Cho Seward on All Things Modeling, Travel, and Marc Jacobs
For this issue, we had the privilege of interviewing Cho Seward, an accomplished 20-year-old model from Baltimore, Maryland who has traveled around the world to model in runway shows and campaigns for many established designers, including Marc Jacobs and Max Mara. Read here to learn about her journey with modeling and some important style and beauty tips she’s learned along the way!
Photo: Maryn Haertel
Tell us a little bit about how you first got started with modeling.
My name is Cho Seward. I’m currently 20 years old and have been modeling full time for about two years now. I was scouted on Instagram by IMG Models when I was 15. After doing tons of research and talking about it with my parents to get their approval, we sent simple headshots to the Vice President of IMG and planned a trip to go to New York City and meet with them in person. At our first meeting in NYC, they decided to sign me worldwide! This was my start with modeling, and then my first year after graduating high school was when things finally took off, and I spent time living and working in NYC, Australia, Los Angeles, Milan, London, and Paris. Now, I am signed with Fusion Models NYC, The Lions LA, and the Fabbricca Milan, which are all wonderful agencies that I have found to be a better fit for me as I’ve gotten older and learned more about the industry and what I want in an agency.
Cho was featured in the 2016 Cosmopolitan September Issue as a junior in high school.
How did it feel landing your first “big” show or campaign?
I would say the first “big” show I landed was this past Fall/Winter Marc Jacobs show in New York Fashion Week. The Marc Jacobs show is always one of the most highly anticipated shows of NYFW, and some might say the biggest show of the week. Getting the opportunity to walk in this show was a dream come true, especially after seeing the hundreds of girls that come to the casting. Marc himself was actually the one who told me I was going to be in the show, because I was doing fittings for the collection with the team in the weeks leading up to the show, so that was so special for me. Being backstage with my biggest role models like Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Karlie Kloss was just unreal to me. It was such a great experience.
What does a typical day usually look like for you during Fashion Week?
A typical day for me during Fashion Week usually consists of me waking up at 6 am to fit in a quick workout and breakfast, then quickly showering and getting dressed for the day. Some days I’ll be doing fittings for a client, basically acting as a mannequin for them to pin and perfect the clothes in a collection. Other days can be a lot more hectic, because I’ll be running around the city from casting to casting. It’s always necessary to carry my portfolio, comp cards, and high heels to every casting with me. Sometimes there will be a long line of girls to wait in once I get there, but the actual casting itself is usually very quick! I introduce myself, do my walk, make a good impression and on to the next one! By the time I’m done for the day it’s usually dark, with just enough time to eat dinner then go to bed early and get ready for the next day!
Photo: @kegrand, Makeup by Pat McGrath, Hair by Guido Palau
You’ve worked with some amazing designers. What have been some of the most memorable shows you’ve walked in so far?
I have had the pleasure to work with some great designers, and it’s always so gratifying to think that a designer has chosen me to represent their brand in a show. The Marc Jacobs show was definitely very memorable for me because it was my first time meeting a lot of industry icons like makeup artist Pat Mcgrath and hair stylist Guido Paulo. Just being able to work with and walk in front of so many important people that I look up to in the fashion industry was so exciting to me.
What has been your favorite campaign to model for?
One of my favorite campaigns that I’ve done is for a brand called the Fifth Label. I shot this while I was spending time working in Australia, and it was so fun because I got to travel from Sydney, where I was living, to Adelaide which is in a different state. We drove to a location off the coast that was unlike any other type of scenery I’d ever seen. It was in the middle of nowhere, and it was very flat and dry with lots of mangroves. It was great because I got to work with a fun team and I was able to experience a whole new part of the world.
What are some of the most challenging aspects of having a career in modeling?
There are definitely a lot of challenging aspects to modeling. One of them is that although traveling and experiencing new people and places is so exciting, it can be hard. I’ve been living out of a suitcase for two years now, and it does get exhausting at times having to pack up your life and move just when you’ve started to get comfortable somewhere. But the main reason traveling becomes hard is because I’ve now built friendships with people in so many different places, so no matter where I am in the world, I’m usually always missing someone! I’ve spent a lot of time on my own and away from my family, but that’s why I’m SO thankful for FaceTime! Despite these things I’m overall more grateful for all the opportunities that I’ve had and this career has been a blessing.
Photo: Taylor Tupy
What is one of the most important lessons you’ve learned during your modeling journey?
Photo: Brognano RTW Fall 2020
One of the most important lessons I learned during my modeling journey is patience. Modeling takes a lot of patience, and it takes a lot of waiting and hoping for things to happen. I’ve learned to just trust the process, and know that everything happens for a reason. Another thing I’ve learned is to not compare myself to anyone else. It’s easy to think, “Why did she get that job but I didn’t?” as a model, but it’s so important to never compare your journey to anyone else’s. We are all different and will all have a different experience! This leads to the last important lesson I’ve learned which is to not take things personally. To be a model you need to have a thick skin. You will be turned down for jobs and you will be given critiques, but you have to remember it’s a business! I’ve learned to not be hard on myself and to always be proud of and confident in who I am.
Do you have a favorite moment to tell us from your travels?
It’s so hard to think of one moment from my experiences to choose as my favorite, but I think one of the best has to be last summer when I went to Paris for the first time. While I was spending time working in Europe, I got to live and travel with my best friend Clare Crawford the whole time. We got to experience so many new places together and made the most fun memories. The first few days we were in France, ironically, my sister was traveling back from Greece and had a layover in Paris. So we got to meet up and I was able to spend a day in Paris with my sister and my closest friend together, and see the Eiffel Tower glitter at night for the first time with them. It was so special!
Any personal style or beauty tips you’ve learned along the way?
My personal style has definitely developed and improved a lot since I’ve started modeling full time! I don’t think I can say I have a specific style, because I like to experiment with many different trends and pieces. I take most of my inspiration from other models like Elsa Hosk and Bella Hadid. As far as beauty goes, I’ve learned that sometimes less is more. Especially when it comes to makeup, most artists have shown me that sometimes just the smallest touches of the right product can make all the difference in achieving a nice look that’s also very natural. Also, since becoming a model I’ve taken a lot of effort into taking care of my skin, and I think two huge factors that help a lot are wearing sunscreen and eating clean! Limiting sun exposure and feeding my body with healthy, natural foods really keep my skin glowing.
Be sure to follow Cho on Instagram at @cho.seward
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
