PERLA CORDERO

Photo: @ar1photography

Sight on The Prize

Perla Cordero is an driven model based in New Mexico.

When did you first get into modeling?

I first got into modeling when I was 14; sometime between 2011 and 2012, but that didn’t last very long. I was still under parental supervision, and my parents didn’t have time to take me to every casting. However, it wasn’t until 2019 when i finally got the courage to get in front of the camera once again.

Who or What inspired you to be a model?

To be honest, this is a difficult question. To me modeling has somehow always been in my system. As a child I was always going into my mother and grandmother’s closet in search of their high heels; or sticking my little feet into plastic cups to make myself taller. Since the day I learned to walk I always walked one foot in front of the other. I adored dressing up and taking photos. Every day I’m inspired by old and new artists whether it is Char, Prince, Rihanna, or Gaga.

Photos: @tiffany.casias.9256

What style of model do you consider your work to be?

I consider my modeling style to be artistic. I love visual arts. Whether it is designing or wearing designer items, creating art by cosplay, or just creating visual appeal. I love wearing not your average wardrobe. Some days I’m classy, some days I’m edgy, but most days I’m playful.

I would have to say the emotion that drives me through life would be passion. I love to find the beauty in everything I do or anything I see. I like to say that everything I do I do it with passion whether it be my job or a hobby. Passion is really something that drives me to pursue anything in life really. With enough passion for any dream it can become a reality.

What do you think makes you stand out in an industry overflowing with new faces?

What I think that makes me stand out in this industry would be a couple different things. For one I believe my personality is of good character. Second, I believe myself to be fun; I’m always trying to find ways to be creative and make any shoot or run away fun. I’m not a fan of being serious all the time. I love letting my inner child come out and that’s something I’m not scared to show. Finally a third reason would be because I tried to keep my professionalism up to standards. I always try to say hello, goodbye, please, thank you and I especially always try to have good etiquette. The reason why I say “I try” is because I’m only human, and no human and this world is perfect. We can only strive to be.

What has been your biggest challenge as a model? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

My biggest challenge as a model is overcome social anxiety and negativity. As an empath, I picked up on everybody’s frequencies, so being surrounded by a lot of individuals messes up my receptors per stay. It’s funny to hear but it’s true. Before I would have panic attacks if I went to any social events, and now I have learned to control this through breathing exercises. Just like anyone in this field, there will always be individuals that like to speak negative. My way of overcoming this would be with a smile on my face and just keep walking forward. There’s no point in listening to the negativity. Whether people are talking negatively about you or talking negatively about somebody else. To meet these types of individuals will only influence you to go down some path and that’s something that I don’t feel is necessary.

Photo: @dtphotography

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

“You must suffer for your art.” That’s an interesting subject, but yes in many ways I have had to suffer in order to follow your dreams. For instant, people who don’t believe in me, in my dreams, or frankly just individuals that don’t want to see me progress. There’s the financial side. In order to follow any dream it requires money. In my case money to buy shoes, clothing, to build a portfolio, my camp cards, and for an agent; I have to pay them too. There’s physical pain that I have to endure, posing for instance. You’ve got to have a lot of stamina to hold a pose for a certain amount of seconds to get the perfect image. Or when doing multiple designers in one runway; you have to endure the pain of having to wear heels throughout an 8-hour day of just standing. Yes runway shows will only last about 2 hours at most, but the prep time is unbelievable. You get there and you have to have your hair and make-up done. The rest of the time after that is prepping for the show. Practice in the outfit you’re going to model. How you’re going to be lined up. Is there a specific way that the designer wants you to show off the outfit. Forget about being a mannequin model. Being a mannequin model is intense because you have to hold a certain pose for minutes at a time without moving without taking breaks, the only thing you can really do is breathe and hope you don’t fall.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the modeling industry?

I feel like the internet has been a benefit for modeling. The internet has helped a lot of models, from getting started to becoming a freelance model. Definitely helps freelance models to get their names out and be recognized by agencies. It helps models find agencies in different states and even overseas. The internet helps to connect with other photographers or designers in a different state before you travel. The internet also helps to research individuals. Investigating an individual is important because you need to make sure that these individuals are safe, and they’re not someone that can cause harm to the model or vice versa the model to a photographer.

What is the best advice you have received?

The best advice that I have received is to stay away from negativity and always be authentic. Staying away from negativity has helped me reinforce my name as a model, and has helped me stay away from drama. Being authentic has helped me stay true to myself and who I want to be. Not being scared to say no to photo-shoots that I am uncomfortable with. I don’t want to later on in my career be told that I won’t be able to be part of something because there are misleading photographs in inconvenient places giving the wrong impression of my name. Staying authentic has also given me an opportunity to expand my love onto other people.

What’s next for you? Please explain.

The next step that I would like to take, or in other words, the next step I’m in the process of taking would be public speaking and commercial modeling. I would like to do public speaking for big events, events that will help me expand as a person. This could range from be public speaking as a radio show hosts to announcing at a runway. I would also like to start doing commercial modeling, whether it is photographed commercial or an actual ad commercial.

How can fans-to-be follow your career?

My fans-to-be can follow me on Instagram. I have two pages, @laperla3407 for my more creative side or @perla.model for my more professional model look. Thank you for your consideration and support. It has been wonderful to participate in this interview, and I look forward to cooperating in the future. Much love and blessings to everyone reading this.

Photo: @ar1photography