Lights, camera… homework?
Photo Credits: Gabe Arujo
By: Maya Ferrari, Opinion Editor
At Maria Carrillo High School, there is a senior who is making Puma history with his creative excellence and ambition in modeling; his name is Logan Meigs.
In 2023, Meigs was with his family over Thanksgiving break when his cousin, a full-time model, suggested that he should pursue modeling. He was told that he had a certain look, and if he were interested in the career, he should give it a try. Although this did not align with his childhood dreams of being a professional basketball player, Meigs has had a passion for fashion his whole life, so he decided to give modeling a shot.
Although it hasn’t been that long, Meigs’ career is off to a fast start. He has already been in front of creative directors from popular brands such as Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, and Gucci. He also has representation in Milan, New York, and California. The modeling industry is super competitive, so he highlights that getting jobs is pretty hard, especially as a beginner. Since Meigs is only 18 years old, a big challenge he faces is rejection. This is something every model faces during their career, and it is definitely common for young models to be denied the more competitive jobs. He explains how he has seen a large range of people at shoots, but he has yet to see someone younger than 18 or older than 27. As he is normally one of the youngest models in a casting, he is often told that he “can’t do much in this industry,” but instead of letting that weigh on him mentally, Meigs finds it motivating to be surrounded by older and more famous models. The advice he gives to young kids like him who aspire to get into the modeling industry is to be confident. Getting comfortable behind the camera helps to be calm and poised in casting situations. He also advises simply starting to reach out to photographers and agencies to make a portfolio as soon as possible. The more connections, the better.
Modeling has not only changed what Meigs does in his free time, but also has shifted his day-to-day life. He explains that being surrounded by New York fashion has allowed him to experiment more with his personal style and become confident in it. The modeling industry uses all models to express who they are. Just being around clothes and accessories so different than anything he would see on a normal day in Santa Rosa, Meigs has been able to find out what he likes, and what inspires him. He is also put in clothes he would have never thought of wearing before, and this has led to him actually enjoying the unique outfits and unusual pieces.
Senior year alone is super stressful with the abundance of AP tests and college decisions, but for Meigs, it becomes a little more complicated. He explains that since he started high school here at Carrillo, all his teachers and classes have encouraged him to work his hardest even in the most challenging subjects. Because of this, he adopted a good work ethic early on, which really aids him in his student-model life. To prepare for his modeling gigs, Meigs has to do a lot not only physically, but mentally too. He likes to have a clear mind for castings and shoots, and has a strict workout routine as well as a clean diet. He also explains how he is only able to abide by these rigorous steps because of how inspired he is by his girlfriend. He highlights that along with himself, “she is one of the people [he] wants to improve for.”
After graduation, Meigs plans to attend Rutgers University to study data science. Since this school is in New Jersey, he is only around forty minutes away from his modeling agency in New York. He states that he aspires to “graduate with [his] master, while continuing to pursue modeling, and [he] hopes to walk for Gucci one day.” To start, Meigs plans to attend Milan Fashion Week this June and hopes to walk for some big names.
“Nothing is too crazy to do,” says Meigs, “I never thought I would be a model, but here I am, travelling the world.”