Photo courtesy of Bludoor Studios.
By Linden Wilson
Southlake's budding supermodel is making a highbrfashion name for herself
She has the ethereal beauty of Kate Moss and thebrdown-to-earth personality of Heidi Klum, but Abby Williamson is a model breedbrall her own. Just 13 when she was discovered by Dallas boutique agencybrWallflower Management, the now-15-year-old Southlake Carroll freshman hasbralready filled her print portfolio with photo shoots from D Magazine, D Brides, FD Luxe and Modern Luxury Dallas and campaigns from online fashionbrdestinations like UNIF and the Forever 21-esque Pixie Market. In January ofbr2013, she joined the elite ranks of Moss, Klum, Gisele Bündchen, Miranda Kerr, Carolyn Murphy andbrCandice Swanepoel when she signed with IMG Models, one of the world’s leading internationalbrmodel management agencies.
WatchingbrAbby in front of the camera is like watching a model who's been in the industrybrfor much longer than two years. Every subtle move she makes is one killer posebrafter the next, and the camera clearly loves her stunningly unique face. In herbrfirst-ever shoot with photographer Lauren Withrow, Abby posed in dainty whitebrdresses at a house in rural Farmersville, Texas.
“At first,brI was kind of nervous because I didn't know what to do, but then as the shootbrwent on, it got easier,” Abby says. “The more shoots I did, the more natural itbrfelt.”
Since then,brshe's also been the subject for Dallas-based photographers Maxine Helfman andbrSteven Visneau as well as New York photographers William Lords and KeithbrLathrop, whose meeting with Abby led to her signing with IMG.
“Keith isbrfriends with David Cunningham, the VP of Talent for IMG,” says Abby's mom, AmybrWilliamson. “Keith was in Dallas, and he wanted to photograph Abby. We met, andbrhe did a huge shoot at a backyard pool. He asked right then and there, ‘Can Ibrsend this to IMG?' He was very pivotal in getting the ball rolling.”
Abby's IMGbrcontract covers big markets including Australia, Milan, London, Rome and ofbrcourse, New York. Abby flew to the city this past summer to network, visiting Seventeen, Teen Vogue and NYLON,brwhere she was held for an option. During the school year, Abby stays equally asbrbusy with casting calls, fittings and test shoots. Amy says a typical week is similarbrto a particular one that occurred this past February — a casting during thebrweek for Fossil (headquartered in Richardson), a fitting on Saturday and abrphoto shoot Sunday afternoon.
“One or twobrthings during the school week is about all we can fit in,” Amy explains. “Abbybrcould stay busy with test shoots every week, but we limit them because we wantbrher to be a kid and just hang out with her friends on the weekends.”
Althoughbrher extracurricular activities are limited, Abby still finds time to watch onebrof her favorite TV shows, “Project Runway,” and browse the iPhone app calledbrThe Hunt, which she uses for everyday outfit inspiration.
“Peoplebrpost clothing and show you where you can buy different pieces of the clothes,”brshe says. “I'm obsessed with it right now.”
Herbrfavorite brands include Michael Kors and GUESS (“I've gotten shorts and I'vebrhad a swimsuit by GUESS — I like their designs”). When selecting clothes frombrher closet, she sometimes likes to overdress, favoring fun accessories likebrscarves and skirts with high socks. Yet when Abby goes shopping, she doesn'tbrsimply browse the racks.
“I've gonebrinto stores before and said, ‘Hey mom, look at this model. Look how she'sbrposing.' And I try to mimic that pose and study her face,” she says. “Peoplebrare probably looking at me like, ‘What is she doing?' But I'm trying to learn.”
Abby's alsobrgaining experience on the runway. Before models walk in major runway shows,brit's typical for agents to want them to get their feet (or, high heels, rather)brwet walking in shows for charity. This past October, she walked in a show forbrhairstylist Kevin Murphy at The Dallas Contemporary. In February, she walked inbrThe Pin Show, Dallas' largest independent runway event that showcasesbrindependent designers from all over the country. Currently focusing on printbreditorial, Abby wishes to continue to gain runway experience so that she canbrexcel at both.
“I hope that modeling will be mybrcareer,” she says enthusiastically. “People think it's not hard, that you justbrhave to stand there and look pretty. I don't know how to explain it, but it canbrbe exhausting and is harder than it seems. I want to be like Heidi Klum or TyrabrBanks or Kate Moss. I want to work hard so I can model for a long time.”
IMG isbradamant that Abby be successful, according to Amy. “They want her to have abrlong career. The girls they choose, they invest in them for their future. Ibrdon't think people understand that this will be her job, versus, ‘Oh that'sbrcute, you model.' When she gets in front of the camera, she's a differentbrperson instead of a 15-year-old kid.”
For Abby, who prefers art andbrtheater to math and sports, modeling provides her an outlet to showcase herbrartistic side. “Modeling is kind of like acting, but you can't speak. You havebrto let people see your emotions through your face.” She says the different clothesbrshe wears during photo shoots dictate her mood. “If I'm wearing a weddingbrdress, I'll be dramatic. And crazy couture just gets me into character.”
This summer, Abby will travel tobrJapan with Wallflower to expand her already impressive portfolio. The visit willbrmark her first overseas trip for a modeling gig. Looking back on the past twobryears, she remembers how her meeting with the agency almost didn't happen.
“My mom saw there was an openbrcall,” Abby says. “It was a rainy day, and we weren't sure if we should gobrbecause we were worried about the roads. But I said, ‘Mom, we have to go. Ibrhave a good feeling.'”
Wallflower, whose creative director, TammybrTheis, is responsible for jumpstarting the career of Irving native Erin Wasson,bramong many others, has since signed two of Abby’s siblings, 11-year-old Gracebrand 9-year-old Jake. Like their older sister, they appear comfortable andbreasygoing in each of their photographs. Yet Abby’s natural presence in front ofbrthe camera, her quirky, contagious personality and willingness to work hard andbrsucceed cannot be denied. The girl is going places.