If you want to be a fashion designer, photographer, model, or editor, how can you start as a teen? I know tons of people have an interest in fashion at an early age, but the fashion and beauty industry is notoriously hard to break into. Thankfully, you CAN start young. Here are eight internships, opportunities and ways to build connections and your portfolio.

1. Share Your Sketches and Journalism With Journals!

Looking for those interested in fashion, beauty, or culture, anyone who knows anything about this world can submit fashion designs, photos, or journalism pieces to selected magazines or organizations. You're free to search on your own, but here are a couple I like.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-pitch-editors-at-teen-vogue

https://girlslife.com/masthead/

https://www.loammi.co/submission

https://33magazine.com/submissions/

http://fashionjournal.com.au/contribute/

https://ephemerestylejournal.weebly.com/.

https://forms.gle/Y5Zo2zuxTNMfHA7M8.

Image Credit: Alyssa Strohmann from Unsplash

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2. Volunteer!!

Many fashion boutiques, beauty brands, and other great organizations offer volunteer or intern positions! When in doubt, call! Here are a couple of online opportunities:

a. She's My Daughter!

A fashion brand called WeeBeeFree, this is not only a volunteer opportunity for fashion, but for women's rights. This organization's goal is to raise money for women being trafficked or subjected to violence.

b. Professionals Doing Good- Cambodia

Suitable for college students who fit the criteria, this is an opportunity to work on PR and Marketing for an ethical fashion brand for Cambodia.

3. Become a Beauty Brand Ambassador

This is more for fun than anything else, but it can get you free or discounted beauty products in exchange for marketing, as well as help you grow your skills! A Beauty Ambassador's job is to spread the word about products, generally through social media. Here are a couple of brands looking:

Charlotte Tiburly

Pixi

Bubble Skincare

lys beauty

Truly Beauty

Petite n Pretty

4. Start a Blog/Magazine/Journal!

Starting a fashion or beauty blog is a great way to get involved in the fashion industry. Here are the steps that I would recommend if you want to start your own Style Journal.

1. Start a Website

I would recommend Weebly, but Wix, Google Sites, and Wordpress are all great ways to start.

2. Find a team

This is not required, but will make your life a lot easier. A good organization would have a photographer, an artist, a couple writers or journalists, and an editor and marketer.

3. Write!!!

4. Find ways to market. Utilize social media, advertising, word of mouth.

Image Credit: Malicki M Beser from Unsplash

5. Work on Fashion Shows

You can create a fashion show if you have a good and effective team. A great recruiting method is to join a club, or start one of your own. You will need models, friends with good sewing skills, makeup artists, and designers to have the show of your dreams.

You will also need to find a way to gain viewers. Invite parents, friends, and neighbors. Make sure to work hard.

6. Model

Modeling is a great way to learn more about the fashion world! However, I would recommend being careful with this one, because while many agencies are great, some are unsafe or exploitive, and some are just flat out scams. Always remember that modelling standards are NOT a measure of your worth and that your health always comes first.

Here are some places to look for agencies.

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/modeling-agencies-for-teens-76435/

https://www.brandonandrephoto.com/blog/how-to-find-a-teenage-model-agency

https://www.starsmanagement.com/category/12/teens-girls

https://www.modelsdirect.com/become-a-model/teenagers/why-models-direct/

7. Work at a Fashion Boutique

This doesn't require much of an explanation. Tons of stores at the mall, makeup stores, and smaller chains are always looking for new and dedicated workers. Just remember, you can't expect to just immediately be promoted. You ARE going to have to start with a boring job, such as folding clothes or working in customer service in order to move up.

8. Use Social Media

Social media can help you post designs (be careful about them being stolen!) gain a following, and overall build a brand and a presence.

Image Credit: Priscilla Du Preez from Unsplash

Ways to Grow Skills

1. Build a portfolio. Sketch or write as much as you can.

2. Grow your sewing skills. Practice.

3. Read fashion related magazines such as Allure, Elle, or Vogue.

4. Reach out to those you know in the fashion industry for advice.

5. Make connections.

6. Keep up with the trends. Social media is a great way to do so.

7. Study high fashion. Watch fashion shows and understand the concepts behind them.

8. Have a fashion notebook made up of ideas you like, inspiration, fabric, and patterns.

9. Know that it's NEVER too early to get started!