TCU alumna, model, and actress, Faith McKinstry.
Over the years I’ve had the distinct pleasure of interviewing and meeting with a few entertainers, musicians, and fashion models on their way to superstardom. One such up-and-comer was TCU student, model, and actress, Faith McKinstry.
Over a year ago, I met with McKinstry at the TCU campus where she discussed her love of cosplay and interior design. In fact, Mckinstry will be graduating with her bachelor's degree in Interior design at TCU next May.
Outside of her love of dress up and collegiate studies, McKinstry is making a name for herself in the modeling industry, even though she didn’t fit so-called “industry standards” when she first started out.
Coming in at 5’6”, McKinstry is just under the usual modeling requirement of 5’8”, a height standard that could be a deal breaker for any aspiring model. However, instead of letting this requirement stifle her, McKinstry owned her stature, making her runway debut at the 2023 Fort Worth Fashion Week titled “The Future."
Since then, McKinstry has catapulted into superstardom, appearing as an extra on not one, not two, but three Taylor Sheridan penned shows. Her first stint was on “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” opposite the series’ star David Oyelowo who plays the title character, on episodes 4 and 6. Produced by 101 Studios in March of 2023, McKinstry filmed her scenes in the city of Strawn, about a two hour drive southwest of Fort Worth.
Faith is standing on actor David Oyelowo's (Bass Reeves) right side in this scene.
McKinstry also verified that she worked in the background on season two of "Special Ops: Lioness," and even serve's Jon Hamm's character (Monty Miller) a drink as a flight attendant in an episode of "Landman," opposite Hollywood icons Billy Bob Thornton, and Demi Moore.
All of this came about after McKinstry's parents heard there would be a film shoot in the city of Glen Rose, where McKinstry is from.
"They had some roads blocked off at some point and my parents looked into it and my mom figured out what it was and she was like, 'Oh, you should try and do this. We've got to figure out how to try and get you some kind of background job or something in this TV show that's filming.' So we looked into it and kind of found out how to do that and I applied for some of the background positions that they had opening and got it," McKinstry says.
Behind the camera, McKinstry says she also did some stand in work for veteran actress Robin Lively; yeah Blake Lively's sister y'all. Out of her three filming experiences though, McKinstry says she really liked working with Hamm on her short scene.
"That was probably my favorite filming thing that I've ever done, so hopefully praying they don't cut that scene because that would be really cool," she says.
Rubbing elbows with some of entertainment’s elite is just one part of McKinstry’s plan coming to fruition. She also appears on two magazine covers, one for Lamour Fashion Magazine and another for Pump Magazine. Let’s just say McKinstry has a specific look that works well with golf apparel. Her runway game has also been boosted, given she’s walked for several notable designers in New York City — the center of the fashion world.
"Working the runway in New York City was definitely the most fast paced," she says. "You have to know what you're doing, be on top of everything, be professional. I would say that one is definitely very fast paced and kind of more in your face than anything in the Texas industry for fashion."
When we first met up with McKinstry she had only been modeling for a little over a year and was still building her portfolio. At that time, she had already been contacted by an agency to do modeling professionally, something she felt in the back of her mind she was made for.
Stephen Montoya
“This has always been a dream of mine since I was little. It was either this or singing or being a race car driver,” she said in March of 2023 during our interview. And I wouldn’t take any of those things off the table for her, especially being a race car driver.
Her modeling highlights over a year ago included walking the runway two times for Fort Worth Fashion week, something she described as “a dream come true.”
“I actually wasn’t sure I would be able to do this because of my height. So, when I got an email back stating that I had been accepted to walk, I was ecstatic,” she said. “Getting to work with all of the other models, make-up artists, hairstylists, and the designers of the show was just really fun and something I was really happy I got to do.”
When asked why she thinks this height requirement is so important in the fashion industry, Mckinstry said it has to do with the way each outfit drapes on tall skinny models.
“It could have something to do with the amount of fabric as well,” she said. “I know from walking the runway, [designers] can be very specific about who wears what design based on their frame. For women it's 5’8” for men it’s about 6’ even.
Now, over a year later, McKinstry says the fashion world isn't as harsh on this requirement, although there are instances this subject is still brought up.
"I'd say it's definitely less of a problem than it used to be," she says. "Mainly from what I can tell, it all depends on the designer; If they have clothes that might fit somebody who's taller. But other than that, I don't think it's as much of a problem as it used to be for sure. It's still not ideal, but it's definitely better."
Per her future plans, McKinstry says she's focused on graduating, continuing her acting and hopefully signing to a larger modeling firm down the line.
"I'm looking at some agencies in New York, some nationwide and international, and I'm doing the same for my acting too," she says. "I want to get an agent and start doing auditions and finding more character roles and speaking roles in different things."
McKinstry is currently working on an indie film where she verified she has five lines.
"It's going to be my first speaking role, so I'm very excited about that."
