Modeling is a world where doors are only open for a select few. Before entering its hallowed halls, a bevy of aspiring and sometimes gorgeous females are put through a series of dilemmas, some of them physical and most of them moral; very few make it to the proverbial other side. These women are strong, beautiful, independent, and confident. While these “perfect 10s” aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, an even smaller percentage can claim the joint titles of “model” and “matriarch.” Hence the rise of a queen to lead them; a queen named Esther Hanuka, herself a mother of five and one of the most sought after models in today’s scene. “I am excited that because I built my own name and have done it with five children, I’ve gained a following that sees me as proof that you can do whatever you want to do in life,” Esther says proudly. At 31, she wears her motherhood on her sleeve, quite literally, as well as her journey and breakthrough to the other side for the world to see.

Queen Esther takes her throne in California now, by way of her Guatemalan and Israeli lineage. Growing up in Hebrew and Spanish cultures, as well as American, provided a unique life experience which gave Esther strength and compassion, not words often used when describing a model. “I never lived in one place for more than a year,” she offers candidly. While this would seem to be exciting on one hand, it was not without its pitfalls, as Esther often drew the ire of scorned classmates, jealous of her attention as the pretty new girl. Through it all she built character — a resolve to constantly help others and put their needs ahead of her own, much like she does now through her family life and her own modeling agency, Queen E Modeling, where she cultivates her own brood of upcoming models. With several magazine covers and spreads to her credit as well as sponsorships from companies like Fresh Peaches Swimwear and Rebel Rock Jewelry, it appears that there is no end in sight for this Queen’s reign.

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