FROM STAFF REPORTS

NORTH SHELBY—Oak Mountain High School freshman Stephie Soltys has joined the ranks of supermodels Kate Moss and Gisele Bündchen after recently signing a modeling contract with IMG Models. Soltys, who uses the professional name “Stevie,” has signed as a development model with the agency.

IMG Models has launched the modeling careers of some of the biggest names in the industry, including Heidi Klum, Christy Brinkley, Alex Wek, Amber Valletta, Stephanie Seymour and Miranda Kerr.

“Funny thing, she truly was ‘discovered,’” Stephie’s mom, Heidi Soltys said when asked how her daughter got into modeling. “She was invited to do a fun photo shoot with a friend and a local photographer, Alan Matthews, last spring. After the shoot, Alan suggested that I consider putting Stephanie into modeling because she was a natural in front of the camera and photographed really well.”

Heidi said neither she nor Stephie had seriously considered the idea of modeling. However, from the time Stephie was a baby, many people had suggested the same thing.

“Due to her height, big eyes and full lips, everywhere we went people began asking if she was a model. We would be in a clothing store at the mall and the workers would ask. We would be walking down the aisle in the grocery store and people would ask. It became quite funny to me and Stephie.”

Matthews asked permission to submit Stephie’s pictures to a “mother agency” he had worked with in Atlanta. Heidi finally agreed, thinking it wouldn’t lead to anything other than a few extra bucks and maybe some cute clothes for her daughter.

Matthews submitted the photos, and within weeks the agency wanted to meet with Stephie and offer her a contract. Then, another agency out of Atlanta and New York started scouting her on Instagram.

“So before we know it, there were two very reputable mother agencies scouting my daughter and offering her a contract,” Heidi said. “Needless to say, I was very hesitant.”

Around this time, Stephie suffered a severe injury to her arm, which required surgery. She and her mother held off a few months before making a decision about modeling, which allowed them to begin to investigate their options.

“After much prayer, we finally agreed to sign her on with Ludlow-Scout out of Atlanta/New York,” Heidi said. “One of the owners of Ludlow-Scout, Della Bass, who is also a well-known photographer in New York City, did her first photo shoot in Atlanta this past September. She kept saying during the shoot how well Stephie did and not to be surprised if things happened fast for her.”

Not even a week after Stephie had been signed on with Ludlow-Scout, Bass called and said IMG was interested in her. Heidi said she also began to notice that Lisa DiRocco, the director of development of IMG, was “liking” Stephie’s pictures on Instagram.

IMG requested a video of Stephie in order to learn about her personality, grades and extracurricular activities. Stephie and Heidi returned to Atlanta so that Ludlow-Scout could do a video and second photo shoot with her. IMG specifically liked the fact that Stephie, like one of their other models, Katherine Webb, is from Alabama.

Heidi said at this point, she began to really pray and consider whether this was something she wanted her daughter to pursue.

“I had always taught my daughter that ‘beauty comes from within.’ How could this be something we were to pursue? But then again, things kept happening that were in her favor,” Heidi said. “After just a few days of IMG receiving the video, we were offered a contract for Stephie to sign on as a development model…This was an opportunity-of-a-lifetime. And one we couldn’t pass up! And Stephie really wanted to do this.”

Stephie is now one of the youngest IMG development models and the only one with braces. For now, modeling will be a very part-time job, and Stephie will continue to maintain all of her normal activities, such as show choir and church youth activities.