GOSI Model: Abigail Ratchford

 My name is Abigail Ratchford, I love modeling because I’m an artist and love seeing several different things come together to create something beautiful. I love everything that goes into a picture;  hair, makeup, lighting, wardrobe, and the photographer of course. It’s truly amazing to see the finished product after a long day on set in 6 inch heels and feeling exhausted. I just started my own business about seven months ago called Perfect 10-ders Bartending Service. Its a business of beautiful women who bartend at events, fundraisers, parties, do beverage serving at nightclubs, bars, casinos etc. We also get hired constantly for promotional modeling gigs. My business is very similar to the amazing business- Girls of the Service Industry – in the fact that its beautiful women and cocktails. TWO things that will never go out of style . I have twelve girls working for me right now and plan on expanding and eventually creating branch businesses in other metropolitan areas. The girls I hired all have the ” je ne sais quoi” factor.  That IT FACTOR you can’t quite put your fingers on but somehow are magnetically drawn to them. They are all girls from my area who are sweet, beautiful , outgoing, driven, and most also happen to have experience with modeling. That is my absolute favorite part of my business, the photoshoots with the other girls. For my business we constantly have shoots for promotional spots, post cards, tanning ads, and are working on a calender right now . I LOVE LOVE LOVE being behind the scenes not only getting my pics done , but watching the other girls in their element and all of us working together to give tips to one another like ” smile with your eyes!” and “put your chin down !” We have a blast  on set and all help one another create our own absolute BEST shots because we’re like sisters and want the absolute best for one another as well as ourselves.

 I think above all, the LYRICS speak volumes. Great voices are pretty common these days and to be a singer you need a solid voice, but the lyrics are what make you put that song on your ipod and blast it in your car, before work, and at the gym when you want to take out some anxiety . As women we are constantly going through things and trying to balance everything in our life out while looking our best as well. There is so much scrutiny to be on women to look this way, act that way , feel this way etc. that at the end of the day its nice to come home and jam out to some awesome music. We go through break ups, let downs, job promotions, loss, love, pain ,joy , lust, desire, and all these different emotions on a day to day basis  can build up inside. There’s nothing like turning on your ipod and putting on your favorite song and feeling like the song is singing directly to you because of the lyrics. My favorite song at this moment is Gotye- Somebody that I used to know . The words are just unbelievable and you can almost feel the emotions coming through the song of losing someone you loved ..and now in retrospect he looks back and sees that person he once couldn’t live without as just ” somebody that I used to know .”

 Oh Jesus ! my taste in music is so eclectic . I love all different kinds of music its so hard to answer that question. Sam Cooke, Etta James, Otis Redding, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Roots, Cat Power, Elliot Smith, Ray LaMontagne , Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison ,Jay- Z, Nas, Wu-Tang, Damien Marley, Ellie Goulding, Adele, Duffy , Sade, and Phil Collins are all on my playlist 24/7, but lately I’m really feeling Gotye , La Roux and Fitz and the Tantrums’ new stuff. I’m in a certain kind of mood lately that really relates to the styles of those particular three, although they are each different from one another.

 I agree 100% . Women are very raw with their feelings. When women write a song with pure emotion , the lyrics are usually very powerful , and when men write songs about WOMEN, they usually write their most creative albums to date. This past year Adele swept the Grammys with her album 21, which was inspired by the ups and sobering downs of a tumultuous relationship. Every one of her songs on that album were awe inspiring and it paid off with her album sales as well as her grammy nods and wins, which prove that hell has no wrath like a woman scorned, and that woman is now very ,very rich.

Music that makes me move is something that can change my mood. I could be having a bad day and as soon as I hear this song, I’ll feel better. Older music tends to make me happier, like Sam Cooke or The Supremes, but the music that makes me want to go out with my friends and have fun is rap music like Jay-z, Nas, Kanye etc.

Of all of the working models in the world, only 1% make it to supermodel status -Adriana Lima, Gisele, Selita Ebanks, etc. Things have changed and progressed in modeling since the late 80’s and early 90’s . There were maybe 20 supermodels  back then and everyone knew them. They were amazons and on the face of everything ( Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista.) Currently in 2012, there are millions of working models, there are obviously the supermodels who make seven figures a year, but there are also countless fitness models, glamour/ beauty models/  runway/  editorial / commercial / plus size/  etc. A lot of restrictions and limitations have been lifted from what defines a ” model” but for me personally I’d like to be published or make a great living off of it to truly believe I made it. 

If I ever was a successful model or well known in the industry, I’d use the young years I had to actually work as a model as much as I possibly could, and while I was traveling, shooting, and on set, I’d pay close attention and acquire the skills and knowledge I need to eventually open my own agency one day when I get a little older and have children. In my opinion success happens when WHAT you know and WHO you know work cohesively to bring you to the top. I’d line up contacts, network, make the right friends, and learn everything I need to maybe open my own talent and modeling agency for children, men, women etc. for commercial work. There is SO much money to be made in that industry other than being an actual model.

Women come in so many colors, sizes, ages, and they all are beautiful in different ways. To me, a woman is the most beautiful when she is CONFIDENT. It sounds cliche but it is so true. Know what you HAVE and USE it.  So many women obsess over their few flaws that they fail to notice the amount of sexy and beautiful parts of themselves. If you’re insecure about your stomach but have great legs, wear a loose, short dress and killer heels and strut into the room like you own it. Confidence will take u from a 7 to a 10 in one minute. The girls I hired are all SO different from one another but are incredible in their own way. Arielle is a black haired ,blue eyed, Megan Fox lookalike who can sling 20 drinks in one minute,  K’sandre is an edgy ,raspy voiced, drop dead gorgeous knockout who had Rihanna’s hair before anyone knew who Rihanna was, and Mariela is a tall brunette with a bulgarian accent that draws crowds from towns away just to hear her voice. But the one thing that they all have in common, is their CONFIDENCE in themselves,and thats why I knew I needed to hire them and am SO proud to have them as the faces of my business.

My first best quality is my sense of humor. A lot of people think I’m serious but i’m just aloof. I’m always thinking about something I have to do , my mind never stops. But when you get to know me I’m very funny and witty. I love making people laugh so hard they tear up and are holding their stomachs! Another quality I am proud of is that also very helpful to other people. I get girls messaging me asking for hair and makeup tips or different techniques I use. I will send them detailed descriptions of products I use and am passionate about. I myself have messaged girls who I found pretty and asked them tips or complimented them and have received nasty responses so its refreshing when a girl takes time to help you look better or to share her favorite products with you, and thats something I always do. Lastly, one of my best qualities is that I keep to myself. Too many people are worried about everyone else’s business, or want to see people fail or talk poorly about them. I have too much on my plate to worry about other people and honestly have too many goals I set for myself for this year to dig into other peoples lives. I am constantly promoting my business, lining up charities to donate proceeds to, setting up contacts in Philadelphia , NJ, and NYC for when I expand my business by the end of the year, am currently getting my real estate license , have my six brothers and sisters, six nieces and nephews, parents, and the girls I work with who seriously need a REALITY SHOW for all of us ! Whenever I see a new business starting in my area I always wish them the best and try to help any way I can with donating my time, giving them contacts that can help them out etc, and I think that Karma has started to pay off for me with a lot of the wonderful things that are falling into place for me.

Oh boy I think I said enough? ! Let me sum it up..Abigail, 24, coolest chick you’ll ever meet, loves music,modeling, friends, FAMILY, GOD, is super funny, witty, owns Perfect10-ders, call to hire us for events, promotions, fundraisers etc! This months proceeds go to Autism Speaks. Check out the website – Perfect10-ders.com ! Peace and Love xoxo