Harper Moon is likely more successful in her acting/modeling career than many people trying to do the same thing in Los Angeles will ever be.
Moon is 5 years old and lives in Oak Harbor.
The Hillcrest Elementary School kindergartner has modeled for the e-commerce company Zulily, appeared in an Amazon commercial and was selected to compete in an International Modeling and Talent Association competition in New York City in July.
“I talk like a queen or a baby,” Moon said.
To clarify, her mother, Roxanne Moon, explained her daughter likes to use different voices when she acts.
Harper travels to Seattle once or twice a week for either training for the IMTA competition, acting classes or runway classes.
The busy schedule doesn’t seem to slow her down. Harper stayed in motion during the entire Whidbey News-Times interview, twirling, leaping into the air to do toe touches and occasionally dropping into a full split.
“I’m not shy,” Harper said. “I used to be shy, but now I’m not.”
Her dad, Andrew Moon, said she never appears nervous before performing a monologue, even though she’s often the youngest person in her classes. She memorized the monologues quickly too, which her parents were impressed with given that she is still learning to read.
“She memorized it all from us reading it to her,” Andrew said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve read it, and I can’t even say it back.”
Harper’s parents started taking her to classes and auditions after she told them she wanted to be an actress.
Harper’s ultimate goal is to have her own Disney Channel show, she said.
Roxanne said she thought Harper’s gregarious personality was a perfect fit for an acting career, so she took her to the agency Seattle Talent.
Harper was nervous at first, but it only took a few minutes for her to get comfortable around the agents.
A few days later they called and said they were interested in taking on Harper as a client.
“She loves to act and she’s very silly,” said Roxanne as Harper danced around the room. “I’ve always seen it in her.”
The talent agency also represents models. It turned out Harper also had a knack for that.
Harper was 2 years old when she did her first photo shoot with Zulily, but the company recently contacted the Moons and asked if Harper could be part of its large Fourth of July marketing campaign.
Harper said she enjoys posing and having her picture taken.
On Monday, the Moons will go to Seattle to do the couple-hour photo shoot.
Next month they will travel to New York City for the five-day IMTA competition, in which Harper will both participate in acting and modeling competitions and perform auditions in front of agents and casting directors from all over the world.
Roxanne said sometimes Harper gets tired from the drive to Seattle after spending the day at school, but she always wakes up when she gets to the class.
It’s not hard to notice Harper’s tenacious energetic personality.
“I need a rest,” Harper said, taking a moment to stop dancing.
Harper prepares to demonstrate her runway walk. The 5-year-old Oak Harbor resident will compete in the International Modeling and Talent Association competition for acting and modeling next month. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News-Times
