St. Louis high school student makes mark in modeling industry

ST. LOUIS — From North St. Louis County to the style runways of Los Angeles, 17-year-old Aaliyah Buford is making waves within the modeling world.

“I attempt to be as fierce as I can and I simply attempt to present the empowerment that I really feel,” Buford stated.

Buford instructions the room along with her catwalk. A daring strut from somebody who describes herself as an introvert.

“It is stunning saying I am within the modeling trade as a result of it is such a glamour, extroverted trade however I feel it is helped loads to assist me open up,” she stated.

Rising up within the Ferguson-Florissant College District, the McCluer South Berkeley Excessive College pupil discovered her ardour for modeling at 15-years-old.

“I used to be working towards in my room after I constructed a comfortability with myself, after which after I had my first photoshoot that was after I was like yeah that is what I wish to do,” Buford stated.

Buford joined Mom Administration when she was 16 years outdated, the identical modeling company that found supermodel and St. Louis native Karlie Kloss at age 13.

“Working towards my check shoots, ensuring I am getting in that point, working towards my strolling, critiquing my strolling, so it is simply a variety of assist I am getting from them to assist construct what I am rising to be,” Buford stated.

She’s nicely on her manner, touchdown gigs with Lacoste and modeling for Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS line with Fendi.

“It had like a spending rotation factor that we have been standing on, so I used to be making an attempt to make use of all of my muscle tissue to not fall over so it was actually cool,” Buford stated.

She’s graduating highschool early to pursue alternatives in Los Angeles and probably New York Metropolis.

“I’ve individuals come as much as me at college telling me like ‘Wow Aaliyah, you are doing so nice and you’ve got simply been inspiring me to do what I wish to do!’ and stuff like that,” Buford stated.

Standing at just below 5-foot-11, she stated modeling helped her to like and embrace each a part of herself; newfound confidence that is now influenced others.

“You take a look at different individuals for inspiration, however I feel that now that I am changing into that person who persons are feeling impressed by I feel typically it is nonetheless very stunning and it’s extremely humbling as nicely,” Buford stated.

That is Buford’s final week of highschool.

She’ll proceed taking lessons at St. Louis Neighborhood School at Florissant whereas she pursues alternatives in Los Angeles.

As soon as she turns 18 later this yr, she plans to take her abilities to New York Metropolis.