This is me. Ulrike 2.0

 As I get older, I’ve come to many realizations. With my body changing and the digits of each birthday rising, it’s become clear that I’m well past the halfway marker of my life. This scares me. Am I supposed to be at the highest achievement point now, where all my goals have been met and I can proudly announce to the world that I have arrived? I must have missed the handing out of the life handbook with all the “how-to and by-when” chapters.

So, in the meantime, I’m doing me. While I have no control over most things that go on around me, I know that I am definitely the captain of my own ship—and I’d better steer it in the right direction!

Can a middle-aged woman with many optical imperfections become a model? But really, the deeper question is: Can we be whatever we set our minds and intentions to be? The answer is yes. Absolutely.

About three years ago, I had the idea to Google “mature model agencies near me.” There was no moment of hesitation, because when I have what seems like a brilliant idea, I go all in! So I filled out a new talent application, attached a picture of myself, and hit the send button.

To my excitement I was contacted a few days later and was signed up—now officially represented by an agency. For their service, they’d take 20% of my future earnings. Standard procedure, I learned. Okay.

After creating my official profile with my agent, I was optimistic when I started to receive model call notifications and figured this must be the way to get seen and actually get work. So I went to my very first model call, not having any idea what I was doing or what to expect. There, I saw what other models looked like. They were all pretty normal-looking ladies with appearances all over the spectrum. Good, I thought.

Over the next three years, I’ve learned to go with the flow—to not have expectations and not to expect guidance from anyone! In this industry, you literally learn as you go. You learn to ask your way through situations. But you learn! 

I started paying close attention to what others told me about their journeys, their individual experiences and knowledge, and took away what I thought would help me on my own path.

When I got cast to model a beauty product on the Home Shopping Network—or HSN, in short—I nervously showed up at the production campus assuming someone, anyone, would take me by the hand (not literally) and show me in detail what to do next.

For now, I followed my email instructions for what to do after arriving at HSN:

Call or text the producer to let them know you have arrived.

Done. So I sat in the model room and waited… and waited… nothing.  But eventually, I was sitting in one of the many live show studios, down a long hall after many right and left turns, waiting with another model to be called by the cameraman to make our way to the front of the camera.

Before stepping out in front of the television camera, I was briefly informed that the camera would show a little green light—and that meant, “You’re live now while it’s pointing at you!”

So here I was. Sitting in my chair, pretend-applying the product on my face while looking at the camera. Realizing that hundreds of thousands of people all across the U.S. were watching me at that very moment. Wow. This is intense—yet awesome and exciting—and I am loving it. I’d better not mess this up! I told myself, Act like you know what you’re doing. Fake it ‘til you make it.

As I got more shows under my belt, I learned how to tell when the cameras were about to go live. I learned how quickly I needed to take or leave my seat when it was my turn. 

I learned that my face—or whatever body part I was cast for—is a product to be marketed. I learned that if I didn't get picked at a model call that I didn’t get paid for, I shouldn’t (but ultimately would) take it personally.

All of these experiences have been wonderful, regardless. I realized right away that being in front of a camera is so much fun and a place that does not intimidate me. I love being a part of a production. Witnessing the whole process and all the details that go into it is simply fascinating. Seeing the part of a production that most people never see is mind-boggling. I am thankful.

Besides live shows, I’ve also been cast for B/A shoots. You ask—what is this? This abbreviation stands for “before and after” shoot. Once cast, I’m given two dates, normally four weeks apart. I show up for the first date—always with my hair pulled back, no makeup and in a black top. I sit in front of the camera at the production agency and they take close-ups of my face. I then receive the product—normally a cream—that I use at home daily. Four weeks later, I go back and have my after pictures taken. These are then sent to the vendor so they can use them in marketing to show potential buyers how well their product works.

I love these opportunities as well. They’re fun, and I get to use new products for free that others pay lots of money for. 

To me, while earning an income is important, I love this industry and the people I get to meet. Most are very kind and willing to help by offering insight and advice.

I’ve also had several opportunities to be an extra on commercial production sets around my broader area.

My first one was a 4 a.m. arrival time at a backyard barbecue set in a beautiful leased private residence.

My second shoot was a 9 p.m. arrival for an overnight commercial shoot for and at a local grocery store chain. This, so far, has been the only shoot where Joe and I got cast together as extras. Even though we weren’t in the same scenes, it was nice to do a job together!

The third production was a (pretend) sports arena for an insurance commercial shoot. I was amazed by what computers can create—giving the illusion of a real stadium. And yet, it was a large production room.

Just recently, I was on set for a dietary supplement commercial shoot that lasted the average eight hours for me.

A lot of these shoots consist of waiting around. Then, when my name gets called, there are many re-takes of the same scene along with other extras until the producer is satisfied with everyone and everything. We—the extras, the main cast, and the large production team—get fed very well. Normally, there’s a delicious small mobile buffet-type setup halfway through the production.

There was also an unexpected opportunity when I got cast to do a fashion show runway at UTC Mall in Sarasota modeling clothes from 5 different upscale brands. This felt very different being in front of people versus television cameras. But just as adventurous!

I’m excited to see what my modeling and acting future holds. What opportunities will arise?

I send my intentions and wishes into the universe, as I believe this to be a powerful way to create the path I desire. Based on the results, I know I’m on the right path.