She’s Not Famous…Yet

By Shannon Kelley Pattee

Eleven-year old Mary Jo Wold amazed her mom when she stepped in front of the camera at the Model Placement Center in Safety Harbor, Florida. Pam Glover, Mary Jo's mom, said that her first thoughts were, "Who is this kid, and where did she come from?" Mary Jo was simply a natural in the modeling and acting realm.

Mary Jo joined forces with the Model Placement Center in October of 2006 and within no time Diane Paulson, MPC's manager and Rob Simkin MPC's Talent Director, recognized something very unique in Mary Jo and knew that she was meant for so much more. Diane immediately connected with her New York contacts and within six months Mary Jo, her mom and Grandma were off to The Big Apple where Mary Jo joined Lucy Liu in an ABC TV pilot titled, "Cashmere Mafia.” The pilot is slotted to air on June 1st and will be Mary Jo's first big break in the acting business.

She was then called back to New York by MTV to do some work with them as well. Mary Jo and her family reside in the Orlando area where she attends Celebration K-8 School. "The principal and staff have been very helpful in accommodating Mary Jo's unusual schedule", says mom. She will finish out her 6th grade year at the school and then will pursue her education through a school online which will allow her to continue her education while furthering her acting career. The family also attends church regularly at Celebrate Church where Mary Jo talked enthusiastically about her youth group and some of the fun things that they do.

But Mary Jo is not the only one experiencing great change in her life. When Glover was asked how Mary Jo’s blossoming entertainment career had impacted her, Glover replied that first and foremost she lives by faith. Then she laughed and recounted a story about how she’d always been afraid to fly and to go through tunnels--but not anymore. She had to conquer those fears in order to get her daughter to New York. “Mary’s the hardest boss I ever had to work for,” she quips.

Mary Jo's grandmother, Mary Mathew, has also been extremely instrumental in helping Mary Jo and Pam get through some of these new obstacles, as well as, be the occasional mediator between her daughter and granddaughter. Mary Jo's entire family has been very supportive, but her father and stepfather air on the side of caution where their daughter is concerned. In fact, Diane Paulson of MPC had to explain everything about Mary Jo's opportunities and talents to her stepfather and then convince him that it was in Mary Jo's best interest to let her go to New York. Finally, after trusting Diane's explanation and judgment, he said, "All right then." And off they went.

Everyone seems to agree that Mary Jo tends to keep things in perspective and handles rejection with a mature attitude. Even if she doesn't get a prospective job, she still wants to leave them with a good impression, and she doesn't let anyone intimidate her. If Mary Jo knows that she has done her best, then she is satisfied.

To find out more about the Model Placement Center and Mary Jo Wold, please visit: www.modelplacementcenter.com or e- mail them at: mpcmodels@aol.com.