Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

EDGARD — There’s no feeling quite like the exhilaration of stepping onto a runway, being on a film set or seeing yourself on a television screen, according to St. John the Baptist Parish resident Lischelle Jasmine.

Jasmine is starting Flourish Model & Talent Agency to help others in the River Parishes realize their dreams of performing on stage.

“I realized that there are a lot of films that come here, and we have a lot of talent right here in our area, but there is not a single model or talent agency in our parishes,” Jasmine said. “There are many production companies that come to our surrounding communities to film but cast their talent from companies outside of our area. Flourish Model & Talent Agency is the first agency here in the River Parishes and is excited about representing our parish’s local talent.”

Flourish Model & Talent Agency will be formally introduced to the community with a live show to be held on March 6 in LaPlace. The first annual Model & Talent show will spotlight the talented models, singers, dancers and actors of the community, and the audition process starts soon.

Those who are interested are asked to send self-recorded auditions to info@flourishmodel&talentagency.com or lischellejasmine@gmail.com.

“We will then look at the videos to see if we can work with them to train them for the runway show, acting, singing or dancing,” Jasmine said. “Once we choose them, we will have a live audition in January, and we will pick who will perform in the show on March 6. That will be to introduce the agency, see what we have and get them to sign up with the agency.”

Live auditions will be held at 115 Castle Drive in Edgard. Jasmine said those who do not advance past auditions this time will still have an opportunity to sign with the agency and take advantage of training relevant to their chosen field within the industry.

“I have a friend that is a producer and director who will actually work with the talent on the skit (for the show on March 6). He would also be available for some acting classes,” Jasmine said. “I’m also in connection with a modeling school so people can take classes.”

Jasmine is also building connections with filming companies, and she hopes in the future to allocate funding to help local talent obtain professional headshots.

Flourish Model & Talent Agency is for children and adults ages 6 and up. For Jasmine, the dream of modeling came about when she was a little girl. It took time to reach her modeling and acting goals, and she hopes to make the process easier for those who are excited to get into the industry.

“It has now become my passion to try to be a platform for talent that find it hard to get started. I personally would like to represent the young talent that feel like this could never happen for them,” Jasmine said. “I understand having the dream of being something, but I also understand fighting your own fear when it comes to executing that dream, so I want to be the first agency here in the River Parishes that will afford our local talents, with the help of the film industry, the opportunity to start showcasing their talent.”

Jasmine is reaching out to clients, parish leaders and production companies to form partnerships. She looks forward to connecting local talent to opportunities including but not limited to corporate events, fashion shows, festivals, print advertising, commercials, films and stage plays.

For more information on Flourish Model & Talent agency or the upcoming show, email info@flourishmodel&talentagency.com or lischellejasmine@gmail.com.