Six months ago, senior Allison Ponthier began her modeling career when she was hired to model at a small boutique. There, she was greeted by a model named Lauren who helped open up Ponthier’s modeling connections.

“She was like ‘Hey I think you should meet with my agent, I think she would really like you,’” Ponthier said. “She snapped a picture of me and sent it off to her agent, and her agent wanted me.”

Since then modeling has played a prominent part in Ponthier’s life. She did promo work for one of Dallas’ biggest runway events of the year called DIFFA, which is a charity event that provides grants to those affected by HIV/AIDS. You can also see Ponthier’s face printed on Earthbound Trading Company’s storefront banner across the nation and in Seventeen Magazine where she advertised Do It Yourself prom jewelry ideas created by Michael’s.

“I had no idea it was for Seventeen [Magazine] at the time,” Ponthier said. “My agent sent me an email and she was like ‘hey, Michaels is casting’ and I was like ‘cool, I’m going to be on a knitting pattern or something’ and then I got there and they told me it was for Seventeen Magazine. I had no idea and I was super psyched. It was an incredible experience.”

At that point, Ponthier had only been modeling for two months, however she said modeling had already taught her how to present herself as a business and a product, and because of this she has learned how to carry herself and make connections with the people around her.

“[Modeling] is a business, you are a business, you are a product, and I can see where its superficial because it is based on how you look but really all [modeling] is, is how blank of a canvas are you? How good of a canvas are you? How well can you transform?” Ponthier said.

Behind the camera lens, Ponthier spends her photo-shoots either modeling summer clothes in 40 degree whether, letting people slather Vaseline on her legs to make them appear shiny, or occasionally even having to change ensembles on the side of the road.

“I have done a lot of weird shoots, there is never a shoot that’s normal,” Ponthier said. “There is always something you have to do that’s strange.”

According to Ponthier, modeling is glamorous in the pictures, but it is the least glamorous thing outside of the runway. Behind the scenes, it is just a lot of rushing, trying to get things done, eating, and being cold and tired. Despite this, Ponthier has learned how to market herself and achieve success.

“Modeling has increased my confidence, and a lot of it is just changing and being a different person every time I model,” Ponthier said. “It helped me really find myself as a person.“