{"id":144810,"date":"2022-03-24T13:00:05","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T17:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=144810"},"modified":"2023-03-18T17:54:04","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T21:54:04","slug":"how-america-gonzalez-quieted-her-imposter-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=144810","title":{"rendered":"How Am\u00e9rica Gonz\u00e1lez Quieted Her Imposter Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.centerimg {padding:4em 7em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg2 {padding:4em 4em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg3 {padding:4em 3em;margin:20px 0;}\n.sidetxt {padding:16em 2em 16em 2em;;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg img {margin-bottom:0px;}\n.instagram-media {margin:auto !important;}\n#wp-content hr {margin: 40px auto 80px auto;width: 80%;}\n<\/style>\n<p><strong>From dreams of becoming a doctor to walking 34 runway shows this season, Venezuelan model <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/america-gonzalez\">Am\u00e9rica Gonz\u00e1lez<\/a>\u2019s career path made a 180\u00b0 turnaround due to her strong sense of perseverance. Rejection is expected in the industry, yet despite the ups and downs of finding the right agency and coming from Venezuela, where traditionally beauty pageantry is the norm, Gonz\u00e1lez worked her way up to being nominated for Models.com\u2019s Top Newcomers list for both the <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/top-newcomers-s-s-2022\/\">S\/S<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/top-newcomers-f-w-2022\/\">F\/W 22<\/a> seasons. After a busy season closing <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/proenza-schouler-proenza-schouler-fw-22-show\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Proenza Schouler F\/W 22<\/a> and opening <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/carolina-herrera-carolina-herrera-fw-22-show\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carolina Herrera<\/a>, Models.com spoke to Gonz\u00e1lez about working with top stylists, the importance of a robust support system, and the next set of dream collaborators she\u2019d like to work with. <\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1708\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-144831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-2.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-2-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-2-959x1280.jpg 959w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-2-1151x1536.jpg 1151w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Prada F\/W 22 Show | Image courtesy of Supreme Management<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Did you always want to be a model? <\/strong><br \/>\nNot at all! I wanted to be a doctor. I never thought of myself as a model. I was really into blogging on Tumblr during the early 2010s and would carefully curate my page to fit my aesthetic, which in many ways was a refuge for me to learn about style, fashion photography, and to get away from my reality. I looked up to many supermodels of every decade, but it never crossed my mind that I could do what they did. Not because I didn\u2019t believe I was attractive \u2014 I daydreamed about being a model and traveling the world, but I was convinced I wasn\u2019t photogenic or charismatic enough and lacked the \u2018it\u2019 factor. Sure, I would fantasize about it, but I didn\u2019t plan to make it happen. Once I started test shooting, I realized there was a side to me I had never seen before. I don\u2019t want to over-simplify that time of my life because it had many ups and downs. Sometimes I would be horrified by the results of a shoot, and other times, I would be delighted. It taught me many things about myself, most notably that I had potential and could do anything I set my mind to if I wanted to.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you get scouted?<\/strong><br \/>\nUnexpectedly, on Instagram. I always believed people usually got scouted on the streets, on open calls or competitions, or in a traditional beauty pageant. In my country, Venezuela, we have a strong beauty pageant and Miss Universe culture that dictates that young women follow a strict beauty standard where you have to act, look, and breathe a certain way, or you\u2019re considered an eyesore. After test shooting for a couple of months, I was approached by a scout via DMs and everything took off after that initial connection. I spent the majority of my first year taking modeling seriously, even though I was rejected by every major agency. Fashion modeling is not the standard in Venezeula and certainly not considered as important as pageantry. Modeling was an afterthought, unattainable, and frankly something most girls don\u2019t even bother with pursuing, not just because it\u2019s not considered as respectable to our culture but because there are still a lot of outdated stereotypes about it. When I immigrated to Mexico, things got even harder trying to develop in a highly commercial market and dealing with agencies that didn\u2019t see my potential. Finally, after a couple of years of hard work visiting different modeling markets, things started to shape up and I began to understand more how things work in this industry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>After being nominated by <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/carlos-nazario\">Carlos Nazario<\/a> for Top Newcomers last season, F\/W 22 shows have been a big breakout season for you as you\u2019ve opened Carolina Herrera, closed Proenza Schouler, and walked for Loewe, Dior, Prada, Versace, and Bottega Veneta. What motivates you in your career?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy little family. Every step of my career I\u2019ve had the unwavering support of my older sister and my partner. All three of us immigrated together with nothing but a couple of hundred dollars and the old clothes in our suitcases. Every day they inspire me to be fierce and resilient. They\u2019re the reason why I never come back home empty-handed. I just want them to be super proud of me.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1708\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-144834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-5.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-5-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-5-959x1280.jpg 959w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-5-1151x1536.jpg 1151w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Proenza Schouler F\/W 22 Show | Image courtesy of Supreme Management<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What has been your most memorable moment modeling so far?<\/strong><br \/>\nDoing my Prada debut. There\u2019s an overpowering force that comes along with working alongside fashion titans like Miuccia, Raf, and Olivier. I can\u2019t quite explain how but they have this power to transform your life by gracing you with their influence. It makes one feel invulnerable to other people\u2019s dismissiveness. It single-handedly turned me into a better individual, confident like I\u2019ve never been before.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you could use one word to describe this show season, what would it be?<\/strong><br \/>\nFaaaabulous!<\/p>\n<p><strong>You were just featured in Ambush\u2019s F\/W 22 Lookbook. How was it working alongside Carlos Nazario, considering he voted you in for Top Newcomers S\/S 22?<\/strong><br \/>\nSince we first met, Carlos has been a joy to work with but shooting that lookbook was a special one because he and his team always make me feel welcome, like I could be myself and relax a bit. All the uneasiness I once had, questioning myself like \u201cwhy do I deserve this?\u201d dissipated once I was voted onto Top Newcomers\/Breakout S\/S 22 by him. For a long time, I tried my best to manifest that moment; I would talk about it to anybody willing to listen, casually mention it to my bookers, because I really wanted it. I can say from experience that you can work hard, but you won\u2019t \u2018pop\u2019 until the right people have you on their radar. I can say he\u2019s definitely been the catalyst for me to start achieving and aspiring for more, and I am still incredibly grateful to him for considering me worthy of that.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1708\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-144835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-6.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-6-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-6-959x1280.jpg 959w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-6-1151x1536.jpg 1151w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Photo by Axel Morin | Image courtesy of Supreme Management<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong> What\u2019s one thing people may be surprised to find out about you?<\/strong><br \/>\nI don\u2019t know about \u2018surprising,\u2019 but I have read at least 10,000 (probably way more) chapters of Japanese manga across all genres. It\u2019s the single thing that\u2019s consistently been a part of my life since I was eight years old. I have a collection of physical copies with my oldest and proudest acquisitions being a compilation of short stories by Hagio Moto and my latest purchase, the Deluxe Edition of Berserk Vol. 1 by Kentaro Miura.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p> \u201cOnce you find the people who have your best interest at heart and challenge yourself to aspire for more, you\u2019ve already succeeded.\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>What is one of the biggest challenges you\u2019ve faced in your career and how did you move past it?<\/strong><br \/>\nBeing seen. Sometimes things don\u2019t flourish the way they\u2019re meant to because a team doesn\u2019t see your true potential and is holding you back. It\u2019s important to find the courage to walk away when a contract has run its course. When I started working with Donat Barrault at <a href=\"\u201d\u201d\/\/Supreme\u201d\u201d\" rel=\"\u201d\u201d noopener\" target=\"\u201d\u201d\u201d_blank\u201d\u201d\u201d\">Supreme NY<\/a> my career started taking off and things haven\u2019t been the same since. I have huge respect for all the professionals who helped open doors for me, especially the Supreme NY and Paris teams. Once you find the people who have your best interest at heart and challenge yourself to aspire for more, you\u2019ve already succeeded. When it comes to personal challenges, sometimes it all boils down to confidence, character, and personal style. With minimal funds, I struggled to find my personal style, and admittedly I still struggle a bit. I moved past it by working hard and shopping smarter, seeing that what works for others may not always work for me. Finding that balance within personal style reflected and helped develop my character and overall confidence.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1708\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-144833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-4.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-4-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-4-959x1280.jpg 959w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2022\/03\/AMERICA-GONZALEZ-PHOTO-4-1151x1536.jpg 1151w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Versace F\/W 22 Show | Image courtesy of Supreme Management<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>When you\u2019re not modeling, what mostly takes up your time?<\/strong><br \/>\nI love enjoying the fruits of my labor at home by going to the farmer\u2019s market and flea market with my partner. Cooking up a storm in my tiny kitchen. Biking with my dog, taking her to the park. Paying visits to my big sister, collecting flowers, going home, cleaning, making it nice and cozy. Knitting, drawing, gaming, reading. Playing with the cat and making him fly with a feather wand. Just an honest, regular, simple life filled with love and pet cuddles. I\u2019ve spent all my downtime building my little sanctuary and I am incredibly proud of it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who are your dream brands or collaborators to work with in the future? <\/strong><br \/>\nDream collaborators would be a long list out of which I\u2019ve proudly checked off quite a few. It would be a dream to work with Hyea W. Kang soon, but I\u2019d love to one day work with David Sims, Mario Sorrenti, Steven Meisel, Mert and Marcus, and work once again with Ethan James Green. I have this artistic crush on the works of Carlijn Jacobs or Hugo Comte. Of course, I\u2019d love to continue working with Prada, Fendi, and Lanvin; truly, all the brands that I just walked the shows of during this past fashion month. Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Miu Miu, Valentino, Saint Laurent are some of the iconic houses I would love to work with, God willing.<\/p>\n<p><!--pp-thumb-start--><!--PictPress found no dir \/2022\/03\/144810--><!--pp-thumb-end--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From dreams of becoming a doctor to walking 34 runway shows this season, Venezuelan model Am\u00e9rica Gonz\u00e1lez\u2019s career path made a 180\u00b0 turnaround due to her strong sense of perseverance. Rejection is expected in the industry, yet despite the ups and downs of finding the right agency and coming from Venezuela, where traditionally beauty pageantry&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":144846,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10414,16,13940],"tags":[12299],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144810"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/450"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=144810"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144847,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144810\/revisions\/144847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/144846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=144810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=144810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=144810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}