By Annabelle Aree Lee
Edited by Naomi Gupta
You might assume that modeling in the dynamic and fast-paced fashion industry is quite the contrast from a pre-med university curriculum. Somehow, there exists those who manage to do both. Recently, I spoke with Ella Liu—a full-time student and part-time model whose remarkable ability to balance two seemingly disparate commitments has left me in awe. She discussed managing her schoolwork while pursuing a modeling career, and shared her favourite work experiences thus far.
Ella is a fourth-year McGill student in Anatomy and Cell Biology, and a model signed with Want Management. She was raised in Ottawa by Chinese-immigrant parents, and was drawn to Montréal for its vibrant atmosphere to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Science. Her modeling debut dates back to Fall 2021, when she stumbled across an open casting call on Instagram. Modeling had always intrigued her, and her tall physique—one which was often sought after in the industry—pushed her to look into it further.
“I wanted to try something new in university,” Ella recalled as she reflected upon her early days as a model.
Since then, Ella has kept up with a rigorous course load in between bi-weekly, 9 to 5 photoshoots. Fortunately, her course supervisors have usually been willing to accommodate her modeling schedules. Even so, balancing school with modeling has remained a challenge. Call times are unpredictable, and bookings are sometimes scheduled on the day they are announced to her. Despite this, she has excelled in her academic pursuits; she has achieved and maintained a 4.0 GPA, and is currently waiting to hear back on medical school decisions.
Smiling, Ella reminisced, “I used to review my organic chemistry notes and watch lecture recordings in Ubers, on my way to photoshoots.”
One of the students’ most memorable modeling experiences, which she qualified as “surreal”, was working for S/ Magazine during the summer of 2022—her first time shooting for a magazine. The shoot took place at the Faculty Club in Toronto—an elegant Georgian Revival-style building.
“There were bodyguards protecting jewelry kept inside briefcases!” she shared. She was excited as she had never, until that point, worked with luxury jewelry that needed to be supervised. Ella was inspired by the many photographers and other professionals she met that day, many of whom she remains in touch with.
Another one of her memorable modeling experiences was a collaboration between SSENSE—a Montréal-based high-end retailer—and Drew House, a clothing line founded by Justin Bieber and Ryan Good. Contrary to photoshoots she had done for SSENSE in the past, this one took place at their flagship store in the Old Port of Montréal.
Unfortunately, she left the store an hour before Justin Bieber came by, leaving her younger self disappointed at the missed opportunity to catch a glimpse of him.
Ella praised her experience working with EADEM, which she dubbed her “favourite modeling experience”. EADEM, a skincare brand designed for women of colour, was founded by Marie Kouadio Amouzame and Alice Lin Glover. Although they were raised in different countries, the two women connected over their shared recognition of the exclusive nature of the world.
“It [the company] is everything I stand for,” Ella explained. She revealed that growing up, she rarely found women in beauty advertisements that resembled her. Therefore, it was meaningful for her to be a part of an initiative that worked to increase inclusivity in an industry where diversity is limited.
If her experience can teach us one thing, it’s that commitments aren’t always mutually exclusive. Sometimes, engaging in many pursuits can actually guide you towards success in both. Indeed, Ella revealed that modeling has actually helped her focus more in school. With a photoshoot to look forward to, she has always felt motivated to complete her schoolwork in an efficient manner.
To younger girls interested in modeling, she advised to just “go for it.” As cliché as it may sound, you never know what opportunities lie ahead until you take the leap, and experience for yourself just how rewarding they can be.
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