Model Students

Sporting their UCLA-emblazoned apparel, typical BearWear models
are more likely to saunter down Bruin Walk than strut down a
runway.

BearWear models ““ everyday UCLA students ““ can be
found smiling on various posters, ads and inside the annual UCLA
Store catalog.

And with the exception of actress Heather Locklear, BearWear
models don’t usually anticipate making careers out of it,
according to Lisa Perez, marketing director for the Associated
Students of UCLA. Locklear appeared in the 1979 and 1980
catalogs.

BearWear model and second-year biology student Jon Webb said
he’s modeling because it helps him stand out more.

“In a school like this, it’s so big, you kind of
want to make your impression and be different from everyone
else,” Webb said.

He added that he doesn’t plan on modeling
professionally.

“It’s just fun to see people’s reactions when
they see me on a poster in Ackerman,” Webb said.

Model Alvin Law, a fourth-year mathematics and psychology
student, said though modeling is a hobby right now, he would
consider modeling professionally.

“If it happens, it happens,” he said.

In addition to making their mark in ads, catalogs and posters
all over campus, there are other perks in modeling BearWear.

While catalog models are on a modest $8.50 per hour payroll,
they can keep an article of clothing from their photo shoot.

The annual photo shoot for the catalog, which lasts one week,
only takes 1 to 3 hours for students, Perez said.

Thus, balancing schoolwork and modeling isn’t hard because
it doesn’t take that long, Law said.

But for photographers, it’s another story.

Each shooting location is set up meticulously, according to
Scott Quintard, photographer for ASUCLA.

BearWear photo shoots are usually from 3 to 6 p.m., Quintard
said.

Labels need to be showing, and the garments need to be in the
best contrast with the background; everything needs to be scheduled
methodically, Quintard said.

“We want to show the customer exactly what the garment is
about,” Quintard said. “Instead of a fashion
photograph, we want to show that the garment has long sleeves,
etc.”

With nearly 300 annual applicants and only 10 selected, becoming
a BearWear model can get competitive.

From the 300 paper applications, where students are asked to
include a photograph, ASUCLA marketing selects 60 of them for an
interview.

The photograph is used to gauge an applicant’s
personality, Perez said.

“We’re looking for good collegiates, someone
who’s natural-looking, someone who just has some personality
under the camera,” Perez said.

“Some people just freeze under camera, or are just
stiff,” she added.

While most models go through an application process, BearWear
model Jamin Burdett, a second-year economics student, was
“discovered” while he was working in the UCLA
Store.

“Initially they approached me for an ad … they said they
needed somebody tall,” Burdett said.

“Overall it’s pretty cool,” Burdett said of
his experience. “It can get a little stressful, though,
because naturally I’m a little camera shy.”

Marketing officials also try to select the applicants to
represent different groups of students on campus, but Perez said
“a few” more male applicants tend to be selected than
females.

Marketing tends to choose more male applicants in order to
appeal to more consumers.

Females are more likely to purchase a sweatshirt on a male
model, than a guy buying a sweatshirt a female was modeling, Perez
said.

While enjoying some extra cash and free clothes, models can also
gain some valuable experience ““ such as taking orders from
photographers.

The photographers tell the models to look far off in the
distance, to look natural, while they busily snap their pictures,
Law said.

“They tell you to do some pretty weird stuff
sometimes,” he said.