Living
Thursday,
« March 15,1979
Today
Section B
GRACEFUL MODEL — Pat Littlejohn, a striking model In a cran
berry dress, walks the runway at Joan’s Modeling School as Donna
Mathis, left, and Carla Bridges, right, project big smiles In Kings
Mountain Community Center studios.
Joan’s Model Citizens
BY EUZABETH STEWART
Staff Writer
Project. Smile. Lift yotir chin.
Maike your eyes sparkle.
Professional model Joan Baker
uses these words often In training
models of all ages In personal
development, posture, graceful
walking, personality, wardrobe,
fashion, skin care, make-up ap-
Idlcatlon and etiquette for basic and
professional modeling careers with
attention to job interview and career
preparation and pageantry.
Joan King Baker has been
teaching for eight years In classes at
Kings Mountain Community Center
and offering private Instruction. Her
trained models are available for all
types of fashion shows, Including the
popular disco shows, photographic
print, product sales promotions,
films and TV commercials.
She has accompanied her students
to conventions, seminars,
workshops and modeling com-
Photos
by
Tom
McIntyre
r:
APPLYINO MAKE-UP IS AN ART - Terrie Plonk,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Plonk, applies make-up
as her Instructor, Mrs. Steve Baker, observes In the
Baker modeling and personal development studios In
Kings Mountain. Terrie Is a new student of Mrs. Baker.
..*100*
s.-
petltlons In New York, Washington,
D.C., Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando,
Florida and Is quite proud, and
rightly so, that her students have
followed In her footsteps and have
reaped a number of handsome
modeling awards.
Two of her graduates, Donna
Mathis, six foot tall beauty from
Gastonia, and Pat Littlejohn,
graceful beauty from Shelby, are
cast In lead back-up roles In Earl
Owensby’s “The Living Legend”
while pageant winners from her
school have Included Lisa Beeler of
Patterson Springs, Miss Junior Miss
for Cleveland County who placed
fourth In the Miss N.C. Junior Miss
competition; Karen Penner of Kings
Mountain, Miss Junior Sweetheart;
Sharon Jarvis of Gastonia, Miss
Gastonia 1978; Jsmlce Bane of
Gastonia, Miss Gaston College 1978;
Patricia Steerman of Gastonia, Miss
Gaston College 1979; and Tammy
Fraley of Cherryvllle, Gaston
County's Miss Sweetheairt. Pam
Jenkins of Gastonia wsis Teen Model
of 1976 and Photographic Model of
the Year 1977.
One student won a personal In
terview and Is being considered for a
contract with Welhelmlna Agency,
one of the two top modeling agencies
In the country. Another student won
an award for the Most Beautiful
Hands In speciality modeling,
among others.
Sixteen other students are cast for
bit roles in E. O. Movie Productions’
“The Living Legend.’’
A native of Kings Mountain,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis King
and wife of KMSHS teacher Steve
Baker, Joan Baker Is a graduate of
Libby Stone School of Modeling,
Charlotte, of which she remains a
director.
Mrs. Baker stresses self
awareness as a major goal for her
students, encouraging them to
realize their talents and potential for
happiness and success In their
personal lives as well as In their
chosen careers.
The Baker modeling studio at KM
Community Center Is a beehive of
activity as models perform, using a
ramp and before mirrors. There is
an area for make-up study and
8q>pllcation and an area for war
drobe and fashion emphasis.
“Use the three o’clock position
with your feet, hold your shoulders
up, smile, project,’’ Mrs. Baker, a
striking brunette points out as her
students parade down the runway In
graceful form.
Mrs. Baker has all the
qualifications required to Instruct
charm classes and poise and Is the
epitome of a successful model.
Her personal modeling credits are
Impressive.
She was the World Modeling
Association’s first place fashion
model of the year In modeling
competition in New York City, was
first place American model In
Wcushlngton, D.C. and first place
Sophisticate Model in New York
City. She was photographed In a
national television commercial for
’’’Whirlpool" smd photographed for a
Carowlnds brochure, Chevrolet
Magazine, Knitting Times and
Southern Living Magazine.
Mrs. Baker has done fashion
modeling for Ivey’s, Belk. Coplon’s,
Montaldo’s, among others, and
served as a free lance fashion co
ordinator and fashion show
producer, including disco shows. She
has co-ordinated shows for malls
and cities promoting as many as 16
stores for one showing as Sales
promotion director.
Joan Bstker has served as a
choreographer of photographic
layouts, as a wedding director tind
for stage presentations. She directed
the successful Miss N.C. Wheelchair
Pageant at Radlsson Hotel In
Charlotte and two disco fashion
presentations for benefit of the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Disco modeling Is moving onto the
fashion scene, said Mrs. Baker, and
her students tell us they enjoy
performing In area disco shows.
\ ^
Youngest model In the group is
seven-year-old Cheree Farris of
Bessemer City, a petite child model,
who recently completed her basic
training in Joan’s school. Terrie
Plonk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
David Plonk, Is a new student and
Carla Bridges of Kings Mountain Is a
recent graduate.
Many of the models told us they
enjoy modeling high-fashlon
clothing and both Donna Mathis and
Pat Littlejohn are excited about
their back-up roles In “The Living
Legend.”
Learning to perform In pageants
and on the stage has proven In
valuable training for the students,
many of them who plan to pursue
modeling careers and fashion
merchandising careers after
graduation from high school an l
college.
Self-awareness Is the program
aim and Is working for all the Baker-
trained students.
t-i '
■ V-
BEAUTY WINNERS ALL — Lisa Beeler, Cleveland County’s Junior
Miss, Karen Penner, Miss Junior Sweetheart, and Tammy Fraley,
Gaston County’s Miss Sweetheart, left to right, are all area beauty
pageant winners and are students of Joan Baker, professional model and
Instructor of personal development, modeling, pageantry and career
preparation In Kings Mountain.
a:
TRAINING MODELS — Mrs. Joan Baker Instructs
five students, above. In posture and graceful walking In
preparation for area fashion shows and beauty
pageants, as well as for personal development. From
left, Carla Bridges, Cheree Farris, Pat Littlejohn,
Donna Mathis and Terrie Plonk. Cheree Is Mrs. Baker’s
youngest student, at age seven.
CHILD MODEL — Cheree Farris, seven-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Farris of Bessemer City,
has completed a basic training course In child modeling
in Mrs. Joan Baker’s school of Instruction. Mrs. Baker,
right, discusses the program with Cheree, above. In
studios at KM Community Center.