Preservation or Presentation?

Social media is something completely new to society and how we utilize it in our everyday lives is changing every day. I have to say, I have used it for my own benefit in marketing and it even has bit me back in the bum. Either way, this nascent source of information sharing has it's ups and downs, most notably that what we put on the internet and how it will not only be there forever, but how it will make other people see us. Presentation has never become more important than in this social media age.

Many of you are saying, "IDGAF" or "I don't care what people think of me or my choices." And that is fine. But, truth be told, for me, I care. 

I care at how people judge me by a post I write or how it may affect my friendships being in different political backgrounds. 

I care that I may have hurt someone's feelings about some stupid angry rant I didn't mean because I felt stronger behind a keyboard. 

I care about putting intimate moments with my husband on social media because I won't have special moments with him. This also distracts me from having time with him or my family. 

I especially care about getting a job in the future. 

We may think that these things don't have an impact on us, but it does. Every company employs social media searches on potential candidates, and will bring those findings to bear on an candidate’s chances. You may be the best option, but something you said, or posted ONE TIME online, can ruin your ability to get into the career of your dreams, because every career starts with that first job.

And personally, I have already lost a job.

Besides that, I see others who rant about the position they hold or even getting stiffed for a gig, or get stuck doing free gigs, or even relationship issues!

I have done it; I have been there. I am sure you will find all kinds of post I didn't mean and were hurtful. But I am going to take note now as to the types of post or pics I should stay away from. Here is a list I promise to myself to maintain the proper style of posting.


Evina’s Social Media Post DON’Ts:
1. Do not post everywhere your going. 
This is 100% about safety. If you are constantly updating where you are, and who you are with, it gives people an opportunity to find you – and most often those people are not going to be fans, polite, etc. And not just your personal safety, but also the safety of your friends, family, loved ones who may be out with you.

2. Posting that your job sucks is never the way to approach your unhappiness.
First, if your job sees it, you are done (This just happened: My friend runs a business and found out her employee took advantage of her). Once the employer sees anything of the sort, your fired and no recommendation for you. Second, no one likes to hear how much you hate your job. No one.
Suggestion: try talking to your employer about your dissatisfaction, they may care about keeping you as an employee and try to fix things. And if not, then you know that you are not valued, and can look for work elsewhere.

3. I don't want business posts tagging me unless I have given my approval.
Yes, you need my permission. Many professional clients I work with make me sign a disclosure and vice versa. But even if that is not the case, trust is an important factor here – you keep that trust and I will continue to work with you, and refer others to you. If you break that trust, then I will neither work with nor refer to you.

4. Friendship or relationship issues have no room on feeds. 
Many employers will see this as insecurities or an unstable mentality, and not want to hire / work with someone who may have drama / issues that will affect performance, attendance, etc. 

5. There is a lot of hate in the world, and a ton of videos about blood on feeds lately.  
It could be animal or human, I have seen more death on my feeds than I do in real life. If you want to show an employer you are actively against something, go volunteer or donate your time or money to a cause you support. An employer likes an employee who is active. 

6. What happens on your free time happens on your free time, not on your feeds.
I am so guilty of this. Vegas, drinking, partying... All these types of things potential employers and clients will and can frown upon.
Keep is classy ladies and gents. I know we are young, and having fun, but let's make our generation not be the selfie, party generation. Let’s show the world our best side, not our party side.

Evina’s Selfie NO NOs:
1. NO SELFIES: 
Selfies as a model are cute if your promoting a makeup stylist or even the new brand of eyelashes. When a selfie is 90% your boobs, it's no longer a selfie... it is a boob shot. We know what your doing. I have done it. 

2. Butt Shots:
From a business perspective, if you are marketing sex or looking for attention or submitting it to The Chive for Mind the Gap, than it would be perfect. If progress photos are what your aiming for, stick with a full body shot. 

3. Gym Selfies:
Stop it. This harks back to AIM Away Statuses – no one cares that you are at the gym. And no one cares what your gym outfit is – no matter how “on point”. Unless you are a fitness professional, demonstrating your skills, leave the camera app closed. Besides, you will be standing in front of the mirror in the way of my 45's taking way too much time posing for the “perfect selfie” for my anabolic window. 

4. Bra and Panty Shots:
If an employer sees this it can hinder your potential ability for that job. Unless it was a professional photo shoot, and modeling is your career path, it shouldn't have to be a part of any media feed at all. You shouldn't have to feel like you need to take your clothes off for the world to feel "pretty". Nor should you seek validation though social media outlets in your chonies.

I may get some back lash here from a variety of my friends perspective's. But just know, I know I am just as guilty of doing some of the NO NO's as the next person. For me, I have had to earn my own self respect by not allowing myself to be 'that girl'. I have been there, though my own experience I would rather see women succeed, than fail because of our vanity or silly weekend decisions. .

Rejection is not failure; it's feedback.

     I applied to a casting call for a spokes model position for an online supplement store. I needed to memorize lines, and I would be prompted to speak as if I was speaking with a potential customer, which would be simulated when a customer visited the website. I was a bit surprised when they called me in, as they were asking for a blonde; but without hesitation I let them know I would be there with a skip in my step.

     As always, I was 30 minutes early to the audition; checked in with the secretary at the front and waited for my turn. Sitting in the waiting room, I cracked open my third meal of the day, hoping I can get some food in my stomach before the audition. Literally as the hard-boiled egg touched my lips, a door was thrust open, with the client greeting me with a smile and indication to come in. I hurriedly grabbed my food and stuffed back in a bag and followed him to a room with a camera and a few lights with a white background.

As I reached for the prompt, I also reached for my glasses. 
     He asked, “Do you always wear glasses?” 
     “Only when I read.” I said playfully, not letting my high energy down. 
     “That’s not the look I am going for,” as he motioned for me to take off my glasses.

     Immediately, all that fun-loving energy I saved for this reading turned into feelings of nervousness and led to a stale read. My eye jumped from word to word and I mispronounced Halodrol, like 6 times. I wasn’t feeling the read, even though I faked it as best I could. All the while, I assumed that he didn’t want me to represent his brand. The worst part was, I knew I was not being the best I could be while I was actively doing the read.

     Normally after having a bad audition / read, I would obsess about how I had messed up, contemplated what I could have done differently, all the myriad ways this was going to be an epic failure, etc. But this time I did something different; for once I took the time to reach out and write a follow up letter to him. I made sure I thanked him for the opportunity and asked what I could do to improve. 

     What came back was something I never expected, because I was to fearful to ask for input. He wrote back a structured improvement list, as well as what he liked about me and my personality. The best part about following up with him, was that I felt 10 times better about my performance than I normally would. 

     Asking for feedback can be brutal for anyone, more so when you feel like you have mastered your craft. I have a tendency to wallow in uncertainty, and I often will swallow my pride, in an attempt to avoid rejection. But through the years, I have finally reached a level of self-awareness, to ask for what I can do to be better, so that I can be on top of my game and the very best I can be. This isn’t just a lesson for how to succeed as a model, or a spokesperson, but a lesson for all aspects and walks of life. Don’t lie to yourself and think you can’t do better – you can always do better, you can always improve. Keep striving to be the best ____ you can be (whatever you fill in that blank). That is how success is achieved.

Model Stigma

Only once in my life have I physically gone up to a girl and asked “please tell me you’re agency represented…” She was about 6’2”, dusky blonde natural hair, 19 years old, and rubbed her elbows like she was tired of hearing what I said, as she must have got it all the time. “Yes, I am.” Suddenly, I felt like I was adding more to her insecurities, so I forcefully replied, “Great!” and continued with my Thai dinner at the restaurant she was working at.

Recently, I was working an in-store promotion selling the new brew by Sam Adams for the fall season. I was wearing a black mini skirt and heels, standing next to a shabby table with product in the front of Vons, with a toy witch hanging over my head. Everyone who walked by had an opinion of my physical attraction, but once I started to ramble about the product, it seemed like I didn’t have to work that hard to sell it. The next day, I had the same promotion. I had a pair of capris on and flats… not one person was interested in hearing what I had to say. 
In the gym, after my work out, while in the lockers, I was approached by someone telling me “OMG, you SHOULD model!” Almost so loudly that it makes me the gawking object in the ladies locker room, where many glare with jealousy. It doesn’t feel good and I did nothing to deserve that.

I don’t flaunt what I do. When I meet someone, they don’t know I am part model, part competitor, and part athlete. The friends that I made which are not part of my network, are friends I did not initially give my ‘label’ to. My industry friends that I have made, are either just as boring as I am or just as hard working.

I still stumble on what to say to people I meet (like Wil’s family or other business professionals) when they ask me, “What do you do for a living?” When I say I am a model, I can see they are immediately applying any stigma they have been exposed to in their lifetime to my 15 years of experience. Usually it is either, A) I get everything for free, or B) I take my clothes off for anyone who has a camera.

No one knows about the countless hours driving to castings, or (if I am lucky enough) gigs, in traffic, nor do they look at the fact that I rarely get picked for castings because I am not “American Made” or fit the typical LA mold.

Back to my original statement: stop with the “you should be a model” statements to girls. I know my photos portray a stupid social stigma that is unrealistic to live up to, I get it. That’s what I know. After I grew up, I realized, it’s just work. But that image of me looks nothing like I do in real life; and this is true for most models that are in the industry, unless they have F-U money. Besides, let’s stop giving false hope to girls about making money off their looks, otherwise they are going to be sitting on a casting couch with some dirty dude, asking themselves, “Am I pretty enough?” I know I don’t want to contribute to another women not feeling good enough.

Ladies, if anyone comes up to you and tells you, “You SHOULD be a model!” ask them why they think that. I bet you it isn’t because of you ravishing love for good horror stories or your hyper understanding of mathematics. No. Visually you please the (most specifically, their) eye… Nothing more.

Models like myself have made the mistakes and have the experience for you. Hold yourself to a higher standard, girls. Get away from the titty and booty selfies that get a crap ton of likes and contribute to your nasty self-obsession. Because that will eventually get old until the next girl with a skinner waist and bigger booty posts something naughtier. Post something funny. Post about your books. Hell, don’t post at all. Stop looking for other people to like you and how you look. Like yourself, as you are. Be brave enough to make your own decisions about what your fate is to be. Fail. Who cares? Just don’t let someone stroke your ego and fall victim to it. Likes don’t buy happiness.

 

Don't trip, with these Fall tips!

With fall approaching quickly (it’s already here!) , along with the ramped sprees of shopping, it is a little fearful to come up with how to maintain diet and exercise with the Halloween treats, Thanksgiving dinners, or the Christmas goodies! If you have a family or a schedule like mine, you will have plenty of parties to test your will power.

Here are some steps to follow when attempting to stay on the path of your goals:

1.       Don’t starve yourself: During the holidays, you may feel if you skip breakfast and lunch that it would be okay to have all your calories at the feast of dinner time. NO! Continue your path of 4-6 meals and by the time you reach dinner, you won’t feel the need to over indulge.

2.       Water, lots and lots of it: 70% of the body consist of water. Fill it up! When you’re dehydrated, naturally your body tells you with sweet or salty cravings. When you feel that, go for the water if you have already ate. Water is also essential for brain development and recovering internal and external cells. It’s a good way to work on that summer glow during the cold months.

      3.       Portion control: It’s ok to eat that small piece of candy. When you have amounts of treats that can fill a bathtub, that’s where you have problems. Continue your meals with veggies, proteins and complex carbs. My mother’s chocolate pudding pie is amazing during the holidays, but depending on where my goals are, I’ll make sure that I eat it responsibly. Given the fact that I can eat a whole pie myself.

4.       Move more: staying inside and toasty next to a fire is a lot more comforting than walking outside when it is chilly. When I get too content with snuggling, I feel sluggish and lazy, along with my pup. A brisk walk or jog 30 minutes a day will help keep the blood flowing, joints lubricated, and help stabilize metabolism.

 

5.       Stay motivated: working out in groups of people or letting friends know your goals is a great way to help you stay focused. Also, writing down your set goals and repeating them twice a day also helps maintain focus. Every morning I use prayer as a channel with my goals to God. My prayer goes as follows. “Father, let me be the best light I can be for the darkness. Not only for me to gain success, but to be an example to those who may be struggling. Allow me to accomplish my goals by doing (X,Y,Z…) today.” This theory can also be applied to meditation or attraction.

CNP Athletes (L-R): Gene Amoguis, Chantal Nugent Amoguis, Matt "Mo Hookups", James Ernster, Evina Luna, Nate Koch

Some days are better than others, and that is ok. The most important thing to remember is keep trying and continue to practice changing or keeping your habits.

Roads are trudged, not skipped.

2014 CSUN Graduate

Yay! I did it! I finally did it!

After 2 years of focusing on school, I finally got my BA in Sociology!

Although I walked about 2 months ago, I am finally done with my classes I had during the summer and now I can proudly wait for my diploma in the mail! I will be the first out of my siblings to reach this goal, which is a big deal in my family. No, my brothers are not dumb, I am just smarted than them. :P

There is a question that has been asked of me over and over again since my graduation that is starting to get on my nerves.
“What are you going to do with your degree?”

Logically, my emotions would kick in and everything I was taught for my degree would vomit out of my ears and I would sit there overwhelmed with the thought that I had to get a job in which correlates to my field of interest. To me it sounds like I have limits. Well, actually I do.

I can be a social worker and help people who do not want to be helped. With all the case studies I have read, poverty recycles itself unless it changes itself. Not only is this a study, this is also a matter of experience. I am not trying to debate, just prove a point of why I can’t YET see myself in social work.

I can work in CPS (Child Protective Services), but it takes a special person to work with families rattled with abuse and violence. I don’t feel I would be emotionally secure to handle situations like that.

I can be a Parole Officer. I would have to have extensive training for hand to hand combat, I’d get to carry a gun (maybe), and maybe push some paper work.

I remember meeting an occupational therapist and chatting with how much she loved her job. Helping people get motor movement in their upper bodies, helping to restore function, and connection with the patients. This kind of occupation sounds like something I would totally be interested in, however, I would have to go back to school for that… I am not even thinking that far.

All these types of jobs have a few things in common. Lack of family time, overtime hours, minimal travel, and emotional stress. It takes a special kind of person to work in these fields. But ask me something different. Ask me about my goals. Ask me about my current jobs. What am I working on now? Ask me how you can help and I’ll think of a way to help you. Or ask me how I can help you.

It’s almost as society has put this burden and strain on graduates to pick and find a job in their field, it is no wonder why there are no jobs or it’s super competitive in the field we majored in. It was a goal trying to get a degree.

For now my future goals are to rekindle with my connections, continue working as a model, and continue competing as an athlete.

Giving up is never an option; Reach for the stars, even if you miss.