Every once in a while we meet someone who is great on the inside as they are on the outside. There is no doubt that model Janelle Blanford is an American Sweetheart.

In this week’s “Livin’ La Vida” segment we meet a Southern California model who reaches for the stars and shines just as bright as them.

Meet Janelle, raised by her mom with her three sisters she says that they were and are still extremely close. Growing up in a household of all girls must be super fun but don’t take it from me, Janelle gives me more inside scoop on her childhood,

“They [my mom and sisters] are my best friends. My sisters and I would make up dance routines nightly and perform them for anyone willing to watch. At the age of 10, I tried out for a dance team and continued on as captain until I was 16. I’ve always been a performer. I like creating but most of all I love the outcome of whatever I am working on. I put myself fully into my projects and I’m inspired by the people closest to me, my family and friends.”

So how did modeling come into her life?

“I was scouted by Ford Models when I was still in high school. I hadn’t ever really thought about being a model before. I was at a Teen Vogue fashion show on the beach and I was watching Jesse McCartney perform when I was approached. I was kind of blowing her off and was annoyed that she was interrupting me watching Jesse.”

Oh we know NOBODY messes with us and JMac! How awesome though, it was as if it were meant to be. Janelle’s a pro by now with plenty of features and ads, the leading lady in The Summer Set‘s music video and not to mention you can spot her daily on MakeMeChic.com‘s website. But of course there must be something more that she would like to accomplish?

“I realized that I got really comfortable with my job. It was all coming too easy. I didn’t really have to think about what I was doing. So I recently signed with a theatrical agent and I’m going to pursue more of the acting side of things. But I’d love to continue with modeling. [Hopefully projects that are] bigger and more challenging. I’ve had billboards in Vegas, Texas and New York but I want one here in Los Angeles. I wanna see it in person. And I want tears in my favorite magazines. I want to continue to be proud of the work I’ve done and I want to push myself.”

Pushing oneself is always the hardest, with challenges left and right, there must be some sort of motivational quote or speech she gives herself and of course it comes from none other than her mom. The quote?

“‘How bad do you want it?’ I apply that to everything in my life. If you want something bad enough you’ll find a way to make it happen. Always.”

There’s no stopping this girl in her quest for the top. Every artist and creative mind has a list of people, places and things that they want to work with, be in or see. Janelle has a grand list of her own. Here she tells me,

“I got to shoot with John Russo for my Pantene shoot. He’s a photographer I’ve admired for years. It was actually really intimidating. I’d love to work for clients such as Levi’s and The Gap. I love how simple and clean their ads are. And one day I’m going to walk in the VS fashion show… Even if it’s only for PINK!”

Well, how bad do you want it J? I’m sure she’ll get there in no time! This gorgeous brunette is setting her bar high and we’ll be on the lookout for her billboards all across LA one day. Come back next week for another installment of “Livin’ La Vida – Janelle Blanford“, where we’ll find out her daily must-haves, how she preps for a shoot and upcoming projects and make sure to follow Janelle on all her social media sites as she makes her dreams come true!

Twitter- @janelleallisa

FB- Janelle Allisa

Instagram- @janelleallisa

Website- janelleallisa.wix.com/janelleblanford

xoxo Liz Cal!

All photos courtesy of Janelle Blanford