It’s been a model year for Indian Land grad

In less than a year, Emma Gladu has gone from being named Indian Land High School’s Miss Warrior 2013 to living the life of a fashion model.

“I had done a few runway shows before, but nothing as nerve racking as (Miss Warrior),” said Gladu, 18. “Walking in front of people was no problem for me, but having to come up with an answer to (an interview) question off the top of my head was a little frightening.”

But she got through it, claiming the annual pageant title and picking up some confidence along the way.

“Now I feel prepared for public speaking in front of a crowd and have gained a lot of confidence which I feel affects me in a positive way every day,” she said.

Although she had never participated in a pageant before the school’s event last year, Gladu had modeled for several local photographers from York and Rock Hill, as well as designers from the Art Institute of Charlotte.

“I was (also) introduced over Facebook to a designer who lives in the Ardrey Kell area and shot for her website,” she said. “In fact, she designed the dress I wore to crown the new Miss Warrior (this year).”

But it was a bold move Gladu made last January that really set her career in motion.

“I had visited New York (in 2012) and did a photo shoot in hopes that an agency would pick me up,” she said. “I came back the following summer and got a verbal offer from Major Model Management, but nothing was set in stone.”

Instead, the agency told her come back in the summer of 2014 when she would turn 18, and they would sign her.

But Gladu didn’t want to wait that long.

“With college application deadlines coming up, I needed to make sure everything was set in stone before I decided to move my life to New York City and push off college for the year,” she said. “So I decided to fly up there in January to discuss the future with them and they gave me a contract right there.”

Since graduating from Indian Land High and moving to Manhattan, Gladu’s career has taken off quickly.

“I was involved in Fashion Week the first month I was in New York,” she said.

As part of the infamous event, Gladu worked with names like Angela Simmons, Alisha Tremble, Gentle Monster, Lux Cartel and Fashion for Development. She’s also shot a campaign for designer sunglass company Eye Hunee and a spread for the December issue of Allure magazine.

“I was so incredibly honored and amazed that I was getting such incredible opportunities at the very start of my career,” Gladu said.

And the opportunities keep coming, with plans to travel to France in February for Paris Fashion Week, a role in an upcoming short film and possible modeling work in Japan.

Gladu also hopes to one day shoot for Vogue magazine.

“It’s always been a dream of mine since watching America’s Next Top Model at a very young age,” she said.

Although she does plan to go to college and study communications at some point, Gladu said she’s not sure when that will be.

“For now, I am enjoying this amazing life and opportunities to travel the world doing the thing I love most.”

This story was originally published December 27, 2014 at 12:00 AM.