Fashion model credits staying true to her Meadow Lake roots led to successful career

She describes her career as a long journey which began with a talent scout from Mode Models International who discovered her around the age of 13. Her mother was a local hairstylist working for a number of salons in the area where she created a portfolio and was signed.

“They had some requirements I wasn’t willing to focus on such as a smaller waist, growing an inch taller and they wanted to send me to a nutritionist and that’s the territory that comes with modeling,” she said. “I decided I wanted to focus more on school and sports instead.”

As an athlete, she decided to focus more on her priorities and what made her happy. When she came across difficult times, she went for long runs throughout Meadow Lake, wrote in a journal, listened to music, played volleyball or had long conversations with friends continuously until she received some form relief and changing her perspective toward the problem. She encourages young people to pursue creative projects in order to reveal what matters most to them.

“I’ve always stayed true to myself as much as possible and I think that’s the biggest thing I hope for our youth,” she said. “I found myself and my strengths through sports and athletics because that was my passion and it spoke to me but that doesn’t have to be someone else’s route.”

She suggests focusing inward as an individual and listening to inner voice as a guide toward finding happiness. She encourages everyone to support one another while determining what those passions may be.

Merasty moved out of Meadow Lake after graduating high school and within the last four years, her career took off. Merasty has modeled fashion for Vancouver-based ethical labels including LEZÉ The Label, Free Label Clothing, Lululemon Athletica and Fifth and Park Clothing Co.

(submitted photo/ Brian Van Wyk for LEZÉ The Label)

“I used to think I had to [model] when I was young, that I was on a timeline, or that I was too old for a lot of opportunities but it all came into fruition in the end,” she said. “I kept pushing for other dreams and went outside of my comfort zone and it eventually came back to me. Everyone is on a different timeline.”

The fashion model said she was clear with her agency in promoting brands which are helpful to the environment, people’s self-esteem and promote a positive outlook on life. She is focused on working with smaller brands, and those operated by Black or Indigenous entrepreneurs.

She says finding balance in her life is a daily effort. She listens to her body and her mental needs as each requirement as each day is different than the last.

“Some days I may feel more introverted than others, especially when it’s required of me,” she said. “I vary between wanting to stay in and focus inward on the things I enjoy and other days. I like to be outside all day and [socializing].”

Mirasty uses reading, writing, listening to music and spending time with loved ones as an outlet while finding balance and listening to her inner dialogue. When she is feeling less than motivated, she writes, journals and listens to music.

“Communication has always been really important to me, whether it’s through writing or through speaking and I always note that when you’re going through something, internalizing it is not going to help you feel better,” she said.

An important piece of advice her father Willis gave her, is make important decisions based on logic.

“Don’t deny [emotions],” she said. “Acknowledge them and feel them but [always] try to think of your situation as logically as possible.”

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722

by Nicole Reis

Fashion model credits staying true to her Meadow Lake roots led to successful career

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