Meet Maddison Lynn | Professional Model & Model Educator/Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maddison Lynn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddison, what role has risk played in your life or career?

Risk can sometimes be a hard thing to digest. It can be filled with fear of the unknown, insecurity, and unanswered questions. Risk is something I’ve always welcomed into my life. I look at risk as a level of growth. Growth can be achieved in many different circumstances. I truly believe that growth is achieved when there is a level of being uncomfortable. Most of us don’t like the feeling of being uncomfortable, because it feeds our fears of the what ifs. I learned to thrive on being uncomfortable. Why? Well that’s a great question! The reason why I learned to be ok with “being uncomfortable” was because the fear of not growing and not going after my dreams was much greater than the feeling of being uncomfortable. That was when the shift happened for me.

Now, taking risks plays a huge role in life. Not everyone can do it, but if you want to really live and go after the unimaginable you have to take the risk. You can’t be afraid to jump. The key is having the faith that after you risk the jump you will have wings to fly. If I didn’t take any risks in my life I wouldn’t be where I am today. After spending over 10 years in the fashion industry as a model experiencing the highs and lows of what the industry had to offer I started to see gaps, unrealistic expectations, struggles, and wicked darkness. When I realized that barely anyone was doing anything to fix and enhance the industry, that’s when I decided to take a risk and be an industry trailblazer. I wanted to better understand the industry so I started researching where the fashion industry lacked or where it fell short. I got an overwhelming response. I received positive responses and I also received responses pleading for change. This is when my passion took over my fear and my business was born.

If you asked me 10 years ago if I ever wanted to start my own business, I’d say you’re crazy. I never thought being an entrepreneur was in the cards for me. It was not until I realized that I had the ability, let alone passion to create a path to help models to sustainable success and keep them safe at the same time! The fashion industry used to be about fitting in and following the rules. Now it’s being encouraged more than ever to have the strength and ability to stand out and be different. The more relatable you are, the better. People want to feel understood, connected, and appreciated. At the end of the day no matter how famous or rich you are, giving back and staying true to your roots is where the real magic happens and this is something I deeply believe in. To be truly successful in anything in life takes hard work, discipline, passion, and faith.

I started off in the fashion industry as a model and I was lucky to experience many different opportunities from high production campaign photoshoots, a Vogue feature for runway work, New York Fashion Week runway shows and travelling abroad. My journey as a model was more unique than others. Instead of taking the full time modeling path, I mixed modeling/fashion with education. I wanted to learn how this industry worked. The good, the bad and the in-between. Now, not only do I still continue to model, but I’m also a model mentor and industry educator. I provide models with a compass to help navigate the industry and a roadmap to help make sure the models are going down the proper roads. I also arm models with a full set of armour to withstand the arrows and stones that are thrown at them from the wicked yet captivating industry known as the fashion industry.

I want to help as many models as I can and be the mentor I never had when I first entered the fashion industry. When I first started modeling, I was a naive model. I had no guidance, no help, no nothing! I didn’t know what road to go down, which way to turn, who to trust, and what opportunity to pursue. This made the industry a scary place and I did not like it one bit. I made myself a promise that if I could help more models in my position, I would. So when I reached a point in my career where I could sit down, reflect and put something together to help these models, I was able to create change. I took all of my struggles and broke them down into a thought process and created unique strategies developed to help models learn the industry and obtain sustainable opportunities, instead of always being taken advantage of.

Today, I have models from all different ages and backgrounds walk through my door asking for help, guidance and mentorship. Does every model who walks through my door become a supermodel? No, but every model who has walked through my door has had life changing experiences that place them on the path to success in whichever way that they choose. The cool thing about the fashion industry is that there are so many different paths to take. The challenge is to know which one to take and to stay true to yourself along the way.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Having worked in the fashion industry for over a decade, I’ve grown to love the industry and all of the hardworking professionals in it. I’ve taken the time to really understand how the modeling industry works and I took it upon myself to learn industry strategies that have helped build success for both myself and other models in the industry that I have mentored and educated along the way. Was it easy? Not at all. Many see the fashion industry as luxurious and glamorous, but most forget that to obtain that type of lifestyle comes with a price. The fashion industry isn’t what most people think. We are sold an idea through social media and advertising that the fashion industry is supportive and amazing, but in reality fashion is filled with harsh criticism, lies, harassment and intense pressure which can lead to unfortunate mental health issues. There is a true cost to getting discovered and most models are not protected during this process. A lot of the times models are controlled and are told what to do. With the modeling industry not being a regulated industry, this can cause many issues and a lot of the time models are on the outside looking in. The modeling industry is an industry with an attitude problem and is notoriously cutthroat. So many models have compromised their physical and mental health for advancement of their careers and no matter how many times these boundaries are crossed, it’s usually still never good enough. Change needs to happen, and it starts with our models.

This is where I come in. I launched a consulting and education company called “Maddison & Company” where models are educated and guided to success. Through my own research and personal experience as a model in the industry, I created timely courses and programs providing strategies to help change a models trajectory and improve their overall industry performance. I mentor models from all avenues – local, international, freelance, agency signed, to name but a few. I have taken on the responsibility to bring more awareness, understanding and education to the fashion industry within Canada and gradually worldwide to maximize high levels of education within the industry. The fashion industry is at a pivotal moment and I am delighted to play an innovative role with its growth and direction.

What sets me apart from the others is that my biggest passion is ethical education; I believe in doing things with heart. It’s a true gift being able to pass on knowledge I’ve learned over the years, and teach others how to become their own boss. Education is power, but it is not power without execution! The information that I have learned over the years, gives me the responsibility to share and teach it to help the younger generation and to educate every other generation. I equip models with all of the important navigation tools they need to be a well balanced successful model. I then send them out into the industry with confidence, a compass, a road map, and a plan to help them navigate and stay on course. Most importantly, I provide models with a full suit of armour to ward off the monsters to protect and keep them safe. Models are able to recognize the difference between a legitimate sustainable business opportunity and a non-sustainable fly-by-night circus act. Finally, I always urge my clients to take this to heart and never forget that I am with them every step of the way and to never be afraid of calling home for help if they need me. I am a part of their journey just as much as they are a part of mine.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I have learned so far on my journey to eat well, listen to great music and seek out places of beauty. I was born in a city called London, Ontario, and then later moved to a city ten times bigger called Toronto, Ontario. Toronto is where it’s at. Toronto is everything fashion, sports, finance, restaurants, entertainment, and it’s truly the ethic centre of Canada. On a side note, if you listen to contemporary music thanks to Drake, Toronto is also known as “The 6” (The 6ix).

One of my favourite things to do is to take a drive down something called the Don Valley Parkway. This expressway presents the views of Toronto in a different light. I love driving at night when the roads are quiet and the lights of the city are bright. One of the most beholding sites for people living in or visiting Toronto is to travel southbound on the Don Valley entering the southern part of the city. As soon as you merge right into the city, the CN Tower greets you head on. A beautiful sight! 

I’m also a big foodie. I love trying new restaurant experiences. My favourite restaurant that I always tell my family and friends about is Sotto Sotto. Sotto Sotto is one of Toronto’s most popular and respected restaurants. This restaurant was built off of fearlessness, idealism, and determination; three qualities that I live by every day. Sotto Sotto opened back in 1993, and they’ve been known for their mouth watering Italian dishes that just makes me keep coming back.

Finally, I enjoy the Music Gardens on the water front of Toronto. The Music Gardens is one of the most charming locations in the city. The parks design is inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. For more information on this spectacular landmark, check out their website for more information. The Music Gardens is a great place to visit during the summer where you can enjoy free classical performances from around the world. It’s a beautiful spot to relax and calm your mind. Such a special place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to the loving community who has uplifted and supported me since day one. I would not be where I am today without their support. To my mom and dad, thank you for loving me unconditionally and encouraging me to go after my dreams, even when they didn’t make sense at times. Your words of enlightenment kept me humbled and on track. I also want to thank my mentor as well. Having someone believe in you and guide you is an act of grace all in itself. From the phone calls, to the difficult but yet inspiring conversations, I am beyond grateful for the wisdom and knowledge you have bestowed upon me.

Website: https://www.maddisonandcompany.com

Instagram: maddison.and.company

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/maddisonlynn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maddisonandcompany.modeleducation

Other: Email: info@maddisonandcompany.com

Image Credits
Liz Salzman Nancy Kim Alessandra Fiorini