I am a graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A. in English (creative writing) and French (literature and culture). In college, I put in the hard slog at the Daily Iowan newspaper, and became a moderately obsessive Joan Didion fan. Rather than enter the writing world the traditional way — by getting the kind of assistant-assistant-assistant job that is Sisyphean in its reading but permits you to write only post-its on other people’s manuscripts — I moved to San Francisco, got a wicked day job with the kind folks at Freight Baggage, sewing messenger bags and listening to NPR and John Cale all day, and started freelancing.
Seven weeks and a few lucky connections later, I was in Paris working as a model — a job I suppose I technically started back when my eight-year-old shit-eating grin first graced department store and mail-order catalogues in my home country, New Zealand. University in the Midwest was my attempt to connect with the culture of my American parents, and to short-circuit the question of whether I would one day model full time, but the biz just keeps bringing me back.
Modeling is very uneven: within the same working day, I might be exhausted, elated, crushed, told I’m fat, or given a job that starts now, get on the Métro, run, don’t walk! In my experience, every good model (even the most vapid) has a special preserve of consistency and solidity in her regular, non-working life: the place from which you draw the equanimity and presence of mind to deal with the turbulent surface. One of mine is writing.
I appreciate all your comments, and I love knowing that you take the time to read what I write and respond, but due to spam, I need to approve the first comment made from any IP address. This might take a few hours because I have to occasionally eat, sleep, get on planes, and participate in activities that take me far away from Internet connectivity. But once I’ve approved one comment from you, you should be able to post freely from the same IP.
8 responses so far ↓
Emily (Margaret Poe's cousin) // October 2, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Hey Jenna-
I’m Margaret Poe’s cousin and I think I may have met you once in Iowa City before. Anyway, I live in London now and will be travelling to Paris next week (specifically, the 9th and 10th) to pick up a computer and Margaret reckons we’ll be new b.f.f.s so if you’re not too busy with your new jobs and feel like some shopping or Paris touring with a real life Iowan, I’d be totes up for hanging.
Emily P.
photojenna // October 3, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Emily, I sent you an e-mail and then edited your message so your address won’t be visible to bots (or stalkers!). I hope you don’t mind. I’m looking forward to meeting you! We will have some fun in Paris I’m sure. Do you need a place to stay? My apartment has a couch…
Frants Madsen // October 25, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Jenna,
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog! What an exciting adventure you are having!
Frants
Jeff Hartlage // January 28, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Dear Jenna, I doubt you remember me, but I am a friend of your father who spend the early months of 1992 in New Zealand with your family engaged in marathon training. After many years, I spoke with your father last night. As any proud papa would, he relayed your blog and writings.
Best wishes in your life in New York. I live in nearby Connecticut and have come to know David Turner, a Hearst photographer and learned a bit about the life you lead now lead.
I hope to see your dad and mom should his college team make the NCAA basketball finals in Massachusetts in March.
Jeff
photojenna // January 30, 2008 at 5:17 am
I do have some memories of you staying with us in NZ — and my parents certainly talked about pilot Jeff often enough over the years. That’s great that you have been back in touch.
I don’t know any Warriors fans crazier than my parents, so if the team pulls through, you’ve got a good chance of seeing them around these parts. I for one am settling into things very neatly on the east coast — NYC happens to be full of college friends, and it boasts a neat gridded street pattern, which gives it a boost over the main European centres, when you have 9-14 daily appointments to keep, that is.
I took a gander at your blog and I was rather impressed. You have some amazing stories to tell.
mark cobra // February 19, 2008 at 5:03 am
i like your blog
it was funny meeting you at starbucks
what a great business model they have.
you are a cool model
photojenna // February 19, 2008 at 7:45 am
Thanks, Mark. It was fun meeting you, too.
bibomedia.com // March 8, 2008 at 6:04 pm
:)
Leave a Comment