Beyond the Editorial with Belle Pierson
San Antonio native, Belle Pierson has traded her slow southern roots for a face-paced life as a jet-setting model. Pierson took time out of her busy schedule to give us a peek into her everyday life. Photographed for famous names like Vogue and Chanel Beauty, Pierson has had her hand in success and has ambitious goals for her future.
Just Starting Out
Twenty-three-year-old Belle Pierson has been modeling since she was just sixteen years old. Scouted from her model agency in high school, Belle has been modeling professionally for most of her adult life. She has been working abroad in Europe for some time now, landing jobs anywhere from England to Turkey. Jumping back and forth overseas, she finds herself taking flights all over the world, a life that can sometimes bring chaos but is well worth the crazy schedule.
Pierson found an interest in modeling at age thirteen but did not form it into a career until the end of high school. It all started when she said goodbye to her braces and followed a recommendation from her dentist to go speak with modeling scouts. She started her career sticking to local work but kept her focus on school. After graduating high school Belle took up modeling full-time, taking a flight to New York and signing there and in Europe.
Set Life and Staying Grounded
Pierson’s daily routine shifts from week to week but she says the early mornings are a consistent factor. She usually wakes up at around eight a.m on weekdays and goes to her office to see what is on her plate for the day ahead. Whether it's castings, shoots, or other meetings, Belle has gotten used to the lack of constants in her field. Pierson explained her favorite part of this career is collaboration. From meetings with her team, getting her makeup done by talented artists, or just talking to other models on set, she says the network she has accumulated over the years has been astounding. One of her favorite things to do on set is communicate with her makeup and style team so she is able to implement her favorite looks into her everyday wear.
While the hustle and bustle of the modeling world can be very overwhelming, Belle says there are a lot of things in her life that keep her grounded and inspire her to be her best self. She shared that yoga has been essential in maintaining her physical and mental health. Even though she is never positive about what her schedule will look like, she always makes time for the things that are most important. Bass guitar and visiting with her friends are a big part of keeping her grounded. There is nothing like music and good company to keep a positive mindset. A lot of her friends also model and have the same busy schedule, so she says they make time where they can but her relationships are very dear to her. Her parents back home also play a key role –regular facetime calls are a must! When she isn’t practicing guitar, doing yoga, or catching up with family and friends Belle says she loves to read and journal in the rare chance she has spare time.
While Belle does love her career and shared with us how much she enjoys her fast-paced lifestyle, one of her big goals for the future is to own a farm. She plans on saving her money from her thrilling jobs to reach her end goal. Though every day might not be “fun”, she keeps her eye on her future and reminds herself that the bad days are few and far between and ultimately worth it to reach her aspirations. Although the job can be exhilarating, she confessed to us that she still struggles with imposter syndrome. During her busy days, she works to overcome the daily comparisons to those around her and reminds herself she is deserving of her position. Belle has worked very hard to get where she is, but it's hard to let go of those doubtful feelings in the modeling sphere. She says she keeps in touch with her family and beliefs to encourage a positive mindset.
She looks to her major role models for inspiration: David Bowie, Alexander McQueen and of course her supportive parents. Pierson mentioned that Bowie’s style has held a lot of influence, along with his unapologetic attitude. Alexander McQueen’s work in the ‘90s is another one of her fashion inspirations. She also described to us a desire to become a role model for herself. Belle stated, “I want to get to a point where I can look up to myself…to feel like I made it”. She longs to fight the insecurities she feels some days in the industry and grow in her self-confidence. Although it is something she works at daily, she shares that she has already made strides in her self-image.
Favorite Projects
Belle landed her first professional job a few weeks before she graduated high school. Chosen for Love Magazine's 10th anniversary in worldwide model search, she was flown out to London for the shoot. She got a chance to work with the editor of Love, Katie Grand. Although she did not fully grasp the magnitude of the job at the time, she says it was a huge step for her career. Her first time in London, Pierson got the chance to meet models from all over the world. The two-day shoot was her first big experience and the start of her signature red locks. Grand asked her to dye her hair for the shoot and she has been rocking the fiery hairstyle ever since.
She shared that her favorite part of the job is being on set. Each new job creates a unique challenge for the team, and although sometimes demanding, has helped her define her skill set. She claims her experience in the industry has broken down her preconceived notions that the job is all fun; modeling is hard work! The effect on her interpersonal relation skills has been very beneficial. Another challenge she faces is cultural
differences among countries. She said that she holds her morals through these obstacles and denies jobs that question them. Learning about these differences has educated her a lot on the opposing standards across the globe and what may be expected or assumed for her field. Overall, she says her experiences have been very positive and welcoming.
Advice for Future Models
Belle’s advice for future models is simple: everybody in the industry faces insecurity and issues with self-esteem. You can’t beat yourself up. She recalls one experience in model housing where encouraging messages were written on bed frames such as “life is short eat the burger”, reminding her that even though many girls in the industry may project confidence, everyone has those feelings of insecurity from time to time. She claims it was eye opening to see how many other models share her thoughts in the industry. Everyone is in the same headspace when it comes to wanting success and working towards it the best they can.
Catch Belle in Vogue Portugal or an upcoming project with Ellen von Unwerth's Von Magazine.
Thank you, Belle, for your time and we can’t wait to see all you will accomplish in the future.
Written by Zoey Frederick, Social Media: Sara Hartung