Jessica Bunevacz is a former model whose 18-year-old daughter, Breanna, is now pursuing the same career path.
She plays a double act balancing parenting and managing her daughter’s professional life.
Jessica also sees their relationship as a friendship and partnership and believes their closeness will help them to succeed.
Oh, my gosh.
Her being a b***h no, I’m kidding … Other than that, she’s actually so easy.
We have a very good relationship, my daughter and I.
We are very open with each other.
We talk a lot.
It’s time to work.
She’s very focused.
She used to be an equestrian, so she has this whole attitude of being hyper-focused.
She’s very focused with her job.
What first made you want to start this with her?
Was it her idea that she wanted to model, or was it something you thought of?
One time, I did a photo shoot.
When we moved here, she was already into acting.
She did a couple of theater acting and stuff.
She actually played Dorothy.
I used to be an actress, so I thought she wanted to be an actress.
I believe she was 12 or 11.
She was like, “I really enjoy that.
I think I want to model.”
I said, “Oh, my God, you’re still too young.”
She was like, “No, can we just try?”
We signed up with an agency I took her there, and that’s how it started.
We did one photo shoot to another photo shoot.
Out of nowhere, we got that show.
That’s how it started.
Why she worried about her daughter modeling
Modeling can be a tough industry.
Do you ever worry about that with her and how young she is?
It’s so tough.
I told her from the beginning, “You really want to be a model?
You have to accept this.”
She’s a tough cookie, that girl.
She doesn’t care what anyone says about her.
She’s like, “Okay, whatever.”
She’s like, “Really?
You’re challenging me.
Next time I’ll do this.”
That’s actually good for her.
What is your biggest priority as you’re managing her career and also being her parent?
What do you feel is your goal for her?
My priority is her finishing school.
I told her this.
I said, “kindly, even if.”
I know a lot of her friends didn’t go to college and stuff.
At least you have a fallback."
I always teach them that.
I want you to have three things in your life all the time.
School is her priority.
I’m like, “Wow, you’re almost at a million followers and listeners.”
I said, “It means that people like your voice.
Let’s get out there and do this as well.”
She loves [and] she wants to enjoy her being a teenager.
I allow her to have a boyfriend.
In fact, I love the boyfriend.
I love her boyfriend and going out and hanging out with friends.
I want her to have time for that and not just all work and not just school.
She’ll get crazy if it’s all work.
I want to balance it.
Sometimes they don’t listen.
You don’t listen.
It’s like how kids don’t listen to their parents all the time.
I have to find somebody this is my trick.
Can you hey advise her?"
Then I can say, “See, I told you.”
Then she would listen.
It’s a third-party thing, but it’s really me telling the person to tell her.
You’ve also worked in acting and modeling.
The whole experience that I had …
It’s still going to be the same.
My challenge with her is mostly pushing her on social media.
One thing I’m proud of her for is that she’s not a social media person.
But that’s why I’m like, “You have to do this.
You have to post more and do this and do that.”
Maintaining a close relationship with her daughter
How are you both feeling about the show premiering tomorrow?
Are you excited to see it?
We’re so excited because we don’t know what’s going to happen.
We know what we filmed, but we don’t know what’s going to come out and all.
Whatever goal you both have, you will get there.
The relationship of a mom and a daughter or a parent or a child is very important.
It’s like husband and wife.
If it’s not both of you, it’s not going to succeed.
You will go there smoothly, and you’ll succeed.
How do you feel you’ve been able to maintain that close relationship with her?
Do you have any tips for parents?
Be their best friend, go out with them.
It’s not just work.
Sorry about this, but I party with her.
If there is a certain thing that you have to discuss, it’s like with husband and wife.
Discuss it right away and then close that chapter.
That’s the best thing.
Be their good friend.
Be the best friend to them and not just a mom.
This interview was edited for clarity.
