Featured Model - Candy Keane
I was born in Alabama on September 21st, and my mom named me Candy because she thought it was a sweet name. That's honestly the only reason she's ever been able to give. And believe me, I've asked many times. I only lived there a short time before relocating to Florida, where I grew up on the Gulf Coast. With its warm waters and perfect white sand, it was hard to keep me away from the beach and out of the water. I've probably spent half my life in a bikini.
Candy's Biography
I was born in Alabama on September 21st, and my mom named me Candy because she thought it was a sweet name. I only lived there a short time before relocating to Florida, where I grew up on the Gulf Coast. With its warm waters and perfect white sand, it was hard to keep me away from the beach and out of the water (it still is). I have recently moved to Jacksonville, FL to be closer to my family.
I was a cute little girl with long brown hair, and I remember people commenting that I looked like Brooke Shields and should try modeling. Then I got a little older and turned into tall, skinny, lanky kid who spent two years missing my two front teeth only to have them grow in and stick out. Thank you grandma, for the braces. My stepfather was a photographer who worked at a camera store, so I spent a lot of time in front of the camera helping with different aspects of photography workshops. For example, one time I rode my bike past him over and over again so he could practice taking pictures of speed and movement. I remember looking through all his photography books, and seeing the beautiful pictures and wanting to be able to be that person in the photos someday.
But I was a shy little bookworm with a squeaky voice that didn't like being in front of crowds. I also tended to wear clothes two sizes too big, dressed like a boy and sometimes had purple hair. Modeling was not exactly the obvious career choice, and I drifted into writing and eventually decided to pursue journalism. I excelled at school and took mostly honors courses and a ton of art classes. After officially announcing I wanted be a beach bum after high school, a friend picked me up and carried me out of class, depositing me in the office and demanding I sign up for the SAT's and get my act together. I couldn't say no to that.
I spent a few years at community college trying to decide what direction to take. It was then that I looked into modeling with a local agency. I wasted a lot of money on photos and getting my portfolio together and then attending the Millie Lewis Modeling Convention where all the agents were terribly rude and uninterested in anything but the free vacation they were getting out of the deal. I actually had an agent look directly at me in his open call line, and then tell his assistant I have nobody in my line, can you get me someone worth looking at? Another agent asked And what do you think I can do for you hon? When I asked if he could just look through my book, he quickly flipped through, tossed it on the table and said You're too commercial, next in line please. Elite was the only agency that offered some constructive criticism and put me on the right path. The agent told me I was too curvy for fashion and should try swimwear modeling. This was when I was 5'9 and only 105 lbs. I didn't even think I looked good in a bikini at that point. The only highpoint of the convention was winning a ribbon for most photogenic. Afterwards the agency that I had given so much money to got me one job- working for $10/hr as a promo model for Cadillac. I reevaluated my whole approach to modeling and decided to concentrate on school instead.
So I headed to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida and earn a degree in magazine journalism. It was there that I got into the Internet and learning about building websites. A little one page website with a few snapshots grew into the website I have today. It was through research online, self promotion and building my website that I was able to start modeling again on my own terms. I also started doing more promo work in college working as a campus rep for Playboy. After college I moved to San Francisco to write editorial content for websites. It was an interesting time with the whole dot com business booming. After all that went bust, the writing jobs dried up and everyone started offering exposure instead of money. That is when I looked into modeling again and started doing a lot of promotional work. Pretty soon I got tired of the cold weather and decided to move south to San Diego. After searching in vain for a decent paying journalism job, I went back to promo work and now do promotions and modeling full time.
With the online modeling business growing every day, and so many young girls trying to break into the business, I felt the need to get the word out about the scams that are so prevalent in the industry. I was hoping to save at least a few other girls from blowing all their saving and going into debt while trying to pursue their dreams in the wrong direction. I've been a member of allexperts.com for a few years and have been giving advice to new models and their parents about what is and isn't legitimate when starting out. I had to learn the hard way! I also started writing again and published an article in Supermodels Unlimited Magazine on how to have a successful freelance modeling career.
So this is where I am today. I enjoy working on my website and all the opportunities modeling has brought to me. I've gotten to travel, met some interesting people, attend some great events and seen myself in print and on TV. In my free time I stil enjoy the beach, and have grown to love surfing since moving to SD. And although I may have gotten over most of my shyness, I'm still a little squeaky-voiced bookworm at heart.
Candy's Resume (
MODELING CREDITS)* Full-page ad for Webtalent in Summer edition of Supermodels
Unlimited Magazine, photo by Sean Keane, 2004
* Ads for OCexecutive, on Surfline, photo by Glenn Inskeep
* Interview published in E-Girls News magazine premiere issue
* Kiwi Bikinis, online catalog, photo by Images by Kim, 2004
* Full-page ad for Webtalent.com in the Fashion edition of
Supermodels Unlimited Magazine, photo by John Hendry, 2004
* Commercial for Maxim/Bud Light, Maximum Exposure, 2004
* Full-page ad for Webtalent.com in the Spring edition of
Supermodels Unlimited Magazine, photo by Images By Kim, 2004
* SoCal RPM, bikes & logo wear, 2004
* K.I.P. Swimwear, Images by Kim, 2004
* Focus Body Jewelry, print catalog, Rowell Design Inc., 2004
* Full-page ad for Webtalent.com in the Winter issue of
Supermodels Unlimited Magazine, Images by Kim, 2003
* SDmusicmatters.com, Z Media, Greg Passmore, 2003
* Girl Gone Wired, Tech TV's Unscrewed with Martin Sargent, 2003
* Team Leader of Kwicherbichen Bikini Team, 2003-04
* About.com hairstyle model for beauty section, 2003
* Monday Night Poker logo model, 2003
* NVR Strings Swimwear, Kim Riley, 2003
* Maxim Magazine pre-event coverage, "Maxim Meets
Johnny Midnight" San Diego Ch. 4, Jan. 26 2003
* VH-1 All Access, Totally Tricked Out Rides, SEMA coverage, 2003
* Yesterdays Sportswear, 2002
* Boom TV, magazine & DVD, 2002
* Smarty Cartoons, 2002
* BerryDog Swimwear online catalog, Tom Kellond, 2001, 2002
* PC Gamer Magazine, 8 page Holiday Gift Guide, 2001
* Bonifay Skiwear, online catalog, Andy Meng, 2000-02
* BottleSpinner.com, Postcards, 2000
* Burdines, fashion runway, 1999
* Venice Brides, bridal wear runway, 1998
* Print Ad for In Extremis night club, Eclipse Magazine, 1998