Meet Trailblazer Nicole Wojtkiewicz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Wojtkiewicz.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was younger, I started modeling but only for a brief moment. I had to put it on a pause for a while until I finished high school. I graduated in May of 2017. After high school, I knew what I wanted to do for my career, which is modeling. I didn’t want this to be temporary, I wanted to make it a full career. It was hard at first to get things started again because I was still new to the industry. Also, I had a major traumatic step back emotionally in September of 2017. My father, unfortunately, took his own life. This affected me tremendously and I wasn’t sure how to cope with it all. I knew my father didn’t want me to sit and do nothing with my life he would’ve wanted me to be happy and live.

Towards mid-December of 2017, I made an entire list of goals that I wanted to accomplish in modeling. All the way from walking in every fashion week Paris, New York, Miami, and Tokyo. To modeling for major fashion companies like Louis Vuitton, Versace, and Chanel. I had a vision and I wanted to start by reasearching the work. Connecting with designers in hopes of working with them. I had to find the work and make a change in my career for myself. First I booked Denver Fashion Week, it was my very first fashion show and I had the honor to walk for Gino Velardi and Paul Mitchell Salon. That was an amazing show to start my career. DFW motivated me to start looking at other cities. The next stop was LA. I made a trip out to Los Angeles in April 2018. This trip had a purpose to work with photographers out there and in hopes to sign with an agency. I was able to book shoots but I, unfortunately, did not sign. That didn’t stop me or make me feel like I was failing, I wanted to try harder if anything.

On my list of goals, I wrote that I wanted to become a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model as well as walk-in Miami Swim Week. Thanks to Mj who’s incharge of SI, she was holding open calls for Sports Illustrated. This was a huge opportunity and I wasn’t going to miss out on it. If I didn’t try, I knew I was already missing out on my shot to reach my goal. I flew out to Miami in July of 2018. I had to take a red eye but it didn’t hold me back. Once I landed in Miami, I got to my airBNB got dressed and headed straight to the casting. I made sure to get there as early as I could at 7 am. I waited in line for hours along with thousands of others. Once I got through the line, I had to go in and be myself in the best way possible. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it through the first round. But I was able to attend the many swim week shows and meet different designers and make those connections that I needed. It wasn’t a waste it was a lesson and a lesson I still hold onto today. After Miami, I wanted to strive for more, I was starving for success for this dream that I have.

Thankfully, I was able to book Vancouver Fashion Week in September 2018. This was because I met a designer named Eve Jenkins and I’ll forever be grateful for her giving me the opportunity to fly out to Vancouver with her and walk in her show. She gave me this extraordinary opportunity to be in Vancouver, walk in her show as well as be in her photoshoots. The work I did with Eve was published and she was able to give me this moment of becoming an international model. A model published internationally. While I was in Vancouver, I had also met a designer named Kaori. Kaori is a designer who makes dresses with oragami! Kaori needed an extra model to walk in her show and I was one of the models chosen to walk. Kaori and Eve gave me the push that I needed to take the next steps in my career. Once VFW was finished, I had a shoot in Denver for birch hair salon the morning I was coming back from Vancouver. I had to take a red eye in order to make it to the shoot and I was able to make it in time! After my shoot with Birch Salon, 303magazine reaches out to me and wanted to have me as the model for one of their articles! I couldn’t believe the opportunities, it was unbelievable and I was humbled to have these experiences one after another.

In October, I had two fashion weeks ahead of Denver Fashion Week and Chicago Fashion Week. In order to book Chicago Fashion Week, I had to attend their casting in Chicago. I tried to fly out to Chicago and this is where the flights almost had an effect on my career. My flight was getting delayed and it started to bleed into the time of the casting. Right away, I contacted the coordinator Zsa Zsa. I notified her that my flight was getting delayed but I will do my very best to get out to Chicago. She emailed me back if I was available that night to attend a fashion show and that this will be my casting. I immediately said yes and had everything prepared for this show. I walked in the show that night and was able to book Chicago Fashion Week. I was unbelievably proud and grateful. Denver Fashion Week round two was extraordinary. I was booked to walk for Mondo Guerra. I couldn’t believe that I booked his show and I was more than ready. Chicago Fashion Week was about a week after and I had this feeling in my heart that I was taking the right steps towards my own success story. I booked seven designers in Chicago and each night I felt on top of the world. 2018 was an incredible year of lessons that I’ve learned and going for my dreams no matter what.

Before 2018 finished, I got asked by the absolutely fabulous CR Lee to do a photoshoot with her for her newest collection. Crystal also had a casting for New York Fashion Week in February 2019. I sent in my information and crossed my fingers hoping I’d be able to book it. CR Lee gave me the opportunity to shoot the new collection and walk in her NYFW show. At this point, I felt like I was in a dream. February came along and I flew out to the big Apple. Right away, we were thrown into the hustle and bustle of NYC. Crystal had photoshoots and the show set up for me to model in. Thanks to Crystal, I had a moment in awe of everything and I felt like I was heading the right direction. I was able to live my New York Modeling dream. After New York, I had Chicago Fashion Week round two! This fashion week was the show that Zsa Zsa honored me with the award Certificate of Excellence. I was on cloud nine being awarded for all the hard work I had put into my year and the push that motivates me to keep striving for bigger. Because of this dream, I am still trying to accomplish all of the goals I had set for myself and I know one day I’ll be able to checkmark all of the goals I’m dreaming of. 2019 has been a tough year but I finally was able to sign with Denver’s agency NXT models. This is the next step to my career and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me in 2020!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When you have a dream, when start to work for it there will be obstacles. The journey I’ve taken, the road I am traveling on has been a crazy beautiful journey. I have faced rejection. I have lost people in my life. I have faced hate and harassment. I have been doubted by family and the people around me. Regardless of everything I have faced, it is all that I’ve overcome. It was a learning experience in who I can trust and who I can’t have in my life. It has been a lesson of loving myself no matter what anyone ever says to me. To fight against all odds. One quote that has always stuck out to me the most throughout my journey and advice I want to pass down to other women is “when you’re close to giving up, remember the steps it took to get to where you are. Have hope, have faith, and trust the process.” You are you and always be the best version of yourself don’t let anyone ever define you. You define yourself your life your moment to shine.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Three words to describe my work is passionate, humble, confident. I always worked with my strengths and weaknesses. I feel that I am a chameleon. The people that inspired me have taught me to mold into the different looks that I am capable of. I don’t try to be like anyone else, I try to be the best version of myself. I’ve noticed when you try to be someone else you’ll never mold into your full potential. I show the people I love through my work because I am a family girl, I am a big heart of love. The people that I have in my life I couldn’t have made it this far without them. Stay true to who you are and where you came from. I won’t ever be ashamed of showing this side of myself because it is who I am. It is what has inspired to make me the model I am today. Be kind and have courage, this quote will always be behind of who I am.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Being in this industry, you have to do what makes you feel most comfortable. You are your best mentor because you know what’s best for yourself. Don’t ever put yourself in harm’s way. Make sure if you’re starting out as a model my best advice is to do the research. If you’re interested in working with a photographer, an agency, or designer. Please take the time to ask other models of their experiences with the individual. Look at their work, who they’ve worked with. Always remember safety and comfortability over anything. The people I have met and worked with I made sure to have met them in person first before working or I have done my research about the individual. Also, a big piece of advice is always to make sure you share with a family member/friend where is your location every shoot, fitting, or show. If you’re a younger model, I’d also suggest having your mother as your mentor, someone who is an adult that you trust with decisions. Have that mentor go with you on set, to the show, have them by your side. I always say it’s better to be safe than sorry. Not everything on the internet is true also. So, when you are networking do the research!

Contact Info:

• Email: nicolewojoco@gmail.com
• Instagram: @nicolewojoco

Image Credit:
Richelle Monae, Caroline Miller, Rebecca Grant, Anderson Gonzalez, Jake Blackson, AC Photography, David Rossa

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