For Huskies looking for somewhere to express themselves and expand their portfolios, a student-led organization named The Talent Co has curated a space around making the entertainment industry accessible to your average college student.
What is The Talent Co?
The Talent Co was founded by KJ Parker, a sophomore health science major and president of their e-board, when she noticed the gap between students interested in modeling, creative directing or fashion in general, and the amount of actual opportunities for those like herself to gain access to the industry.
Rather than just waiting on the chance that something would change, Parker decided she’d take the initiative when she started the organization in fall 2024 during her freshman year.
“When I first came here, my biggest thing was trying to be a part of organizations that catered toward acting and modeling. And for me, I think the spaces that they already had here weren’t what I was looking for,” Parker said. “I wanted to be still pushing my career a bit further. So I was like, ‘If I can’t find a space, l’ll just create the space,’ and I’m just going to make an organization and that’s just kind of what I did.”
Positions at The Talent Co don’t just stop with their e-board and modeling roles. Sections for interests in photography, video editing and even creative direction are open for those who may feel that being in front of the camera isn’t for them.
The Talent Co works to connect models with professional talent agencies that allow them to gain experience and connections they otherwise might not have had access to.
“The goal for this semester is to really just focus on photography and modeling just so we can finalize those branches and make them as professional as possible, but ultimately we’re trying to get more of our models signed,” Parker said. “I think I had four or five of the models signed officially with agencies, and I wanted to continue that, but also kind of grow a family-like environment with the models.”
Building community & careers
While the organization provides opportunity for professional outreach, for many of the members, what draws them to The Talent Co is their ability to provide a sense of community and empower everyone involved, behind the camera or not.
Brooklyn Martin, a junior year finance major and a The Talent Co model, spoke about her experience as a new model in the organization.
“I had to join Talent Co just because I just wanted to try something a little bit different. In The Talent Co they have networking that they do with other agencies,” Martin said “My first impression though was everybody was cool, I do feel that everybody has such different and big personalities, but everyone’s also so integrated. I felt like I could talk to anybody there.”
Although the organization serves as a way for students to work with professionals in the entertainment industry, recreationally interested students are welcome as well.
Weekly meetings are hosted from 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
Their e-board is regularly searching for new members, and The Talent Co plans to host an open casting call on Feb. 20 for anyone who may be interested, the time and location have not yet been specified.
To keep up with the casting process and The Talent Co, visit the organization’s Instagram.
