From 4-H projects, to 'Project Runway'
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Local model Alison Gingerich has earned the opportunity of a lifetime, modeling new designs on “Project Runway,” the number one cable reality program of 2009, and competing on its sister program “Models of the Runway.”
Alison Gingerich, the daughter of Norman and Susan Gingerich, was raised in Leesburg, along with her brother, Robin. Gingerich’s father, a retired teacher of the Greenfield school district, and her mother, who holds a doctorate in early childhood education, homeschooled Gingerich, who was involved in a number of extracurricular activities in the area.
Growing up in Highland County, Gingerich said she loved 4-H and usually presented a dozen or so projects every year for the fair. She got an early start in the fashion world by working on sewing projects for 4-H, starting with patterns and eventually designing and making clothes for her fair demonstrations. Gingerich said that this background knowledge in sewing and design gave her a unique perspective for “Project Runway.”
“In 4-H, we are judged on technical stuff,” said Gingerich, who said she was fascinated by the differences in the process of creating clothes for the show and for the fair. “On the show, it’s more about design.”
Gingerich’s 4-H projects eventually led her to the modeling industry, but it wasn’t her sewing that helped her get her foot in the door. Gingerich was 13 and showing her rabbits at the Highland County Fair when she was discovered by Jake Lang, a modeling agent from Wings Model Management in Cincinnati. Gingerich said that she had never considered a career in modeling and initially thought the offer was “crazy,” since she thought of herself as “an awkward kid.” However, Lang persuaded her to give modeling a try.
“If it wasn’t for 4-H, I wouldn’t be modeling,” laughed Gingerich, who encourages local children to get involved in the program.
In addition to 4-H’s profound impact on her life, Kids & Company, an annual program in Wilmington, helped prepare Gingerich for her work in the arts. Lois Hock, managing director of Kids & Company and a theatre professor for Wilmington College, said that Gingerich started working with her at the age of 8 and was “really bashful” at her audition.
However, the young girl’s singing voice was so good that Hock and her co-workers wrote a part into “Treasure Island” for Gingerich.
Gingerich continued working on the shows as an actress and rehearsal assistant, and she and her mother helped with the costumes.
“That taught me so much,” said Gingerich, who credits the judging process of 4-H and her work with Kids & Company with giving her the confidence to be on stage and to audition.
Gingerich made progress with the program and with Hock’s drama camp, and she eventually earned the lead role in “Alice in Wonderland.”
Gingerich completed her run with the production after she began working as a model.
After meeting her agent at the fair, Gingerich posed for a catalog and earned enough money to pay for professional head shots and for a
guitar, prompting Gingerich to work on her musical talents. Gingerich said Lang has helped her land jobs all around the country and the world, including a Mercedes-Benz advertising campaign.
She also appeared in a Hewlett-Packard ad that was featured on the back cover of the Newsweek issue announcing Barack Obama’s presidency.
Gingerich, who doesn’t own a television at her California home, said she spent Christmas in 2008 with her family and stumbled upon a marathon of “Project Runway,” which she had never seen. She loved the show, and when she heard that the show was casting new models, she was immediately interested.
Although Gingerich said she is usually superstitious and anxious about auditions, she “changed [her] thought process” for the “Project Runway” audition and had a positive outlook.
Gingerich brought sunflowers to her interviewer and dealt with an earthquake in the middle of her two-hour interview.
She was determined to appreciate the audition for the value of its experience, and her optimism led her to get a callback and then a spot on the show.
While “Project Runway,” which can be seen Thursday nights at 10 p.m. on Lifetime, is a competition for designers, the show’s models are often just as busy as the designer hopefuls.
Gingerich said that the modeling job can be grueling, as the models stand for much longer than the show reveals and occasionally deal with uncomfortable or ill-fitting outfits. She said she was initially surprised at the stress and the constant rush to get things done, as the designers work under strict time constraints.
“Models of the Runway,” which airs immediately following “Project Runway” at 11 p.m. on Thursdays, tells the story of “Project Runway” from the models’ perspective. In addition, the models are working to win $25,000 as well as their own photo spread in Marie Claire magazine.
Gingerich said that the experience of living with the other models and “having to be camera-ready every day” was exciting.
“‘Project Runway’ has been so much fun,” said Gingerich.
Just as the Highland County Fair led Gingerich to modeling and modeling led Gingerich to pursue her love of music, “Project Runway” is opening up doors for Gingerich.
“I was very surprised that on the first episode [of ‘Project Runway’]
they played my song, ‘Dream, Dream, Dream,’” said Gingerich, who said
that people have been calling and writing to her asking how they can buy her music.
Gingerich has lived in Los Angeles for the past three years, where she models, acts, and works on her music.
She still returns to Ohio to visit her family and friends and to work on recording songs and music videos with friends.
“Ohio is so beautiful,” Gingerich said, who was happy to see snow during her most recent visit to her hometown.
“You kind of take that for granted while you’re here.”
For now, Gingerich is enjoying the reactions from her family, friends, and fans about the show, and she is looking forward to making further progress with her music and modeling careers.
“Everything happens for a reason,” said Gingerich of her unexpected success story. “I’m glad I was born here.
“I got to be a really grounded person – I hope – because of where I grew up.”[[In-content Ad]]
Alison Gingerich, the daughter of Norman and Susan Gingerich, was raised in Leesburg, along with her brother, Robin. Gingerich’s father, a retired teacher of the Greenfield school district, and her mother, who holds a doctorate in early childhood education, homeschooled Gingerich, who was involved in a number of extracurricular activities in the area.
Growing up in Highland County, Gingerich said she loved 4-H and usually presented a dozen or so projects every year for the fair. She got an early start in the fashion world by working on sewing projects for 4-H, starting with patterns and eventually designing and making clothes for her fair demonstrations. Gingerich said that this background knowledge in sewing and design gave her a unique perspective for “Project Runway.”
“In 4-H, we are judged on technical stuff,” said Gingerich, who said she was fascinated by the differences in the process of creating clothes for the show and for the fair. “On the show, it’s more about design.”
Gingerich’s 4-H projects eventually led her to the modeling industry, but it wasn’t her sewing that helped her get her foot in the door. Gingerich was 13 and showing her rabbits at the Highland County Fair when she was discovered by Jake Lang, a modeling agent from Wings Model Management in Cincinnati. Gingerich said that she had never considered a career in modeling and initially thought the offer was “crazy,” since she thought of herself as “an awkward kid.” However, Lang persuaded her to give modeling a try.
“If it wasn’t for 4-H, I wouldn’t be modeling,” laughed Gingerich, who encourages local children to get involved in the program.
In addition to 4-H’s profound impact on her life, Kids & Company, an annual program in Wilmington, helped prepare Gingerich for her work in the arts. Lois Hock, managing director of Kids & Company and a theatre professor for Wilmington College, said that Gingerich started working with her at the age of 8 and was “really bashful” at her audition.
However, the young girl’s singing voice was so good that Hock and her co-workers wrote a part into “Treasure Island” for Gingerich.
Gingerich continued working on the shows as an actress and rehearsal assistant, and she and her mother helped with the costumes.
“That taught me so much,” said Gingerich, who credits the judging process of 4-H and her work with Kids & Company with giving her the confidence to be on stage and to audition.
Gingerich made progress with the program and with Hock’s drama camp, and she eventually earned the lead role in “Alice in Wonderland.”
Gingerich completed her run with the production after she began working as a model.
After meeting her agent at the fair, Gingerich posed for a catalog and earned enough money to pay for professional head shots and for a
guitar, prompting Gingerich to work on her musical talents. Gingerich said Lang has helped her land jobs all around the country and the world, including a Mercedes-Benz advertising campaign.
She also appeared in a Hewlett-Packard ad that was featured on the back cover of the Newsweek issue announcing Barack Obama’s presidency.
Gingerich, who doesn’t own a television at her California home, said she spent Christmas in 2008 with her family and stumbled upon a marathon of “Project Runway,” which she had never seen. She loved the show, and when she heard that the show was casting new models, she was immediately interested.
Although Gingerich said she is usually superstitious and anxious about auditions, she “changed [her] thought process” for the “Project Runway” audition and had a positive outlook.
Gingerich brought sunflowers to her interviewer and dealt with an earthquake in the middle of her two-hour interview.
She was determined to appreciate the audition for the value of its experience, and her optimism led her to get a callback and then a spot on the show.
While “Project Runway,” which can be seen Thursday nights at 10 p.m. on Lifetime, is a competition for designers, the show’s models are often just as busy as the designer hopefuls.
Gingerich said that the modeling job can be grueling, as the models stand for much longer than the show reveals and occasionally deal with uncomfortable or ill-fitting outfits. She said she was initially surprised at the stress and the constant rush to get things done, as the designers work under strict time constraints.
“Models of the Runway,” which airs immediately following “Project Runway” at 11 p.m. on Thursdays, tells the story of “Project Runway” from the models’ perspective. In addition, the models are working to win $25,000 as well as their own photo spread in Marie Claire magazine.
Gingerich said that the experience of living with the other models and “having to be camera-ready every day” was exciting.
“‘Project Runway’ has been so much fun,” said Gingerich.
Just as the Highland County Fair led Gingerich to modeling and modeling led Gingerich to pursue her love of music, “Project Runway” is opening up doors for Gingerich.
“I was very surprised that on the first episode [of ‘Project Runway’]
they played my song, ‘Dream, Dream, Dream,’” said Gingerich, who said
that people have been calling and writing to her asking how they can buy her music.
Gingerich has lived in Los Angeles for the past three years, where she models, acts, and works on her music.
She still returns to Ohio to visit her family and friends and to work on recording songs and music videos with friends.
“Ohio is so beautiful,” Gingerich said, who was happy to see snow during her most recent visit to her hometown.
“You kind of take that for granted while you’re here.”
For now, Gingerich is enjoying the reactions from her family, friends, and fans about the show, and she is looking forward to making further progress with her music and modeling careers.
“Everything happens for a reason,” said Gingerich of her unexpected success story. “I’m glad I was born here.
“I got to be a really grounded person – I hope – because of where I grew up.”[[In-content Ad]]