Meet Rachel Lopez | Fashion Model

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

Hi Rachel, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
One constant question I always get asked about the modeling industry is, how much do models get paid? It’s always a whole detailed conversation I have to get into and explain that it’s not an overnight project where you instantly get paid for the work you do. Majority of those that enter the modeling industry have been in it for years and have been gifted with the gift of patience, motivation, and perseverance. I can say I’ve been lucky enough to book jobs that are willing to pay for my time and work. Don’t get me wrong, though, I love the idea of everyone helping out each other to get to success, but many can also misunderstand it, thinking that models don’t deserve to get paid because we just sit there and pose but it’s way more than that. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into the ‘glamorous’ industry. It also applies to photographers, designers, etc. I will say that it’s one of the most rewarding feelings once you feel like your hard work has been paying off. Some of those moments include getting to travel to different cities, meeting other people with the same interests as you as well, and of course just getting to do what you love.

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.
Fashion has always been fascinating to me for as long as I can remember. I’d like to say that I am a very creative person and modeling is everything I’ve ever loved wrapped up together. Down to the fashion; making the clothes, putting pieces together, what works and what doesn’t. The photography, perfect/non perfect angles, different types of lighting, the variety of sceneries to shoot in. All the way down to the behind the scenes aspect, every person that it takes to make a fashion show, from a creative director, planning it all out, coordinating the models, everything is just so fascinating. I’ve 100% wanted to be a fashion designer, stylist, model, and creative director at one point in my life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I have friends come into town sometimes, I try to take them to cool parts of the city that I think they would enjoy. For a cool hangout spot we just recently went to Glow in the Dark Mini Golf in Mesa, it’s called Imagine 3D Mini Golf, and it’s a family business; it’s very fun hangout spot if you’re a competitive person. Perhaps for a dessert place, I’d either take them to Joe’s Italian Ice in Tempe or Novel Ice Cream on Grand Ave in Downtown Phoenix, both spots are great. I also like going to Downtown Glendale for the super cute vintage antique stores that they have there, they also have an astrology store that I must always stop by in whenever I go, there’s also a cute coffee shop and a pastry shop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Growing up, modeling was always something that was brought up to me due to my height compared to the other kids when I was younger. I never knew that I could be in a hobby like modeling until the summer of 2018, where I was given the opportunity to model in a Quinceañera fashion show. Ever since then, I began to go to classes with Derika Silva, coach and owner of Lit Model Studios. She took on the role of a mentor, coach, friend, and sometimes even, a therapist, for myself and all of the other girls on the team. Going on my fourth year of modeling, I would have never believed to have done all the opportunities I was given in the last 3 years, from walking in fashion shows, doing photoshoots, traveling to Los Angeles and even recently to New York City.

There are many great people that have partook in the journey that I am on today, from photographers, stylists, designers, model mentors, friends and family, especially my mom who would (and sometimes still has to) drive me all across Phoenix to my photoshoots and fashion shows.

I am very grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met who have showed me unselfish acts of kindness, in an industry that has a reputation for being selfish and cruel.

Website: https://litmodelstudio.com/rachel.html

Instagram: r.achellopez

Image Credits
Bodhi Saint Doug Kamuda Frankie Infante