In The News I recently moved to Toronto to further pursue my modeling career, while attending post secondary at George Brown College. And while I will admit my life is significantly more hectic than before, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s safe to say I am more accustomed to the big city life than I would have ever imagined. Moving away from home was harder than I expected, because it hit me like a brick wall, I wasn’t a little girl anymore. An entirely new life awaited in Toronto, a mere flight away. Since moving to Toronto my career is slowly building momentum as my experience as a working model increases. When my agent calls to inform me that I have booked a job, there is always a moment of surrealism. Because it naturally causes me to look back and realize how far I have come. Thinking back on all the memories, some more painful than others. I acknowledge and appreciate how difficult my life was. Willoughby is tall, thin, has striking facial features with a healthy complexion and an engaging smile that comes easily. Her mother Tracey said Jade wasn’t always so healthy. She has a kidney disorder (Nephrotic Syndrome) so rare it strikes only one in every 100,000. Essentially what happens when she has an episode from her condition is: her entire body would swell. Her immune system would kick in at 200 per cent, get confused and attack the filter to her kidney resulting in massive water retention. That, in turn, would land Jade in the hospital where she would need to be stabilized by doctors on a pretty regular basis starting when Jade was seven.                                        photo by Maxime Bocken I was actually pretty large up until about (four) years ago, Jade said. If anyone had seen me then compared to now, they’d be surprised at how different I look, because at my worst, I could have been classified as obese because of all the water I was carrying. Tracey said her daughter can’t have salt because it causes water retention. She also said Jade became the butt of jokes because of her illness by other kids. The water retention was so bad and affected her whole body that her entire face would also swell, Tracey said. Because it was water swelling, that water would drop to the lower half of her face and make her look moon- faced. So that’s what the kids called her at school: moon face. Through all the pain that was caused by my illness and my peers, I would like to extend my gratitude because it was beneficial in the end in the sense that it’s given me strength to deal with the challenges that being in this industry presents. Recently I shot a beauty spread for Verve Girl magazine for the February/March issue. This job was very special to me as it showed the beauty of multiculturalism and it was my first magazine booking. It was a true pleasure to work with such a diverse group of models and be able to see the beauty each had to offer. As well, I had the opportunity to work with Celebrity Makeup Artist Paul Venoit for a special featured on E talk daily. Having the chance to work with him was sort of unreal. It is a true blessing that each job is so diverse and holds an individual beauty specific to who we are. Many view the world of modeling with a starry-eyed idealism, admiration, hopefulness, but with many misconceptions. While this profession can be quite glamorous offering travel and one of a kind opportunities. It is important to realize that behind the glamour there is the hard work, the endless waiting hours both on and off set. This is a demanding job both physically, mentally and sometimes emotionally. What I hope is realized is the amount of time it takes to create that one image. The jobs are often eight hour days beginning at 8 am or earlier and can sometimes go into 14 hour days. The hair and makeup alone can take anywhere from one to three hours for just one look and more often than not, there are usually multiple looks. But through all the changes of the day, standing and holding a pose for what can seem like forever. You are able to translate the story and get that one perfect image that brings it life. In order to succeed you in anything you choose to pursue, exemplary drive and determination not to mention passion are required. It sometimes gets hard, dealing with the rejection or not booking the job because you don’t have the desired look. Especially when this industry is dominated by a certain look. But like anything we do and with any passion you have to persevere. It’s important that with anything you do to never forget who you are. For instance compromises are sometimes required if a shoot may compromise one’s personal moral standards. But communication as with any relationship is key especially with yourself. In part of never forgetting who you are. It’s important that you’re always conscious of your actions. You can’t behave irresponsibly as this will have a negative effect on your image and reputation as a model. Which are two key qualities anyone has to posses. One of the biggest challenges for me, is that I have to be away from home. While I do travel back quite often and vice versa, it gets a little harder each time our visits come to a close. But being on my own has helped me to truly appreciate the time I have with my friends and family. My family is extremely supportive with my decision to follow my dream and they have been my greatest strength in not giving up. My friends as well are always there to listen and share in my happiness. One of my good friends recently traveled up to Toronto to spend the weekend with me. And its gestures that truly let me know I can do this. This life change has offered a great deal of experiences both negative and positive. These have afforded me a clearer view of what matters most on this life journey. Because time isn’t important. Only life. I believe my illness was a blessing in disguise. While I will admit for a long time, I could not be view it any other way than negatively I have now come to understand the beauty that was the preparation for my life now. About Jade: Whitesand First Nation band member Doesn’t wear makeup outside of jobs. Has grown the coveted half inch and now stands at 5’ 9”. Best friends with hoop dancer, Beany John. Oldest of 4. Still orders no salt. On the Catwalk with Jade Willoughby Ripping Through High School Brandon Kwandibens Contributor You don’t have to like it. Just do it. This mantra is the only rule for a high school drop outs success. In that situation, it took me one year and two months to receive what should have been mine four years ago. It seemed longer than that when I sat down to do my schoolwork close to every day. At 16, I lived in Longlac, On. but I went to high school in nearby Geraldton. In my third year I dropped out having earned only four-and-a-half credits. I was defiant and anxiety got the best of me, so I ended up in and out of young offenders custody. During that time, I earned two more credits. I simply didn’t listen when people told me to do anything unless I wanted to. I didn’t go to school. Unknowingly I was falling in a hole where success becomes non-existent. During custody, I was taken to the Underground Gym and Youth Centre in Thunder Bay where I was introduced to Peter Panetta, the gyms owner. He offered to train me using focus pads on my visits, which I did. After my discharge from custody, there were still a few schools in Longlac I would try to register at after I returned home and one I refused to turn to. When the options for me ran out in Longlac, I finally left for Thunder Bay. I soon registered at a school on my arrival, but I didn’t even last two weeks. I always felt I had something better to do, which I didn’t. It got boring and pretty depressing. Not being in school or working, I mostly slept until noon. I never did anything productive during the days so I dedicated myself to combat training on my own. I gave myself a sense of purpose this way. I later rediscovered amateur boxing by dropping in on Panetta at the Underground Gym again one day and it helped keep me away from the criminal element and out of trouble. I went to training a few hours a night. I knew how to pack a punch, but I didn’t know how to box. While practicing Peter said I hurt his hands. Boxing taught me how to keep my overall health and physical shape at its peak. After a time, I stopped smoking and began going out for morning runs whenever I woke up. These changes I made in my life gave me reasons to keep going. One day, Peter noticed that I had made major physical improvements and he asked me if I was interested in going to Minneapolis, Minn. to participate in an exhibition boxing match. At that moment, I felt the power of my spirit explode throughout my body and my lifetime of despair was suddenly gone. Finally I was going to have an honest chance to test my skills. I just didn’t ever expect it to be boxing because it was a lot different from what I am used to. The moment before the bells went off to start the match my mind was clear. I don’t remember being nervous or scared, I remember getting ready. My record is 1-1-0 in boxing. Meanwhile, I did a lot of studying about the sport of boxing for a good chunk of that time, which is the same idea with school. That’s how I knew I could graduate because I trained long and hard when I knew I could have been doing schoolwork. All I needed to do was get back in, but I was getting too old. One day I was minding my business on the Thunder Bay Transit (city bus) when I noticed a sign that read: Lakehead Adult Education Centre. It also said it was for people who had been a dropout for two years or more. That described me. I went to get information that I didn’t have to pay for. I learned I just needed a few pieces of identification, a transcript and about $60 to register.  I sorta had a hard time getting a transcript because my first school got rid of my files: I’d been gone for quite a while. This wouldn’t have happened had I not been hard headed in the first place. There was nothing I could do except blame myself. This was when I learned no one makes it far running away from responsibilities like this one. My most recent transcript was contained within the ill-fated walls of where I had been in custody with a teacher I had no choice but to contact in order to realize my goal. I phoned him and said I am aiming to graduate. He agreed to help me and within two weeks, dropped off my ticket to register. Starting all over was the worst part. Twenty years young and so determined to catch up from where I had been left behind. It filled my soul with an endless urge to earn that diploma. Even after stress and exhaustion distorted my mental and physical abilities, I still managed to discipline myself to keep going. All the work was time consuming and often hurt my head. I really struggled with math. The only math I was ever good at was counting money. That math teacher was usually busy with other students inside my new school. I could see that they needed just as much help as I did, so I asked a few friends to help tutor me from time to time. Even with help from a teacher and a few friends, I still barely passed. I felt incomplete knowing I didn’t graduate from high school. The main reason I always encourage people to finish is because I don’t want them to be stranded in a darkness where others benefit from their failure. I came to a point where noise or being hit didn’t even make me flinch. I only focused on finishing what I had started like resolving a conflict with another person or concentrating on my schoolwork. That’s when I learned to trust my own good judgment and to do my best to prevent losing faith in myself. I also learned not to depend on anyone to get something done for me. It feels different to help lead a generation forward in societys eyes. I don’t want to lead our youth toward insecurity and guidance if I know they won’t prosper. Now, I am 22 years young and I have my well-earned Ontario Secondary School Diploma with no criminal record and some amateur boxing experience. I’m proud of myself. I feel as if a piece of my past has bled away like it never existed. Memories are all they are now. They are memories I don’t need, but I can never forget them. I still train in boxing, but it’s more of a hobby now. I have been considering getting into competitive boxing. Dedication, determination and discipline are what you really need. And these are attributes no one can give you. Learn to build them and success will be in your grasp. Remember to always look forward and stay on top of failure. Brandon Little Bear Kwandibens Whitesand First Nation Published in                                      Magazine, April 1, 2010, Volume 3, No. 2 Published in                                      Magazine, February 18, 2010, Volume 3, No. 1 © The Whitesand First Nation 2012