Some models just have an aura about them that instantly captures people’s attention. For example, to many passersby, Chicago-based model Claudia #17606 is already famous.

"I've been recognized as so many different people! Lately it's been Mariah Carey, or Britney Spears -- some guy even called me Avril Lavigne. It's good to be recognized as a celebrity. You may not be that person, obviously, but they're thinking you might be famous, so it's like a compliment. It's kind of like a practice session for fame. I'm getting used to it, and sometimes I'll have fun with it. I might even joke around with people and say, 'Yeah, I'm her.'

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Claudia’s star quality has already prompted a few lucky fans to prepare now for a future windfall. “I’ve had people ask me for my autograph. They ask me to sign their business cards and tell me, ‘Oh this might be worth millions on Ebay one day, so I should get your autograph now!’ That actually happened in the airport on my last trip to New York.”

A remarkable young lady, Claudia is only 15, yet she’s been modeling for the past two years and garnered plenty of positive response. She made such an impression on a major international modeling agency recently that they signed her on the spot. Soon she will be going out on castings for clients such as Gucci, DKNY, L’Oreal, MTV, ESPN, GQ, Cosmo, Cosmo Teen, Saks, and Coca-Cola! Already established with offices in LA, NY, Miami, Atlanta, Milan, Tokyo, the agency now has a new office in Chicago, and Claudia will be one of the first to be represented by them in the Windy City.

The teen started pursuing her modeling ambitions at an early age. “I have always wanted to do this, since I was a little girl. I would look at models and they were all happy and hyper and chipper and confident, and I said, ‘I want to be like that.’ Of course I was already happy and hyper and chipper and confident, so it came very easy to me.”

Not one to limit herself, Claudia has a positive image of herself and her potential in the world of modeling.

“You have to look in the mirror and gauge yourself as a model, because modeling is all about your different expressions and your different personalities. You have to learn to portray different sides of yourself, because if modeling was all about projecting only one image, it wouldn’t be very challenging or fun.”

To that end, Claudia likes to mentally prepare for each new look during photo shoots. “You need to think of what you’re trying to portray. You need to mentally put yourself into the outfit before you actually put yourself into it. Take the time to think of who you’re going to be and what you’re going to represent. Are you at a beach, are you at a club? There’s a lot of stuff that should be going through your mind in each new situation.”

She also is ready for her close-up when it comes to acting, and has been meeting lately with casting agents and directors for theatrical projects. “I want to play characters who are different from myself -- I don’t want to play someone like me. I would love to be cast as a killer, or in something really dramatic, like a role on ‘ER.’ I would also like to do comedy in addition to drama. I enjoy watching both, so I would like to perform in both. I do like to make people laugh.”

The changes she has observed within herself on her road to modeling success are no laughing matter. ”Physically and mentally, I have changed a lot. I’ve gotten more confidence. Modeling is all about rejection, criticism, acceptance, and things like that. And it teaches you to not pay attention to those things you don’t want to hear. You are going to hear them, but you’ve just got to learn to say, ‘Well, it happens…’

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“I know I have more confidence now – I look in the mirror a different way. I feel more appreciated, since I’m doing it for people that want to see my images. So you learn to respect your body a lot more. I’m working out a little bit more, but I still don’t play sports because I’m scared of the ball! I run a lot more now, got to keep those abs up. I run 45 minutes every other day, if not every day. I recommend exercise to any aspiring model. Modeling is not sitting in an office – it’s staying fit, and that takes a lot of work.”

For models starting out, Claudia has some practical advice. “Basically, you have to your own judge. If you don’t look in the mirror and if you don’t think that you are beautiful enough, then you can’t show others that you are. Modeling is about having confidence -- keeping your head and shoulders up high and a smile on your face. Even if someone gives you a negative look or comment, you can’t break down crying. You just have to remember that you are your own best judge.”

Claudia’s natural talent for shining in the spotlight caught the attention of professional photographer and model manager Mark Niemi, who has represented her for the past two years. “My manager’s participation in my modeling career ranges from A to Z for me. He gives me everything from strength and confidence to protection and advice. And not only is he my manager, but he’s also a really close friend. Mark’s been through it all with me from the beginning. He’s gotten me where I am today.” (Learn more about Mark Niemi and the role of a manager in the next “Modeling in Focus.”)

She is also grateful that her manager told her about OneModelPlace.com, where her site has been consistently garnering plenty of views and professional shoot offers. “A lot of my photo shoots are through OneModelPlace. Also, there’s a lot of information for models on the site. It’s a great showcase for your work, and a good way to allow people to contact you for work.”

As far as other promotional tools, Claudia has an 8x10 portfolio with 24 pictures that she constantly updates all the time. “I have all styles in my book. That’s what you want to have; you want to get a large variety of looks. Because if you want to book different jobs, then you can't show the casting people that you only do one style of modeling, such as fashion. I have a large variety of images in my book -- everything from photos of me in a glamorous dress to casual shots of me standing next to cattails by the highway.”

Her comp card also captures many different facets of her personality and style.

“You basically want to have four or five different looks on your comp card, unless you're trying to concentrate for one area, which you pretty much don’t want to do in modeling. If somebody doesn't like your fashion look, and that’s all you have on your card, they may simply throw it out. But if they see a range of looks, they may say, ‘Well, she may not be right for fashion, but she has bikini photos on her card too, why don’t we take her on as a bikini model instead?’ So it definitely helps showing different looks on your comp card. Mine has a picture of me wearing a pink dress next to one of me on the beach, which are very different shots.”

Business cards are another way Claudia connects with industry movers and shakers. “My business cards have my personal portfolio on them, along with my managers website and email. I keep them on me, just in case I’m walking around and somebody asks, ‘Hey, do you model?’ I will give them a card and say, 'Yes, here is my information.’ You don’t always walk around with comp cards, so it’s good to have business cards. From time to time, Mark and I will make CDs with a couple pictures and pass them out as well.

Her website,www.claudiafijal.com, is another way interested clients can book a photo session with the motivated model or hire her for a promotional campaign. “I send everyone who has anything to do with modeling to my website. Casting directors, producers, photographers, even other models. The site is all completely me. It has all my information, my photos, and my resume, so anybody that wants to see what I am about can check it out. It’s very important to have.”

One thing Claudia doesn’t have is a sense of competition with her peers. “People ask me all the time if I get intimidated by other models. There may be people 10 times prettier and stronger than you are, but you’ve just got to stand up for yourself, because it’s survival of the fittest. You cannot show others that you can't put up with it. Cindy Crawford may be standing next to you, and you have to think, 'Yeah, she's gorgeous, she’s great, she’s talented -- but watch out for me!'”

What makes this smart and savvy blond so different? Claudia puts it this way:

“Well, I’m a little bit more mature and confident than people my age, and I don’t take rejection too seriously. I just say, ‘Whatever, if I don’t book this job, I’ll go on to the next one ‘. I’m at a stage where if I can’t prove to you right now that you want me, it’s okay. Because I know one day you're going to be coming running back to me and say, ‘I’m sorry, we should have shot with you, we should have hired you!” I definitely have a large amount of confidence and I think I have power in a lot of those cases, so I can take control and never let things slip.”

The Midwest model has recently traveled to both coasts to expand her modeling prospects, and is very focused on her future in the business. “I don’t have plans, but I have goals. I may have goals like I want to book this particular job or I want to be in this magazine. But modeling is always changing for me. One day I might be excited that I’m doing a photo shoot, then the next day I might find out that there’s an acting scene that I want to do. So my goals change all the time. But it helps to have parents who are supportive, and a manager that can help you achieve your goals.”