When Aaron Ibrahim, 14y\/o, first came to Sunbeam Studios with his mum in tow, you\u2019d never have guessed that a wildly successful child modelling career lay just in front of him. Hidden under a cap and large coat, it\u2019s fair to say he\u2019d never given much thought to being a model. Now he and his sister Aisha, 11y\/o, are both successful child models.<\/p>\n
We caught up with their mum, Jenny Ibrahim, to find out more about Aaron, Aisha, and the ins and outs of being a parent of child models.<\/p>\n
Child Modelling: A Parent\u2019s Perspective<\/p>\n
WAM: Jenny, hi! I don\u2019t know where to start; there\u2019s been so much going on for you. Where did this all begin?<\/p>\n
J.I: Hi! Well, I first got in touch with We Are Models because Aisha wanted to get into child modelling. Aaron had always been a performer and he\u2019d been going to dance school for years, but he wasn\u2019t particularly interested in modelling at that point.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the whole family came into Sunbeam Studios together and the team took one look at Aaron and told him he should definitely get in front of the camera. Well, one look after he took his coat and cap off! He was definitely hiding\u2026 He just loved it though, he was an instant natural.<\/p>\n
So we left Sunbeam with photos of us as a family, as well as images tailored to Aisha and Aaron\u2019s individual child modelling careers. We started sending out images to the agencies We Are Models recommended, and the rest is history.<\/p>\n
WAM: So that\u2019s when Aaron and Aisha\u2019s careers really took off?<\/p>\n
J.I: Yes. Aaron\u2019s now with 7 major agencies and Aisha is with 5. It was all a bit of a surprise, really. We went into Sunbeam Studios with the attitude that this was all a bit of fun, and if nothing else we\u2019d end up with some beautiful photos to keep.<\/p>\n
The biggest surprise has been how supportive the industry has been. I went in maybe thinking that the modelling industry wasn\u2019t that great, especially for children, but I\u2019ve been constantly overwhelmed by how lovely everyone is.<\/p>\n
Child Modelling<\/p>\n
I went in thinking that the modelling industry maybe wasn\u2019t that great, especially for children, but I\u2019ve been constantly overwhelmed by how lovely everyone is<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve met so many fabulous, supportive people; everyone is just loving it and wants to help each other.<\/p>\n
WAM: What kinds of child modelling work are they both getting?<\/p>\n
J.I: There\u2019s been a lot! Aaron was in Barcelona on a 3-day shoot recently, for example. He\u2019s done work for CBBC, Sky Sports, Virgin Media. It\u2019s a teenage boy\u2019s dream come true. He was working on set with Lionel Messi and Peter Crouch for a TV commercial quite recently, and he loves football so that was an amazing experience.<\/p>\n
Aisha\u2019s done TV work for Disney so all her friends love it. And CBBC actually. She just did a job for BBC Bitesize for KS1 too.<\/p>\n
WAM: I suppose this is the obvious question for parents of child models, but how do you balance everything?<\/p>\n
J.I: Aaron is doing his GCSEs so balancing his modelling with his schoolwork has been really important. He might take time off, but it\u2019s all about making sure he catches up. I\u2019m an Asian mum so I like straight As\u2026! Haha! Seriously though, he\u2019s doing really well in his studies \u2013 he is a straight A student, luckily. He\u2019s balancing it well.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve instilled in him how important his studies are; he knows what he wants. He could leave school at 16 and become a model full-time, but he knows he needs to get his A-Levels first.<\/p>\n
Child Modelling<\/p>\n
I was afraid that his schoolwork would suffer once he started child modelling all the time, but it hasn\u2019t. In fact, it\u2019s got better.<\/p>\n
I was afraid that his schoolwork would suffer once he started child modelling all the time, but it hasn\u2019t. In fact, it\u2019s got better. I think it\u2019s because the kids know castings could come through at any time. They always want to be prepared, so they don\u2019t waste time. They do their homework as soon as they get it, and they work hard to keep their grades up.<\/p>\n
WAM: It sounds like child modelling has been a really positive experience. What have the biggest benefits been?<\/p>\n
J.I: Before we got into the industry, I never thought it would be such a positive thing for the children. But it really has been.<\/p>\n
The major benefit is that they\u2019ve been working in a very professional environment. Aaron has matured very quickly, and has a much better understanding of what he wants. He\u2019s still a schoolboy when he\u2019s at school but when he\u2019s on a job he\u2019s professional. It\u2019s given him that understanding of what it takes to earn money as an adult, and the discipline not to mess around, to take your work seriously.<\/p>\n
Child Modelling<\/p>\n
He\u2019s still a schoolboy when he\u2019s at school but when he\u2019s on a job he\u2019s professional. It\u2019s given him that understanding of what it takes to earn money and the discipline to take your work seriously<\/p>\n
I guess it\u2019s been about finding the balance of everything. I want him to have time to just be a boy, you know? That doesn\u2019t seem to be a problem though. I mean, he plays guitar, he plays basketball, he\u2019s doing his Duke of Edinburgh qualification at the moment too. And he still finds time to lounge around and play the Playstation. So that\u2019s something else he\u2019s learnt through child modelling \u2013 he\u2019s really good at organising his time.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve actually seen a big change in him since he started modelling, in terms of how he copes with pressure. Obviously now, with his GCSE\u2019s, there\u2019s a lot of pressure and that directly affects how you perform in your exams. He\u2019s definitely better at handling nerves now \u2013 you turn up to a casting of maybe 100 people and you learn to cope. What children need is confidence, in my opinion, and child modelling has given Aaron and Aisha that.<\/p>\n
Child Modelling<\/p>\n
What children need is confidence, in my opinion, and child modelling has given Aaron and Aisha that<\/p>\n
WAM: Amazing, thank you Jenny. And one final question: what would your words of wisdom be for any other parents of aspiring child models?<\/p>\n
J.I: Help your kids follow their dreams\u2026 but be prepared to be exhausted! Haha! No, seriously, it is tiring \u2013 but it\u2019s worth it. We\u2019ve met some amazing people, and both Aaron and Aisha now have this amazing career option they could pursue after education if they want to. As long as they\u2019re enjoying it, and you\u2019re finding that balance, I say go for it.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s Jenny Ibrahim for you. A classic model herself and parent to two fabulously successful child models, Jenny certainly has a lot to balance but she\u2019s loving every minute of it. If you\u2019re thinking about the world of child modelling and aren\u2019t sure where to start, We Are Models are here to help. Get in touch now. You can Also read our article on Family Modelling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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