Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacelyn Howard.
Hi Jacelyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Jacelyn Howard. I am 15 years old and currently a freshman in high school. My story is about how I started modeling and chasing my dream of becoming a runway model.
Ever since I was younger, I dreamed about modeling and walking on runways. I’m not going to lie — I received a lot of hate because people didn’t believe in my dreams. I was called a “wannabe model,” and someone at my school even made a post about me saying, “You’re not a model. Keep talking, it’s not going to get you that contract.” A lot of people at school talked badly about me and tried to bring me down.
But honestly, all of that only made me want to work harder.
When I first started, it was difficult to get opportunities. I applied to random modeling agencies and programs near me, but I kept getting rejected or hearing nothing back. Even though I failed many times, I never gave up. The negative comments stayed in my mind for a long time, but instead of letting them stop me, I used them as motivation.
Eventually, I found Runway Dallas. At first, I didn’t have much hope because of all the times I hadn’t been selected before. But, I still decided to apply. That decision changed everything. I met an amazing person named Felisa, who believed in me and gave me the chance to prove myself. I ended up walking in her fashion show on May 9, 2026, wearing 7 different designer’s outfits. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.
That experience taught me that failure does not mean you should quit. As long as you keep the right mindset and continue working hard, you can achieve your goals.
Even today, I still deal with bullying and people talking about me at school, but I choose to stay focused on my future instead of focusing on negativity. One quote I always live by is:
“Losers talk. Winners work.”
That quote reminds me every day to keep pushing forward no matter what anyone says.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road for me. One of the biggest struggles I faced was bullying and people not believing in my dreams. I’ve had people at school call me names, talk badly about me, and even make posts online saying I would never become a real model. Hearing those things hurt, especially when it came from people around me every day.
Another struggle was dealing with rejection. When I first started modeling, I applied to many different places and opportunities, and most of the time I either got told no or never heard back. It was discouraging, and there were moments where I felt like giving up. But I learned that in life, especially in modeling, you are going to hear a lot of “no’s” before you finally hear a “yes.”
Instead of letting the hate and rejection stop me, I used it as motivation to work even harder. Every struggle taught me to stay focused, believe in myself, and keep pushing toward my goals no matter what other people say.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently a freshman in high school, but ever since I was young, I have always been hardworking, creative, and determined to build something for myself. Since I was 12 years old, I have worked different jobs and volunteer positions that helped me learn responsibility, communication, and the importance of never giving up.
One of my first experiences was volunteering at a festival where I played the role of a mermaid (photo attached). I volunteered my time there and enjoyed being able to entertain and connect with people. I also completed multiple apprenticeships through school programs, where I learned customer service skills by seating guests, serving drinks, and helping in restaurant environments. By the age of 13, I earned my first real paying job working at a restaurant, which taught me independence and strong work ethic at a very young age.
I have also always had an entrepreneurial mindset. When I was 10 years old, part of my school program required students to create products and sell them at a business fair. I started my own small business and even had my handmade items sold in a local shop near me (photo attached). That experience showed me early on that I enjoyed creating, working hard, and turning ideas into something real.
Creativity has always been a big part of who I am. At 13 years old, I started learning how to do nails professionally and even attended classes where I learned acrylic nail techniques. I was the youngest person there at the time, but I stayed dedicated to improving my skills and learning as much as possible (photos attached).
In addition to working and building businesses, I also started a YouTube channel, [@Jacelyn_Howard]. Growing a platform was not easy in the beginning. I started at 14 years old with zero followers and very little support. Now, at 15 years old, I have grown my channel to over 3.2K followers. Along the way, I received negativity online and from people I knew personally, but instead of letting it stop me, I used it as motivation to keep improving and pushing myself harder.
Another major passion of mine is runway modeling. I specialize in walking fashion shows and continuing to grow my presence as a young model. Even though I faced bullying, criticism, and people doubting my dreams, I never stopped believing in myself. One of my proudest moments was walking in the Runway Dallas fashion show on May 9, 2026, where I modeled 7 different designs. That moment proved to me that consistency, confidence, and hard work truly pay off.
What sets me apart from others is my mindset. I understand that it is impossible to please everyone, so I choose to stay focused on my goals instead of worrying about negativity. I’ve learned that comparing yourself to others only distracts you from your own path. Everyone has a different journey, and I believe success comes from staying focused, working hard, and believing in yourself even when others do not.
Through every challenge, rejection, and negative comment, I kept going. I believe my determination, creativity, work ethic, and ability to stay focused under pressure are what truly make me different.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I do view myself as a risk-taker because I believe that if you never take risks, you will never grow or discover what you are capable of. Modeling itself was a major risk for me because I decided to chase a dream that many people around me did not support or believe in. I knew people might judge me, laugh at me, or doubt me, but I still chose to put myself out there.
One of the biggest risks I took was continuing to apply for modeling opportunities even after being rejected multiple times and bullied at school. A lot of people would have stopped after hearing so many “no’s” or after being embarrassed by others, but I kept going because I believed in myself and my future. Taking that risk eventually led me to Runway Dallas, where I was able to walk in a fashion show and prove to myself that my hard work was worth it.
My perspective on risk is that every opportunity comes with a chance of failure, but failure should never stop you from trying. I think the biggest risk is actually not trying at all because then you will never know what could have happened. Even when I feel nervous or uncertain, I try to remind myself that growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
For me, taking risks means believing in yourself even when other people don’t.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacelyn_howard_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jacelyn_howard
- Other: Email: jacelynshoward@gmail.com
