Discover Modeling
By Karen Seelenbinder

Is it possible that young people have lost touch with everyday social graces due to communicating through text messaging and emailing?  Amy Maggard, owner of Discover Modeling has found that teenagers from the age of 13 to 18 are not real sure how to meet someone face to face, shake hands or look a person in the eye.
    
“I help girls become young ladies,” explains Amy. “In my modeling school, I teach social manners, make-up, visual poise, posture, table manners, runway modeling, and how to prepare for photo shoots.”
    
When Amy was a teenager working for Friendly’s Ice Cream, one of her regular customers commented that she should be a model.  After several days of encouragement, Amy talked over the possibilities of a modeling profession with her parents.  They split the financing and Amy began to learn how to model at Noni’s modeling school.
   
When Amy first graduated from modeling school, she began working for department stores such as Schottensteins, The Limited, The Union and Lazarus (now Macy’s).  Along with modeling, Amy learned how to be a food stylist.  Food styling is the art of preparing food to be photographed for advertising purposes.  Amy was a food stylist for Big Bear and is now involved in various food commercials for restaurants including Arby’s. “It is a big responsibility manning the shoot of a food commercial,” comments Amy. “We use a lot of oil in food photography and when I am done making the food look appetizing it is no longer edible!”
    
Today, Amy’s focus is teaching modeling.  “I had such a wonderful experience in the modeling industry that I want others to have the same experience I had,” explains Amy.  “My target market is girls ages 13-18 which are the age group the professional modeling agencies are looking for.”
   
Amy offers a self-improvement workshop, advanced modeling workshop, and a modeling camp.  Her classes are offered at the Shawnee Hills Community Center in Dublin. 
     
Amy’s classes are not limited to only children but she has classes for men and women who are entering the work force and need guidance in preparing themselves for interviews.
    
“I have such a passion for this business,” exclaims Amy.  “If I ever question if this is what I should be doing, I go back and read the many encouraging notes from my students.  Recently, I had a little girl from Hawaii participate in a modeling class.  Once she had returned home, she wrote me a note thanking me for the new skills she had learned in how to walk, pose and carry herself in an elegant manner.  Whenever I read her note it confirms what an awesome service, I have.  It is needed.  My students look at themselves on video and see how they used to walk and how they walk now with professional training.”
    
The service Amy offers is vital in helping a person polish their social skills giving them more of an edge in getting that higher paying job, or landing a solid modeling job, or knowing the proper table manners when eating a dinner at an upscale restaurant.
    
Throughout Amy’s many years as being a model, stylist and instructor, she has looked to God for guidance.  “He is why I am here and has given me the many privileges I have had in this business.  I have had roadblocks along the way and have been fearful of failure but when I begin to sink into the emotional pit, I lean on Proverbs 3:5 –Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  And I remember the many testimonies of how my unique services have given each of my students the rare gift of social graces.” 

If you found this story interesting, informative, or inspiring, please let Amy Maggard know:  Discover Modeling,  614-766-7600; magfoodstylist@aol.com;  http://www.discovermodelinginc.com