Through the Eye of the Beholder

http://www.sitv.com/model-latina-nyc/blogs/where-she-now-codie-cabral

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A group and I went to go read to the kids in the Town Ships. It was so heart warming yet heart breaking at the same time. The kids played at a play ground bare footed. The play ground had broken glass every where and hardly any thing to play on. They were all so happy to have company and so excited to read! They are possibly the happiest kids I have ever met. Education is knowledge they told me :)

Awhile back I went to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. I have never been the same. Truly Inspiring

Exactly two years ago today I remember walking down the hall way of the Epic Hotel in Miami. I could barely wait to meet my new bunk mate for the 3 days until moving in to the model house. I was so over joyed with everything that has been happening; being in Miami, being accepted to the top 12, being on Model Latina etc. I was over joyed. I am an extremely bubbly person in general.. So in this case I was over the top bubbly. I remember knocking on the door and Jocelyn opens up the door with her hair up in a messy bun, wearing a robe. I was so excited I literally jumped and hugged her while saying “hi! Its so nice to meet you” The first thought in my head is wow.. she is really pretty especially for not having any make up on. I would say with in 5 minutes we had such a tight bond while bonding over million dollar match maker and hip hop music. It was crazy.. I have never experienced that before until that very moment. We then moved into the Model House in Miami for the show Model Latina ready to compete with the other women chosen. Again, we chose to room together. I have to say, still, to this day I never had such an amazing experience. To be honest, as much as I wanted the Model Latina title and as much I wanted to win. It started not to be about the competition for me. It is so rare to find a a true friend period but to find some one who exceeds your expectations in a friend especially a woman who is so incredibly talented and beautiful. I knew we would be friends forever, I have learned that it wasn’t the title, or the $10,000 that turned out to be the prize of that competition…. it was our friendship.. it was her.

After I came home when the show was done filming we were still as best of friends as we were on the show. She is apart of my family and I feel apart of hers. You know, friendships has their up and downs where we might let down or fail one another but I can honestly say that not once did Jocelyn ever let me down, ever let me fall or ever did anything BUT build me up. I cant thank God enough for blessing me with such an amazing best friend. Words can not express how much she means to me. We have our dreams and we are helping each other to make it happen. She is the Gayle to My Oprah. We will live in our wonderfully beautiful houses right next door to each other with our men- famous Designer Doyle Rice and Famous director Jeremiah Hu. There are people in this life that will teach you somethig about yourself that you never knew, who will make life more colorful, I am beyond grateful for her. I LOVE YOU JOCELYN CRUZ!!!! HAPPY TWO YEARS BABY!!!!! WHEN I COME HOME TO CALI ITS MY TURN TO COOK OUR BEST FRIEND ANNIVERSARY DINNER!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXXOOXOXOXOX BEST FRIENDS POR VIDA!!!!! TO THE NEXT 22200000000 YEARS!

#RockinThemWavesLike

#HasIt

#Obvio

#PorVida

#Oprah&Gayle

#BestFirends

#LezBeeHonest

#Happy2Years

It started to be a great week. My room mate Adrianna left on a road trip with two of her friends so my room mate Laticia and I have had our own rooms to ourselves which has actually been a bit of a treat. We started last week with going to the beach to watch the sunsets and play soccer on the beach then going out to some nice dinners and dancing and a few dates here and there. I can’t believe all the different types of people I have met here. There is so much opportunity in the world that is just waiting for you to take advantage of! I have gone on a few dates and the difference I noticed is unbelievable. I have felt like at times we are living in a movie. So many romantic situations. I am even learning more Portuguese and French :) Our week turned a bit bad. T (Laticia) and I went to our usual spot called 31 on Saturday night. I love going there because the DJ plays the best music in town and all I do is dance, dance, dance. Two of my girl friends came with me. Becky and Victoria, long story short.. Their drinks were messed with. Spent the whole night taking care of them and making sure every one got home safe. It was basically a crazy night/morning. My friend Becky got a ride home from her friend and ended up puking in his new Ferrari.. Let’s just say it was quite awful. The next morning we all woke up exhausted and the two girls were definitely better. Made me realize how careful you have to be. Always watch who pours your drinks,!!! oh yes! I forgot to mention… Long street in Cape Town in notorious for pic pocketers.. Its so crazy how slick these people are. Well one day last week I was walking home from my shoot and texting on my phone so my full attention was not on my bag. Suddenly by instinct I went to grab a mans hand that turns out to be a pic pocketer trying to go in my purse. I instantly yelled at him while grabbing his wrist as tight as I could then he ran off. It wasn’t until after I realized what happened! So the adventure of the week ended here…I have basically been living on the couch for the last 3 days. I worked a two day shoot where they had me working hard. It was for some french clients called Domyos. I worked a n 11 hour day lighting weights, doing push ups etc. It was very difficult because I had to look pretty with out a lot of tension in my face while doing the work out moves the correct way. So needless to say my body has been exhausted ever since that shoot plus that crazy night did not help!! To add to it.. I feel the flu coming along!! I have been looking at the calendar and see I have about three weeks until I leave back to New York. Its so bitter sweet. I’m going to miss this place so much yet.. I can’t wait to go back to NY. I have some big things coming up and can’t wait to get started. :)

Hi Codie,

I had to drop a line and let you know that I’m so proud of you. It’s been over 2 years since i met you in Chula Vista at the Model Latina casting and look at you now in South Africa. Your journey has been an awesome one and I wish you nothing but continued success. Continue to let you positivity and beautiful spirit shine and soar and the world is your. Your friend, Marcus.

P.S. Tell your family I said HELLO!

Work Update:

I recently did the indaba fashion week here in Cape town. I was in three shows. The funny thing about this story is what the client had us do at the casting!! Naoumie, Stacey and I all took a cab to Canal Walk a 30 minute cab ride from where we are staying we arrive to the mall where about 6 models are waiting in the door way entrance. We wait for a good amount of time then were asked to wait in the lobby. We were asked back one by one, as the girls came out they would laugh and have this weird look on their face like “what did I just do” I was the first of my girls to head back and the had me do my walk for them then asked- “I want you to do something that you would do on your own at home when no one is watching” I had no time to think and sometimes things like this happen, the client just wants to see that you are not shy, that your quick on your feet, and that you have a personality. I knew exactly what to do because I do this when I am at home and no one is around all the time.. The Beyonce single ladies dance! I start doing it (yes I know the choreography) They started laughing so hard I knew I left a good impression. Naoumie went right after me and when she came out she said that she sang! Stacey was up next and she pretended to be a rock star with an air guitar and did a whole act. The clients assistant came out and said that she will be deciding who she wants to pick for her show after the casting. We were asked to come back in groups of 5, we tied scarves around our waist and were asked to move out hips to the music (you don’t got to ask me twice). Long story short I was booked along with my two ladies Naoumie and Stacey! The rehearsal was RIDICULOUS!!! It was quite hilarious how the designer acted and what she demanded for her show. Her show was the most intricate show I have had to do to date! The next two designers were simple. I absolutely loved the clothing and felt amazing going down the runway. It is hard in some cases when you feel like “what the heck am I wearing?” Where you have to work at modeling it down the run way because you don’t feel that connection between you and the item you are wearing. The last two designers I wore I felt like once I put their dresses on I felt a power come over me and I felt “it” walking down the cat walk. It was my birthday the last show I did and didn’t get to keep any items of the clothing ** oh snap. It was a quite eventful yet simple 3 days J