Bella Harris is not your typical 17 year old highschool student. Bella is a young woman with many aspirations and an innate entrepreneurial spirit. Bella has successfully pursued modeling and has even worked for some of the top designers in the world. Bella started her modeling career when she was 13 years old and now walks the runway at NY Fashion Week and recently did a commercial for NIKE. Pretty awesome if you ask me! Bella has a keen work ethic with regards to modeling and academics and positively has it in her genes like her father, Jimmy Jam, a renowned record producer and Chairman of the Grammy Awards Association. She also gets her business acumen from her mother Lisa, her Momager, who shows her the ins and outs of the world of fashion and business. Bella is grounded, calm, and focused on maintaining excellent school grades. She is smart and talented and made her mark in the fashion industry and will no doubt spread her talent all over the world. Beauty and brains certainly!
MJ: How old were you when you started modeling and how did you get started?
bra: When I was 13 1/2, I was scouted. I was at the Grammy Awards that year and that I met with two agents who showed interest and set up a meeting with me not long after. I signed with my first agency right before my 14th birthday. I’m in development, working on my book and doing test shots. I started booking jobs and working when I was 15 years old.
MJ: What runway have you killed?
bra: I had to wait until I was 16 to walk in NY Fashion Week. The first three shows I did were Naeem Kahn, Alice + Olivia and Sherri Hill. This is a dream come true.
MJ: Are there any designers you’d like to work on?
bra: There are so many great designers I’d love to work with, but Dolce & Gabbana and Versace are at the top of my list right now.
MJ: Have a fashion show coming up?
bra: Yes, NY Fashion Week in February. I’m still in highschool so I’m limiting my time to four days of fashion week, but I’m still enjoying a terrific experience.
MJ: Did your double join you on the runway?
bra: I’ve never done a runway show with my twin brother Max. We were both doing a Forever 21 campaign on the same day and that was the closest we have come to working together.
MJ: What do you prefer, print or runway and why?
bra: I like both for various reasons. Prints are very artistic and inventive in additional limited settings where you wait and see how it turns out. The runway is more of a direct, fast burst of self-expression. It’s a collective effort where you feed off other girls’ energy. The energy is palpable, then wears off in minutes.
MJ: What’s your favourite print ad you have shot so far?
bra: I did a Nike ad for a relaunch of Cortez shoes. It was a collaboration with Teen Vogue. We shot it at Venice Beach in LA and the pictures are astonishing. I got to work with some really cool models and made great friendships.
MJ: Let’s talk designers. Who is your favourite to wear casually? Swimsuit? Night time?
bra: For swimwear, my favourite brand is Frankie’s Bikinis. Owner/creator Francesca Aiello went to my highschool, so loved supporting my friends and those around me, plus her beautiful swimwear! I love mixing designer brands with brands like Zara or Forever 21. Zara has plenty of great outerwear jackets that I will mix with tops from Alexander Wang and pair them with jeans and Rag and Bone boots. I also love everything at Gucci. The first handbag I bought with my own money was from there, it was a proud moment for me.
MJ: You mom is your mother and your best friend and i know she is a superb woman. Does working together make your relationship stronger?
bra: My mom is awesome! He went to all my meetings with me, he fulfilled all the requests I received and traveled with me. Before I learned to drive, he drove me to all my castings and believed in me from the start. Our relationship has all the time been good and getting stronger. We trust one another fully! My manager is a terrific person from my agency in New York who has believed in me from the start.
MJ: What lessons did you teach while on the road together?
bra: He taught me the importance of being on time. Being late can be a fake pas and alter the energy of a meeting or shoot. When you are late, you spend the first 5 minutes explaining, making excuses and apologizing which starts the day negatively, not positively.
He also instilled good manners and how important it’s to be polite and work hard even if you hate the job. Career is a marathon, not a sprint.
MJ: Being the daughter of “Jimmy Jam”, a famous record producer, do you think she would like to see you, Max or Tyler follow in her footsteps?
bra: Of course, it would be cool for my father to see. My brother is very keen on music and also creates music. Max in fact made plenty of songs and wanted to make an album soon. I believe he may be the one who followed in my father’s footsteps.
MJ: Who is your favourite music artist that you have downloaded to your playlist?
bra: I love listening to alternative music, so some of my favourite artists from that genre are Mac DeMarco, 1975 and Coldplay. I also listen to plenty of R&B and my favourite R&B artists are Brent Faiyaz, Miguel, Daniel Caesar and HER
MJ: I know your parents were very generous and gave to different charities? Do you have a favourite charity you are connected with?
bra: My favourite charity is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). My twins were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, so this is the organization we have been connected to since we were 2 years old. He recently received an award from JDRF for his bravery and he has inspired many young people by becoming a star athlete with diabetes. .
MJ: Any suggestions you can share with other inspiring models?
bra: My advice is to go out there and achieve your goal. Now with social media it is easier to get your name and photo out there, no matter where you live but you must stay strong. This can be difficult because it’s a business that judges how you look. It can even be difficult when you are not booked for a job, but you cannot figure the situation out. Most of the time, they’re attempting to find a certain type and they already know what they want so you cannot take it personally!
MJ: What’s your favourite girl power motto?
bra: Girl power starts with believing in yourself. It’s important to provide support and help empower other women. Stand up for them and help them when they’re down. As women, we must stand together and build one another up, not tear one another down.
MJ: What do you see as your next career after you retire from modeling?
bra: I actually love everything about fashion. After I graduate highschool, I plan to attend FIT in New York or FIDM in Los Angeles. I’ve been offered so many great opportunities to be an influencer and grow my brand. Hopefully, I haven’t got to retire from one thing. I hope to combine all my ambitions into one long career spanning fashion, lifestyle, music, modeling and international business. I also hope to encourage other Generation Z kids to do the same.
MJ: Thank you for taking the time to share your journey with us and that I look forward to seeing you walk the runways and do many great things in the world. Good luck with everything!
bra: Thank you and it’s my pleasure.
To follow Bella, please visit:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellabharris/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bella.harris.140
MGMT Industry Models: http://www.theindustrymodelmgmt.com/model/the-creators/452-bella-harris/
