
A Lady Named Pearl
Linda Pearl Fils-Aime aka A Lady Named Pearl is a professional model, artist, author, speaker, professor, and entrepreneur.
Linda Pearl Fils-Aime aka A Lady Named Pearl is a professional model, artist, author, speaker, professor, and entrepreneur.
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Valloyomara Bennett
Pearl Magazine Blog
How was your experience attending A Lady Named Pearl Modeling and Leadership Academy during the summer of 2021?
Firstly, I just wanted to comment on how honored I am to even be considered in this publication.
Honestly, this is a full circle moment for me because modeling is my dream.
I would always fantasize about how it would be when my big moment came, but I realized to enjoy the journey, enjoy the ride. It is often that the best moments come when you’re actually LIVING in the moment.
Throughout my life, I’ve experienced constant instability, which was homelessness, sleeping in my car, and not truly having access to things that normal kids have access to. So for me, to even be considered to tell my experience, it means A LOT.
My experience with the academy was actually quite interesting. In the summer of 2021, I was looking for a modeling school to go to because I had no experience, I was paying and doing test shoots on my own, and I honestly wanted to learn more about the art of modeling and how to walk runway because I also envisioned myself being a runway model. I wanted to be like Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Adut Akech, Anok Yai, and Precious Lee.
I did my research and came across Ms. Pearl’s academy, I looked into who she was, her story, her come up, and her experience as a dark-skinned Haitian model in the industry.
I was enamored about how she was able to be successful as a model, turn her passion into purpose by educating and helping others, and also be able to pay it forward by guiding young Black and Brown women in the industry - I was deeply inspired and was eager to learn as much as I could from her.
Within the academy, I had to go through an interview process, and by the grace of God, I was given an opportunity to be immersed in the world of modeling from an actual professional model.
I was so happy and so grateful because I finally felt like my dreams were coming true. The academy offers history lessons about modeling, which is how I found out about Ursula Wiedmann Models, which is an agency that Ms. Pearl is signed to, learning what a mother agency is, different types of modeling agencies, percentage rates, and how starting out as a model - you may not make a lot of money, and the history of the trailblazers in the modeling community that have transformed what we know as modeling industry today. For me, it wasn’t about the money though.
Modeling is an art form and a way of life for me.
Even though I didn’t complete the program due to some personal issues that I was going through at the time, the academy and Ms. Pearl changed my life.
You are now signed to Ursula Wiedmann Models (ATL), Ford Models (NYC) and Natural Models LA (LA) … what was the process like? How did you make it happen?
Upon signing with my mother agency, Ursula Wiedmann Models, they opened the door for me to get the opportunity to sign with my other agencies in NYC and LA. They, as an agency, pushed me into both markets, and the other agencies that I am signed with, happily responded. 🙂
So, I went through an interview and casting process with both agencies before signing - in which after I was signed: I got a chance to do test shoots, open call castings within that agency's area, and a chance to get into their market to get booked.
Talk to your agents, tell them your goals, and keep putting your best foot forward in accomplishing your goals within modeling. (ex. Make vision boards, study other models within your division, study model agencies that you want to sign with, KNOW YOUR MODELING HISTORY, also network and collab safely with other photographers, models, and creators.
All in all, it’s been a wonderful learning process that I’m still navigating through today.
I’ve only been modeling professionally for about a year, so I am still a beginner model. I’ve bumped my head a couple of times within the industry with learning how to stand firm in my boundaries as a professional in business, and I’ve been actively learning how to find my voice and stand up for myself as a Black woman in an industry that has not always been as inclusive or accepting, as they are now.
It is a journey that I humbly embrace, and no matter what happens, I ALWAYS KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
You have been signed for a year now …what have been the highlights, and what would say have been the challenges?
Some highlights of my career have been meeting different people that I look up to, shooting for brands and commercials that I see everyday in stores and on social media like Skims, getting behind the scenes access to learning how to develop and deepen my craft, learning different tips and tricks from other models, and traveling.
When I shot for SKIMS last year, that was my first time on a plane and my first time traveling to Los Angeles, California (December 2022).
Now (November 2023),, I am visiting here with my agency, Natural Models LA. 😄
Some challenges that I have experienced are still facing discrimination for the color of my skin. I’ve been on a set where a stylist purposefully left me out and another model of color because of the color of our skin. The lighter-skinned models got the opportunity to be in most of the scenes - because they had a lighter-skin tone.
During this experience, I made my voice and stance known and HEARD.
I contacted my agent who booked the job, the production team on set, and the creative director of the brand that I worked for and let them know my grievances about how I was treated on set.
AS A MODEL OF COLOR, NEVER LET YOUR VOICE GO UNHEARD. ALWAYS STAND ON YOUR INTEGRITY AND YOUR MORALS.
In the words of Zora Neale Hurston, “If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you, and say that you enjoyed it.” YOUR VOICE IS POWERFUL, SPEAK UP AND USE IT.
What advice can you give to a young woman interested in getting into the modeling game?
As mentioned before, ALWAYS SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS. If someone is disrespecting you or discriminating against you - let it be known and stand your ground.
Always read over your contracts and booking details. If possible, get a third party to OFFICIALLY look over them. Be aware of what you’re signing and agreeing to.
Modeling is much more than a pretty face, learn your angles and work them. There is a LARGE difference between taking digitals and doing a test shoot.
Be aware of the fashion trends, and also clearly show and state who you are, what’s your personality, and what you do outside of modeling. Be able to display what makes you unique through your social media because some models that I’ve met have been scouted by agents via their social media.
Take care of yourself and your mental health. Exercise, seek therapy, find a cool hobby, and spend time with your loved ones.
Even though becoming a full time model is my dream, and it will forever be, I have a life outside of it as well.
I have a nonprofit that I started and I am really passionate about - it’s called Injustices of Melanin. Originally, I started an Instagram page for it because I felt like Black women and our beauty and likeness don’t get the credit that we deserve unless it is for a trend but my non-profit developed into a mission to tell the true crime cases and experiences of Black and Brown women that have been affected by femicide, which often go unheard because of the lack of news coverage, accountability, and awareness.
You can follow us on Tiktok and Instagram @injusticesofmelanin.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be remembered for how I treated people, what I stand for, and for using my voice and platform to fight for what’s right, and for helping to create solutions to the betterment of the Black and Brown community.
Most importantly, I want to be remembered for being unapologetically BLACK. I will always keep my head up, I will maintain my confidence, and I will never allow anyone to demean me or try to humble me based upon their perception of who they think that I should be or how they think that I should act.
No matter how big I get in this industry, I will always be that girl from Eastside Atlanta.
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