Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Lara-Amezcua.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Jennifer Lara-Amezcua, I was born and raised in Rochester and still am here now. My parents came to the United States in February of 2001, I was born shortly after in July. Just like everyone else they wanted to make sure their kids grew up in a safe town and were able to receive the opportunities they didn’t have. Coming here not knowing a lick of English would definitely be scary for a 17 and 19-year-olds but they managed to make their way here in this town. My first language was Spanish and I learned English from watching tv, and going to kindergarten and daycare. Growing up I had to translate for my parents who were still trying to learn the language.
One day when we were walking around the local mall a lady came up to my parents and asked them if they would be okay if she photograph me in a dress for a children’s clothing magazine. They said yes. I still remember to this day driving out of town and meeting the other 2 kids who were going to be in the photoshoot. The shoot went great and the pictures turned out super good. She then asked my parents if they could travel because they wanted to do more shoots with me, but unfortunately, my parents didn’t feel safe traveling to different parts of the US due to their immigration status and they didn’t really have the funds at the time to do so.
Fast forward many years later, I graduated high school. I was the first one in my family to do so. Unfortunately, my parents never had the chance to because they were taken out of school at a very young age to help provide for their families.
Walking across that stage and seeing them and the rest family cheering for me was the best feeling ever. It still makes me emotional till this day. I was the first one to go to college as well but I felt like I wasn’t really ready for that so I ended up dropping out because I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do. I jumped around working at restaurants, a gym and a nursing home when I finally got a job as a salesperson at a local dealership just like my dad which made him really happy.
Since I was little I always dreamed of being a model, I would do little fashion shows for my parents all the time, and I loved being in front of the camera. I would watch Nuestra Belleza Latina as well as America’s next top models and Victora Secret Fashion Show. I would look at the girls on those shows and say that was going to be me one day. I was obviously super intimated to try modeling because of my height and because I didn’t really look like those girls. I would see photographers post that they have openings for photoshoots but I was always to nervous too. One day I saw a photographer posted they had 25-minute mini sessions and I just said F it and I booked the shoot. I was super nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I asked my mom to come with me and I am so happy I did. When we started shooting I looked over at my mom and she was smiling so hard taking behind the scene photos with her phone and all I wanted to do was cry because I couldn’t believe that I was finally doing what I have always been dreaming and seeing how proud my mom was made me just so happy. The photographer asked me if I wanted to come to the Model day workshop and of course, I said yes. One week later after that, I had been booked for another photoshoot with another photographer. I see that my social media is slowly growing and I am networking with more people and I have never been happier. My next goal would be published in Vogue and work with some of my favorite companies slowly and surely I know with hard work and dedication anything and everything can happen.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely had not been a smooth road there are a lot of things that had pushed me away from wanting to chase my dream. I didn’t have the easiest time in school, always had trouble retaining the things I learned, I always worried as a kid, What if I get home one day and my parents are gone, they got sent back to Mexico. It’s something you talk about to your kids because it is a possibility. I worried about if I wasn’t tall enough, I wasn’t blonde, I wasn’t fit enough, I was uncomfortable because I didn’t look like everyone else. I was always thinking maybe if I looked different, like everyone else it would be easier for me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Apart from trying to get my modeling career going, I work at a local dealership selling cars. I started out as a sales assistant for one of the other salesman at the company but within 7 months they mentioned to me that they think I should start selling on my own and I did. I am now working as a Sales Women at Rochester Chevrolet Cadillac.
What makes you happy?
Seeing my hard work paid off makes me happy. I know that just like my parents I worked hard for everything I have now. Nothing was ever just handed to me. I also love spending time with my partner, family and friends whenever I can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jenniferllara
- Facebook: Jennifer Lara
Image Credits:
Amy Deip | @shotbyamy (Professional Photos)
