While most seniors are mentally checking out of school and preparing for relaxed summers as a reward for their long high school careers, Elise Polasko ’12 is packing her bags for a once in a lifetime experience modeling in Milan, Italy.
Most students are aware of Polasko’s local modeling career; they’ve seen her test shots posted to Facebook and her cover of Cincinnati Weddings on almost every magazine shelf. However this summer she is stepping into the big leagues and going abroad where her average day

will consist of “12 hour shoots” and “runway shows too” she said.
Polasko is being called to Milan by two major Italian modeling agencies; the front runner for her being an agency called Ice. Polasko refers to Ice as “one of the top agencies in Milan.” While in Italy she will be living with other models in an apartment and expects her “day to day life will be crazy” she said. With all the work she’ll be doing Polasko said she’s hoping “to have some time to relax” and enjoy the wonderful city she’ll be surrounded by.
Traveling to Milan will be a huge move in her career but even from home in Cincinnati, Polasko has been making a splash in the modeling industry. At age 16 she was discovered from an agency based in LA and found her first real taste of success modeling for Cincinnati Weddings Magazine when she landed the cover and a spread inside, an opportunity she considers her “first real job.”
“The best jobs I’ve gotten in Ohio would probably be for Saks Fifth Avenue” said Polasko. She also is quick to compliment the local talent in Cincinnati. “There are some talented photographers around here and Cincinnati Fashion Week was cool” she said. As much as she enjoys her work here she’s “just ready to start traveling.”
In order to pursue her love of traveling and modeling Polasko is taking a gap year. “I hope to travel in other places in Europe and maybe go to Japan” she said.
Inspired by famous models such as Karlie Kloss and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Polasko chose them as her role models because “they are both so

successful”. Polasko is on a fast track to fame and success with an upcoming promo piece about her on the CW show “Remodeled.”
Ready for anything that comes her way Polasko is heading to Milan to make herself a name. “Whatever major opportunity that comes my way, I’ll take it” she said.