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After winning the Tony Bowls Instagram contest, Ashton found herself doing photo shoots in designer evening gowns. Soon after, she was signed by Click Models in Atlanta. she answered. The caller introduced himself as Steven Roddy. “He was Tony Bowls’ manager at the time. He said, “We’ve chosen you to be our model. We want you to fly down to Miami and do a photo shoot with us. We’ll contact you again with more details.” “I was speechless. I’m thinking, ‘Is this real?’” said Ashton. Her mother was asking the same thing but for a different reason. “I thought, I can’t just let my 16 year old go to a studio in Miami,” said Tammy. She researched everything about it. “But Scott Marchbanks at Frills,” a prom, pageant, and wedding dress boutique in Statesboro, “talked to Maggie Bridges, Miss Georgia at the time. He knew she would be there doing a shoot, too. And Maggie just took Ashton under her wing.” In Miami, Ashton found herself doing photo shoots in Tony Bowls gowns alongside Miss Georgia, Miss America, and well-known top models. “It’s crazy what goes into a photo shoot,” said Ashton. “You see dresses standing out as if a fan is blowing, but it’s not. Someone is there to hold the dress midair and then duck and run as the picture is taken.” An entire spread in the magazine showcased dresses worn by Ashton. Shortly after winning the Tony Bowls Instagram contest, she was signed by Click Models, a modeling agency in Atlanta. “In the past,” said Tammy, “you would take your portfolio and go out to a ‘Go-See.’ That’s where the customer flips through your pictures to see if you fit their need. Now, everything is online. If they’re looking for a model for a bridal shoot, they can go to Click’s website and look through the pictures to find what they’re looking for. If you’re chosen, the agency will contact you to ask if you’re interested in that particular job. Some companies still require the model come in for an interview or send a video beforehand.” In May 2016, Ashton’s senior year at Vidalia Comprehensive High School, the agency sent her an email asking if she was interested in being submitted for an ad with Coca-Cola. “They sent all the details, the dates. There were a lot of girls from other 26 Toombs County Magazine


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