Oxford native Megan McTaggert never expected to be a part of the bright lights of the fashion industry. In fact, the 20-year-old Oxford graduate has dreams of becoming a gym teacher in a small town.
But with the click of a mouse, McTaggert was propelled at the speed of e-mail into the world of celebrity modeling.
McTaggert, a junior at Michigan State University studying kinesiology, was one of 11 girls chosen to appear in the fall print advertising campaign of retailer Wet Seal, a company based in Foothill Ranch, Calif.
‘When I learned I was going, I just thought that it was too good to be true,? said McTaggert. ‘I was excited to go to New York because I’d never been there.?
McTaggert’s journey in fashion modeling started with an on-line application she filled out through a Wet Seal e-mailing. The MSU student remembers the e-mail stating you could win several prizes such as clothes, gift certificates and the modeling trip.
‘I was actually just really bored when I did it,? remembers McTaggert. ‘I was in between classes and studying and just thought I’d fill it out, but then I kind of forgot about it.?
‘Then they called back and asked for pictures a couple days later,? she explained. ‘I thought, is this for real.?
The Oxford native sent off some simple digital pictures her friends had taken. She said the photos weren’t anything special, ‘just some that I had on the computer.? In fact, McTaggert added that she looks back now and can’t believe she was selected based on them.
The Wet Seal photo shoot was held in New York City from May 9-12. McTaggert said the 11 young ladies, ranging in age from 19 to 23 and originating from all over the country, were housed in a hotel on West 40th Street in Manhattan.
‘The first day there we worked with stylists,? explained McTaggert. ‘They would ask us ‘Would you where this?? or ‘Do you like this?? They almost treated us like Barbie Dolls.?
For the next two days, the girls got up at 5:30 a.m. for hair and makeup, and then spent the day on a tour bus traveling around the city to different shooting locations.
‘The photo shoot was harder than I thought it would be,? said McTaggert. ‘You had to be patient. Sometimes you just spent a long time waiting.?
‘At times it was frustrating, then you wake up and realize, I’m in New York. Enjoy it. Live it up,? she added.
Today, McTaggert looks back at the photos and is not sure she likes the outfits she wore.
‘I didn’t really like the photos, but I’m my biggest critic,? she stated. ‘I liked a lot of the pieces separately, but I wouldn’t have put them together. They were a little extreme for me. It looked good when we were done though.?
‘I wouldn’t go into the store for a very long time after they came out,? confided McTaggert. ‘I felt so awkward, but I finally did the other day, and I kept my head down and didn’t look at the walls the whole time.?
As for being thrust into the media blitz and world of public relations, McTaggert isn’t so sure she enjoys the attention.
‘I didn’t even tell anyone about this, just my roommates and my parents,? she stated. ‘I could have lived without it (public relations).?
So, would this small town girl enjoy making a career out of modeling?
‘The entire experience was everything you would picture it to be,? McTaggert concluded. ‘It was kind of strange, but I enjoyed it. It was so exciting.?
‘I don’t think I’ll go looking for more opportunities like this, but if something comes my way, I’d enjoy doing it again.?