All it took was a simple request from her sister’s photographer and a local teen’s life changed within weeks.

 

Lauren Brower, 17 of Clearwater and a junior at Becker High School, had a few snapshots taken of her last fall by local photographer Kelly Klatt — who was hired by the Brower family to shoot senior portraits of Lauren’s sister, Brooke.

 

“I used those to send to local agencies to see what kind of response I’d get,” she said.

 

One of those agencies she contacted was John Casablancas — a modeling and acting agency renowned the world over and launched the careers of Claudia Schiffer, Heidi Klum, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, to name but a few.

 

She got a call back within days of her submission.

 

“They had me come in for an audition and we signed on for three years,” she said.

 

She was told she had “the look” and even resembled a young Demi Moore. She visited the offices in the Twin Cities in late November and put her pen to paper.

 

John Casablancas is not only an agency but a school in which Lauren is currently attending for seven months where she will learn lessons on beauty, runway walking, speech, presentation, acting and posing.

 

Lauren has always shown an interest for the stage ever since she first saw the TV show, America’s Top Model, hosted by another inspiring model, Tyra Banks.

 

“That show got me thinking about getting into modeling and since I like fashion and all the fashion magazines and shows, I really wanted to give it a try,” she said.

 

After her ninth class at Casablancas, she will be rewarded with a photo shoot and will then be able to accept incoming job like commercials, runway shows and the such.

 

Lauren participated in a few drama productions in school and finds being in front of an audience or camera to be “where she feels most comfortable".

 

“It’s not nerve-wracking at all. It’s fun to be able to act out in this way,” she said.

 

At 5’6”, long legs and an alluring smile, her future looks beyond bright.

 

Another perk for being a model, is Lauren gets to keep any clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. she poses in when she starts modeling professionally.

 

Lauren’s parents, Linda and Bill Brower, are extremely supportive of their daughter and her ambition to model and act in a fickle industry.

 

“We always knew she wanted to be a model while she grew up,” said Linda. “It’s what she wants and we want to help her achieve her dreams.”

 

Lauren was also a rising star in dance, gymnastics and track and field, but now plans to devote all her free time to honing her new craft.

 

“I know it was helpful to be involved in those sports and activities,” she said. “It gave me better balance, grace and flexibility.”

 

Lauren still plans on attending college after high school as a backup to her not finding success in the modeling and acting fields. She is following in the footsteps of two other former Becker High School grads who are making a go of the modeling/acting business — those two are Ashley Graaf and Josten Rositas.

 

Rositas is currently working in California, finding work in modeling and acting and hoping his look and personality makes him a star. Graaf’s star is on the rise as she recently participated in a modeling showcase in Paris, France last May and is fielding contracts from international agencies.

 

Brower hopes she can lasso her own star.