2010 BHS Alum, Fashion Merchandising Pro Elleyse Gemondo Lands First National Magazine Cover
By Julie Perine on June 03, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Seven years after her Bridgeport High School graduation, Elleyse Gemondo has appeared in 21 magazine spreads. This week, she reached a milestone – her first national magazine cover.
“Being on the cover of a magazine is only something I could dream of – until my dream became a reality when asked last summer to be on the cover of the Bella Gladys Summer 2017 issue,” she said.
The issue was released June 1. The Bella Gladys fashion publication reaches both national and international audiences and is distributed in digital format and high-end print.
Gemondo, who in 2014 obtained a fashion merchandising degree from West Virginia University, said she made the decision to model when she was just 14 years old. At age 16, she tried out for "America’s Next Top Model," the reality TV series co-hosted by Tyra Banks and which has aired on The CW and VH1. She made it all the way to the final cut, just missing an appearance on the show. She didn’t give up on her modeling pursuit.
“When I got to my sophomore year of college, I had my daybreak with Gladys magazine,” she said. “Then I had many more opportunities come my way, such as various fashion shows and other editorials.”
Gemondo recently signed with Patrick Talent Agency. She has served as a promotional model for Diageo Brands promoting Crown Royal, Captain Morgan, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Guinness throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Gemondo presently works as a merchandising assistant at Gabriel Brothers, Inc. headquarters in Morgantown.
“I plan to attend LIM College (in Manhattan) this upcoming fall for graduate school in fashion merchandising and retail management,” she said. “And I am on the track to becoming a buyer for Gabe’s headquarters.”
Her fashion merchandising career and modeling aspirations seem to be meshing well together.
“I have the opportunity to be part of New York Fashion Week, which is very exciting,” she said.
Gemondo has appeared in multiple issues of both The Corridor and NCWV Life magazines, Gladys and Bella Gladys. She has also been featured as Miss September, Miss July and Miss December in the Iris Designs Calendar.
Her ultimate modeling goal is to one day score the cover of Sports Illustrated.
“I am 25, so while most modeling careers are ending at that age – in a way – I feel like mine is just beginning,” she said.
Visit the Gladys magazine Web site HERE.
