The young model's next step always seems to be New York. It is a classic story of a small-town girl with big city dreams, except in this fairytale the small town girl is already well known in the Big Apple.
Sarah Hawkins, a 21-year-old Senior Broadcasting Major at Messiah College in Grantham is using her petite frame, self described “retro classic” style and go-getter attitude to get herself noticed on a national level. Hawkins was just named Bergdorf Goodman's Faces of 5F campaign, where over 1,200 young women from all over the nation sent in pictures to Bergdorf Goodman's blog to be entered in a modeling contest. Sarah, a 5-foot-3 ivory-skinned woman with a pixie haircut, was one of eight finalists to be selected to represent Bergdorf Goodman in their window display at their New York City store and appear in the October issue of Lucky Magazine.
Hawkins, who grew up in Landisville outside of Lancaster and graduated from Hempfield High School, started modeling only four years ago to help out friends that were into photography. Her friends' photos were coming out great with her as the subject and she realized that she enjoyed modeling. In her first two years at Messiah, Hawkins decided to give modeling a try and sent out applications to break into the industry. Being only 5-foot-3, she wasn't the optimal size for modeling and didn't get many professional opportunities because most agencies are looking for women who are a minimum of 5-foot-8. Sarah picked up a manager last year, whom she ended up dropping the day she sent in her application to Bergdorf Goodman Faces of 5F because she says he was scamming her.
“The day I dropped my manager a friend sent me a link to the Bergdorf Goodman Faces of 5F contest and I didn't really think about it too much, I just had a gut feeling that I should do it,” says Hawkins.
Since the summer, Sarah was featured in Lucky Magazine, a prominent shopping and style publication, her photo was displayed in the window at Bergdorf Goodmans NYC store and had her picture buzzing all over every social media outlet.
This soon-to-be Messiah grad talked to Keystone Edge about having the world in the palm of her hands and is excited to dive into the post-grad world and see what awaits her.
Keystone Edge (KE): How did the Faces of 5F happen and why did this contest appeal to you?
Sarah Hawkins (SH): I had been trying to get picked up by a manager for a while and had finally had gotten a manager based in Philly who was setting up shoots for me. I unfortunately found out that my manager was scamming me so I dropped him right away, which conveniently happened to be the same day a friend sent me a link to Bergdorf Goodman's Faces of 5F blog- where they were advertising this contest. Since I am only 5-foot-3 I realize it is a burden in the modeling industry but this contest was open for anyone, which was the main appeal of the contest.
The one stipulation for any participant was that you couldn't have a manager. Since I no longer did, I sent in a head shot and a full body shot to their blog for my entry. I was one of 25 finalists. I went up to New York, was interviewed by the creative team at Bergdorf Goodman and Lucky Magazine editors, had a photo shoot with an Australian photographer, and two days later found out that I was one of the eight women they picked.
KE: How has your life changed since being picked for Faces of 5F?
SH: Right now things haven't changed a whole lot for me other than more people are curious about me and want to know what I am all about. During the actual shoot there as a documentary film crew there documenting everything for a film they are making about Bergdorf Goodman. I was interviewed from the crew talking about my height-ism issues and how I am overcoming being so tiny in such a tall industry. This was by far the most exciting part of being picked because once the film releases it will open many more doors for me, I hope. The film will be called, “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman” and released in October, 2012. I can't wait!
KE: What about modeling excites you and do you see yourself modeling as a career?
SH: When I am modeling I take on a different personality and feel my best self when I am on camera. A different person comes out and depending on the mood of the shoot a different attitude comes out, too. It is almost like acting, which I love. I don't think I would want to do modeling for a career, I would love to get into film. I am getting a degree in Broadcasting Communications with a concentration in Media Studies, so acting and television is where my true passion lies. I would love to have a career in fashion. Working for the Style Network would be the dream job.
KE: How do you view fashion?
SH: I love fashion. It is a huge part of who I am and affects me everyday. Fashion is fun because it is apart of yourself. It is a manifestation of who you are. It is exciting to see what you can create by mixing different cuts, textures, colors, etc. to arrive at a different look. It is amazing to me what a good outfit will do for your confidence. I had a blog while I was studying at the Philadelphia campus of Messiah for street style, and I loved it. I made the blog as a way to network and get my foot in the door with Philly fashion and met many creative stylistic people.
KE: How would you describe your own personal style?
SH: In High School I had a very artsy, hippy-esque style, by now my style has matured with me and I would call it ‘retro-classy', inspired by the French New Wave. What that means in terms of what clothes I like to wear is, I love dresses, any type of heel, especially boots and blazers! Since Messiah is a very hilly campus, the heels don't always work with my college lifestyle, but I will always wear heels when I can.
KE: What is next for you?
SH: I am graduating in December and right now I am focusing on applying to Graduate School. I am looking into Parsons The New School for Design in NYC and The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. The idea of grad school just came to me so I am really trying to find programs that I would like. I am looking into studying Fashion Media because I know that I want to go into fashion and need something that says I am credible. So the next step for me in a nutshell, is New York City.
KELLY CLAYTON is a senior at Elizabethtown College who plays field hockey, writes on a variety of subjects for publications and is the Editor of Tru(4)ia Magazine. Send feedback here.
PHOTOS:
Sarah Hawkins photo by Jon Stars
Behind the scenes during a video shoot for a collaborative fashion film called “Reawakening”
Sarah Hawkins by Katie Hennessey
Sarah Hawkins appearing in an ad that ran in the October Issue of Lucky Magazine