Text by Koura-Rosy Kane
“I found so much empowerment from these supermodels and actresses, and the older I got the more I wanted to be a part of their world” confides Emma Brooks McAllister. The 19-year-old model and actress formerly trained as a competitive dancer for six years is now collaborating with fashion brands while expanding her acting skills. Emma recently was part of the New-York Fashion Week and walked for Sherri Hill’s S/S22 collection with her best friend. An experience that she “will never forget”.
Apart from her modeling and acting career, Emma is also investing a lot of time in discussing mental health online. She truly believes it is essential to speak about it even though ““sharing how you feel is taught to be taboo. Especially if it has anything to do with anxiety and depression. “ For Emma opening up about these issues is vital to start healing individually and collectively. She even created a Talk show named 50/50 that is “primarily a conversation to help contribute towards breaking the negative stigma associated with mental health”
The young creative is certainly on her way to an enriching career. From fashion to cinema, we expect her to succeed in these industries and even beyond.
Flanelle Magazine had the chance to discuss with Emma about her career, hopes and dreams.
We are happy to have you on Flanelle’s July issue Emma. Could you introduce yourself and what you do?
My name is Emma Brooks and I am a Model, Actress, and content creator.
Although you grew up in Louisiana, you moved to LA to become a model and actress. How did this desire to work in these industries came to you?
I grew up obsessed with America’s Next Top Model and Tyra Banks. I was so interested in the industry all around and the art of film and photography. I loved it so much and was always wanting to be a part of it all. I found so much empowerment from these supermodels and actresses, and the older I got the more I wanted to be a part of their world.
While growing up, you were also a competitive dancer for six years. Looking back on this period, what did you learn from back then that stays with you even today?
Being a competitive dancer definitely gave me thick skin when it came to criticism from my coach. Something that I took the most from it though was being able to work with others. I don’t know where I would be without the team I’m surrounded by today and their help means so much to me. I definitely work better in a group and love bouncing ideas around with people and getting a second opinion on things. Navigating this industry is hard and getting all the help I can get makes it ten times easier.
You recently walked at the New-York Fashion Week for Sherri Hill’s S/S22 collection. How did you experience this new step in your career?
I first met Sherri back in 2018 to create my competition gown for Miss Teen USA 2019 and that day she asked me to start working for her at Market. After being with them for a couple years,they asked me to walk for them in New York Fashion Week September 2021 and that was such a surreal moment for me. They are a brand and family I love and it meant so much to me that they would be the first brand I walk for my first fashion week. Then, they asked my best friend Olivia Ponton and I to walk together in their S/22 show and that just was an insane feeling. Being able to walk down the runway with my best friend for a brand we both love was so special and something I will never forget.
Along with Sherri Hill, you collaborate with Guess. You are the face of their actual campaign. What are you enjoying the most while working with fashion brands?
I love shooting and it is so rewarding to me because of how proud I am to fulfill my inner Child’s dreams. It is so cool to think about how excited and proud my younger self would be of me to shoot with people and brands that I have been so lucky to work with. I am so grateful for what I get to do and it is very fulfilling for me.
On your socials, you often explored topics around mental health. You are very keen to share your own journey to your followers. Why do you think it is important to be transparent on these matters?
The transparency I share about mental health is so important to me because I know how negative the stigma is around it all. Sharing how you feel is taught to be taboo. Especially if it has anything to do with anxiety and depression. Even if it is just situational, which everyone deals with. I want people to be able to look at my posts about mental health and find comfort in the fact that they aren’t alone. I hope that people can understand that vulnerability isn’t a bad thing and neither is being depressed or anxious. Going to therapy isn’t bad. Being medicated isn’t bad. Asking for help isn’t bad. None of it is bad and the only reason why people think it is not okay is because society has spent hundreds of years teaching that it all means weakness. When in fact, asking for help and learning how to cope makes you stronger as a human. It is all obviously easier said than done, but there has to be a start somewhere.
The talk show “50/50” is focused on these conversations about mental health. Could you explain further the mission of such an initiative?
50/50 to me is primarily a conversation to help contribute towards breaking the negative stigma associated with mental health. It is also a community where people can find resources and turn to them so they can not feel so alone. 50/50 can be so many things and as it grows it will grow more, but I am very excited about it.
You are signed with MUZE Modeling Agency and work with brands such as Savage x Fenty or Revolve. What do you think is the next step for your modeling career?
The modeling industry is so vast and also having a social media presence makes it very interesting to navigate. I am going to continue learning more about brands and the ethics behind them all. I want to learn more about environmentally friendly brands and how I can help and be more a part of that space. I love being a part of the creative process in doing a campaign, but I also love doing traditional modeling where none of my name and likeness is associated with the job.
Besides modeling, what would you like to explore next? And why?
What I am beginning to explore next is acting. I believe modeling and acting go hand in hand even though both industries are so different. I am excited to see where it takes me. I love emoting and telling a story (a reason why I love modeling so much), and I have so many emotions that I know with the right practice I could channel those well.
Do you see yourself living in other cities or is LA the best for you?
I love New York City, but I would really love to live abroad for awhile. I love California, but there are so many different and beautiful places on this Earth. I would love to learn more about the different cultures and immerse myself into different areas.
Photographer: Kelsey Hale @kelsey_hale
Stylist: Jordan Gross @Jordanshilee
Assistant Stylist: Hayley Langer @hayleylanger
Hair Stylist: Mashal Afzalzada @Mashyourhair
MAKEUP ARTIST: Ashley J Simmons @makeupbyashsimmons
Photo assistant: Lexi Wimberly @lexiwimberly
Hansen and Gretel – Shutz – Simon miller – ALC – EGO – St.Roche – Bec and bridge – Dolce and Gabbana – Tibi – Doc martens