








It was a nice and cool fall evening in Southern California. I was sitting in a quiet Starbucks Coffee in Glendale at 4:30 in the afternoon, hurrying through some final picture work of a photoshoot we had shot three weeks prior. I was meeting with our most recent Elevated Model, the lovely blond haired and blue eyed Jessica Endres. I was supposed to be transferring pictures from our shoot onto her computer today, and she’d be here any minute. Much to my dismay, I just found out that I hadn’t saved my touchup pictures as jpegs and it was half a nightmare waiting on my computer to open and resave all of the photoshop files. I hoped that I could finish before Jessica showed up. I wanted to be well organized and put together, after-all, I worked extremely hard on the pictures to make sure they were the highest of quality for use on our site and the appropriate portfolios, and aside from that, I do my best to make it a point to never keep pretty girls waiting.
While I'm scrambling about my computer, I look up. A smile crosses my face as I catch a glimpse of a beautiful girl headed towards the door. In walks Jes, wearing black shorts and a bright pink top which compliments her laid back sweet attitude. We exchange a hug and sit down to catch up.
The next two hours were filled with lots of laughter, fun conversation about surfing, Arizona, California, Halloween, and the overall busyness and blessings of life. Out of that came this exclusive interview just for all of you Fans, and it’s my privilege to post it below.
So Jes, where did you grow up?
I was born and raised Glendale, AZ
Do you go to school?
No, I graduated, June 2011. I went to FIDM in Long Beach for a 2 year Visual Communications degree.
How did you get started into the modeling industry?
I was always the tallest girl in Elementary school; taller than all of the guys too (says with a confident smile). People would always tell me to get into modeling, and I guess I just naturally flowed into it.
I paid to get my first pictures done and then quickly realized that, hah, I should never pay to have someone take pictures of me.
Do you remember your first modeling gig?
(Pauses and thinks for a bit) Well, my first real gig I was flown to Chicago for a hair show. I was 18 at the time and stayed there for 1 week.
And what did you think about Chicago?
It was very cold, hectic, totally different lifestyle than what I knew. It’s a busy city, and we were constantly waving down taxis. Overall it was a really good experience in the city.
What are your goals with modeling?
I want to make a name for myself; have people to know who I am. But on a smaller scale, my goal is to get better every time I do a new shoot. When I first started, I had to have the photographer tell me everything I needed to do. Now my movements are natural. (It shows quite clearly that she takes this very seriously) I also want to own a modeling agency somewhere down the road and manage other models.
Talk about modeling full time?
When I first moved out to Los Angeles I expected that I would need a normal job and that I would just be modeling on the side. That didn’t happen though. Right away I jumped into it. Every day is like a vacation and it’s a lot more fun doing what you love full time.
It definitely wasn’t what I expected. It was super hard to find jobs and make rent at first. But as soon as I realized how to do it, I wouldn’t change anything.
And do you have any tips on “How to do it?”
Everyone I know is agency represented. They wait on an agent to call them with work. I go to Craigslist and Model Mayhem and find my own jobs. I’m constantly submitting and booking, and I don’t pay anyone commission.
What do you like most about yourself?
I don’t’ know what I’d put there. (She’s very humble) I guess that I can adjust to every situation and that I get along with everyone; I don’t hate anyone.
What would you like to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered in a positive way, for everyone liking the person I am. And of course I want everyone to remember me for my talents.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I used to want to be a singer, and I loved to sing. Even though I love to sing I’ve never done it in front of anyone. I only sing at the top of my lungs in my car with the windows up. (We can only hope to see that sometime Jess).
Describe a typical weekend night of fun.
Going out dancing with friends. Getting all dressed up!
Any particular club/hotspot?
I don’t know we’re kind of all over the place.
How do you like living in LA?
I love it. I would never move back to Arizona. Never? Never! I’m a very fast paced, busy person. I can’t just sit at home and relax, I have to switch things up. Arizona was so slow and the days would just drag.
What are your passions/hobbies?
She giggles as she says: It should be pretty obvious what my passions are. Modeling, fashion. As far as hobbies go, the beach for sure. Hanging with friends of course. I also love painting abstract paintings, but don’t do it as often as I want to. I have one hanging in my room, it’s very colorful and about this big (She holds her hands out about 2 X 3 feet). It was a painting from the thrift store that I got tired of and painted over. (By this time I’m really noticing a trend in her answers about not liking monotony, although she seems to be getting along fine today at the coffee shop)
What kind of impact would you like to have on the world?
As long as I change somebody’s life in some way I would be happy.
Who’s your favorite role model/who do you look up too?
That’s easy. My mother and my sister.
So you guys are pretty close?
Definitely I’m really close to my mom. I don’t go a day without talking with her, and if I did it would be weird. She used to model and she has a lot of tips for me.
Favorite Movies?
The Hangover, and anything with Will Farrell. I like comedies… laughing keeps you younger. But I don’t watch movies all that much. And once I watch a movie I will not watch it again. I can’t sit still.
Type of music?
Haha, anything but smooth jazz. My dad is a huge music guy. He Probably has every cd that’s ever been made. I can’t picture a world without music. I would go crazy. Everything I do I have to be playing music.
What do you think about the new Elevated Collection?
I liked it a lot. I saw the previous ones on the website. I liked these ones because I thought there was more thought and creativity put into them. And the colors were awesome, and they were very comfortable.
Kavadba is a word that means “Best of Times and Living Life to the Fullest,” what’s your Kavadba?
My friends and family of course; without them you wouldn’t be able to live to the fullest.
I try to live life to the fullest. Sometimes I kind of get too busy and cram too many things into one day and realize I don’t have enough time for it.
Snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, skiing, etc… do you do any of those?
I haven’t. I’ve really only boogie boarded and body surfed. I want to surf though eventually, I mean, you can’t move out to California an not surf right? (I whole heartedly agree with that statement) I did however used to skateboard all of the time believe it or not. I don’t do it much anymore, and my skateboard is in AZ, but I probably skated from 6th grade to 8th grade. My Dad is really into outdoor stuff and I was a Daddy’s girl for a while. You know, always playing with the guys.
I quit skating about the time that I started hurting myself (Says with a laugh).
Anything you’d like to give a shoutout too?
www.jessicaendres.com
http://www.facebook.com/jessicaendres