5 Things I've Learned From Modeling

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As difficult as it is for me to believe, I have now been working as a model for six years. Six years! Guys, I'm going on decrepit. 😩👵

Anyway, do anything for six years and you have to learn something, right? If you didn't learn anything in all those years, you likely weren't fully present. For all the young ducks out there, or just anyone who's curious about what I've learned, here are some of my takeaways from the past six years of professionally making faces!

Want to follow along on my ongoing adventures as a sometimes model, sometimes-a-million-other-things, twenty-something in NYC? Follow me on Instagram @danaikadzere!

5 Lessons from Modeling

1. Professionalism is everything.

If you've been on go-sees in NYC, or even looked through the competition on your agency's page (or other agency pages), you'll know there are way more beautiful people out there than there is need for models.

Heck, just swipe through Instagram or take a walk around the block and you'll find a ton of visually interesting faces! Especially in modern advertising, where the 'real person' look is growing more popular and inclusiveness, diversity, and quirkiness, your looks alone are not what's going to make or break your career.

...well, they won't make your career. It is a superficial industry, so if you don't meet some minimum of symmetry or whatever else they're looking for at a given time, you won't make much money in mainstream modeling. But even though looks are a prerequisite, they aren't enough! This job isn't just about being nice to look at.

You can be the most beautiful girl, but if your attitude stinks, they'll book another 'most beautiful girl.' It's a small world and you will get a bad reputation if you're flaky, late, rude, entitled, or otherwise unpleasant to work with. 

At the end of the day, a professional photoshoot (or trunk show, runway show, commercial shoot, etc.) is a J. O. B. You are there with other working professionals and if you make the crew's and/or client's lives harder, you will not be booked again.

Show up, on time, with your business in order, and your game face on. If you want a lasting career as a model, you must treat your work with the same respect as you would a corporate job.

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My Favorite Things to do on a Cold Day!

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The polar vortex is returning!

I still remember the iconic day of polar vortex-dom for me last winter - we decided to go to brunch, completely failing to check the weather forecast and relying instead on the beautiful sun shining in on us from my window. We bundled up - it was winter in NYC, after all - and made ourselves on our way, only to be greeted by a blast of icy cold air the moment we stepped outside.

But this is brunch, guys, and we're not quitters.

Luckily, I lived really close to the subway station, so getting on the train wasn't a problem. On the other end, however, our brunch destination of choice - we had decided to try Siggy's Good Food at 292 Elizabeth Street in NoHo - was a bit of a walk from the subway. That, or I had terribly misdirected us, as would not be atypical of my navigation skills.

...I'm going to go with Siggy's just wasn't close to the subway.

It took us over thirty minutes to make it from the subway stop to Siggy's. We stopped in every third or fourth storefront to huddle for warmth, before sprinting a bit further down the sidewalk. Our longest stop was in a very heavily perfumed Hollister, where we tried to see if we could zip ourselves into one coat for more warmth. It turns out, two people trying to wear one coat do not have an easy time staying upright. That failed.

Anyway, finally we arrived at Siggy's, a hipsterish cafe well-suited to the neighborhood and run by alien-loving hippies, and had a delicious, and most importantly, warm, brunch. I drank so much tea.

Follow me on Instagram @danaikadzere for more photos of my eats and adventures! 

I chose the Splendid Raw Slaw Salad with Sesame Kale and Cabbage. I'm incredibly picky about dressings and if it isn't amazing, I don't want it. I really liked the dressing that came with this salad. Whoa!

I also quite enjoyed the alien smiling down on me from the wall and, most of all, thawing out near the roaring fireplace.

Still, going on a let's-find-the-new-brunch-spot adventure isn't what I'd recommend as a typical polar vortex day activity, especially when temperatures are so low that my roommate took a "cold day" (think: 'snow day') off from work last week, because he refused to leave the house. Here are some cozier alternatives!

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How to Survive a Cross-State Move Without Your Parents!

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The mark of adulthood is figuring out how to do more and more by yourself that you used to have your parents' help for. Most of us had parental help moving to college and many had help with their move from college to the city of their first job.

But as time passes after that first major move of complete adulthood, parental help with future moves becomes less and less likely. Your parents might leave the continent, like mine, or they might just decide that they're getting too old to play moving service for you and that you're getting old enough to learn how to do it on your own.

Moving is a useful skill to pick up, especially if you're someone who likes trying out new cities or doesn't get too attached to a specific place and prefers to follow opportunity. I'm moving back to Cambridge, MA from NYC for work and this is my first major move without any parental assistance and without the option of storing belongings at my parents' house (see above: they left the continent).

With the recurring millennial question of 'how can I do this grown up thing with minimal headache,' here are my tips for pulling off a snag-free major move by yourself!

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What Being a Hobby Baker Is Like

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I love baking! Baking is so fun, makes my apartment smell cozy and inviting, and can make others happy, too. I've also had the opportunity to work with some cool companies on recipes.

But being a hobby baker has its trying moments, too, just like anything else. Here's what you don't see in the cheerful recipes and pretty food photos!

When you're asked to bake cookies for an event, but they need to be sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and whatever the other latest food trend is:

When you're elbows deep in flour and someone tries to join in on your solo baking project:

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Five Outrageous April Fools Day Pranks

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Happy April Fool's Day!

I'm born just two days shy of the holiday and so very glad that I wasn't born just a bit later. In honor of the holiday (and in gratitude for not having my birthday on it) here are five memorable April Fools Day pranks from history!

1) The (Taco) Liberty Bell

In 1996, Taco Bell ran an ad on the holiday announcing that it had purchased the Liberty Bell!

The Tex-Mex fast food company set the trend for companies using the holiday to promote their brands.

2) Nixon return.

In 1992, NPR caused a stir by running a false announcement by 'President Nixon' (really a voice actor) announcing that he would run for the presidency again.

The faux-Nixon claimed, "I never did anything wrong, and I won't do it again."

3) Digital Ben.

In 1980, BBC announced that Big Ben would switch to digital readouts to keep up with modern technological advances.

4) The Left-Handed Whopper.

In 1998, Burger King followed Taco Bell's lead and ran an ad in USA Today announcing the release of a new Left-Handed Whopper. The new burger would be exactly like the original Whopper, except that all the condiments would be rotated 180 degrees to suit their left-handed customers.

Given that burgers are more or less circular, you wouldn't expect people to fall for it...and yet thousands of customers flocked to Burger King to try the new left-handed sandwich, while others requested their usual right-handed burger.

5) Spaghetti harvest.

BBC strikes again! In 1957, BBC reported that Switzerland had an excellent spaghetti harvest that year, thanks to the disappearance of the spaghetti weevil.
























To the hundreds that contacted BBC about how to grow their own spaghetti, BBC answered "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best." 

How do you celebrate April Fools Day?

When is your birthday?

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How to Make the Most of A Long Weekend!

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It's MLK Day weekend and, while the holiday doesn't generate the same enthusiasm in most as the recent holiday season did, it's still a nice three day weekend and a great break after readjusting to the 5+ day work week that makes most of our lives. Getting back into the swing of things after a long vacation can be tough!

It's easy for a weekend (or even a long weekend) to fly by before we even really realized that it arrived. Here are some fun ways to make the most of this long weekend and really enjoy it!

Have at least one cozy evening in with a book and a movie.

This can be lovely with a loved one or a good friend, or all by yourself. We all need some tranquility and it's important not to skip unwinding over the weekend. That way, we're all rested for the new week!

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7 Reasons to See Pixar's 'Inside Out'!

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'Minions' comes out in just a few days! I'm not sure who among I, the 22-year-old, and my little sister, the 10-year-old, is the more excited one.

An accurate representation of how we're responding to the approach of the 'Minions' movie release

Still, before you rush to the cinemas to see 'Minions,' there is another movie that is already out in the cinemas that you should definitely consider watching.

Pixar's 'Inside Out'!

I had high hopes for this movie, because it's a Pixar movie and I love all things Disney, but it exceeded my already high expectations by far. I loved every moment of the movie!

If you haven't seen 'Inside Out' yet, here are seven reasons why you should!

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5 Times It's Okay to Take A Cab

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As a city girl - it still feels unreal to call myself that, even though I've lived in NYC for a year and Boston for three - I have plenty of experience with all sorts of transportation that does not involve a personal vehicle.

I'm entirely okay with that. The world (or, more specifically, car accident statistics) doesn't need me on the roads.

Still, when you don't rely on your own car for transportation, you face a lot of trade-offs.

Buses are slow.

The subway doesn't always have a direct route to where I need to go. It also tends to make me motion sick.

You can't walk or bike everywhere.

Cabs are expensive.

So when is it acceptable to go for the cab or - horror of all horrors - Uber on surge pricing? Here are five times when it's totally okay to skip the public choice and hire a taxi or a car!

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Horizontal Running and Other Reasons To Get Excited for May 15

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The girls that brought us horizontal running, fat hearts, and pitch-slapping are back!

Universal Studios, Schick, and Skintimate are combining forces to bring the Barden Bellas back to the big screen for Pitch Perfect 2 in just over a week! 

Fat Amy is your hot date on May 15 and, unlike blind dates and setups, she's sure not to be boring!

If aca-awesome acapella, witty banter, and Fat Amy's antics aren't enough to sell you on Pitch Perfect 2, the fun plot should be. 

In this sequel, the Barden Bellas start off at the top of their game - but then the fall is faster and steeper than the ascent. After an exposure incident with Fat Amy and the President of the United States of America, the Barden Bellas are not only disgraced, but banned from performing! 

But these girls don't give up that easily.

Instead, they band together again to compete at a worldwide competition that no American team has ever won. The stakes are high and their odds are low, but that's exactly what will make it so fun to watch!

I'm definitely grabbing some girlfriends, a cute girls night outfit, and plenty of water to rehydrate from all the laughing that will happen - Friday night plans, done!

In the meantime, check out any Ahold retailer (including Stop & Shop, Giant, or Martin's) for Schick razors and Skintimate shaving gel to get your legs ready to rock, like I do!

If you buy any 2 Schick women's shave items (minimum $10 value) between now and May 23, you'll get a printout at check-out to redeem a code for a free movie ticket to see Pitch Perfect 2 in theaters!

You can dazzle and get pumped at the same time - beginning April 15, limited edition Pitch Perfect 2 packaging is available in stores nationwide for Schick Hydro Silk Razors, Skintimate Shave Gel, Schick Intuition®, Schick Quattro For Women® and Schick Xtreme3®!

Need some inspiration to Rock Your Legs? Check out this awesome music video!

What's a girls night without lots of photos for the memories, after all? With this beautiful spring weather, it would be a shame to be stuck wearing pants to hide that winter fur. 

I love winter, but I am definitely also celebrating the return of spring. NYC is so beautiful in the spring! Since I'm (temporarily) leaving the city in a few weeks to spend a month in Boston and the next month in Germany, I'm trying to soak up as much of NYC as I can before I go. I'm going to miss my city!

What are your favorite Friday night activities?

Who is your favorite Bella?

Do you sing?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick® & St. Ives® . The opinions and text are all mine.

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Going Out: My Beauty Routine!

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Even when you're a twenty-something girl living in NYC, going out is not always appealing in winter. But when the weather warms up and the sun starts beaming happiness down at us on a regular basis, going out becomes so much more appealing!

I'm a model, so on some days (when I have evening photoshoots) I'll just leave on my makeup from the shoot to go out. It makes getting ready much easier!

But usually I don't have this kind of setup to get ready before going out:

Behind the scenes of a photoshoot, in hair & makeup.

It's a bit of a bummer, isn't it? 

I love rocking makeup for photoshoots or shows, but I keep it waaay more natural in my day-to-day life. With 'Pitch Perfect 2', sponsored by Schick and Skintimate, coming out on May 15, I decided to share my going out beauty routine with you guys! Like the Barden Bellas, I'm all about women celebrating our aca-awesome selves. Whether your style is toned down or dialed up, rock it with confidence and you will be the knockout of the night!

Need some ideas of where to start? Here's what I do:

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"If You're Not Rich, Be Attractive"

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Let's face it - we all get a lot of advice, solicited and not so much, all the time. And some of that advice? Well, it's just straight-up shitty.

But here's the thing about shitty advice: sometimes there's a nugget of gold hidden in all that sooty black coal. 

I realized a while ago when, at a fashion show after-party, a man gave me this post's title as advice. He was (a) rich, (b) proud of it, and (c) not on my potential friends list. Pair all  of that with the fact that he followed that golden advice up with a leering "you're doing it right" and my immediate reaction wasn't gratitude for the golden advice.

Instead, it was a superficially polite smile and an internal 'please excuse me while I find an appropriate receptacle to hurl in.'

But a few days later, when I thought about what I must assume was a failed attempt at flirting, I realized that there was a bit of a point in there.

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Healthy Hacks at the Airport

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I love airports!

They're full of interesting people, going and coming to/from interesting places. They're among the absolute best for people-watching.

It's terrible, but hilarious.

They're also among my favorite places because if you're in one, chances are that you're traveling. Yay!

But starting your trip on a healthy note is a good idea, so check out these hacks for being healthy at the airport.

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5 Things I Wish Existed

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The world is full of wonderful things (the internet!) and less wonderful things (the selfie stick) but sometimes the things we really need want don't exist.

Here's a short list of five things that would be awesome if they existed.

Date-bots.

We would send them to go do all the awkward first dates for us, then cut in for the second date with the good ones.

               

The guys would never notice the difference, right?

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Healthy Hacks in Hawaii

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Are you lucky enough to have a trip to Hawaii on the horizon? YAY!

Hawaii is stunning.

But as much as we all love a beautiful vacation, vacations have a common bad reputation for wrecking healthy habits. Yes, you're not adhering to your normal routine. Yes, you're probably not hitting the gym and getting your usual lunch salad. You're on vacation, things should be different than in your day-to-day life!

True as that is, that doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice health for fun!

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3 Reasons Why Girl Power is Good for Everyone!

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As an actress and a creative writer - and thus someone who probably spends a little too much time in a fantasy world - I love movies, television shows, novels, etc. Creativity and make believe are such fun explorations of alternate possibilities!

But there's something that's all too common in entertainment that really bothers me.

The depiction of girl-girl interactions.



A lot of movies, especially in the USA (as compared to German television) portray women as contenders. They're always fighting over something, whether it's a man, a job, or the last pair of Jimmy Choo's at a late summer sample sale.

And you know what the real problem with that is? Just as much as fiction imitates reality, reality is molded by popular fiction. This pop culture girl versus girl world is toxic, because it encourages women to think about women in that destructively competitive, instead of constructive, way.

So what ends up happening? We tear each other down, instead of building each other up.

ENOUGH ALREADY.

Women should support each other! There is no pair of heels, no job, and certainly no man worth putting that negative energy out into the world. When we work together, we can achieve great things!

Here are three reasons why girl power is good for everyone.

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Dating: 12 Year Old Expectations vs. 21 Year Old Reality

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It's undeniable that progress is a constant thing in human society and that our world is always undergoing cultural evolution.

It's not always linear (remember that half-a-second reemergence of chokers?) and sometimes a progressive step is derivative of a much earlier version (ie: T-swift's signature crop top/high-waisted pant/skirt pairing, a classier take on the early 2000s crop top/hip-hugger pairing).

So yes, the world is changing. But somethings, like human interactions, stay fundamentally constant. In that case, part of why the world seems so different today is a shift in perspective as you age!

Now that I'm at the ripe old age of 21, with a past relationship experience of my very own (spoiler: it ended), I have a very different understanding of dating than I did when I was 12!

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Gift Guide Do's and Don'ts: The Best and Worst Gifts for Bloggers!

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My birthday is coming up!

I'm the most subtle person in the world, I know. I've only been wearing my birthday tiara for, oh, three or four weeks now. And my birthday is in just under two more weeks. Sooo...

In celebration of celebrating my twenty-second year of existence for a full 24 hours (even though it will be on a dreaded Monday this year BOOOOO) here's a gift guide of some of the best (and worst) gifts for bloggers. 

Hopefully it helps you out with the next blogger birthday/christmahanukwanzaka celebration that you have!

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Things I'd Rather Do Than My Taxes

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Being a grown-up is awesome when it comes to deciding exactly what you do every day, but sucks when it comes to boring responsibilities.

How I feel about doing taxes.

Like taxes. Doing taxes is like going to the dentist to get a tooth pulled - it hurts, it takes years off of your life in boredom, and it cuts into your shoe budget.

Here are some things I would much rather do than my taxes!

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5 Reasons Why Being Single Is Awesome

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There are a lot of reasons why being in a relationship is great, but there are also a ton of reasons why being single is awesome!

Here are five to start.

1) Movie night is always what you want to watch night.

Captain America?

                             
HA. I'll have Tangled, please, and who cares that I'm not seven or under four feet tall?

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What Being Single On Valentine's Day Is Like

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Last Valentine's Day was my first (and only, thus far) time celebrating the holiday in a relationship and before that Valentine's Day was a family/commercial holiday, but pretty divorced from its romantic mainstream version for me.

Now that I know what it 'should' be like, however, I can enjoy the plight of the single girl on Valentine's Day.

You have those other single girl friends who expect you to empathize about their V Day loneliness.

Girl, can you go sob over there in the corner? I'm trying to read my book kthnx. 

The most exciting thing about your evening is when your Seamless order arrives #singleladyspecial

I've sustained a serious injury running to answer the door, it's seriously dangerous to get too excited. 

That was for the mail, not Seamless, but still.

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