If you speak fluently 6 languages, have studied to be a diplomat, been a model for a few years and have worked in a fair amount of shoots, runway shows, and the like, you might want something new and something different. You want to put your intelligence and experience into your life a lot more. The best way to do this is to use best of both worlds, opening a model agency that goes beyond pretty faces, just like Alice Laura did.
Alice Laura Model & Hostess agency is an international high-quality staffing & modeling agency. The agency provides premium personnel for conventions, promotions, trade shows, congresses and corporate events.
Alice Laura, the owner, has worked for major modeling & staffing agencies on many national and international conventions, events and trade shows throughout Europe and Latin America. She did this while completing her Master degree in Political Economy and International Relations at the Free University in Berlin and fluently learning six foreign languages apart from her mother tongue, German. Her broad live marketing experience and talent for foreign languages has allowed her to understand exactly which proficiency is demanded of a model to best promote a product or brand. Besides being just beautiful, Alice’s models are expected to be highly educated.
Why deciding to start your own business, what inspired you to start a Model Agency?
The idea for Alice Laura Models originally came up in Berlin, Germany, while completing my Master’s Degree. To understand my company and the philosophy behind it, you should first know a little more of my personal story:
Before starting my studies, I was working as a volunteer in the Dominican Republic teaching English and French, while working in environmental education and ecotourism. Then, through merit scholarships, I studied abroad for 2 years (1 year in Havana, Cuba and one year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). All these experiences and many years of studies allowed me to learn six languages fluently and to open my mind to different realities and perspectives on life.
To finance my studies while in university, I started working as a model/hostess on many national and international conventions, events and fashion shows. Working as a model, I quickly realized that companies needed more than just a beautiful face. I helped them with translations, filtered important clients and explained their products. Thus, I became a valuable member of their team. Clients would not notice that it was my first time working with the company. Satisfied with my work, more and more companies approached me looking for professional talent to add value to their company and brand. I began connecting companies with highly educated models who were students, as I was at this time. This is how the idea of the agency came to life.
Have you always been entrepreneurial?
Being entrepreneurial means thinking outside the box, and yes, I have definitely always followed my unique path and focused on my personal and spiritual growth. It is good to question the way we live. It is the only way to create improvement. I followed and still follow my passions and try to create value and new opportunities for others. I have the great advantage to be able to share my ideas freely and try out something completely new and different. I am able to grow with my mistakes. It is as a permanent learning process.
What makes Alice Laura Models different from other model agencies?
Our company specializes in placing high fashion models skilled in sales, brand promoting and hosting for upscale events, trade shows and fashion events. We are known for the class, elegance and intellect of our models. We have found our niche focusing on elegance, class and competence, rather than short dresses. A high degree of education, knowledge of foreign languages and a very attractive look, are only a few qualifications that are required of our talent. We want our models to be valuable team members for the company, who help translate, filter important clients, direct customers to the right contact person and make any event, trade show or marketing campaign a success.
What are your goals currently? As in vision and mission?
Our mission is to break down the prejudice of models being beautiful, but empty shells. Generally, we want to empower our talent for their future lives. We love being the force that drives them to work on themselves intellectually, to learn new languages or get to know more about an industry they may be interested in. But most importantly, we want to encourage them to do what they are passionate about.
Our vision is to work with companies that, besides from turning a profit, also focus on having a positive impact: Ethical Fashion, Fair Trade, Innovative Technologies, Organic & all Natural Cosmetics/Food.
We only have one planet. This is why we want to use the tools of beauty and intelligence wisely, supporting a good cause.
I would love the agency to become an ethical modeling and staffing agency that, on the one hand, empowers young people by being able to finance their studies and invest in their education. While on the other, it supports these good ethical businesses with their marketing, branding and lead generation.
Are you making sacrifices being an entrepreneur?
You are definitely making sacrifices being an entrepreneur; still, I would not change it for any corporate job. Starting a company is always a challenge, more so, if your background is not in business. From creating a logo, a website, building valuable connections and scouting talent, to making sure strict quality standards are kept, in the beginning, you are basically doing everything. You feel every success and failure that comes across and it is a ride of emotions. More and more, I am learning to delegate tasks in order to focus on growing the company. Otherwise, you are loaded with work and have no time to think about the bigger picture. It is a challenge and a constant learning process. People see only the iceberg of success, not the late nights, sacrifices, rejections, doubts, risks, persistence and hard work that come with it.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement so far has been being able to grow the business in the US market. It was a completely foreign terrain for me and I came across a lot of cultural differences and personal challenges. Before, I had studied and worked in different countries, but I had never before launched my own business in a foreign country. It has been a challenge for sure, but I am proud to say that I have been able to make valuable connections and partnerships. Now, I have a better understanding about US business life and culture.
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurs have a different mindset; they create something new and can have an impact on society and the business world. I love being in this environment, because entrepreneurs realize their visions. They do not only talk, they make it happen. I always knew that I wanted to have an impact on society, which is also why I chose to study political sciences, economy and cultural anthropology. I believe that having your own business, enables you to create value for society and to make a difference. You are able to support environmental and life changing projects, empower & inspire others and; at the same time, be in harmony with your own beliefs and values.
6 foreign languages? How, when, why?
Being in school I always tried to focus on skills that would help me in life and to make the most of my time there. I thought skills, such as public speaking and an understanding of money/taxes/finances, would help me a lot in life. Speaking foreign languages was one of these important skills that I thought to be valuable. Therefore, I tried to take any language classes they offered in school. I started with English in the 5th grade, continued with French in 7th grade, then Latin in 9th grade, and Spanish in 11th grade. Then in university, I started learning Portuguese and Arabic. Furthermore, I was lucky to grow up speaking two languages as my father is Czech and my mother is German.
I now speak 6 languages fluently. Studying and working abroad in Spanish & Portuguese speaking countries helped me a lot to apply what I learned in school and to improve my active speaking skills.
I believe that languages open the doors to new worlds and allow you to really engage with different cultures and their people. My experiences abroad would not have been at all the same if I did not speak the languages. I am so thankful for the friends I made and the adventures I shared with the people I met.
Alice Laura Models
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Facebook: Alice Laura Models
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![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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