7-year-old Alena McCraw is having a ball on her way to superstardom
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com
For much of her young life, 7-year-old Alena McCraw has told her parents she would not only make them proud, but also advised them she would eventually make them rich.

Little did they know how prophetic those words would be.

Alena is already seeing checks written to her after earning a modeling contract earlier this year with the Z-One Model Placement and Talent Management agency in Chester. Since putting her name on the dotted line, she has taken photos for elite publications such as Southern Living, Forbes Life Magazine and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

"This is something she wants to do, being that she always wanted to be a superstar," Alena's mother, Teri McCraw, said. "She is having a ball, whether there is a camera in front of her or not."

Teri said she could see a little bit of her daughter's future while taking pictures with a family camera.

"While taking those photos, I realized that she's a big ham for the camera," Teri said. "She is a real good self promoter, showing off all of her talents at once."

Teri, also a model, decided to get an opinion from professional photographers. Their quest took them across the Southeast to larger markets such as Greensboro, N.C., Orlando and Nashville, where she earned rave reviews.

"The photographers said she is a natural," Teri said. "They kept telling me how photogenic and good she is with instruction.

"Alena has missed a couple of days (of school) due to her career," Teri said. "But she knows she has to make them up. However, when she comes back she usually has taken some of her money to buy things for her class."

Even as Alena rakes in her own money, her mother has a rein on her spending, letting her know who still is in charge.

"This is fun, but we emphasize to her that we must also think of her future," Teri said. "That is why we place some of the money in the savings account."

Teri does not know how long her daughter will continue her time in the limelight, but she said as long as Alena's heart is in it, she will continue to enjoy the ride.

Photos by Donna Ehrich

"She is always in model mode and is having a ball," Teri said. "As long as she likes what she is doing, I'm with her all the way."

by Terry Ehrich Photo by Donna Ehrich