Fashion is a distant world for most high school students, filled with impossibly skinny girls and unattainable glamour. However, this is not the case for some students on campus, who have already begun modeling.

Junior Iris Latour started modeling by chance at 15 when she lived in Holland. "My friends always said I was too tall to let something like modeling pass me by," she said. "One day I was walking in the city, and a photographer from a modeling agency stopped me and asked me if I would like to come by sometime." Since then, Latour has modeled without pay for her peers at her old school in Holland, a college art festival in the Netherlands and for college fashion students. She has yet to do any work outside of her home country.

Junior Gabriela Hopkins also received initial encouragement from her friends. Hopkins first modeled in a fashion show for senior Annika Benitz last year. "After that, one of my friend's moms found out that I was interested in real modeling. She had done a runway show recently and was looking for a model for the next show, so she asked me to be her model." Hopkins' first runway show will be this November.

Modeling is not always as alluring as it seems. "The worst part is getting the clothing fitted," Latour said. "I usually have more butt and bust than most models. I have to remind myself that curves are good to have."

Junior Erica Anderson, who modeled for Macy's, Nordstrom's and Pascussi from ages 5 to 7 and 13 to 14, had other difficulties with modeling. For her, the hardest part was fitting modeling in with the rest of her life. Anderson was paid for both runway and photo shoot modeling, but stopped because it was too time consuming to go to San Francisco at least twice a week. Neither Latour nor Hopkins has had problems adding modeling to their schedule.

But modeling is not all about fittings and walking around. "My favorite part of modeling is actually being on the catwalk, showing everyone what I've got and what brilliance has been made to fit me," Latour said. Anderson also enjoyed trying on the clothing, but gained more than just a chance to wear clothes. "I got more self confidence from modeling, and it opened my eyes to a whole new world," she said.

Anderson does want to give modeling another try, but is cautious. "I would enjoy the fashion industry, but it might be too overwhelming," Anderson said. Latour is more optimistic, and hopes to do more modeling later in life. "It would be an amazing way to pay my way through college, and I might take some classes on it later," she said.

Both Latour and Anderson have received mixed reactions from their peers and friends about their forays into modeling. "Most people are really excited and curious," Latour said. "But I don't want people to think I'm focusing more on my looks than my brains." Anderson's friends, however, did not react positively. "They thought I was going to change," she said. "For the most part I kept it on the down low so people would look at me for Erica Anderson, and not the 'girl who models.'"

Anderson has classic advice for students who want to get into modeling–to be yourself. "Modeling is a lot different than the media puts it," she said. "Just let your personality shine through, and you will be successful."