We had the good fortune of connecting with Isaac Allanarem and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isaac, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson that modeling has taught me so far is that rejection is necessary, it builds character, and I shouldn’t take it personally. This is a lesson that is applicable to other areas of my life. Mwanandeke Kindembo once said, “Without experiencing criticism and rejection in life, it would be impossible to grow or improve yourself.” Experiencing rejection hurts, but it plays a vital role in your growth and development. As an example, about two years ago, I was booked to be a part of a campaign with an online food ordering company. Unfortunately, the day before the shoot, my agent informed me that the client had been asked to reduce their numbers and that I was one of the models that they let go. I was disappointed, but in that moment, I quickly learned that business is business. Rejection will happen frequently along the journey of pursuing your passion, and it’s not something to overanalyze. Just keep going! 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’ve been modeling for about four years now, specifically within the catalog/commercial genre of modeling. I love it for a myriad of different reasons. I love that I get to use it as a form of self-expression. I love the thrill of being a part of different campaigns.   I love that it has given me the opportunity to make a lot of connections, make new friends, make extra money, and challenge myself. Despite its many perks, modeling hasn’t always been a joyous and smooth journey. When I first started, I used to compare myself to other models and it often resulted in me dealing with imposter syndrome. I also had to learn how to deal with rejection. You’re not going to be every casting director or client’s physical preference for a job and that’s alright. It’s just logistics and is not personal (most of the time). It took me a while to learn to be persistent and patient despite the rejection.

One of my proudest and biggest moments as a model is the campaign I did for Timberland. That campaign was shot in the Summer of 2019 and the ads were released in the Fall of 2020.  The company used my images for their product catalog, website, social media, internal use, etc.  I’m very proud of what was accomplished over the course of that two-day shoot. I’m still thankful for that opportunity every day. 

If there’s something that you want to try, I’d encourage you to try it out and put yourself out there. You will learn so many new skills, develop/strengthen your confidence along the way, and you’ll see yourself become a version of yourself you never thought possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Day 1 – We’d go to Sugar Jam the Southern Kitchen for brunch. Afterwards, we would head to the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall.

Day 2 – We’d go to the Phoenix Art Museum & the Roosevelt Art’s District in the afternoon. Then we would have dinner at Cibo.

Day 3 – We’d go hiking at Hayden Butte Preserve Park in Tempe early that morning. We’d visit the Desert Botanical Garden later that day.

Day 4 – Do a day trip to Sedona.

Day 5 – Go to a rooftop bar in downtown Phoenix (From the Rooftop) for some drinks and a nice view of the city.

Day 6 – Visit Taliesin West in the afternoon and then go to Wrigley Mansion for dinner.

Day 7 – Go to the Mesa Arts Center.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I want to give a shoutout to Phil Colbert for getting me involved in test shoots, which helped spur my interest in modeling. I also want to give out a shout out to a few photographers: Paul Mwaura, Aaron Walker, Westeal, Steve Chadwick, and Milton Lau. I’m thankful for the test shoots that we did in the beginning of my modeling journey. When I did my agency submission, I used a mixture of shots from those sessions, and it helped me in getting signed. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacallanarem/

Image Credits
Godlyne Ulinwa Mark H. Thompson Jr

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.