#11 Advice on TV and Modelling.

Hi everyone! Hope you're having a terrific day. I'm feeling mega awesome because I've had such a productive day off! I rarely get a day off, and even when i do i never rest! I've deep cleaned mine and my sister's flat, I've been to the gym, I've sorted some paperwork and emails out, and now i'm writing my blog so i can give you some advice and then i have work in the evening!

You see, i haven't actually had a full time job in about three months. And when i say i'm tired, some people laugh because they say 'you haven't got a job'

But the thing is, i'm actually more busy when i don't have a job. Because i keep myself busy with other things. Such as modelling, TV show interviews, events, radio interviews, planning my Charity Calendars, etc etc.

I have soooo many bills so i have still been doing the odd job here and there, whatever i can to earn money. A lot of my modelling work is paid so that's helped, and i work in a pub in the evenings. It's really tough because to do all this modelling and TV work you need to be COMPLETELY FLEXIBLE and FREE all the time, for whenever they need you. Sometimes i get phone calls at 10pm asking me to go to London at 9am the next day. But it's absolutely impossible because you need a job to have money to do these things, but you can't have a job if you want to do them, it's mad!

Lately i have received a lot of messages from young women asking for advice on how they can do what i do. The thing is, you have to work hard. You have to start somewhere, you have to gain experience and build yourself up. Build your confidence up, and build your experience up.

For example.

Modelling.

I'm going to be honest here and say i'm not even the most confident model. I'm not 'natural' like those naturally beautiful models you see who can just take any photo and look effortless! So i can only model for certain things that i feel comfortable with. The type of modelling i feel most comfortable in, believe it or not, is lingerie modelling. I don't have big fashion statements taking over my photos that way, and i don't need to worry about modelling anything but myself. [For example if you are modelling a handbag you would have to make the bag look good - and that way i'd just forget about me looking good] So yep, believe it or not, i prefer being half naked on my photos. I'm only 5'4 but when i'm in underwear and heels my legs look very long so it makes me feel good!

I have only been modelling for two years. It all started with Lauren Lewis at Picture Patch Photography. She was a friend of a friend. But now she is one of my very good friends. [That's what life is all about, networking and building friendships]

I've just remembered something, Lauren wasn't my first photo shoot. I have a very strange story about my first shoot... The man was very freaky and perverted and asked me to do very inappropriate things in front of him. Of course i didn't do the things he asked... i realized what he was asking was very wrong. You have to be very careful if you are planning to attend a photo shoot. Do your research on the Photographer.

I only use Lauren or photographers that i personally know now... But i will give you all the advice on what to look for with Photographers don't worry.

Anyway so yes, 4 years on from my very strange photo shoot experience with a perverted man and this experience with Lauren was just what i needed. Lauren made me feel soooo good, she was encouraging me throughout the shoot, she wasn't giving me any direction, just letting me do my own thing, but if i asked her for direction, she knew what to tell me. I had so much fun. I was wearing leotards and short dresses with Lauren and she suggested we do some underwear photos. I didn't hesitate. We did the photos and i felt so empowered. I felt like a strong woman. Not a sl*g as some people on my Social Media call me when they see my half naked photos.

In my opinion, we were born naked... and people are on beaches in bikinis... I just find it natural and whenever i see a photo of a woman in underwear i don't think 'sl*t' i think What an amazing, confident and sexy photo that is!

I don't know why women are called sl*gs for uploading underwear or half naked photos, or for sleeping around, but when men do the same, they are given a high five and praised. I wish it was different, hopefully one day it will be.

I have been asked on Naked Attraction a few times, and i do love the idea of the show, and i don't look down on anyone who has done it. I think they are so brave. My Coach Trip Partner Jimmy was even on it! But i just can't do that to my family, it would be embarrassing for them and i respect my family a lot and think of them in everything i do. I don't want my baby brother being teased because his big sister had her vagina out on national TV. Jimmy's family are fine with him being on it, they think it's hilarious. I love Jimmy! You'll hear more about him soon.

Anyway, back to my shoot with Lauren. After the shoot i uploaded my photos to my Social Media, and i was receiving a lot of compliments, it made me feel super good, especially as i was getting over a bad break up. I needed those compliments.

A colleague at work saw the photos and said to me 'You should really think about doing your own calendar, you look great and i think you could make good money'

A calendar... what a good idea.. But i didn't want a calendar just of me. I would feel very vein and big headed and although some people think i am those things, i couldn't be more opposite.

The thought of the calendar stuck in my head, i thought it was a great idea....Calendar...Girls Calendar...Make Money... What about raising money?

Then came the idea that became a reality

The Carnall Calendar.

I decided to make a calendar and raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity - a charity close to my heart as my beautiful Auntie Kay passed away in April 2017.

I messaged my friends asking if they would get involved, and that's exactly what they did! And two years on, i'm working on my third calendar with Lauren... [Lauren has took the photos for all of the calendars]

I received something through the post today actually - it was this :)

So, you see, if i didn't do a photo shoot with Lauren... If i didn't push myself to try something new... I never would have found this confidence. I would never have met Lauren. I would never knew i enjoyed lingerie modelling...And i would never have found my love for producing calendars and raising money for Charity.

And that's the same with everything I have done... I have tried something new... I have pushed myself... I have put myself in difficult and nerve wracking situations but the results of these situations have made me feel confident and happy.

For example my TV experiences. It all started with Take Me Out 2016. My sister sent me the application form after Max* broke up with me. I told her i wasn't going to fill it in because i'd never get it... good job she persuaded me and i pushed myself because there i was, 6 months later, on the Take Me Out stage alongside 29 beautiful girls and Paddy.

Take Me Out was so nerve wracking but so amazing. I felt so lucky to have been chosen and appreciated every moment. I will tell you more about the ins and outs soon. I have so much to tell you about everything! If you have any questions please message me so i can answer them for you.

I did get chosen for a date and i did go to Fernandos! It isn't a holiday as such, you have 3 days of constant filming, but i LOVED it.

So, after Take Me Out i went back to my office job... But i just didn't feel the same. How could i feel the same? I had just had this life changing experience and a taste of the TV world. One year passed and i received a phone call...

I couldn't flipping believe it... It was the Producers of Take Me Out.

'Hi Jodie, we are creating a brand new one off series of Take Me Out and we have chosen our 30 favorite girls from the past 10 years to take part! It's a Celebrity Special'

I still couldn't believe it.... I already felt lucky enough to have been selected for Take Me Out out of 15,000+ girls. Now I had been selected from over 1000 girls to take part in a Celebrity Special! Max* made me feel worthless at times, but these Producers saw something in me that he didn't. They saw me for the real me.

On the original Take Me Out, you have 14 episodes and 4 men on each episode. So you're in for a good chance of getting a date. On Celebrity Take Me Out, it was just 9 men. I knew i wouldn't get a date but i was just grateful for the opportunity and appreciated every moment. I'm not a negative person i just like to prepare myself for the worst, that way, you're not disappointed when the worst does happen. And you are super excited and grateful when something good happens.

And something good did happen. Roman Kemp, CAPITAL FM DJ, chose me for a date.

We had a fantastic date but we didn't see each other again. I didn't expect anything because remember, i always expect the worst. So i wasn't disappointed and just appreciated it for what it was. A lovely date. I'll always be grateful to Roman for being so kind to me. I don't always get that treatment from men.

Anyway so i returned to my office job again [I never left, i just took holiday to film Take Me Out] but again, i didn't feel the same. I felt miserable. I'd had another reminder of what life could be. How happy i could be. I didn't know what to do. Me and Max* were on and off again as well.

I had just been promoted to Supervisor at work. You'd think that would make me happy but... It made me more miserable. I was being paid more but i wasn't doing much. I can't stand doing nothing, especially when i am watching people around me work hard. I wanted to help my staff but my manager wouldn't let me. I felt helpless. I was absolutely miserable. I was crying at the thought of going to work. I was crying at work. And after work. Some colleagues were nasty to me. One lady sent me an email by accident - the email was about me. 'No surprise a mistake was made - Jodie was working today'

I was so low. I couldn't leave my job because i need the money and i have nothing.

Even though i have worked since the age of 15, and have never been unemployed, i had nothing. My bills have always been more than my incoming. I have never been able to afford a car outright so i had to get a car on Finance. I had a poorly puppy. I was so depressed at one point i went out three times a week and lived out of my overdraft. I couldn't leave my job.....

The next day. I left my job.

I decided that i have always had no money, and i had got by. Someway or another, i got by.

Three years ago, just before the Original Take Me Out, my mum and sister were having to pack me bags of tinned food out of their cupboards for me to survive. I could talk a lot more about my past - for now - let's focus on the positives!

So, everybody at the office was talking 'she's leaving her £2000 a month job to go work abroad and earn £500 a month is she mad?!' Well i thought they were the mad ones, staying in a job where they wasn't happy. I want to live my life. I don't want to settle for anything less than happiness. So off i went, to work abroad.

I was a TUI rep and as you know, it didn't work out. I didn't enjoy it anyway, but then there was an earthquake. So i went to Zante to work in a bar where i had met a boy just before i went to KOS to rep. His name was Ed and he was so lovely. It was a bit of a nightmare in Zante because Ed told me he had accommodation... but he didn't. And the manager who offered me a job told me she had accommodation for me... but she didn't...

I slept rough for 4 weeks in a hotel reception. I got ready for work in the hotel reception. I got sick because of this hotel reception.

I was in hospital for one week. Ed stood by side. [So did Stephanie my friend who went to Zante with me]

The manager in Zante treated me horrible. She paid me 3$ one night instead of my usual $25. My rent was $13 a day and she knew this, it was her accommodation [that she had finally put me in after my illness] I asked her why she had only given me 3$... She said that i had had two Smirnoff Ice bottles [You know the alcopops] But workers got free drinks and i had worked there for three weeks and not once had a drink [because i don't really drink!] but she still only gave me my 3$. Even though the workers that drank 10 drinks a night still got paid their normal wage. Didn't make sense..

I argued with the Manager.. Because i don't like being treated like this .. It happens so often. I worked so hard for her whilst other workers sat down and smoked with her all night. She didn't like that i stuck up for myself. She kicked me and Ed out of our apartment... The one we had only had for a few weeks. We were homeless again...

Luckily, Ed's mum was in Zante at this point visiting him, and she kindly let us sleep in her hotel room. I love Ed's mum. When she returned home, me and Ed found accommodation. But i had no job...

I remember thinking - What do i do now? I have left my job in England.. to be a TUI rep... I left that job... Now i'm here with no job... Why doesn't anything go right for me? Why can't i find something i enjoy? Then i remembered... I did find something i enjoyed... Something that gave me a purpose... TV... Take Me Out was the last time i had felt happiness. Ed was at work one night [he found a different job] i scrolled through Facebook and found an advert for Coach Trip. A TV show where you travel through Europe on a Coach, take part in activities, and vote contestants off along the way. I applied as a Solo Traveler.

When i applied for Take Me Out two years before, i was hesitant. Not this time, i had nothing to loose. Plus, the TMO Producers saw something in me, so maybe the Coach Trip Producers will too....

I was right.

Everything suddenly seemed worth it. Me leaving my office job to be a TUI rep. Me leaving my TUI rep job to work in Zante. It all happened for a reason.

Coach Trip was hands down the best experience of my life. And, just like when i returned from Take Me Out, life hasn't been the same since. Of course it hasn't! I traveled the world with Jimmy [Another solo traveler who has become my best friend] We did activities i had never done before, we seen things i had never seen before.

When i returned from Coach Trip in November 2017 i had nowhere to go. I have never had my own place. I have never been able to afford a home. I lived out of my car for one month and my sister let me sleep on her sofa. I also slept in my Uncle's spare room for a while. My entire life was squeezed into my car. I moved into a girl's house but it didn't work out. I was getting changed for job interviews in my car.

My sister moved out of her one bed flat and got a two bed flat so i could have a room. How amazing is my sister?????

We are still in the flat now and it just feels so nice to have a room. I am so grateful to her.

So, life has been rather challenging since Coach Trip. Me and Max* tried again... and broke up again... I got a job as a carer... I left a job as a carer..[Loved the job, the staff treated me horrible] Which brings me to how i do what i do now....

Without a job i needed to find a way to keep myself busy, i could sit and mope about or i could do something about it. I could push myself.

I registered on StarNow.com [it's only £5 a month] i applied for modelling jobs that suited me for example extra in a music video, extra in TV series, TV shows, modelling.....

I have done at least 5 jobs from Star Now. I am also now a Grid Girl [I applied on Star Now and attended an interview]

I am in a grime artists Music Video [president T - Birthday Cake]

Me and Jimmy filmed an advert in Bristol last week.

I model clothing and jewlerry for companies. [ I have NEVER known how to spell jewlerry]

I had a TV show interview just yesterday.

I definitely recommend starnow.com but it does help to have experience.

How do you gain experience?

Start from the bottom.

I have done so much free work over the past three years. Some people didn't understand why i did so much for free. 1. Because i find it fun 2. I had no job and it kept me busy 3. To build experience

If you want to model -

Download purpleport.com a free website where photographers put out casting calls - You will need to do collaborations to start with [Where the photographer doesn't charge you and you don't charge them - it's free for all] then eventually once you have gained experience you can start charging perhaps. Make sure you do your research on the Photographers. I only used Photographers that had at least 5 recommendations [It shows on their Purple Port page]

Find local photographers. Here are the photographers i have used.

Lauren Lewis at Picture Patch Photography [My Charity Calendar Photographer]

Jill Carnall [my stepmum]

Matthew Nutting

Emily Jane Griffiths Hall

Martyn S

Maybe you could model in my next Charity Calendar? You don't get paid for this, but you'd be going a great thing for charity and it really helps build your experience and confidence. Most of my calendar models have never modeled before. For me, it's all about you as a person. I don't care if you're size 6 or size 20. I love all body shapes.

A lot of companies send me products to promote for them. I don't even think i have that many followers but they say they like my content and how i give honest reviews on products. If you want to do this it's simple - Promote yourself! Be confident! I have people that sometimes make me feel like i want to delete my social media - but i never will because they would be winning and i'm just not about that quiet life! Even my ex Max* wanted me to delete Social Media, as well as online trolls. Not happening. Companies are seeing how much i love social media, they see how much i post. They want me to involve their products in my posts. You need to promote yourself before you can promote something else. You don't need millions of followers. You just need a positive social media. If you want to get into promoting makeup/brands message me and i'll give you more advice.

Feel free to ask me any advice!

If you want to be an extra -

Again, i got most my extra work from starnow.com

I have been an extra in TOWIE and a music video. It's super easy and fun! You also meet some amazing people doing this. [Networking, remember?]

Again, build your experience. I was an Extra which has led me to a main role in a TV advert. It's super easy to be an extra in TOWIE. They are actually struggling for extras. So if you want to be an extra just let me know and i will pass on the details to you on who to contact. This series has finished though so they aren't recording at the moment.

Again, feel free to ask me any advice.

There is so much more i could say but i have got to get ready for work. I hope you have found this helpful. If you have any questions please let me know and i will add more to my blog next time i am free and cover more.

By the way, two days ago i did a Magazine Shoot for Fabulous Magazine. I basically got asked by a Journalist on my Facebook if i have any holiday romance stories, and of course, i have many...

Her name is Alley Einstein and she posts regularly on her Facebook that she is looking for people for stories. It can be anything from 'looking for women who have children and work' or 'looking for women who have had acne' or she has just posted one just now saying 'looking for women who no longer wax their bikini area' It can be so random! So that's how easy it is... Add Alley Einstein on Facebook and comment on her statuses if you fit what she is looking for.

Thank you for reading :)