Laura Watson
When people tell you that you can’t do something, it makes you even more determined!
My name is Laura Watson, a 27 year old from Sydney NSW Australia.
All through school I was known as the tall lanky girl with glasses, a tomboy who had more male friends then females as I was more a fan of sport then sitting around gossiping. So I never really cared about my looks, make up and what was the ‘in thing’.
By the age of 17 I was 182cm/6ft’ and would always get compliments! “Wow you’re so tall! Your legs are so long! You should be a model! “ Also my huge blue eyes did attract compliments also.
This was also when hanging out with boys become for different reasons and fashion and looks started becoming interesting. Like any teenagers life peer pressure is a big issue and when you’re not in the ‘in crowd’ and can’t fit into a size 6-8, you weren’t cool enough at school and pushed aside, so the dream to become a model always seemed unreachable.
But I became very interested in modelling and was obsessed with shows like Next Top Model, became a fan of Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell and really wanted to get into the field but had no idea where to start.
My parents were supportive but would rather I have a solid paying local job just like other kids my age, so my modelling ideas disappeared and I ended up studying my other interests and completed my studies of photography and art.
I finished school, I stuck with my 9-5pm retail job and completed my other life goals.. I brought a house at the age of 19, met my amazing supportive husband and married at 21.
I was working full time in administration and two years later we had our first child, my body ballooned! Being pregnant was the best time of my life and people would always say ‘you’re pregnant you’re allowed to eat what you want and relax!’ and sadly I did and after having my 6 months off on maternity leave and returning back to work, I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. It was depressing and I hated seeing photos of myself.. but I was a mum now, there were more important things to look after, so I put myself last.
2 years later my gorgeous son was born. I was smarter this time and didn’t gorge on all the tempting bad food, I ate sensible and did a lot of walking and it was also harder this time round keeping up with a 2 year old in the process. I was happy with life and now my amazing family was complete but I wasn’t happy within myself. I know looks arnt everything, but being run down and seeing a tired flabby person looking back at me in the mirror, this wasn’t who I used to be. Of course my husband didn’t see that, he was already proud of all I had achieved, but I wanted to do this for myself.
So many friends would comment how being a mum changes you, “Laura you still have your awesome long legs, but I guess after having kids you can say good bye to your modelling career! HAHA!”
This is what got to me, I needed a lifestyle change and I was the only one who could do it. I was still young and you can do anything you set your mind to! So I did. I cut out all bad foods from my life, I read a lot of weight loss books, studied nutrition and motivated myself to run. I got up every morning at 5am and for the first time in years I ran. And I loved it! The energy I started consuming each day from excercising was amazing! So I started my journey of the improved healthier me who was going to show those girls being a mum doesn’t stop you living your dreams! and 15 months later I did it!
I built up the courage to dive back into the modelling world, where would I start? Who would want someone who was 27 and had not much experience in this field? And then I met an amazing down to earth photographer - Shane Fenton from Fenton Photo Media. He was great, so respectful and honest and I only told him a small bit about myself, I had no portfolio to show, just me as me. And he was blown away and said there was so much natural beauty there I couldn’t see it. He was very keen to shoot me and I happily accepted a TFP shoot with him. The nerves beforehand were crazy! I was excited and worried and hoped I wasn’t wasting his time.
The shoot was an amazing day, full of knowledge and fun. That was the main thing, I wanted to do something for me, enjoy the day as myself, a model, not as a busy mum who works 2 jobs and mainly have fun. And it was awesome, I felt great and Shane admitted that he was blown away by the natural raw talent I had, in fact that day he had already asked me to come back for a shoot that they were organising. A week later the images came through and I was stunned! They were beautiful. I woke the next day on such a high, full of adrenaline as I now had the modelling bug and couldn’t wait to do it all again.
I did show may family and friends who were blown away, “this isn’t you! You look amazing! Wow why didn’t you do this years ago!”
So now I tell people yes I'm a mum of two, I work a full time job and run a busy house hold but I'm also a part time model! I'm happy and love every bit of my busy lifestyle and every time I get asked to be involved in a shoot, that same adrenaline rush kicks in!
All photos by FENTON Photo Media
