I've always surrounded myself with people who are driven. You can be gorgeous, but if you don't want to work for it, nothing is not going to happen.
There was a modeling agency in my little town where I got my start, but the opportunity came to work in Japan when I was fourteen. My mom went with me until I was seventeen. Her only stipulation was that I had to keep my schoolwork up. My mom was great. She is still my best friend.