“Discovered” last year by a modeling agency talent scout, Junqueira spends most of her time these days negotiating with agents, posing for magazine covers, granting interviews–and learning Japanese. She recently returned from two months in Japan, where she modeled for department stores, Web sites and mail-order catalogs. With her flowing chestnut hair, sparkling brown eyes and impish smile, she quickly won over her clients. “Emi-chan”–charming little Emi–they called her. Last week she boarded a Japan Airlines flight again, and if all goes according to plan she will spend the rest of her teens flying between Brasilia, Tokyo and Osaka.
Japan has long been a plum market for Western models. For Brazilians, Tokyo is an obligatory first stop on the rise to the fashion centers of New York, Milan and London. A hardworking model in Japan can gross $25,000 to $50,000 in two or three months. But few beginners have done as well as Emi-chan. Her contract: a five-year, $1 million deal to model Cecil’s line of fine children’s underwear. “I have been waiting 10 years to strike a deal like this,” says Ming Tao Liao, who manages Junqueira’s career.
The road east for Junqueira began less than a year ago, when she entered a catwalk contest run by a modeling agency. Barely 13, she was judged too young for the official running, but got a junior prize and promises of modeling jobs. When the phone didn’t ring, she went back to the business of being a seventh grader. Then a local scout tipped off Ming, who flew to Brasilia and immediately was enchanted. Convinced Emilze would go far, he shifted into hard-sell mode.
Junqueira’s parents weren’t impressed. Comfortably upper middle-class–dad Cesar is a dentist with the air force, mom Sonia an art teacher–they didn’t need the money. “At first I thought, ‘No way, she’s not going to miss school’,” says Cesar. But in time, they caved. “This is what she wants to do, and we shouldn’t stop her,” says Sonia. A top student, Emilze worked out a deal to catch up through correspondence work and visits to the classroom between business trips.
And business looks good. Ming stands to pocket around $50,000 from Junqueira’s contract, and will represent her worldwide for the next five years. Sonia has given up teaching to manage her daughter’s career in Japan. Cesar will keep his practice and look after Emilze’s younger brother, Leonardo. Junqueira cannot sign her own checks and needs government permission to travel abroad. But she already has a working visa stamped in her passport, a steady paycheck and a daily grind that would drive many adults to despair. In her Japanese debut last winter, she did 34 photo shoots in 40 days, often getting up before sunlight and quitting after dark.
But with a $200,000 yearly paycheck on its way, you won’t find her complaining. What will she do with all her money? “Cattle,” she answers without blinking. “It’s a much better investment than the stock market.” Pretty impressive for a kid whose previous idea of a thrill was rolling a perfect strike at the Park Lanes.
