One of our favorite model friends, Sage Salzer, took some time out of her very hectic work schedule to do an interview with Madison Plus! Check out her interview below!

You have had an interesting background in modeling as you have done both straight size and plus size modeling. How did you get started in straight size modeling?

My aunt told me about a modeling contest and that she thought I should send pictures to enter. At the time, I had just finished junior high and was leaving for a family vacation. I quickly found some photos that were taken at a party a couple of months earlier and mailed them in. I ended up being one of the 5 finalist in the contest which was sponsored by LA Model Management (NY Model Management is their NY office). Myself and the other finalist went on the Good Day LA morning news show. Heinz Holba, the owner of the agency, announced that I was the winner live on the air. The prize was a contract with the agency and a trip to Paris. It was a lot of fun!

How did you progress to plus size modeling?

During college I was approached by a photographer named Walter Chin. He took some photos and suggested plus-size modeling. I didn’t feel good about myself or how I looked at the time. My thinking was that if I was going to model again, it was going to be as a straight size model. At the time I bought the bill of goods the fashion industry was selling! It wasn’t until years later, looking at Mode magazine each month, that I started feeling beautiful as the bigger woman that I am. Now I’ve overcome a lot of my own prejudice about definitions of beauty being directly tied to body size. Those editorials looked like they could have been in the pages of Vogue or Elle magazine! For the first time, I started spending more money on clothes. I remember going to Saks and buying the most beautiful designer outfits. That was the time when I started to really get back into fashion. This is one of the reasons that I think it’s so extremely important that the mainstream fashion magazines feature curvier models in their fashion pages! I remember what a serious impact it had on my life! The only larger woman that I remember being in the media was Rosanne Barre. Do you remember how she dressed in her sitcom?

Ultimately, it was when Wilhelmina LA opened their ‘plus-size’ division, that I started back up. I was one of the first models on their roster. There is only 2 of us still modeling from that original group of models.

What are the biggest differences between straight size modeling vs. plus size modeling?

There are definitely less castings for plus size models, but this can also be a good thing because I think it’s safe to say there are more ‘direct bookings’ in the plus-size industry. I know a lot of straight size models who, if they’re not working, will go on multiple castings a day, five days a week, and still not book anything. That would have to be exhausting both physically and spiritually. As a model, the plus-size industry is also better because, generally speaking, there’s so much more longevity in it. I think plus-size catalogue customers, for example, get comfortable with seeing a certain face and are more loyal for whatever reason. Unlike ever before in the history of this business, the average career span of a straight size model has totally shrank. There are a lot of contributing factors for this. Some working straight size models may not even last one season anymore.

Can you tell Madison Plus fans what a typical work day is like for you?

As a model, it’s rare to know what your schedule will look like more than a couple of days out. Clients can call your agency to put you “on hold”, this is when they have not committed to book you, but are reserving the right to do so for a possible day project. There may be four different clients holding for one day’s work. It’s prioritized by the order they ask for the hold. It can get tricky when holds are coming in through more than one agency, but this is common. And it’s not uncommon to find out you’re working the next day at 6 pm the evening before. The business is very last minute by nature. When you’re first starting out as a model in NYC, I think it’s important to live right in the heart of the city. If you get a call asking if you can “be here now” whether it’s a casting or a job it really gives you an advantage over the competition. My typical weeks are spent working for Catherines, Fashion Bug, and Kohl’s and their web counterparts. Over the holidays, I had a cute TJ Maxx commercial airing and I have a Kellogg’s Special K cereal print ad out now. As a model, it’s important to pick up new clients in hopes that they will become regular clients.

What was your favorite shoot?

One of my favorite shoots was with Adler, a German client, on a beach in Africa. It was just so visually stunning! I really like doing commercials though as they can feel more challenging than print modeling. I’ve done at least 8 now.

What is your personal style like?

In terms of personal style, I like to mix it up. I’m careful not to dress just according to trends, but like to wear what’s flattering on my body. I love color around the face. If it’s my first time working for a client and all the clothes that are on my rack to model are only in black and white, I may be concerned whether or not I’ll be asked back. I would think nearly everyone’s features ‘pop’ more with color near their face- whether it’s a blouse, sweater, scarf or a big necklace. Since I’m a not petite, I tend to wear bigger jewelry because it’s more in proportion with my body. If it wasn’t for spending so many years working as a model, I don’t think I would have ever learned exactly how clothes are suppose to fit your body. As consumers, I think we are so accustom to ill fitting clothes that most of us don’t even know how clothes are really suppose to fit us!! I cannot stress how important it is to find a good tailor!!

Could you share some of your favorite trends for spring/summer and where you plan to shop for them at?

I love a great fitting pair of jeans! Unfortunately, it can be a lot more difficult to shop for them though. Last week at a job, a client gave me a pair of Torrid jeans I’m crazy about! I’m also really liking Svoboda jeans right now. Awhile ago I packed up all of my non-tapered jeans and put them in storage. To brush up on trends and get inspired, I like to watch the runway shows you can find on Style.com. At the top of my shopping list I would really like to find the perfect motorcycle jacket. Whenever I’m in Los Angeles, I do my best to stop in to one of my favorite clothing stores called Masse. Designer Melissa Masse uses really nice quality fabrics and her clothing have a really sweet sensibility that’s tempered by an east coast sophistication.

The plus size industry has been getting a lot of press recently, what do you think the future holds?

I couldn’t be more pleased to be seeing all the press!! I’m not sure what the future holds, but I know I’m going to do everything I can to keep the conversation alive. The heart of the problem is the size of samples on the runway.

You were recently attended a panel debate talking about the recent concern of sample sizes and model sizes in the fashion industry. What are your thoughts on this?

There’s a lot of finger pointing taking place as to whose responsible for size zero and double zero samples as the industry standard. The fashion designers, magazine editors, casting directors, and modeling agencies all blame one another for dictating this trend. While it’s interesting to examine the perfect storm that’s left us in this position, the most important thing is that people act to set a positive example. The trouble is that there’s millions and millions of dollars at stake and everyone is afraid to take the risk of resizing the sample size especially in this kind of economic climate. I really hope an editor-in-chief at one of the top fashion magazines will ask a designer to create some larger sample sizes for an editorial in their magazine. I think this would be a very powerful statement and would get the ball rolling like nothing else towards enlarging sample sizes. Let’s face it, magazines like Vogue, dictate what is in style. In the meantime, at the grassroots level, designers featuring larger sized models on their runways is key. After all, it is from these shows that magazine editors get inspired!!

What advice do you give to the aspiring models out there?

If you really believe this is the career for you, don’t take no for an answer. I remember hearing how Lauren Hutton, who went on to become a top international model, went into Ford a ton of times with all different colored hair until they gave her a contract. On the other hand, if you’re 5’2″ don’t knock your head against a wall. The reality is that you do have to be a certain height, even though we’re making headway on that as well.

Is there something else you are excited about you would like to share with MP fans?

Yes, I would like to mention that I’m on the national board of advisors for ‘Hardy Girls Healthy Women’, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and well being of girls and women. I’m looking forward to presenting awards at their ‘Girls Rock’ weekend this April in Maine.

Also, the plus-size division of Wilhelmina, which was recently renamed “W Curve”, has come together to create “Curves For Change”.  One of the events we’re planning is a 5K Run/Walk that will take place this fall in NYC.  All proceeds from this will go to charity.

Always….

Do what you say you’re going to do. My dad always taught me that if you don’t have your word, you don’t have anything. The modeling business is ruled by the same principals as being successful in any other business. Simple things like being on time, answering your phone when you can, and returning calls promptly go along way.

Never…

If you’ve been booked from your comp card or portfolio (the client didn’t see you in person at a casting, etc), never show up to a job with a new hair color or with a dramatic weight change. You want to look like your comp card and portfolio. While it sounds like common sense, I’ve seen it happen. More than once I’ve gotten a call from the agency to hurry to a job to replace a model whose shown up looking dramatically different than expected.

Thank you Sage!

Images provided by Wilhelmina.

Visit Sage’s website and Facebook page to find out more about her.