SUCCESS STORY

Jacqueline Depaul:

The Modeling Trailblazer with a Passion for Balancing Science and Art

By Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

Jacqueline Depaul, known for her towering height of 5'11" and her captivating presence on the runway, is a modeling trailblazer who has defied conventions and embraced a diverse career spanning both the scientific and artistic realms.

Born in the United States but raised internationally in exotic locales such as Jamaica and Haiti due to her father's role as a United Nations engineer, Jacqueline's early exposure to different cultures and experiences laid the foundation for her broad worldview and adaptable nature.

Her academic journey led her to study Physics in college, a field that satisfied her curiosity for understanding the fundamental principles governing the universe. However, her thirst for exploration extended beyond the scientific domain, prompting her to delve into modeling as a creative outlet later in life, during her 30s.

Balancing her professional life as an IT Engineering Consultant in the Telecommunications industry with her blossoming modeling career, Jacqueline embodies the essence of a modern Renaissance woman. She views modeling not just as a profession but as an artistic performance and a means to express her creativity—a facet she finds lacking in her engineering work.

One of the pivotal moments in her modeling career was winning the prestigious 2011 Wilhelmina National 40+ Model Search in New York, a feat that catapulted her into the mainstream modeling scene at the age of 41. From there, she continued to thrive, breaking stereotypes and redefining beauty standards as she embraced the "classic" modeling category for older men and women.

Jacqueline's approach to her work reflects her insatiable appetite for growth and improvement. Whether she's mastering the latest technologies in IT or refining her runway walk and posing techniques in modeling, she embraces challenges with enthusiasm and a determination to excel.

Despite starting her modeling journey later in life, Jacqueline takes immense pride in her accomplishments, not aiming to emulate supermodels but rather relishing the creative process and the unique journey she's undertaken. At 55, she remains excited about the diverse opportunities ahead, including venturing into the Paris market next year, where older women are celebrated for their timeless beauty and allure.

Jacqueline's ability to seamlessly blend her professional and personal life is a testament to her organizational skills and flexibility. Managing her own schedule allows her to pursue auditions and modeling gigs without compromising her commitments in IT.

Looking ahead, Jacqueline envisions herself as someone who fearlessly embraces new challenges, someone who embodies resilience, curiosity, and a spirit of adventure—an ethos that continues to define her remarkable journey in both the scientific and fashion realms.

BIOGRAPHY

1. Can you tell us more about your experience growing up in such diverse environments as Jamaica and Haiti due to your father's work at the United Nations? How have these experiences influenced your worldview and approach to life?

An experience like this is eye-opening because one can no longer take things for granted. Even access to running water, reliable electricity, or consistent access to groceries was not a given in these countries. So when I arrived in the United States as a teenager, I noticed that folks who had not experienced less affluent countries didn’t realize how great their environment was.

2. Which specific aspects of physics fascinated you the most during your university studies, and how have these areas of knowledge proven useful in other aspects of your life, including your modeling career?

Physics is the most basic science. Biology sits on top of Chemistry and assumes that everything the chemist says is true. Chemistry sits on top of Physics and assumes that what the physicist says is true. Physics sits on top of math—I considered it the purest scientific pursuit because it only has mathematics underneath it. It was quite a beautiful science.

3. Why did you decide to venture into modeling at a later age, and what were the main challenges and rewards of this transition?

I was doing Latin and ballroom dance as a hobby, and I got injured. I liked performing with my body, and when I couldn’t do it, I needed another artistic outlet. Modeling was performing with my body, and I was 5’11”, so I figured I would give it a try. I had no desire or intention to become a Gisele Bündchen or any kind of famous model; I just wanted to do it for fun. It grew from there.

Model: Jacqueline Depaul - @yellowbrickrunway
Photographer: Arezoo Jalali - @arezoojalali_photography
Hair and makeup by Kseniya Bernkhardt - @kseniya_bern
Stylist: Sky JT Naval - @sky_is_dlimit

4. As an IT engineering consultant and model, how do you manage the challenge of juggling these two very different and demanding fields?

Precise scheduling!

5. What are the key qualities or skills that you consider essential for success in both the modeling industry and the engineering sector?

Competence. Professionalism. Keep improving.

6. Can you share with us a particularly memorable or significant moment from your modeling career that had a profound impact on you?

Winning the Wilhelmina 40+ National Model Search in 2011. There were 5,000 contestants from all over the country. I was proud to win the contest and sign with Wilhelmina as my first agency. Press release below.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/model-search-contestants-prove-40-is-the-new-20

7. How do you see the evolution of the modeling industry regarding the representation of older men and women, and what role do you play in this movement?

Right now, you see more and more “grey-haired” models in catalogs and campaigns—H&M was a trailblazer on that one. More designers are including older models on their runway; Balmain is a good example. Older folks have the money to pay for clothes, and they want to be represented. It has not become mainstream, but I am pleased to see that many designers are including at least one older model in their projects.

INTERVIEW

8. What advice would you give to young professionals considering a versatile career like yours, combining seemingly disparate fields?

I would advise that whichever career is making more money, treat that one as the primary and the other one as secondary. If modeling is not making any money, treat it like a hobby, like someone who likes going skiing every weekend. If you do that, and then someone approaches you to model professionally and make more money than your primary, you can change directions. Treat yourself as your own Patron—a Patron is a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity. All artists used to have Patrons so they could pay for pursuing their art. Be your own, pay for your own art by having dual, parallel careers.

9. What are your future plans in the fields of engineering and modeling, and what challenges or opportunities are you looking forward to?

I am running both careers in tandem and enjoying both.

10. Finally, how do you hope people will remember your professional and personal journey, and what message would you like to convey to future generations?

Go for it. What are you waiting for? Try stuff. You never know what might happen.