We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shima Noga. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shima below.
Shima, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
When I was a child, I was horribly self conscious, had low self-esteem, and always felt like I was being compared to my sister. However, I knew I was beautiful and I wanted to be a model. I used the tried and true method of “fake it til you make it” and that’s how I developed my confidence and self esteem. I kept telling myself that I had worth and that I can do anything I put my mind to. The power of the mind is a beautiful thing and the more you build yourself up and believe in yourself, eventually it will become reality.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I grew up the youngest of 8 children and one of two girls. From a young age, I was told I was beautiful, smart, and would do great things. However, I didn’t believe much of it. I always felt my sister was all those things and more. We were constantly compared to each other, though she is three years older. I don’t blame my sister or all of the people who compared us because it wasn’t done out of malice, but it made me believe I would never be good enough. This contributed to my lack of confidence and low self esteem.
As I grew older, I became aware of how pretty I was and how much I loved to model and be in photos. I was 13 when I did my first photoshoot and I was hooked ever since. I wanted to model and be seen as me, not the shadow of my sister. However, it wasn’t meant to be at that time. My family couldn’t afford to bring me to open castings or travel the 3.5 hours to Atlanta so I could attend castings and find an agent. Not to mention, I wasn’t the stereotypical model type. So I carried on. I got married at 16, had my first child at 17, and joined the military at 18 after graduating high school. I was content, but I still wanted to follow my original dream.
A divorce, a new marriage, and two kids later, I had my chance. With the support of my family, I started doing freelance modeling. I got my face and name out there and eventually got signed on by Wilhelmina Denver in Denver, CO. I loved every minute of it and my agents were amazing. I’ve had the pleasure of working with clothing brands, food and beverage, as well as a host of other things. Even when I was pregnant with my fourth child, I was able to get a job (one of my favorites honestly!).
Modeling is a huge part of my life and it has only helped me grow and appreciate the beauty around me. I’m still not that stereotypical model type most people see on TV and magazines, but I know I’m just as beautiful and just as worthy. Being a model is hard work and not as easy as many think, but nothing worth doing is easy.
Due to being in service to my country, my family and I no longer reside in Colorado. But I’m still working hard to keep my dream going. I definitely feel that perseverance and dedication is key to success and as long as you want it, you’ll find a way to get it.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Know your angles and best way to represent yourself – when in front of the camera, you are the product. Know the best version of you and show it.
Practice! – contrary to popular belief, modeling does not always come naturally. Subtle movements can make the difference between a triple chin or a long, elegant neck. Use your eyes and “smize” or smile with your eyes. You have to know what it feels like because the photographer will expect you to know.
Be kind – most important in my opinion. When you’re kind, your beauty shines through. Not to mention, you’re the representative of your brand (yourself) and the agency if you have one. If you want to be name requested or referred, you need to be kind. In small markets, such as Denver, word spreads quickly if you are not kind or hard to work with.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
The challenge I’m facing today is one I don’t have much control over. As stated previously, I am in the military and with that comes responsibility to my service before myself. I had to end my contract with Wilhelmina Denver so I could move to a different location. I have yet to truly settle in and the modeling market is about 2 hours away. I have to balance family, work, and my dreams and sometimes life doesn’t work out the way you want at the time you want. But I haven’t lost hope and I continue to practice my skills so I can stay competitive. I hope to continue my journey very soon.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Shishiofficial
Image Credits:
Bonnie Nichoalds Ashley Lauren Photography
