TALKS with Kendall
13 min read | Interview | A.M.
Interview with model Kendall Russell-Tutty
Appearing in The July Issue and
republished here in its entirety.
Images captured via FaceTime
with Lisa Russell-Tutty.
Story by A.M.
“If you are not comfortable with yourself, that’s where it needs to start.”
Seattle Fashion Collective is delighted that so much of our readership is comprised of families that are as excited by fashion as they are committed to supporting our local fashion community. Throughout the many seasons in recent memory, both runways and editorials have been represented by some of our youngest professionals in pursuit of new opportunities in the fashion world.
There are, however, few opportunities to develop in general in the Pacific Northwest. At this time, there are few publications pursuing print, and those that are do not regularly cast from local talent agencies. Additionally, brands have held fewer runway shows in our region, and as a byproduct of the coronavirus, the runways of the future will look altogether different. And social discussions surrounding body positivity and beauty standards challenge fashion’s institutionalized discrimination.
Commercially, the Northwest has been, and remains, a small but active market for creative professionals. Models are cast for our region’s largest companies including Microsoft and Amazon. And Seattle is a market visited by Hollywood for its SAG-AFTRA productions, though not with the frequency many would prefer.
While it cannot be said that all experiences and outcomes are equal—and perhaps as a result of these limitations—the creative arts community has become an incredibly thriving place to learn and grow. Many communities throughout our region host “open shoots” where time and talent are exchanged for print and the chance to push their creativity in new directions. And agencies generally have policies that allow fresh talent to work with creative professionals that will help develop their book in a particular direction. The result is, in a best-case, net positive for the artist, agency, and the industry.
Where this formula breaks down is in its commercial aspect, as one cannot sustain a career without an exchange of money, certainly. However, the current professional state of our creative economy relies on industrial work—for example, in-house deliverables for hospitals demonstrating new policies, or print work for large brands looking for interesting talent to represent their regional campaigns. A well-developed book is a prerequisite, as are a wealth of experience in one’s creative discipline and a working understanding of set etiquette. And without cogent educational opportunities in our region, one of the best ways to 10x your skill set is to create opportunities for yourself.
Kendall Russell-Tutty is, first and foremost, a student in high school. Her passion has always been music and she has invested much of her creativity in choir and cheer. She began modeling at the age of thirteen, and over the years, developed a strong commercial book that reflects her interests in the glamour and beauty genres. But more than that, she has incorporated modeling into her personal journey, seeking out opportunities to develop both as a model and as a person. The results have been transformative. And Kendall will be the first to admit she was never on this journey alone.
The following interview took place in May 2020 and reflects Kendall’s thoughts on life as a teenager during a time unlike anything she had experienced before. Isolation presents inherent difficulties, many of which are amplified by our digital interconnectedness. Yet perseverance comes as a result of reorienting oneself toward their vision of the future and taking steps in the present to achieve it. And giving oneself permission and space to forgive where necessary in order to move forward.
— A.M.
The dichotomy of a stay-at-home school year.
SFC: How did you get started in modeling?
KRT: I got signed to Colleen-Bell Agency which is based out of Bellevue a couple years ago and have been modeling ever since. I used to do all-star cheer, which is like year-round competition cheer, and we had to take photos of our new uniforms. And I kind of fell in love with it after that because I loved being behind the camera and getting to see the other side from the photographer’s perspective. It was just really interesting. There’s so many factors that play into it like lighting, angles—it was just really fun and interesting. A whole new world to explore.
SFC: Do you remember your first modeling experience?
KRT: I was really nervous. In photos, you have to express a story, and you have to have different facial expressions and show emotions through your face and your body, with body posture and language. And I was really nervous because I didn’t think I was going to be able to express any of that. I thought my nerves were going to show. But I had so much fun and learned so much my first shoot.
I still get nervous, especially with new photographers, just because every photographer has their own thing that they like to do, or has certain things that they don’t like. Different photographers have different creative minds. So I get nervous with that. But I don’t think I get nervous with the actual modeling anymore. It’s just the personal connection, and how I think both of our creative minds are going to collaborate. But I would say I get more nervous about runway, because I could trip and fall at any moment, and you never really know how the dress is going to fit until a couple weeks before.
SFC: Your first runway event was with Miyoung Margolis for Seattle Aphrodite in Vancouver B.C. Do you remember the experience?
KRT: I think that was the most nervous I’ve ever been. I mean, I knew how to walk in heels. I was like, ‘I’ll be fine.’ But once I saw the heels I had to wear, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh—I’m not going to be able to walk in those. And you have to walk to the beat of the music, and stop and pose in certain places. And I remember I got on the stage, and all the lights were so bright, I just forgot about everything! I did fine, but I forgot about everything. I was just so nervous. Before I started this journey, I did all-star cheer, so I was onstage with a bunch of people. But there was also a team factor, so it wasn’t just me. So I had confidence in doing my job because I was with my team. And I think once I started modeling, I didn’t have much self-esteem or confidence because I’ve never really had photos taken of me. After my first shoot, I saw all these pictures with all these different angles of me and I was like, ‘Don’t like that one; don’t like that one. That one’s fine.’ So throughout this journey, it’s taken me a while to get comfortable with myself; a photo from one angle can look totally different than another one with different lighting. BUT MY CONFIDENCE HAS DEFINITELY BUILT UP BECAUSE OF MODELING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE WITH CREATIVE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME—makeup artists, photographers, and other models. It’s really a collaboration. We just try to build each other up and embrace everyone’s differences, because everyone looks different or has something they don’t feel comfortable about.
Specifically for me, before I started, I was very insecure because I used to get bullied about my nose. And I was really insecure about that when I started modeling because of my profile in pictures. I really hated them; didn’t want to look at them. I didn’t even want to know they were out there and that people could see them. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t a short journey. But now I really do have confidence in myself. I don’t think anyone’s going to be one hundred percent sure of who they are, but I definitely have a better perspective on how this creative world works, and having confidence in myself [navigating through it].”
A posed portrait of Kendall reclining with a textbook.
SFC: How do you define beauty?
KRT: I wouldn’t say I have a specific definition of beauty. Beauty is always changing. The fashion industry is always changing, as are perspectives and standards on what beauty is. I THINK BEFORE I STARTED MODELING, I ONLY KNEW WHAT BEAUTY WAS THROUGH MAGAZINES, FAMOUS MODELS, SINGERS I THOUGHT WERE BEAUTIFUL—I would think of them when I thought of beauty. I think now that I’ve gotten to see so many different sides of who people are and their creative minds, and how they work, I think beauty could be your physical appearance or your intelligence—pretty much anything. Before, I really thought it was just your outside appearance, because that’s what the world puts it out to be. But there are people who have beautiful minds. They’re so intelligent. I think when somebody is so smart and intelligent, and know what they want to do, that is beautiful. Every time I go to a new shoot, I try not to do the same thing every single time. I’m not really into cosplay and things like that. But I would say I love avant-garde and anything that tells a story. I think that’s my brand. I try to tell a story every time I go to a shoot. And that’s why I love listening to music when, especially when it matches what we’re going for, because I can put that in my brain and just try to express that. So I would say that I really do try and tell a story. You can look at a picture, but if there’s no story, then what’s the picture?
SFC: You’re now on a path to college. How do you balance modeling with your education and career aspirations?
KRT: I would try to explore everything and anything as much as you can when you’re my age, because you have your support system and you have something to fall back on. BUT I WOULD NEVER DROP SCHOOL JUST FOR MODELING BECAUSE I THINK SCHOOL IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY NEED. Especially after high school. I really want to go to college and get my nursing degree. But my advice would just be to experiment and see what you like. I knew I wanted to go into healthcare, but I didn’t know what specific thing I wanted to do. And then I was also trying to model. And at first, modeling was a hobby. And now it’s kind of my job, and I really love it. And I think if you love something, you can find a way to do it. And if you love doing multiple things, you can find a way to balance it out. I think it just depends on the person. And it definitely gets stressful sometimes to balance modeling, school, cheer, and choir to make sure they don’t overwhelm me. I think finding time during your day to just relax [helps]. Obviously if you’re someone who doesn’t like school and you’re trying to balance those out, you’re not going to enjoy it, because you don’t love them. But I love learning new things, whether it be lighting and angles with modeling, or whether it’s something about history in school. [Because of that] I find a way to balance out my learning.
Now that we’re in quarantine, everything has shifted and changed. Specifically for me, I don’t have choir anymore, so I have to find time in the day to just try to sing and get my voice back since I don’t have my teacher. And the gym is closed, so I pretty much had to turn my tennis court into a workout space. But I strategically planned out my classes. I wake up about 6:40 AM, I have Zoom calls starting at 7:00 AM, and then I’m done around noon. From there, I go do music, then workout, then I catch up on new modeling stuff. So I think you kind of just have to plan it out where you feel comfortable and allow some time during the day to just be you—especially if you’re a teenager, just to sit down and be a teenager, hang out with friend on your phone, watch TikToks. You need time throughout your day to just relax and just be you in order to strategically plan things out. I also feel that if things are too planned out, there’s no adventure. So if you allow time in between to just explore.
Kendall spending a moment with the family dog.
SFC: How would you describe your overall wellbeing? What advice would you give to others during this time?
KRT: Before quarantine, we had all this social media, and that’s where a lot of depression was coming from. People were picking on each other. You would go through your phone, scroll through Instagram, see these beautiful girls with these beautiful bodies, and they are made to look so perfect. And then you look at yourself in the mirror, and you don’t feel the same. But we were so distracted by multiple things that we weren’t fixated on social media and how people are presented. But now, all we have to stay connected is our phones. We have personal interaction with our families because we’re stuck with them—but seeing friends, you have to FaceTime or text. AND I FEEL LIKE NOW WE ARE SO FIXATED ON OUR PHONES BECAUSE THAT’S ALL WE HAVE. And it’s so prevalent because we look for entertainment as well as connection with people.
I feel like everyone deals with criticism and bullying in different ways. Some people can handle a lot more than others. I know for me personally, in the beginning, you could say one thing and I would cry. But I think you just have to develop a thick skin and you have to take into consideration that everyone has different ideas of beauty, and if you don’t match theirs, then so be it. And if they’re going to take the time out of their day to talk about how you don’t fit their idea of beauty, then let them. They’re trying to hurt you, and if you don’t show that it affects you, then they’ll stop. You have to think that in the end, if you’re comfortable with yourself, that’s all that matters. Not everyone is going to agree with how you look or how you live your life. I would say for teenagers, I believe it’s very hard with bullying, because in high school, you have what everybody considers popular, and then you have to live up to those standards to be known. So I think it’s a really pressured space to be in, especially during this time, because everything is on your phone and people can say whatever they want, and it’s not face-to-face. But I feel like you just have to brush them off. And I know it’s easier said than done, and it took me a while to learn how to brush off even just a little, because when people say things, it does hurt. But just let it go. And just look in the mirror and be comfortable with yourself. If you’re not comfortable with yourself, that’s where it needs to start.
SO I FEEL LIKE TAKING A STEP BACK FROM YOUR PHONE OVERALL IS A REALLY BIG PART IN KEEPING SANE DURING THIS TIME.
And I think if you take time for yourself and your family, and just build a stronger connection with your support system, then after quarantine, we’ll be able to go back to the same as we were before and not go insane.
Kendall and her mother Lisa looking over school work in their home in May, 2020.
SFC: What does the future look like for you in the near-term?
KRT: I plan on slowly getting back into my life before quarantine. I don’t want to rush back into it. I kind of got used to how my life is now, with very little interaction with people. I feel like quarantine is really focused on yourself, because that’s all you have. But my advice would be just go at your own pace.
SFC: What advice would you give to someone, especially a young person, who wants to begin a career in modeling?
KRT: I really think having somebody, whether it’s your mom or your best friend that can be there for you and watch out for you, is something really crucial to starting your career. You can have the drive and want to do it, but you’re going to need somebody there to support you, and to protect you. Try to find somebody who knows you well—knows what will hurt you, what you like, and don’t like. My mother knows be like the back of her hand. I was very thankful when she decided she wanted to help and has really dedicated a lot of her time to helping me with it. So just FIND SOMEBODY WHO IS VERY DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU AND BEING THERE FOR YOU, AND WHO IS DEDICATED TO WATCHING YOU SUCCEED AS WELL AS DEVELOP AS A PERSON. Modeling definitely changes your perspective on a lot of things and helps you grow as a person, not only in your confidence, but in your relationships with other people. I would say just find somebody you know who is going to be there for you no matter what, and who will support you, and watch out for you.
SFC: If you had one final message to give to anyone, and it could be anything, what would it be?
KRT: It would be to people I’ve held grudges against. I’ve developed a lot in the past year, just in how I want to have relationships with people, and who they would be. And I’ve kind of developed a sense that I don’t want to hate anyone. I don’t want to be mad at anyone. And [that doesn’t mean] necessarily that I’m going to forgive people. But I’m going to let it go. I’m going to say, ‘You hurt me. Okay. So be it. But I’m not going to allow you to hurt me again.’ So I think I would reach out to people whom I’ve not forgiven, or have distanced myself from, and be like, ‘I have not forgiven you, but I forgive myself for allowing you to hurt me.’ And I would try to [work towards leaving] on good terms with everyone. Because I feel like I’m very quick [to say], ‘No, you hurt me. Goodbye.’ I’ve always been that way because I don’t like the feeling of being hurt. I don’t think anyone does. So I would just say to anyone I had that kind of relationship with, or that I’m currently in right now, ‘You know what? We’re just going to live our lives. You and I are good. We don’t have to talk all the time. But I’m not going to hate you.’ HATING IS A LOT OF WORK. AND BEING MAD AT SOMEBODY AND NOT FORGIVING THEM IS MORE STRESS ON YOU. And you never know what’s going to happen in life. You can’t sit there and hate people and be angry when it takes two people to do something. They could have hurt you, but you allowed them to hurt you. So I feel like it kind of goes both ways. So just opening up and saying, ‘I don’t forgive you, but I forgive myself.’
View our Talk with Kendall in its entirety in the video above.
Editor’s Note: This interview took place May 2020 and appeared as part of TALKS series. The interview was then edited for publication in The July Issue and appears here in its entirety. Due to the ongoing nature of stay-at-home education throughout many regions in Washington State for the foreseeable future, the content of this interview remains PARTICULARLY relevant.
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