She is not just any typical hoodie, sweat pant wearing freshman. Sara Schuld is a model and a cover girl. As the cover girl of the October Moda, Sara Schuld is already making her face the staple of this campus’ fashion world. However, don’t be fooled by her fierce appearance in the After Dark issue, she is one of the friendliest, sweetest, and most fashionable I have ever had the pleasure to encounter.
Name: Sara Schuld
Year: Freshman
Intended Majors: Communication Arts and Spanish
Hometown: Saint Paul, MN
Involvement on Campus: Moda and Habitat for Humanity
Q: Tell us a little bit about Moda. What is it? How did you first get involved with Moda? How did you land on the opportunity of being the October mini’s cover girl?
Moda is UW Madison’s fashion and lifestyle magazine which also covers culture, beauty, and art. I heard about Moda from a friend and really wanted to get involved and become a writer for the magazine. I later saw on Facebook that they were looking for a model for the October mini. Seeing as I was voted “America’s Next Top Model” as my high-school superlative, I decided to contact them and put my tall height to good use.
Q: Have you had any previous experience on modeling (because look at you, you slayed, it’s hard to believe that you haven’t)? If you have, can you elaborate a bit on it— how did you get the gig, where, how?
I’ve only modeled once before for a hockey-apparel company. The photographer who shot my senior photos knew someone looking for a model and sent them my information. I was expecting to be modeling in a big, bulky hockey uniform, but it was actually like hockey-inspired t-shirts and sports bras! Very ironic though because I know absolutely nothing about hockey.
Q: What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from this (or previous, if applicable) modeling experience?
From this shoot with Moda, I learned that the best opportunities generally lie outside of your comfort zone. The shoot was during the first few weeks of my freshman year and I still hadn’t really adjusted to college but I decided to put myself out there with modeling, something with which I didn’t have that much experience. It has been my most rewarding college experience yet. I got to work with some really talented, creative people and a lot of my friends and family from home reached out to congratulate me on the cover!
Q: How did you first gain interest in fashion, and is fashion something you are considering to pursue as a career (whether that be modeling, working for a fashion magazine)? If no, what is your dream job, and how do/ in what way do you think this experience helps?
My earliest memory of fashion is probably watching the Academy Awards as a kid and being entranced by the glamour. Also, in middle school my friend and I consistently binge-watched Americas Next Top Model. Being so awkwardly tall in middle school, I earnestly idolized and related to the tall models on that show. I would love to somehow work in the fashion industry, either as a model or writer. My dream profession has always been screenwriting for TV or movies, though.
Q: How would you describe your style? What are your favorite articles of clothing?
I would describe my style as sporty and simple. I love t-shirts, jeans and delicate jewelry. My favorite brands are Zara, Free People, and Wildfox—they all carry really cool, effortless street wear.
Q: Who is your style/ modeling inspiration? Why?
My style and model inspirations are Miranda Kerr and Kendall Jenner. Their street-style is very on-point, and they never fail in rocking leather pants or cool, chunky sunglasses.
Q: Models often get an unfair stigma on how they make people perceive beauty in a certain way. What do you have to say about that, and specifically what do you have to say to people who struggle with confidence and their body images?
The modeling industry is definitely fallible and doesn’t necessarily portray all physicalities equally, but at the end of the day beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yes, the modeling industry influences beauty ideals, but society perpetuates them. Beauty ideals change with time, but true beauty is what you choose to see as beautiful.
Q: What do you do to stay healthy/ in shape?
I go to yoga sculpt classes, spin, and run. I’m also very into green juices even though they are pretty disgusting and expensive! I just love the way they really cleanse you!
So hurry up and get her autograph. I’m telling you, she’s the next Gisele Bündchen. Trust me, you’ll regret it not getting her autograph when she launches her own line of perfume.
Check out the October Mini Here.