29 Sep 2010 Making her move: Conway native following dream to city of angels

“I started off in the small town of Conway, and I did some modeling, but I always wanted more,” Serfaty said. “I knew what I wanted. America’s Next Top Model was my foot in the door. After the show, Tyra Banks’ assistant, Brad Sisk, told me he thought I should get into acting.

“I signed with an acting agency and starting taking classes with acting coaches. The rush I’ve had from acting, wow. The fun of modeling has gone down a level.

“I love acting – it’s just so cool. Even as a little girl, I always enjoyed acting. I used to make neighborhood plays. I would gather all the other kids, and we would spend days typing up and writing plays. We’d gather all the moms and perform for them. I always enjoyed acting, and now I have the real opportunity to pursue it.”

Serfaty has landed several modeling jobs since appearing on Top Model, and she’s also building up her acting resume, appearing in a music video and commercials.

“It’s crazy in Los Angeles,” Serfaty said. “I’m always on the go. If I’m not modeling all day, I’m out auditioning for acting jobs. It’s good out here. I was almost a Power Ranger. Nickelodeon is remaking the show, and it came down to me and another girl for the role of the Pink Ranger. It fell through.

“I also almost got a role on Days of Our Lives. They were looking for a new character – a contract role. I almost got that, too. For being out here for two months, I think I’m doing pretty well. It’s my hope to keep getting better and start booking some bigger stuff.”

Although she’s come up empty a few times, Serfaty isn’t letting that get her down. She’s taking the failures in stride with the successes.

“That’s just how it works,” Serfaty said. “You can never plan on anything because everything moves so fast. I was really banking on the Power Rangers deal, and when it fell through, I kind of had a mini meltdown. I wanted to quit, but that feeling only lasted about a day. After that, I realized you can’t do that. This whole industry is like that.

“I’ve learned to not put all my eggs in one basket. If you do, you’ll be miserable all the time. You just move on to the next audition. Otherwise, you’ll get too emotionally involved, and your heart will always be aching.”

Serfaty has several sources of motivation – her fans – and not just her supporters back home in Conway.

“You can’t ever prepare yourself for having fans,’ Serfaty said. “It’s such a weird thing having people recognize you, and they’re so supportive. I just think it’s the greatest thing ever. Everyone has been so nice.

“I got to walk the red carpet at the Young Hollywood Awards, and that was the coolest thing for me. I never imagined how it would feel to actually walk a red carpet. After I got off, I was walking to the ceremony. The street was blocked off, and there was a group of people up against the rail screaming my name and asking to take a picture with me. It’s just incredible.”

Balancing work and family can be a difficult task for any family, and it’s no different for the Serfaty household.

“I don’t get to spend as much time with my little boy as I would like to,” Serfaty said. “But it’s all going to pay off in the end. This is my dream, and I will regret it if I don’t follow it. I knew eventually I would be in Los Angeles modeling and acting, but I never thought it would come this soon or in this way. I’ve always had high standards for myself.”