Beauty Feature Series: Tammie Yip
February 16, 2013
My idea of an inspirational read is one that tells a tale of the sting of failure, and the joy of success. The articles that I write are a reflection of this. I want to be able to feel the emotion of the person that I’m reading about. I need to find an element of their story to identify with. Karla With a Kay is all about diversity. We are reaching out to every woman, from every walk of life.
My need for empathy has taken me to the place of writing articles showcasing all of these beautiful diversities.
I will be interviewing women in the entertainment, beauty, and fashion industry, featuring women in all different places in their careers. From students to seasoned professionals, we will be hearing about how they are overcoming and how they overcame career challenges.
By reading these articles and interviews, I hope that you are inspired by the stories that these women have to tell.
Inspiring, and motivating every woman, is what Karla With a Kay is all about.
TAMMIE YIP
Age: 26
From: Cleveland, OH
Occupation: Model
What was your first memory of wanting to model?
I honestly never really thought about wanting to model until I was in 8th grade and I had a lot of older people encourage me to look into it and try. Then I starting to think, “wow, I can really do this!”
What was the biggest career mistake that you made?
Not starting early enough. I had the opportunity to work with Ford Models when I was 14 and I couldn’t do it because my parents couldn’t afford it.
Who gave you the most support to pursue modeling?
All of my friends and family were the most supportive. Especially my parents since they were the ones that saw how much I wanted it do it since I was younger. They tried very hard for me, until they couldn’t anymore.
What was the biggest turning point in your career?
It was definitely me moving to NYC and then getting signed to Wilhelmina Philadelphia.
What’s been the biggest obstacle that you have faced? Getting noticed! You have to go through a lot of rejection in this industry.
How do you feel about the weight issues that most models face?
It’s stressful. I think that it’s time for the fashion industry to change that up and move in the positive. The regulations have to be there. They need to start educating the young ones first about body image. I feel that models need to be mentally strong and know that what they think about themselves is way more important than what anyone else does.
What do you do to stay healthy?
I surround myself with positive people, try to sleep as much as possible, and eat healthy numerous times a day. Drink lots of water. I don’t really drink alcohol that much. I also work out at least three times a week.
Do you have any advice for someone starting out in modeling?
I would say do your research, don’t be lazy/work hard, and make sure that you work and meet with the right people. Don’t be afraid of failing, and put yourself out there!