“I had always been told I was photogenic,” said Bentley Smith, the model from Georgia, with a smile. Having her own style and being outgoing and confident made modeling a perfect fit for her. She has worked as a fashion model for two years. Modeling came naturally to her, even though she had not considered modeling until she had a test shoot with a local photographer. As a child, Smith loved playing dress-up and shopping with her mom and sister, Fashion was always important for her.
Modeling is a calling to Bentley Smith
“There is nothing better than the freedom and joy I feel from communicating with emotions, expressions, and movement in front of the camera,” Smith told Harper’s Bazaar about her passion for modeling. “I mainly shoot fashion, swimwear, commercials, and beauty. Every shoot is like playing dress-up and expressing yourself as art.” Smith, who is currently signed with Click Atlanta Modeling Agency, is humbled by her early success. She revealed, “My photos have been published in numerous magazines and I have worked on many popular cosmetic beauty campaigns and with online clothing brands.”
Coco Rocha Model Camp
Coco Rocha is Smith’s icon. For Smith, “Coco Rocha is the warmest and most caring person. She shares her experience and knowledge because she truly loves helping people. And of course, she is a fiercely fabulous model!” Attending the renowned Coco Rocha Model Camp in New York was a great experience for Bentley Smith. She is still excited about it, “It was more than a class. It was so encouraging and hands-on that it actually builds your sense of self. The course includes skills such as posing and runway, but it also gives you a better understanding of the business side of modeling.”
During the course, models learned techniques on how to move from pose to pose. Training with the iconic model and being with other models from all around the world was a true inspiration for Bentley Smith. She explained, “Learning from someone with her experience really shifted my confidence in every area.” The biggest lesson she took home from the course was ‘To always believe in your potential and go for your dreams.’ It’s not easy to be a successful model. Smith understands that it requires “working hard, being yourself, showing kindness, and always giving every job 100% of your energy and creativity.”
The fashion world needs more diversity
Talking about the trends in the modeling industry, Bentley Smith shared her thought, “My hope is that we will continue to see more diversity in the fashion comes in every color, shape, and size. I would love to see even more diversity in these areas on the runway and in advertising. I feel like we are getting there but there is still room for improvements.”
Her pastime hobbies
When Smith is not modeling, she loves to cook, play volleyball, and tennis. She is also very social and loves hanging out with friends. Smith is now a senior in high school and is excited to start applying to college. She is pretty active, so she rarely watches TV, which is normal in modern times. However, she just finished watching Stranger Things, Season 4. For her, it was incredible as it was full of suspense. “I love Millie Bobby Brown. She is a role model to young people all around the world. It was extra special for me as I recently modeled for her skincare line, Florence by Mills,” Bentley Smith revealed her little ‘secret.’ The young model is in Georgia and travels for photo shoots all over the world. “I enjoy working with all aspects of the fashion world. Each assignment brings new excitement and opportunity. I bring energy and fun to every project I work on”, she concluded.
Model: Anne Bentley Smith @_annebentley_
Agency: Click Atlanta @clickatl
Photographer: Nancy Gabriela @nancy__gabriela
Stylist: Nicole Omuteku @nicoleomuteku
HMUA: Ruby Parker @rubyparkerbeauty
PR agency: @Say__media
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
