Courtesy of Marta Traskevych

Grace Lin poses with leather jacket and bag in LA for a photoshoot.

Because of her 5-11 height, Grace Lin has been told once or twice in the past that she should pursue modeling. She never quite knew how to do it or thought it was realistic, but as it turned out, the opportunity to model came to her through a chance encounter.

In late July 2025, Grace was in New York attending a BLACKPINK concert with her mom when she was approached by a modeling scout from an agency called State Management, who gave her a business card. After doing some research on the company, Grace started the application process by sending photos and a video of her walking.

“It was really unfamiliar and I really didn’t know what was expected of me,” she said. “I was kind of scared because you still have to get accepted, but I really wanted to do it because I thought it would be fun.” 

Grace was invited for an interview before signing a 2-year contract in mid-October. State Management has two offices, one in New York and one in Los Angeles. With these faraway locations, it’s been somewhat difficult for Grace to find opportunities for modeling work, but she has been taking incremental steps forward. 

While at home, the agency sends her castings for brands that she can potentially audition for. So far, she’s gotten on the waitlist for a fashion show, which is a big step forward in her modeling journey.

When she does have time, though, she has taken trips to Los Angeles to do test shoots. She brings a simple, plain outfit and works with a photographer to build her portfolio, which her agent then sends to brands. So far, she’s flown down to LA twice, in November of last year and just this past spring break.

“I really enjoy modeling because I get to meet a lot of new people,” she said. “One of the shoots I did, I got to meet this photographer who does photography full-time, and she has an eye for photos. For modeling photos, the poses you do are really dynamic, but she’s just able to see it and know exactly what to do. It was inspiring, meeting her and seeing the work she does for a living.”

Despite stereotypes about how there’s a lot of body shaming in the industry, Grace finds that the adults around her are very supportive, always hyping her up and making her feel more confident. “The point of the agency isn’t to degrade you, but to lift you up,” she said. 

While Grace isn’t too sure about the future because she won’t be going to college in LA, she hopes to go to her agency during breaks to build her portfolio and continue her modeling journey. Currently, she plans to study social sciences.

“I feel really lucky and grateful that I got this opportunity in the first place. It’s not something that a lot of people pursue, so the fact that I’m able to get this unique experience is really exciting,” Grace said.