Former Disneyland employee on how an Instagram comment launched modelling career

 

She says she thought it was a scam at first.

A former Disneyland character worker has revealed how a comment on Instagram kickstarted her modelling career. Bella Golden was working at the popular theme park in California when she caught the attention of modelling agency Wilhelmina, who spotted one of her comments on Iskra Lawrence's Instagram account. She recalled to Cosmopolitan:

"I had been following her for a while and she posted something about body positivity, so I just commented something like ‘you look great girl’ and that’s how my agent found me.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYBupL-FutS/?taken-by=bellaagolden

"My profile was private but she followed me and then direct messaged me the next day asking if I was interested in modelling.

"I really thought it was a scam at first because unless watching a lot of America's Next Top Model counts, I had never done any modelling before."

Wearing anything from a UK size 12 to a UK size 18, Bella says that she is considered plus-size within the modelling industry. And while she doesn't necessarily agree with the term, she says that she's not offended by it since everyone's different. https://www.instagram.com/p/BgZvpKlDDwn/?taken-by=bellaagolden She continued:

"People ask me 'how are you plus-size?', or 'it’s terrible you’re considered plus-size' but I don’t take it as a bad thing. "In fashion if you’re over a size 4 (UK size 8) you’re considered plus-size, that's the crazy thing. “When I’m shopping online I realise from looking at the size guides and measurements, I never fit in one box but I think every girl has that struggle. “So although I don't have a problem being labelled as plus-size, I do think the term is problematic in a sense because I don't like the idea of separation, that one group of people is superior to another.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgoSGYbFTNX/?taken-by=bellaagolden She went on to explain how social media helped her step out of her comfort zone - by posting the things she would appreciate seeing others sharing. She added:

"I want any 14-year-old girl who follows me to feel comfortable in her body, so I purposefully go outside of my own comfort zone to show them a different body shape on a regular beach, rather than the 'perfect body' on a yacht somewhere. "We’re all on different parts of our journey, both emotionally and physically.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhczuT_l-e-/?taken-by=bellaagolden

"I hope we can get to a point where diversity is a given and we don't have to label people by their size, race, or disability. "The more different body types we show the better, that way young girls who are growing up now will have something they can identify with."