Grace O’Farrell is an up-and-coming model from Toronto, Canada. She lives in New York City, where she attends the Fashion Institute of Technology and is working towards a degree in Fashion Business Management. She is currently signed with Strutt Central and LeDrew Models, two Canadian modelling agencies. She has collaborated with designers from the Fashion Institute of Technology as well as Blush Magazine to highlight student collections.

How did you get into modeling?
I first started when I was 10 years old. I had some friends in the neighborhood who were actors, all of the siblings in the family, which introduced me to the possibility. Then I begged my parents for quite some time, and finally they said yes. Our friends put us in touch with their agency, Minor Details, a children’s agency in Toronto. I met with them and they wanted to sign me! I was so excited. My first job was with a yarn company modelling hand-knit sweaters, and later as a child I did a lot of work for Hudson’s Bay.

What is your favorite part of modeling?
It is when I get into the groove with the way a photographer shoots, and the images start to become more and more beautiful. The way that every photographer and model works and their dynamic together, is different. At the beginning of a shoot, you are both learning how to adapt to each other to create the best images possible. When you hit that sweet spot where everything clicks, it creates something on an entirely different level and it’s so fantastic and rewarding to see.

Are there any designers or magazines you would like to work with in the future?
Some designers I would be thrilled to work with are Mila Sullivan, Rodarte, Altuzarra, Vivienne Westwood, and ever since I found out about fashion when I was a child, I have liked Chanel. In terms of magazines, I mean, it’s every model’s dream to be in Vogue, of course. I would also love to work with Interview, Dazed and PAPER. Those publications are all incredibly creative and have artistic styles and photoshoots.

What has been your favorite shoot on which to work?
My favorite shoot to work on was called “I Think of Mud” for a Canadian Brand called Copious Fashions and photographer Kaja Tirrul. We were shooting all around the property of the Willowtree Farm in Port Perry, Ontario. I remember it was autumn and really cold out but still such a fun day. The shoot was kind of dark and whimsical; I had black lipstick on and my hair ended up getting really messed up by the wind. We shot in an old barn, out in the fields in front of cars that were stacked on top of each other and by some abandoned farmer’s portable houses. The photos turned out really dramatic and striking; they ended up being featured in KODD Magazine as well!

Who are your favorite photographers to work with?
One of them is Toronto-based Natasha Gerschon (@natashagerschon). I started out doing shoots with her for Aveda Institute and then eventually did some tests with her independently. She is such a kind person, who cares about her craft, and I’m sure anyone who’s worked with her would say the same. She produces beautiful, high-quality images, and I hope to shoot with her again someday soon.

A student photographer with whom I have collaborated and is extremely talented is Allie Simms (@shotzbyallie). She is so creative and produces stunning images for her own projects as well as one of our school’s magazines, “Blush.” I can’t wait to see what else she puts out moving forward.

Are you looking to be signed to a modelling agency in the United States?
I’m currently in the United States as a student, but I would be thrilled to return one day if a modelling agency wanted to sign me here. I would love to try out the New York or Los Angeles markets, as there are so many terrific agencies, from the big players we all know to the smaller, creative boutique agencies.

What advice would you give to aspiring models?
My advice for people trying to break into the industry is that you have to have thick skin and learn not to take rejections personally. Casting directors usually determine everything, and when you get into major shoots, they have a specific vision. If you happen not to fit their vision, it is not your fault at all and there is nothing you can do to change that, so you can't take rejection to heart. Know that there's nothing wrong with you. No one should try to alter their appearance because they think they need to look a certain way to model; everyone is beautiful in their own way. The only thing you can do is be kind and gracious, show up to castings and photoshoots on time and be prepared, be nice to everyone you’re working with, thank everyone and say goodbye at the end of the shoot--- be personable. This will make people interested in working with you again and again and will build a good reputation for yourself.

What is the best piece of modelling advice you have received?
The best piece of modelling advice I have received is not only what I pass along to others about not letting rejection get you down, but also to constantly work on yourself and your craft. Attend workshops, exercise, eat healthfully, practice self-care! All of these things will make you shine inside and out and help you to stand out in the modelling industry.

Do you prefer editorial or walking in a show?
At the moment, I prefer editorial photoshoots. Personally, I feel that I am able to produce stronger work through photoshoots and I love getting to see the images after all the effort everyone on the team has put into creating something amazing. I think the runway is a completely different art form. I have done a few runway shows in the past through Fashion Art Toronto, and I prefer to walk in slower, more artistic, shows. I don’t feel that I’m fully cut out for the high fashion runway at the moment, but I applaud everyone who is, and I love to watch them.

If you ever decide to take a break from modelling, what are you hoping to do with your career?
I don’t intend on taking a break from modelling for the foreseeable future, and I would ultimately like to continue working as a model for my whole life while balancing my other work at the same time. I’m currently studying Fashion Business Management at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and I will be pursuing a career in the fashion industry. I’m interested in a position in operations or buying at a major fashion label and hope one day to work my way up to the executive level. Also, I believe my experience as a model gives me a whole new perspective when I’m working on the other side of the business: two ends of the spectrum in fashion.

Who is a model you look up to?
Coco Rocha. My agency, LeDrew Models, told me to look into her the first time we met because I am slightly under the height that most agencies and jobs require, so a way I can make up for that is by learning how to pose. As I’m sure everyone knows, she is the Queen of Pose. (And she’s from Toronto.) In the future, I’d like to attend one of her modelling workshops. I also look up to almost every model around me. I think everyone has different talents, and we can always learn something from one another.

Social Media.
Instagram: @_graceofarrell

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: Natasha Gerschon
Talent: Grace O’Farrell
Makeup: Paola Manigat & Elena Pacienza
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Hannah Bressler, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine