We all know Sara Baena. A well known successful model and psychologist. She has been the cover over 20 different magazines in the entertainment industry. Sara started her career since she was a little girl and now after working for some years in modeling and building a family she has a new and big project in her professional life…
We talked to her!!
Thank you so much for doing this with us dear Sara. Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory of how you came upon this careerpath and to where you are today?
Sure! My pleasure, is an honor for me to be with you in this amazing edition. Love this magazine and the staff is really great. I started this modeling career since I was a little kid in the city of Medellin, Colombia. I always had my family’s support, they were very proud of me and that helped me a lot. They believed in me. So I went to different modeling agencies. I did several modeling courses and I really find it very interesting.
What were you interested in during school before your modeling dreams took hold?
Before and during modeling I was developing another career, psychology. I got graduated from a very good university in Colombia, Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin. I love psychology! It helps me a lot in my life; making good decisions and building self-stem, that is so important in life.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards whohelped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Yes! I am very grateful with many people. Starting with my mom, who was always there for me for everything. She inspired me to be the woman I wanted to be. My dear husband too. He has been supporting me as well in everything, and off course my agents, Edward Rueda and all the people that allowed me to be part of their business and life. I feel blessed and I am so grateful every day.
Did you ever have anyone try to dissuade you from entering modeling? Did those close to you want to support you but not sure how?
Yes; absolutely. I just never heard other’s opinions. I was just really sure of what I was doing because I had a lot of support from a lot of people. Sometimes people around want to help but they don’t know how; usually I like to express my ideas very clear so people can understand.
Was there a particular model you admired more so than another? Why?
Since I was a kid, I admired so much Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford. Very professionals and both very clever.
How important is self-promotion in your profession?
Very important! Is one of the key of this profession. As an influencer, you have been blessed with great success in a career path that many haveattempted, but eventually gave up on. In factperhaps most people who tried to follow a career path like yours did not succeed.
Do you have anywords of advice for others who maywant to embark on this career path but knowthat their dreams might be dashed?
Is very important to know what you really want to do as an influencer. People in general enjoy to see other people’s life. And social media is perfect for this. For me; the most important thing to take in consideration is the passion that you add every single day in your life. That is why people like to see. They want to see something real and when you put your heart on it, everything is much easier.
Would you like to see more women workingbehind-the-scenes in the modeling industry?
Yes! Working behind the scenes is really nice, because people can see more of what is going on. I usually like to share that in my stories in Instagram.
Can you share with our readers some of your strategies you’ve used to build an engaged, loyal, and large online community?
Sure; well I started to use Facebook and Instagram from the begging and I just never stopped going forward. Is very important to be consistent with the publications and make good content for people to see. Is important to develop a market niche, which increases the opportunities to make real business.
You are a busy person with a demanding schedule, can you share with our readers two self care routines, practices or treatments that help your body thrive? (Kindly share a story or an example for each.)
Every day I like to deeply clean my face and neck with a product like micellar water, and then I like to apply enrichments serums for eyes and face, hydrating cream and sun protector. I don’t use make unless I am doing photoshoot. Is very important to apply sun protector every two hours and drink plenty of water and natural juices and fruits.
Can you share with us two routines that you use to help your mind or heart to thrive?
Every day is very important for me to be very grateful with God and make an excellent relationship with Him. Meditate and being vegan has been helping me big time. And definitely yoga gives me a lot of balance and connection between body and mind.
What was your most humorous moment during a photoshoot?
I really enjoy photoshoots in general. Rigth now I don’t remember a moment in specific. Every time is just really nice and I have so much fun. With magazine sales falling, magazines can’t gain as much profit. This has a sort of ‘domino effect’; meaning industry professionals including models that work for magazines, will get paid very little in comparison to how it used to be.” As a journalist, I have this fear as well.
Do you have any solutions to address this situation?
Is a very challenging moment right now. People now don’t like to buy magazines anymore. Magazines are usually free right now and the trend is social media. Personally I think right now is very important to develop great content for social media. I specially use Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Do people want to be your friend because you’re a cover model and how do you feel someone is genuine with you?
Sometimes I feel a little frustrated because of that. I am a person that likes very genuine relationships, in that way I have a very professional relationship with the majority of people and very few people I open my feelings. Not sure if is good or not but is a way of living life in a difficult world. When I find nice and truthful people is like finding a treasure and I keep them forever in my life.
What are your thoughts on there being more diversity and inclusiveness in the modelingindustry today?
I like it a lot! I enjoy seeing different sizes, colors, etc. The diversity is always welcome in the modeling industry, and I think is very important this for the development of business in general.
What does your future look like?
My future, I visualize it really in peace. Very quiet and calm. I love silence. And off course I want to be surrounded by my family.
Anything else you’d like readers to know about you?
I think a lot of people knows my passion about yoga, vegan life and fitness. And this is how I found some real balance in life.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
In Instagram: @sarafashionmodel
Youtube: Sara Fashion Model Official
Fan page in Facebook: Sara Fashion model
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Photographer: Jorge Parra – @jorgeparraphotography