After hustling and bustling to find "adequate" space for shooting an up and coming model - this is the final product. I'm not happy with it - but you gotta start somewhere.
Kristin Taylor's story follows:
By KRISTIN TAYLOR
Staff Writer
Joey Skinner traded his dreams of being a rock star for hopes of modeling on runways in New York.
He’s on his way. But he does, after all, have to start somewhere.
Skinner, a 22-year-old Murray native, started in Nashville, Tenn., in April. After some exploring, he ended up at Wilhelmina Dan Agency. Then he ended up in “Cosmopolitan,” “Seventeen,” “Red Book” and “Glamour.”
Those magazines — and some others — include a Skechers shoe advertisement that also promotes “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood’s debut country music CD.
In August issues of the magazines, the ad prompted some snickers among Skinner’s friends — mostly because he’s wearing a fanny pack. (He quickly says those in charge had complete control over his make up, wardrobe and poses.) Skinner’s initial modeling gig also spurred his mother, Debbie, to buy to pairs of Skechers and more magazines than she’s ever purchased.
All reactions aside, the Skechers shoot confirmed for Skinner that he’s working toward bigger and better things that interest him. In fact, he said the finished product left him feeling ecstatic.
“I just walked in blind,” Skinner said. “There were all these colors and lights. You feel like someone when you walk in there.”
Sure, he’s a model, but he’s not the most famous model Murray has produced.
Molly Sims, whose parents still live here, currently stars on television’s “Las Vegas.” The 33-year-old Sims got her start in 1993 after she left Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where she was studying pre-law. She has appeared in three Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issues, including this year’s version.
“She’s a super model,” Skinner said, with much emphasis on “super.”
Next up for Skinner: Auditioning for a music video for The Lost Trailers, a Georgia quintet that plays contemporary country music. Then later this summer Skinner, whose father is Murray Fire Chief Michael Skinner, plans to travel to New York — one of the biggest stages for high-fashion modeling — to talk with agencies there.
Skinner’s life in Murray is a bit less glamorous.
A 2002 Calloway County High School graduate, he works for a moving company and was planning to go school to be a surgical technician before modeling seemed like it could be a reality.
Even in a smaller market like Nashville, Skinner has seen beautiful women, tasted good food and met regular people in the spotlight.
“I want to do this modeling thing, so that’s why I need to go to New York. I like the lifestyle,” he said. “... It’s not just good looks and high fashion. It’s everyday people. That’s the market in Nashville.”
Then he starts talking about New York and Miami, Fla., and the higher-profile runways.
“I’m dreaming,” he admits.
But then he remembers his high school dreams of playing guitar for local band Loop Hole: “I had hopes and dreams of being a rock star.”
For now, he’s saving money and planning his trip to The Big Apple. “It’s just big,” he said. “I’ve never been there before.”
But, then again, he’s never been in the pages of “Cosmo” before either.
