Meet Victoria Zarate | Model & Dance Instructor/Choreographer

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

Hi Victoria, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was always an artistic kid, but honestly, I was somewhat thrown into it from various angles at different points in my life. I did a couple of beauty pageants, became the first model for JDS Modeling School, and started teaching Latin dancing with my ex partner. What went from hobbies that I did here and there, became much more than I expected. Eventually, I decided to truly pursue modeling and dancing full-time because of the passion I have, not only for doing them individually as art forms, but for sharing my knowledge and teaching others what I’ve learned as well. I coincidentally had to stop working my day job right as my demand in modeling and dancing increased, so now I’m able to teach dance, choreograph for different events, teach modeling classes at JDS Modeling School, and also model full-time. Although not having a 9-5 scared me at first, diving headfirst into the creative field ended up giving me benefits I wouldn’t have thought were possible at this point in my life. Not only did it give me a wider range of time available to work creatively, but it also gave me the flexibility to be able to be there for my son in every way I need or want to be.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think my authenticity is what sets me apart from others. In my experience, it’s easier to find genuine people and genuine networking connections when you present yourself authentically. I’m thankful that 2025 has gone well, so there are many things I’m proud of and am excited for. In terms of modeling, I recently walked for Dallas Fashion Week with The Bureau, have a few more fashion shows lined up for the next couple of months. I am also honored to announce that I will be walking for Henni Clothing in Milan Fashion Week this September 2025! In terms of dancing, I am very proud of the progress my private lesson students have made so far, but am most excited about the wedding I choreographed for and the Quince I will be choreographing for next!
I got to where I am today by working hard, staying true to myself, and seizing every opportunity I was able to. It wasn’t easy, you really have to be passionate in what you do when working in the arts/entertainment industry, but I’m proud to say that it’s all been worth it. I went from being the first model at Jon David’s Modeling School at 15, to winning the title Miss Teen Sovereign USA in a pageant when I was 16, modeling in Quince Expos for a few years,and then modeling for Texas School of Professional Photography. At 18, I started getting booked here and there, but it wasn’t until I was 19/20 that I started to do a lot of TFP to build my portfolio up as an adult. By the time I was 21, I considered modeling my part-time job and began teaching at my old modeling school, Jon David’s Modeling School, then last year at 23, I reached my goal of becoming a full-time model. Although I have been dancing my whole life, traveling and performing from 6-8 years old, things didn’t start to get serious again until I was 16 and started learning salsa and bachata. I was on a bachata dance team from 17-20, began assisting my director teach private lessons at 19/20, started teaching group lessons and at different venues with him at 20/21, and then taught at bachata congresses and festivals after co-founding and directing a bachata dance team from 2022-2024. During that time, we also choreographed for a wedding and a few Quinces together, and I began Go Go dancing to level up my freestyle dancing. In 2024 we terminated our partnership, and I continued to teach private lessons and choreographed a quince and then wedding last year on my own, so I’m excited to be repeating that this year. I also decided to join a chair dance and heels dance team this past year to push myself to train in a new dance style, so although the road was long and winding, I know that all of those experiences bettered me and my career in the end. I always had the mentality that if I truly put in the work, I can make it, so I tried to keep that in mind at every single crossroad I came across.
The biggest lesson I learned in dealing with those issues was to believe in myself and not let anyone tell me that my dreams are too far fetched. It’s easy for others to be doubtful when you want to work for yourself, in general let alone in the arts industry, but only you know for sure whether you’ll honestly put in the work to get there. And if you know, then go for it and prove them wrong through your hard work and dedication, because that will always pay off. Another major lesson I learned as I gained experience was to advocate for myself, which is hard to do if there’s self doubt! There are so many ways in which you have to advocate for yourself as a model or dancer. While it won’t be due to negative issues every time, as entertainers, it’s a reality that we should always prepare ourselves for so that we have the tools to deal with them, should they occur.
I would love the world to know that I will always be an advocate for mental health awareness, women’s rights, the LGBTQ+ and African American communities, and do my best to speak out on the injustices that these groups of people and communities still face to this day. I am proudly, Latino, gender fluid, and Demisexual/Pansensual and would love to progressively show my queer side more often in my work!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting the area, I’d have to take them to a few different iconic spots! Firstly, downtown Dallas of course. Go tour the reunion tower then head to museum of Illusions one day, stop at the Perot Museum and then Sweet Tooth Cafe another day. I’d also have to take them to eat Korean BBQ and then some sweet crepes in Carrollton, before heading to eat dinner in Frisco by the Star or at Grandscape at a free live concert. One day would have to be dedicated to the Little Elm beach, and another to the Fort Worth Stockyards! At night, I love to do karaoke or go dancing, so there are a few spots we could hit up throughout the week either downtown or in Carrollton. Six Flags over Texas and Medieval times would be the last big things I would want to take them to, depending on what they like to do! There is always something fun going on within the DFW metroplex, so I always recommend looking into the local events to find something different and cool to go to!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my family. More specifically to my mom, grandma’s, aunt’s, and son who have all played a pivotal role in encouraging me to pursue my dreams. Despite any doubts, they have always found their own way to support me. Whether that be sending me modeling or dance videos, making a facial or nail appointment for me, coming to my fashion shows & dance performances, watching my son so I can go to casting calls, or my son himself claiming to be my dance partner & telling me how much he loves my makeup or outfit. Without their support, I truly wouldn’t have been able to make it this far in my creative career, and so I am endlessly grateful!

Website: https://linktr.ee/VictoriaZarateOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriazarateofficial?igsh=MXYzbGljdWZjaWQ1MA==

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@model.victoriazarateofficial?si=_Tv3vlR5ib3s6nwp

Image Credits
@jayd.sun ; @hectorcalderon.photography ; @captured_by_antonio ; N/A ; N/A ; N/A ; @fotoshutters ; @rserranophoto ; @dallascreativestudio