Teen Role Models Inside New Orleans is delighted to include a brand new feature in its publication titled “Teen Role Models.” For this issue, we have chosen five local teens that are indeed role models in determination, work ethic, and leadership. Learning about these very different yet driven young people has been a pleasure.
by Greta Honsberger
Sylvie Sausse. 30
SYLVIE SAUSSE When she was about 11, Sylvie Sausse was a pretty typical pre-teen involved in activities like horse riding and competition dance. Soon, she decided that competition dance wasn’t something that she wanted to devote so much of her time, so she decided to try acting. What
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happened next would change the trajectory of her life and plans. At 11 years old, Sylvie was already 5’7 and looked much older. The directors at her acting school suggested she try modeling before acting because of her unique features. So, she did. She got her first test photos, submitted them to agencies, and soon after was picked up by several non-exclusive agents. At 12, Sylvie was cast in an official New York Fashion Week show with a couture designer. As Sylvie puts it, she “just dove in head first,” and a significant modeling career was born. Wanting to hone her craft, she learned all that she could by attending workshops, fashion shows, trade-for-print, low-paying, and no-pay jobs to learn the industry inside and out. She gained a wealth of experience that would become vital to her career, and she loved every minute of it! Today, Sylvie is a 17-year-old senior at Mt. Carmel and continues to walk the world’s runways and travel worldwide for photo shoots. She boasts of walking in 9 New York Fashion Week shows, had a billboard in Times Square, and has modeled for designers such as Jovani, Portia & Scarlett, Adrianna Ostrowska Couture, Chick, and Lulu et GiGi to name a few. Sylvie reflects on the spectacular shows, photo shoots, clothing lines, make-up, and all the work that goes into creating this world, “I really admire the hard work, creativity, and entrepreneurship that the designers put into everything. It’s incredible what goes into every single line, every show, every shoot, every bit of promotion.” Sylvie obviously loves and appreciates every part of this beautiful world which she has made her own. Being in these phenomenal productions and privy to the behind-the-scenes hustle has created a different perspective for this young lady. As for negative perceptions that people may have about the modeling industry, Sylvie wants people to know, “... in my experience, it’s been the farthest thing from negative. It’s been an incredibly positive part of my life. I’ve made the BEST friends in the world — and they are in all corners of the world.” Her experiences have taken her to places she never dreamed she would go. Sylvie graduates in the spring and is currently applying to universities. Her primary interest is in business finance with a concentration in real estate. She has a penchant for real estate that goes back to when, at