Tiana Pongs was Germany’s leading commercial face. Due to the astonishing amount of more than 1,000 ad productions in the span of her career, industry insiders consider her to be Germany’s best commercial model. She’s featured on numerous international magazine covers and product packaging’s, as well as in TV and promotional campaigns. Her list of references reads like the “Who’s Who” of the branded article industry.
In her guide dedicated to prospective models, Tiana Pongs reveals important insider tips for a serious entry into the industry. The author, born 1979 in Mönchengladbach, shows how to build up a modeling career from a practical perspective. In an easy to understand step-by-step guide she explains how to identify your own type and how to find reputable agencies – and consequently get your first modeling contract. She provides a proven list of agencies from all over the world. By sharing personal experiences, as well as an overview of the various stages of the model industry, up-and-coming models can obtain valuable insights.
Hello book lovers! Today is a day where I will be writing another author spotlight for a well-accomplished author whose work I have loved. As you know book lovers I love learning about authors and the inspiration behind their work, it fascinates me and adds to the depth of the book because the reader will be able to better understand it. That is how the author spotlights were created because I soon discovered that you lovely readers ALSO love learning about author’s, so I am excited to tell you a little bit more about author Tiana Pongs whose book Keep Smiling: A Career Guide for Models captivated me from beginning to end with its insight and knowledge on the modelling industry! I personally would recommend this book to all of those that love educational books or even memoirs! As this book is in part that, but really the book can be read by anybody as it is flawlessly written and highly enjoyable. With today’s author spotlight, a biography of the author and an interview between me and Tiana Pongs will be shared, and I hope that you book lovers enjoy reading it! To kick this off here is an author bio about the wonderful Tiana Pongs!
Tiana Pongs, born in 1979 in Mönchengladbach, Germany, began a successful international career as a model in 2001. After graduating from high school, she worked in Milan, Paris, Cape Town, and New York and was featured in numerous fashion magazines as well as advertising and catalogue campaigns. Due to the astonishing amount of more than 1,000 ad productions in the span of her career, Tiana Pongs was Germany’s leading commercial face. Tiana Pongs currently lives with her son in Düsseldorf and commutes between Germany and the USA. She works as an actress and is the official ambassador of World Vision Germany.
Now, how wonderful does Tiana Pongs sound?! Tiana Pongs is a truly exceptional writer and I hope that you lovely readers have a read of the author’s work because you will not regret it! Please see below an interview between me and the author and I hope that you enjoy it!
What was the process like for writing your book?
Honestly, the reason was that I was annoyed by the same questions over and over again! So, I thought to myself, just write it down. And then you can say, buy my book, everything you want to know is in there.
Since it is a guide, I actually had to find a logical structure for the book but that was not that difficult, the whole process took maybe 2 months.
How did the English-language version come about?
The business is English. And Germany is a very small country in comparison, the consideration that the book should also be published in English was more than necessary for my publisher and me.
Could anyone be a model?
No. The job requires some prerequisites just like any other job. You also have to restrict the terminology here. There are many types of models, up to so-called “faces” in casting agencies, but these are not models in the classic sense. You have to have the right figure and a pretty or very interesting face and the right height, otherwise you can’t be a model.
Are the requirements for height in a catwalk show different today? What other changes have you seen in the industry?
Here, too, a distinction must be made as to which shows we are talking about. Haut couture shows in Paris or Milan certainly have the toughest requirements when it comes to size and height. There are now commercial shows as well, for example the Victoria Secret Show. Karl Lagerfeld got to the point with his statements about Heidi Klum. Heidi never made it in Paris, so she’s not a model. What nonsense, Heidi was a Victoria Secret model and has had a great career in her own way. In the commercial field the cards are shuffled very differently, here the social media channels are checked as well as the Sedcard. That’s how the business changed today.
There are a lot of people doing selfies and promoting themselves on Instagram, often getting free stuff sent to them to sell. How does this alter the industry?
That has nothing to do with the business. These are influencers, but not models. However, customers are now looking at the number of followers and there are jobs that are decided afterwards. For customers, social media is simply an additional platform for placing advertisements. Influencers are not models, but models can be influencers, of course! 😉 Was it easy to transition from modelling to acting? Other than being a mother, do you regard yourself more as an actress, a model, or something else? Of course, I always remain a mother, but my son is already 17 and has his own plans. I would say I have had a long international and successful modeling career and now I’m an actress. Nevertheless, I will continue to shoot advertising campaigns if asked to do so and the fee is right! ;-)During my career I have always shot, for example for daily soaps. I also shot a number of commercials. Modeling and acting are closer than you think. To answer your question, I think I’m both.
I notice with some German actors that I know, there is an attraction to the US. What is the appeal of the US, and what are your plans when you get there?
Well, the heart of the acting industry is Hollywood. Of course, all actors know that too. I personally fell in love with New York as a child. And from the mind you cannot explain why you are attracted to a particular country. I always preferred to live in the US rather than in Germany. But that’s a personal feeling. For me, Los Angeles is the perfect mix of a life by the sea and still being able to work. And even if you first have to get used to the American mentality as a European, I like it. I also like the climate in California.
What drew you to becoming a World Vision ambassador?
In fact, a film report that I saw as a child about starving children. I was crying at the time and wanted to fly straight away and bring the kids something to eat. I took over my first sponsorship for a child at the age of 16. I think it is important to give back, especially in such a privileged life that we live. In 2008, I did a TV commercial for World Vision. And as a public person you have a role model function, so it is a special honor for me to be able to work with World Vision for this now.
What‘s a typical day for you?
There are no typical days for an artist. The biggest challenge is to give yourself a structure in everyday life, because there are no regularities. I’m going to try it anyway. A normal day starts for me with coffee and working on the computer, answering emails, etc. And then everything depends on what’s coming up, there is a twist, it may be that I am learning texts. Likewise, for an audition. Or pack suitcases for the next trip. Or just answer a bunch of interviews because I’m in the middle of my book promotion. I love that no day is the same and to always have to deal with new people because I get bored quickly, so I love life the way I chose
Its official book lovers, I am obsessed with Tiana Pongs! If you have liked what you have read about the author and are interested in learning more, then please do have a browse of the links below and be sure to have a read of the preview too! You will not regret it.
Goodbye for now book lovers,
Amazon U.S. – Amazon U.K. – Goodreads
Author: Barnes & Noble – Booktopia – Abe Books – Book Depository – Scribd
