Face To Face With Miami Haitian Model Annie Borgard

Hearing the words model and Miami is as common as hearing the words sun and beach. But a baby face,shaved head 23-year old Haiti-born international relations models is NOT so common on the Miami scene.

Meet Annie Borgard, she is an up and coming model who was born and raised in Port-au-Prince Haiti. Annie left Haiti when she was 16 and moved to Miami where she attended Miami Edison Sr High and is currently studying international relations at Miami Dade College. Annie did not set out to be a model, she was given the opportunity when she accompanied a friend to a photo shoot. Having had the opportunity to befriend and hang out with this Haitian beauty, I am extremely proud to introduce to my readers this 23 year old budding beauty who describes wanting to modeling to influence and inspire women like to invest in themselves.

How would you describe your professional interests and goal as a model?

I want to help use modeling to influence and inspire women like me to invest in themselves. Whatever talent God has given you, its best to invest in it and learn as much as you can so you can be the best you can be. Flowers need water to grow so picture the time and money you invest in your future as the water and sunlight your inner flower needs in order to blossom. As for tangible goals, I want to learn many languages and travel the world. So any job where I can help people and travel will be good for me. Hopefully through modeling I can someday end up doing both.

When and why did you get start modeling? Was it for the glamour? The money? Pure kicks?

It all started with people day in and day out telling me that I have unique features that I should try modeling where I’d laugh and tell them that I’m too short to be a model. Things finally changed when a girlfriend of mine took me to one of her photo shoots, the photographer offered me a test shoot that I gladly accepted, one of the pictures was later posted on his site where an adviser from a modeling training program known as John Casablanca’s contacted me to join the program. I attended the school for six weeks and graduated in August 2011. Since then I’ve been doing runway shows here and there, most of the shows were for charity for my beloved homeland, Haiti A La Mode, From Miami to Haiti with Love. I’m currently working on my portfolio, website and still participating in local fashion shows. Its all for love (pure kicks).

What is fun and rewarding about modeling?

I just love the feeling of being behind the camera, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.

What is your most memorable modeling assignment and why?

My Most memorable assignment would be Miami fashion week. I was so nervous and feeling intimidated backstage with all the tall models but when it was my turn the crowd started cheering the moment I stepped on the runway gave me the confidence boost I needed. Loved every second of it.

How would you define beauty?

Everyone has their own definition of beauty, there are so many standard of what beauty ought to be but the moment you find yourself bound by those standard, your no longer able to define beauty.

Rejection is a major part of being a model, how do you handle it?

Rejection hurts in all aspects in life its tougher in the fashion world you just have to accept and learn from them change what needs to be and move unto the next. Never let that be a reason to kill your dreams.

What do you dislike the most about modeling and fashion industry?

Aside from people using it for other motives (like guys pretending to be photographers to pick up girls) I love everything about it.

Are you a fashionista, where do you normally shop?

Yes, I consider myself a fashionista, I love putting outfits together as far as shopping I do not have a specific store that I go to anything that gives me that wow feeling I buy.

How has modeling changed other aspects of your life?

It opened my eyes and mind also my style.

What advice would you give that young Haitian girl looking in the middle and struggling with issues of self-esteem.

I myself sometimes will stand in front of the mirror and find almost everything that’s wrong with the way I look. Sometimes it takes someone else to tell me that I am beautiful and have an amazing body before I’ll embrace it. My advice to that young girl is understanding that self-esteem is a journey of self discovery, and everyone need to allow yourself the chance to discover what you have.