believing in me. To answer your question, I think yes. Yes I know modeling in my blood. 

What other careers interest you besides modeling? 

I've always loved cooking. Actually I was going to attend Johnson & wales for culinary school. Then my mind changed as I grew, and I'm really interested in fashion design.   I'm excited to expand my mind into the arts of making the clothes that I wear down the runway!

You modeled quite a bit in Charlotte.  Tell me about the work that you have done here? 

...I've been doing it for two years, and I love it all! The very first show I did was Charlotte Fashion Week.  I walked on recyclables night, and my designer is a tattoo artist in Noda, who has never designed a dress for a model to wear. Crazy enough he was really good at designing it ...because we won best recyclable dress! It was a memorable night for the both of us. Ever since then i've worked with people all over Charlotte; including shows, a little advertisements, and a few photo shoots. Life felt like it couldn't be any better.

What was your favorite show or shoot that you participated in? Well my favorite show that I did was the  second annual Style Night Out  with Effie (Loukas). I wore a bridal gown with three other girls and we all had different butterflies in our hair! The makeup and the dresses were beautiful and of course the show was amazing! My favorite shoot that I did was with Marcos Aspiazu, and it was right before I left for NYC.  It was just a test shoot, but the atmosphere was fun.  I met new people, which I love doing, and we got to do poses that we also envisioned. 

As a model you have to have thick skin.  How do you respond to the criticism in this industry?

It is hard to keep your head up in the modeling industry.  If someone doesn't like me, I just say okay thank you for your time, I put my heels back on, smile and move forward. Just because that one person, or that whole team didn't like me, doesn't mean that there isn't someone else out there that is not going to like my "look" or just me in general. I'm a very happy person, I tend to get a long with everyone I meet. I at least try to. 

What models in the industry do you look up to? 

I look up to the models who are no longer the "it" girls. What I mean is, I look up to Twiggy. She was the first model that wore a short skirt on a magazine cover, I believe? Well other than that she wasn't afraid to do something new and different. Also Tyra Banks, because she is such a role model for not just women, but for young girls who have the same dream as she did. She believes in getting an education, not just model, model, model. She is so diverse and friendly and beautiful, and an amazing model! I really love them both.

Who is your favorite designer and why? 

My all time favorite designer is Alexander McQueen. His work just blows my mind every time. Half of the things he designs you really can't even wear, it's just eye candy. I love the meaning behind his work also. It's not just a piece of fabric he throws together, there is something that inspires that dress, or scarf or a growing garden on a dress. It's the emotion and passion I love that he had.

Are you going to walk in New York Fashion Week? 

My portfolio wasn't big enough this past show, and we ran out of time, but it's okay I'll just wait till next year! In January I'm prepping for Fashion week in February! So hopefully you'll see me in that!