We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara Rasheta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, can you tell us what you are most passionate about?
For the past twenty-five years I have been lucky to work in the entertainment industry. While this business can be very exciting and glamorous, it can also be dangerous if you’re uninformed. That’s why I am passionate about helping models learn to protect themselves and have a positive and safe experience as they enter this new trade. Since 2009, my partner Cristina and I have been using our expertise as talent consultants and our personal experiences as models, to help our clients stay safe and avoid scams. Just like in any other field, there are villains out there who will exploit a young girl’s dreams and take advantage of her. We’ve all heard the horror stories of models getting scammed out of money or falling prey to the casting couch. When consulting with models and their parents, we empower them with practical knowledge and know-how that will help them become secure, smart and savvy. We teach them the common red flags to look and listen for. A basic principle that we’ve all heard, and which applies across the board, is if it seems too good to be true then it probably is. It’s important to apply common sense and discretion when entering this business. Understanding industry norms and how things work behind the scenes can really help a model and her parents navigate this new world confidently. Now that we are also moms ourselves, this mission of safety is even more important to us than ever. When a model can catwalk into her new career holding up a shield of information, understanding and discernment, then she can really pursue her dreams with all hear heart. This is the reason why we do what we do.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What we do is help our clients successfully sign with reputable modeling and talent agents regionally and nationally. We are not a mother agency or management company, but rather professional modeling/talent consultants.  As a child growing up in Alabama, I always dreamt of becoming a model. Back then my parents had no idea how to help me get started. Through LOTS of trial and error I eventually signed with my first agency when I was twelve years old. Fast forward twenty-five years into my career and now it’s easy to see what mistakes we could have avoided along the way! In 2009, I co-founded Model Makers Group while working in LA as a professional model. It has been a pleasure helping our clients and their parents avoid common mistakes and have a positive, profitable and safe experience in the industry.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
My office is in Uptown off McKinney Ave. and it’s such a vibrant, culturally interesting part of the city. Just walking around you can catch a buzz from all the interesting, creative folks bustling about. I also love that Dallas has such a beautiful, clean and safe downtown district. It’s a great place to meet up for coffee, lunch or happy hours.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My consulting partner, Cristina Nardozzi Buehrer, is more than just a business partner- she is my best friend, constant encourager, best cheerleader, and brings so much to my life, both personally and professionally.

Website: https://www.modelmakersgroup.com/
Instagram: @modelmakersgroup
Facebook: @modelmakersgroup

Image Credits
1st photo (of me directing model in runway lesson)- Brittany Hammock photo with me and Cristina Nardozzi Buehrer with trees in the background- Heidi Ploog all other photos- Radz Daswani