Mick: Redefining Fashion and Resilience in New York City
NEW YORK CITY, NY — Mick, the epitome of New York City’s fashion scene, emerges as a beacon of resilience and creativity, challenging stereotypes and redefining success in the competitive world of modeling. With over seven years in the industry, Mick’s journey from a small-town upbringing in Delaware to the vibrant streets of the Lower East Side showcases her unwavering determination and magnetic charm.
Raised by a strong-willed mother who emigrated from communist Poland, Mick credits her upbringing for shaping her tenacity and creative spirit. “My mother taught me to find beauty in the ordinary and to turn challenges into opportunities,” Mick reflects. “She’s my inspiration and my guiding light.”
Mick’s foray into modeling began unexpectedly after a high school teacher recognized her potential. “I was the tall, awkward kid who never quite fit in,” Mick recalls with a laugh. “Modeling gave me a voice and a platform to inspire others.”
From humble beginnings armed with Polaroids taken on a disposable camera to gracing global runways and starring in iconic campaigns, Mick’s career has been a whirlwind of growth and empowerment. “Modeling isn’t just about striking poses,” Mick asserts. “It’s about storytelling, pushing boundaries, and advocating for authenticity.”
Her career-defining moment? A daring commercial shoot for William Rast that transported Mick to the desert, where she ran alongside a speeding train. “It was exhilarating,” Mick recalls. “A reminder that dreams are within reach if you dare to chase them.”
Living in the eclectic Lower East Side, Mick finds inspiration in New York City’s vibrant energy. “This city fuels my creativity,” she explains. “It’s a melting pot of cultures and ideas, where every corner tells a different story.”
As Mick sets her sights on the future, her ambitions remain as bold as ever. “I want to make a difference,” she declares with conviction. “Not just in fashion, but by empowering others to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their passions.”
For exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of Mick’s journey, follow her on Instagram @mickmodel.
” When I was growing up, she constantly told me about the brilliant women in history who had changed the world, like Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin. She made me believe I could be one of those women who could change the world. That’s what I dreamed about as a little kid and what I still dream about today.”
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DT 500 MAG: – How’d ya bust into the modeling scene like a wrecking ball?
MICK: – Like many models I’ve met, I was wildly unpopular in high school, and I grew up way too fast and had no idea how to gracefully coordinate all my limbs. I was also always very skinny, like those wacky, wild, inflatable tube men you see in front of car dealerships.
DT 500 MAG: –Did you have to make a bold, gutsy decision to dive headfirst into the world of modeling?
MICK: – I towered over most of the guys in school, so I never thought modelling was possible. It wasn’t until after graduation that my English teacher came to me and told me I should consider becoming a model. My reaction was nervous laughter as I waited for the punch line to the joke. She then told me that she used to work as a casting agent in NY and that I fit the build, but she never wanted to risk dropping out of high school by telling me too soon. She convinced me to go see agencies a week or two later.
” I hopped on a train with some Polaroids I’d taken with a disposable camera. Fortunately, I signed immediately and started working from the get-go. I planned to only do it for the summer, but then I fell in love with it, and I have never looked back.”
DT 500 MAG: – Alright, spill it—what went down next in your journey into the modeling game? Give us the gritty details.
MICK: – One day, I will just be meeting new clients for work; the next day, I’ll be shooting a makeup campaign; the next, I’ll be channelling alien vibes for an editorial. The jobs are all very different. Some days can be monotonous if I am just shooting products for e-commerce.
” Other days, I shoot editorials, and I really get to play and become a character. The more a job pushes me, the more I enjoy it.”
DT 500 MAG: – Tell us, what’s been your most epic gig so far? The one that’s really made you feel like you owned the world of modeling?
MICK: – The most inspiring job I’ve done so far would probably be the commercial I shot for William Rast. It was the craziest job I’d done at that point, and the scale of the shoot was massive. They even rented a train for one shot. I loved doing that job because it showed me that there is no limit to what you can achieve.
” I couldn’t believe they chose me for it, and yet, there I was, kicking ass, running next to a train in the middle of the desert. It was surreal.”
DT 500 MAG: – Mick, what’s the scoop on your backstage fashion hustle? Give us the lowdown on what it’s like behind the scenes.
MICK: – You’re leaving out the physical and emotional stress that this job comes with. I fell into this job by chance. I never thought this would be my life, and despite all it has provided for me, I don’t know that I would recommend it. I have survived so much because I am incredibly thick-skinned. I have seen so many gorgeous women fall apart under pressure. It is heartbreaking to comfort a beautiful girl while she is crying that she feels old and ugly at 23 years old. Some people treat models like garbage and will try to break a girl just to say they did.
“If you want to be a model, prepare yourself. The people who laugh at you one day will be the ones who call you for favours the next. Find an agent who believes in you and stick with them, but remember, the only person you can truly count on is yourself.”
DT 500 MAG: –Mick, break it down for us. What’s the inside scoop on what it really takes to rock the runway and slay the fashion game in NYC?
MICK: – People tell you that you must be ready to hear “NO” a lot, but it’s worse than that, you hear nothing. You have no idea why you don’t get specific jobs you thought were in the bag, and early on, you will overanalyse many things. You must be prepared to know every flaw because people will tell you. You must be okay with having no personal bubble.
DT 500 MAG: – Tell us more…
MICK: – If you do a lingerie shoot, someone you meet in the morning will re-position your cheeks in your panties in the afternoon. You must be okay with not knowing when you’ll get your next job and paycheck and not knowing what you’re doing tomorrow until the night before. You must be ready to do a casting at any time, sometimes even at night. You must be prepared to do anything ridiculous on a casting to get the job. One time, on casting, I mixed dancing through a field of butterflies and then playing in a waterfall.
“It’s a demanding job but also one that is incredibly rewarding emotionally. When you get to be a part of creating something wonderful and see it from start to finish, that is a damn good feeling. You get to meet some of the most creative people out there, and you get to see the world. The opportunities you get are unbelievable but far from the easy life people imagine it to be.”
“My inspiration is a vision of myself that is always ten steps ahead of where I am, and I’m always chasing to catch up to her. I’m always looking forward and pushing myself to improve and do more. I guess my statement is: Be great because you can be. “
DT 500 MAG: – What does self-realization mean in your world, Mick? Is it about finding that next level of creativity, or maybe it’s about owning your path and breaking boundaries in this concrete jungle?
MICK: – Sometimes I feel like I’m part of a creative community, and some days, I feel like I’m just another beastie in the rat race. It depends on the work I get to do. After two weeks of doing E-commerce, I started feeling like a bit of a drone. However, it only takes one editorial shoot or one stop-motion project to put me back on track to feeling great. My passion in life is to make people laugh.
” I don’t mind making an ass out of myself if it will bring a smile to a friend’s face. I love being able to cheer someone up with a joke or story.”
DT 500 MAG: – Yo, Mick, what personal achievements do you hold closest to your heart? The ones that really hit home for you?
MICK: – I try not to feel attached to my personal achievements. I’ve been in commercials, magazines, and all over billboards, but it doesn’t matter. I’m always looking forward to the next project, trying to think of the next idea, and pushing myself to do more. I don’t rest on my laurels; I study them and look for ways to improve myself.
DT 500 MAG: – Mick, when it comes to putting a label on yourself, how would you describe your vibe? What’s your personal style and identity that makes you stand out in the NYC scene?
MICK: – I don’t believe in classifying. Classifying yourself puts you in a box with walls around you, which is dangerous. I’m a chameleon, and I go where the wind blows me. I may feel like a tomboy one day, but I’ll want to dress like a 1950s housewife the next. I refuse to limit myself. I think our personalities are more fluid than people would like to admit. Have you ever found that one day, you feel incredibly confident and extroverted, only to flip the next day into an antisocial hermit? I don’t know what type of girl I am, but I strive to be kind, patient, and wise.
” I try to be creative in all my endeavours and always seek adventure, but I think the most important thing is to be kind. The world could be wonderful if only people were a little nicer to one another.”
DT 500 MAG: – Living in NYC—how does it feel to be in the heart of it all, where winners thrive?
MICK: – New York, for me, is an opportunity. This city is filled with some of the most creative people on the planet, and they all came here looking to do something incredible, to be a part of something. I love being surrounded by that energy every day, especially when I get to create something myself.
DT 500 MAG: – You still live in L. E. S.?
MICK: – I like the Lower East Side for many reasons. It has many great places to eat and shop, but I live here because it’s a highly convenient neighbourhood for work. My top three places on the Lowest East Side would be Shopsin’s for Brunch, Mission Chinese for wings and Black Crescent for drinks.
DT 500 MAG: – Mick, what’s the blueprint for your future lookin’ like? What’s the next big move you’re aiming to make in this city?
MICK: – To change the world.
DT 500 MAG: – Let’s do it!
As we wrap up, Mick’s journey unfolds like a cinematic masterpiece against the backdrop of New York City’s relentless energy. From humble beginnings to commanding the spotlight, she embodies the resilience and passion that define this city. In Mick’s NYC, every challenge is a scene waiting to be conquered, every setback a plot twist propelling her forward. So, keep watching, keep believing, because in this urban saga, dreams are the stars, and Mick is rewriting the script of success.
© Arthur Sopin and Andreas Rod
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