Ashley BeLoat: Vintage Paradigm

Could you please give us a little introduction and tell us about your first experience with modeling? How did you get started and where are you currently based?

Hi BleachFilm! I’m Ashley BeLoat, and my first experience with modeling took place back in Florida. At the time I was working in a community hospital as a nurse assistant and one of my coworkers asked me to model for her as she started her photography business. I remember standing there sweaty and tired thinking she had inhaled too many fumes from the cleaning supplies. After posing for her on my day off, I started doing more and more first for independent photographers, then through a booking agency in Florida, and now I live in Los Angeles with agents in LA, New York, and Florida.

What was your first job as a model? How did it feel?

My first paid job as a model was a bridal shoot for an independent designer in Florida. It was my first time wearing a wedding dress and it felt like a dream. I remember feeling that anyone would look like a princess in such beautiful dresses and how lucky I was to be there.

Besides modeling, what else are you passionate about?

Over the last year I have been doing more acting than anything else — so much that it’s difficult to fit modeling shoots/jobs in between roles! When not doing that you can find me doing yoga or Pilates, helping my friends with their scripts, brainstorming with my fellow creatives, cuddling with my roommate’s dogs, going to watch some of my musician friends to perform live, or driving to a scenic area to take in nature. I also worked as a registered nurse before doing acting and modeling full-time, and if work slows down enough for me to be able to take that up again I would love to go back to the bedside.

Is there anyone in the modeling industry you look up to? Who?

There are many icons in the fashion world I admire and respect. The supermodels of the 90’s had incredible runway walks, Twiggy fascinated the fashion world and made her own wave, the Hadid sisters today have walked every runway and done numerous campaigns, Coco Rocha has developed a style all her own and continues to be irreplaceable, and Zendaya has abilities to move, emote, and dance to create mesmerizing frozen moments in time.

What do you value most in a photographer who collaborates with you?

It is the greatest gift to have a photographer that collaborates with me! Many of my creative shoots today, I get the honor of being the creative director. Even if not, I’m often involved in the conversations about lighting, composition, and editing styles. I love discussing shapes/colors/textures in the environment and how we can pair each look with each area available to us. It’s exciting to each arrive with an idea and merge our visions together. But I do still really enjoy being the muse that can bring a photographer’s original vision to life.

What are your goals for your modeling career? Do you have any upcoming projects you want to share?

Looking at my career now, I feel my acting work and dance background will be what keeps me present in the fashion world. It would be a dream for my editorials and campaigns to continue to tell a story through expression and pose. Getting to be a character in through silhouette, fabric, and lighting choices is an exciting journey and I hope to be blessed with more of that. I also think of what future red carpets will be like, getting to dress specifically for my films and roles.

For now, the majority of my upcoming things are lead roles in vertical drama films. If you enjoy watching those you can find me on various platforms doing anything from trying to escape stalkers, falling in love, plotting revenge, or boxing in a ring.

How can we stay connected with you?

Instagram: @ashleybeloat

Model: @ashleybeloat

MUA & Hair: @reynakhalil

Photo: @cbenoitphoto

Stylist: @marisaledford

Photography Studio: @stuspacela