Since freshman year, Wassel has been modeling with Ajah Photography, centered in Ojai, during her free time.
“Some people like playing baseball or soccer,” Wassel said. “I like to model.”
Ever since she began modeling, Wassel has thought of it as “more of a hobby.”
“I usually just do it for fun. It’s nothing I get paid for,” she said.
Her photographer, Brandi Crockett, feels that Wassel has had “a very sweet and engaging presence” since the time she first entered Ajah Photography and that “she would be a great model.”
“I was pleasantly surprised with the range that Destiny had to offer,” Crockett said. “She could gracefully strike a pose on a floor blanketed with glass, or be surrounded by grazing Alpacas, appearing as if she had spent her entire life in such an exotic setting.”
In addition to being a part-time model, Wassel is also an ice-cream scooper at Marble Slab Creamery, a receptionist at the Ventura County Government Center, and a dedicated student.
“She is extremely excited about math,” said Wassel’s math teacher, Rick Villano. “She’s an extremely positive influence in class.”
According to chemistry teacher Macie Rizzo, Wassel gets along well with her fellow classmates and is a “personable” student.
“She’s friendly to all the other students in the class,” Rizzo said. “She’s not afraid to help them.”
Fellow peers agree that Wassel is a hard-working and thoughtful individual.
“She’s a leader, not a follower. She’s really responsible [and is] always worrying about getting her work done,” Foothill junior Yasmin Rivas said.
One of Wassel’s favorite aspects about modeling for photo shoots is “seeing the finished product” and looking at how “it reveals a different side” of her.
One of her favorite photo shoots was taken in downtown Ventura.
“It was this David Bowie 80’s kind of theme. It was sundown, and by a pool, and it was just a great photo shoot,” Wassel said.
When asked about whether Wassel wished to pursue modeling in the future, she replied, “I think it would really be fun to do something like that as a career, but it’s just such a hard industry to get into.”
