STACY IGEL: 9/24: Behind the Seams: Explore Modeling & #Liveoutloud

9/24: Behind the Seams: Explore Modeling & #Liveoutloud

September 24, 2012

When I selected model Cassandra Bankson from Exploremodeling.com I had no idea about her story. As I told editor from Today.Com "Designer Stacy Igel said she immediately liked how Cassandra’s look and walk jibed with the show’s bohemian style and its theme, “Forever Young,” inspired by a Bob Dylan song. Cassandra's “long hair fit the style of what we’re doing," Igel said. "Natural, carefree, she definitely had the vibe of what I was casting for the show.”
I have been working with Cristina De Hart (owner of ExploreModeling.com) for several seasons casting models virtually through her incredible and safe platform. Check out this press piece from 2010 when we discovered Nora who has now walked in my show 3 times! .
The review process takes a lot of time and during this process I review 1000+ entries of photos and videos that get uploaded to the casting. I don't get the time to read everyone's bios..I am always on a mission to find that RIGHT look for the theme of my show. Luckily this year after working with Cristina for several years we really worked as a team and she helped me in filtering what she knew I was looking for and for the first time ever I cast 17 models all via EXPLORE MODELING!!! Cassandra was one of the models who came from out of town. So when I met Cassandra at the fitting and got to sit with her and Cristina to hear her story I was BLOWN AWAY by her confidence to overcome her insecurities and bullying.

As you all know if you read my blog and follow me and my brand I am an Ambassador for the organization BullyBust.org so of course my head started spinning and I got so excited to work with Cassandra past NYFW on being an UPSTANDER. So right after NYFW we created a video contest asking everyone to tell us their Live Out Loud Moment!

Check it out below!

Watch the video we made below and check out all the rules below the video on Youtube!