As Vice President of the international modeling agency The Network, and costar of the new docu-series Remodeled, Olga Tavarez is using her unique talents and vast experience to help small-town agencies create and represent their own stars.

TheCelebrityCafe.com’s Melissa Goldstein had the chance to talk with Olga about her new show, what it takes to be a model and the effects that digital media is having on the business.

TheCelebrityCafe: What attracted you to the new show Remodeled?

Olga Tavarez: I was working for Paul here at The Network when the whole thing came about and I was kind of thrown into it. Paul’s had the company for two and a half or three years and I came in I think a year into it. Once I started working here, they were developing something based on the company and what we do and they ended up just putting me on camera. It was a whirlwind kind of thing.

TheCelebrityCafe: What is it like working with well-known, very passionate agent Paul Fisher?

Olga Tavarez: It’s great. He is quite an intense character and what you see on screen, I would even say, is toned down a bit. Sometimes he’s even more over the top than that. And you know dealing in the real world and what we do can be really intense sometimes. I’m used to it because I’m from New York and I’ve worked at IMG in New York for over ten years. I’ve been around it for a while, so intense personalities don’t scare me.

At the same time, Paul is also extremely passionate and has a really good heart and is a lot of fun as well. So it’s been a journey working with him.

TheCelebrityCafe: What have you learned about the modeling business after remaking different agencies?

Olga Tavarez: It’s interesting because I’ve worked in the business as an agent for probably twelve years, but mostly in New York. Working in a bigger market, you always know that the big models usually do come from these smaller towns and you do know a few of these agencies. But going there and seeing them, and seeing how tough they have it and where they are, they don’t really have the resources or the know how.

I feel like once you have a certain amount of experience that Paul and I have, you’ve reached a certain threshold, so the great thing about what we do is that we’re able to help other people that need it. We’ve done it, so we can now share that with other people. It’s kind of fun.

What I’ve learned is that they are all in a place that they just need outreach. That’s what The Network provides for them.

TheCelebrityCafe: What have been some of your biggest challenges with the new reality show?

Olga Tavarez: Oh my God, when we were shooting our pilot I was completely horrified and very nervous to be in front of the camera. I’ve never been in front of the camera. I’ve always been on the other side as an agent. So it was nerve racking and really scary. And also you never know how you’re going to be portrayed or perceived putting yourself out there on television. But I believed in the bigger part of what we were doing and I got over myself, did it, and then I had a lot of fun with it. Once you get over the fear of being in front of the camera it’s really a lot of fun. It’s an awesome once in a lifetime experience.

TheCelebrityCafe: What part of the modeling business do you really dislike?

Olga Tavarez: Something that I really, really don’t like about the business is a lot of times you are put in a position where you are judging people on physical attributes and there is a certain aesthetic and a certain thing [that you are looking for]. For the most part, you are seeing the beauty in people, but sometimes when you do have to break it down and something’s just not right, you have to be really be straight with them in whether they have a chance or not. That part of it isn’t so fun. People take it personally, and they shouldn’t, because it’s just the business and it’s just based on physical things that you don’t have any control over. That can kind of get to you, doing it on a daily basis.

I also think you can get burnt out doing this for a long time. It’s emotionally draining and can be really tough. At the same time, you’re always dealing with new things and new people so that keeps it always exciting and fun.

TheCelebrityCafe: Creating a supermodel is all about building a brand. How has branding changed with the explosion of digital media?

Olga Tavarez: Oh my God, it’s like a completely different world from when I started. It’s all about the Internet. It’s all about branding yourself. Really, a huge part of it is online, building a following with websites and different social media things like Twitter and Facebook. Things that didn’t exist when I first started and now it’s all about that. So now because everything is web-based, every photo shoot, every magazine, every campaign, and videos are all worldwide because they’re on the Internet. Model's exposure can be bigger. But it’s also harder, because there are so many models and it’s so competitive that it’s harder to create those real supermodels. I don’t think they exist anymore, unless they almost become a like a brand and a mini-celebrity.

TheCelebrityCafe: In December, CoverGirl was forced to pull Taylor Swift’s ad for enhancing her eyelashes. How do feel about touching up photos and putting girls out there that aren’t real?

Olga Tavarez: I think retouching and little bit of embellishment to make photos be a bit more polished is totally OK and the norm. But when it goes too far like I recently saw something and I think it was a cover and it was definitely a celebrity. I could see that they made her waist and her body way smaller than what she is. I pay attention; I look at pictures all day, that’s what I do for a living. So it really throws you off because I think women are looking to these images to an ideal that’s not real and doesn’t exist and it’s really damaging.

There’s a model right now that is doing every show in New York and she’s a mom and she’s 27, from Russia, and she is incredible. And I think designers are now starting to go back to the older models. I think it’s really a good thing because these girls that are 14 or 15 years old, they’re beautiful, they’re naturally thin, but they’re 15 years old. And you’re selling to a market of women that are much, much older and have different bodies and aren’t stick thin.

I just think when they do these things with digital media and making the girls look totally different, especially in the body frame, it’s a really big problem and misconception. It tries to hold women to ideals that don’t exist, so I think it’s very damaging.

TheCelebrityCafe: I read that your mom was a pattern maker for Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. Who are your favorite designers and why do you love them?

Olga Tavarez: Yes and she worked with Dior. She’s worked for everyone. And I grew up around the showroom and backstage as a kid.

Right now one of my favorites - I really love Phillip Lim. I love everything he does. It’s just super clean and minimalistic, classic and always wearable.

I love Rachel Zoe’s line, actually. I like what the Olsen twins have done recently. I’m really gravitating to a lot of the newer designers.

But I’ve always loved Calvin Klein. I’ve always loved Donna Karan and Dior. They are the staples.

Stella McCartney does amazing stuff. There are just so many. Right now, from what I’ve seen at the shows that are happening in New York, those are the ones that have really grabbed my attention.

TheCelebrityCafe: What advice do you have for girls that would like to pursue a modeling career?

Olga Tavarez: I’d say if you really have the requirements, the height and the weight, cause it can be a tough business - it’s really competitive, and if you have a real desire to do it you should go ahead and go for it. The only way to get any kind of real assessment as to whether you should be in it is to go to any website of any major modeling agency, and it should be a known name. You can come to The Network as well. We are all seasoned agents. Paul and I have been in the business for 20 years. You can submit photos of yourself. It should just be a clean digital that you take with your camera, or even your phone. They will tell you and will give you honest feedback. That is a telling sign as to whether you should be in this business or not. People will be straight with you and tell you the truth.

TheCelebrityCafe: What are the specific physical requirements you’re looking for?

Olga Tavarez: To really make it in NY it’s a minimum of 5’10, really 5’11. It’s getting taller and taller. For guys, it’s 6’1 to 6’3, even 6’0 is too small for men nowadays.

The weight varies from market to market. In New York you have to be really small to compete. That’s likely changing as well because the girls that are doing Victoria’s Secret are a bit more voluptuous than the high fashion range where they have to be really small.

You can find out more about the show and see clips of upcoming episodes of Remodeled on YouTube.

Also, watch Remodeled Wednesday nights on The CW at 9:00 pm.