Interview With Lucas Scott
and his mom Julie

(Photo, Skye Hardwick Edmonds, Work of Heart Photography)

As often happens, I end up chatting with other moms of redheads via my website when they contact me for various reasons -- and that's how I found out about Julie and her redhead son Lucas. I discovered Lucas is currently working as a child model (born in 2002). I had a look at his Facebook pages and was just amazed at the beautiful photos taken of him for clients. His stunning red hair and greenish blue eyes in the photos are wonderful! I wanted to find out more from his mom about Lucas, their family, and how all this happened! Julie was happy to share their story with us, and I'm thankful they agreed to let me pick their brains!

SO, bring along a favorite snack and let's get on with the interview!

1) Hi Julie and Lucas. Thanks so much for doing the interview! Please tell us a little bit about your family....

JULIE -- Lucas has two siblings: a brother and a sister whom are fraternal twins, Jake & Madi, who just turned 13. We have a deaf American Bulldog (named Louie); a senior Chihuahua that we rescued from the shelter at 9 who is now 13 (we call him the Rocket Dog, or Rocky); a two-legged Terrier (named Sally Scooter Bug); and Luke’s cat (Mr. Whiskers).

2) Where are you from originally and where does your family live now?

JULIE -- We’re native Californians. Lucas was born in Thousand Oaks. We reside in a small rural town in Northern San Diego.

3) Julie, were you surprised in the delivery room when red-haired Lucas was born? Does anyone else in the family have red hair?

JULIE -- Not surprised, actually THRILLED. Anyone that knows me well, knows my dream was to have a red-headed little boy. Who knew I’d actually get one! My biggest fear during my pregnancy was that Lucas would come out looking "just like" one of the twins who are drastically different in looks and the other twin would feel left out. No problem there! Redheads trickle throughout the gene pool on both his father's and my side of the family.

4) Lucas, you have such gorgeous eyes and red hair! What’s your favorite thing about being a redhead?

LUCAS - Everybody likes the way I am. If I didn’t have this hair, no one would know me.

5) Was teasing or negative comments ever a problem for Lucas because of his red hair and/or freckles? Lucas, do you get teased because of your red hair and freckles?

LUCAS -- No.

JULIE - Nope, never. In fact I don’t think a day in Luke’s life hasn’t involved someone touching his head. Older kids try and crack jokes about his hair, but Luke has never been affected negatively from being a redhead. The funniest conversation in our own home though is between Lucas and his dark-haired, dark-eyed, olive-skinned sister about "Who’s better?"

6) I see on Facebook that Lucas had done modeling for quite a few clients (Target, Old Navy, Gap, Hudson’s, Work of Heart, etc.) You also mention Alex Kruk Photography on Facebook as the person "who launched Lucas' career." -- How did this all start?

JULIE -- I work in marketing, networking and public relations. I work for a celebrity and posted a photo of Lucas on his Facebook wall. A mutual friend introduced us to Alex who was seeking to expand her repertoire of children’s shot for her website. She offered to come do a photo shoot with Luke then suggested we contact a modeling agency.

I was not really interested nor motivated to have any of my children "in the business" and it took me two months to submit his photos to the modeling agency for consideration. Once I relented, he was signed by Zuri Model and Talent and worked the very next day for Target; it’s been a blur ever since.

[Photo - Lucas with his copy of Vogue Bambini, January/February 2011 issue. He actually received this copy as a gift from our dear friend, Will Brennisen, who bought it for Lucas since we couldn't find where to purchase the magazine in the states!]

7) What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about doing modeling jobs?

LUCAS --
* Favorite: Make tons of friends.
* Least: Driving (he means passenger-ing)

JULIE (from mom’s point of view)
* Favorite: The friends we have made have been an amazing addition to our lives. My friend, Michele Baron, coined a term "Agent Organized Playdates" and that describes it accurately enough.
* Least favorite: The drive when there’s traffic and the cost of fuel.

8) Lucas, on your Facebook pages I see you with a lot of dogs! And read that you’ve grown up around horses. Lucas and Julie -- tell me about these pets in your home and more about "BullNannies."

LUCAS -- It is fun (having so many dogs) and they’re cute to have. Here’s mom’s favorite picture of me when I was little. I taught this dog to be a good boy. I like raising puppies.

[Photo - Lucas (with siblings Maddy & Jake) and a litter of 8 Pit Bull Puppies we rescued from a shelter in Lake Elsinore (they were going to be killed that afternoon).]

JULIE -- This (see their YouTube video) is probably the best way to answer that question (and these are only the bully breeds we’ve rescued) [from Deb - it shows cute photos of the puppies plus Julie's other beautiful children, the twins.]

All in all, Lucas has fostered, raised and assisted in socializing and caring for nearly 400 dogs. And when Luke was a toddler we had a "mini farm" where we housed a rescued and abused horse, ducks we got out of our local shelter, raised a pig from five weeks, raised a goat that had been born a triplet and was abandoned by its mother, dozens of rabbits whose owners no longer wanted them, chickens, more ducks, guinea pigs, cats, you name it! Luke also rode horses, along with his siblings, at a local facility from age 2 to 5.

The pets we have kept are the ones no one else wanted. I told my children early on that if an animal can find a home elsewhere that it needed to leave our care; therefore we have only kept the ones that need us the most.

9) Lucas attends C.A.S.T. Academy where he takes dance and acting plus appeared in several of their theater productions. Tell us more about C.A.S.T. and how you got involved with the school.

JULIE -- In October of 2009, Lucas attended a Halloween Carnival at his siblings’ school at which the school was hosting a dance competition. Luke did not enter (he was 7) but was dancing off to the side and ended up winning the trophy and first prize that night. They brought him on stage and asked him where he learned to dance ("Just me" was his answer). We immediately enrolled him at Children's Acting School & Theater, which is a non-profit academy and community theater. He just began his second year as a competitive dancer with CAST. Luke’s dance team last year won many awards and trophies including "The Future of Hip Hop Award."

Lucas, what’s the best thing about the school and what do you enjoy most there?

LUCAS - Recess (heavy sigh from mom). TRANSLATION: Lucas is homeschooled and attends a workshop with other students his age and grade level every Wednesday; this is his favorite day of the week. We also attend field trips, school assemblies and he participates in the Drama Class. He participated and performed in "The Music Man" last school year.

10) Julie, how do you manage/balance school, career, family times?

JULIE -- I am fortunate to work from home which enables me to homeschool Lucas and be here every day for my teenagers. I vowed when Lucas was still in my tummy that I would be a stay-at-home mom and did not allow the divorce from his father to change that goal for our family.

These are our house rules and they answer your question best:

11) Lucas, what's your favorite sport and hobby?

Sport - Dancing
Hobby - Basketball

12) Do you have any advice for parents/kids who want to start into modeling or the arts professions?

JULIE - Get your head checked!!! Just kidding. We’re still so new I wouldn’t know what advice to offer. Just be open-minded, ask as many dumb questions as possible and go for it. Don’t take anything personally. I tell all three of my children that being "a model" means that you are their hanger and the clothes fit you best; not that anyone else that was considered is any less good looking, less worthy, less deserving or unqualified to do the work. This also helps when Luke doesn’t book the job. Luke celebrates his first year with Zuri Model and Talent on August 23rd this year.

LUCAS - You have to dance to be a model. Ever since they found I dance, that’s what they ask me to do so I guess you have to dance.

[Photo - Photography Anna Palma for Vogue Bambini.]

13) Any future plans for Lucas and his career you want to share?

LUCAS - Probably quit modeling and go to college, get married and have a kid.

JULIE - Lucas’ goal is "to be on TV." My job as Mommy-Manager is to help him reach that goal. He wants to be "the next Zac Efron."

Again, thanks to Julie and Lucas for taking time to answer my many questions! I found it fascinating to learn more about their family, twin siblings, modeling, rescuing animals, homeschooling and special classes, and having a redhead in their family. I don’t know how Julie manages to juggle everything but love her "House Rules" and think she's quite an amazing mom! Lucas sounds like a pretty fortunate young man with a great support system around him... Will be fun to see what's going on with this loving family in a few years down the road...for all the kids and mom!

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE:

• Visit Lucas' Facebook page.

To my readers, let me know your thoughts on my interview with
Lucas and Julie. I'd be happy to post your comments below, if appropriate!

Plus, if you have someone particular in mind you'd like me to chat with, drop me a note at my 'Contact Me' page. Thanks for stopping by.....

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