But it wasn’t until her spread in the 2009 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue that caught the attention of nearly everyone on the planet. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1986, Ariel is all grown and ready for whatever life hands her.
EBM: Do you struggle with the overwhelming expectations placed on models? You’re almost forced to count every calorie you take in all in pursuit of the “perfect” body.
Ariel Meredith: I used to, not as much anymore. Of course you wanna monitor what you eat because the camera adds ten pounds, but there are so many watch dog organizations out there that are really coming down hard on the modeling industry, enforcing regulations, essentially making it impossible to starve models and surprisingly agencies are supporting their efforts. So I think everyone is embracing the changes being made and positively.
EBM: So does that mean we’ll start seeing more full figured super models?
Ariel Meredith: That’s exactly what it means, it may be awhile but I think the industry is starting to recognize full figured women, thanks to shows like Tyra [Banks] where you really get an opportunity to see women with curves, particularly women of color and you appreciate them in all of their beauty.
EBM: You have a very “girl next door” look, with tons of sex appeal. Does that work to your advantage?
Ariel Meredith: I’m not sure what works but I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve been able to do a lot of different things in modeling; runway, print, and digital. And the Sports Illustrated spread didn’t hurt either.
EBM: Speaking of, how did that [Sports Illustrated] come about? Sports Illustrated is known to be very selective about the kind of models they choose.
Ariel Meredith: Dumb luck, I guess. My agency told me I was being considered for a test run, along with three dozen or so other models and they were only choosing a handful. Time had passed and I just assumed that I wasn’t selected, and then the call came.
EBM: Great look!
Ariel Meredith: Thank you. They do such a great job, very little was done on my part all I had to do was show up.
EBM: Trust me, our readers are much more impressed with your work. (Laughing) What are your plans after modeling?
Ariel Meredith: Well, hopefully I’ll always be involved with modeling in some capacity. Modeling has done a lot for me and which ever way I can give back, I will. But other than that I just want to continue working and enjoying these experiences.
EBM: What do you do to feel sexy?
Ariel Meredith: I don’t know how to answer that; I may like the way my jeans are fitting on a certain day or the shoes I’m wearing. It really depends on my mood.
EBM: On your worst day I’m sure you look great. Thank you for your time.
Ariel Meredith: Not a problem!
