As a teenage girl, there is influence everywhere to be superficial. Magazines like Vogue and Glamor are constantly pressuring women to be perfect on the outside, and it is working. Many women are obsessed with losing weight and wearing the latest trends. They have become superficial.

Unlike the superficial women, sophomore Mona Wallum is a down to earth student at Lewis-Palmer High School and is not your average superficial model.

Mona has dreamed of modeling ever since she can remember. As a baby Wallum was a Baby Gap model, but in later years she really got into modeling. Five years ago, a modeling agent approached Wallum at the Mall. A few days later she got a call from John Casa Blanca’s Modeling Agency asking her to audition to be a part of their agency. After modeling, doing a runway show, and an interview Wallum was accepted.

“They train you on what to do as a model. It’s like a school and they find gigs for you to model at,” Wallum said. At the agency Wallum paid for classes until she graduated. When she is set up with gigs, she is paid but some of the money goes back to the agency.

“When you turn 16 you can go to fashion week and get paid $500 a day to talk to the designers there and take notes. I can’t wait,” said Wallum.

When Wallum lived in Denver, she would go to John Casa Blanca’s every day, and every week after dance class. Even though she wasn’t in classes anymore, she would still be there to help teach the younger kids, try on new clothes and find gigs.

After Wallum moved from Denver to Colorado Spring, her modeling slowed down. Because the agency is in Denver, it was harder to commute frequently to modeling classes and gigs that happen in Denver. She doesn’t get as many gigs as she wishes but she had a blast at her last prom fashion show.

Commercial modeling is Wallum’s favorite part of modeling. She likes to put on different clothes and pose for the camera. Wallum has been in Gap advertisements, a small Denver magazine, an issue of Teen Vogue and many more advertisements.

“It’s my dream to be a model, especially a Victoria’s Secret model,” Wallum said. A big part of her life is her grandparents who inspire her to follow her dreams and work hard to be a model. She is working hard to achieve her dreams.

“It’s a dream of mine, I’ll get there!” Wallum said.