Chase Carter, wife of New York Yankees star Cody Bellinger, began chasing her modeling dreams at the age of 13. Growing up between the Bahamas and Australia, she encountered significant obstacles on her journey to becoming a model, sharing her story on the podcast “Holding Kourt” hosted by Kourtney Turner, wife of Justin Turner, who played alongside Cody in Los Angeles.
Chase described how her modeling opportunity arose unexpectedly during a long layover in Sydney, Australia, when a woman approached her with an offer to connect her to agencies in New York.
“I was 13 years old, I’m from the Bahamas, my mom’s from Australia, so every summer we’d go to Australia to visit her family. We were in Sydney, we had this crazy ten-hour layover, something ridiculous like that. I was on skype, talking to one of my friends. There was this woman, she had a blackberry, she kept staring at me.” Chase Bellinger said
“My mom was out on a walk, when she came back, the woman came over. She was like, ‘I’m going to connect you with five [modelling] agencies in New York. Would you guys be open to that?’ She took nothing incentive-wise from my career, she just did this to help. She was amazing, her name’s Jazz. So, she introduced me to five agencies, I was so excited.” Chase added
Facing rejection and maintaining hope early in her career
Despite her excitement, Chase faced multiple humiliations during her initial agency meetings in New York. She recalled being criticized for her body and appearance, which took a toll on her confidence. However, she persisted until the agency IMG recognized her potential and offered her the chance she needed.
“Boy, did New York humble me. I went in, my first meeting, I’ll never forget, they were like ‘your hips are too big and you’re short’. The next agency I went to, they’re like ‘your nose is a little too big for your face.’ It was crazy. Another one said, ‘come back when you’re taller.’ That was basically four of them, and the last one I was beaten down, my excitement and enthusiasm, that was all like a zero.” Chase Bellinger said
“But, we went into this meeting with IMG, and it was beautiful, three agents came in and we sat down on a couch, and had a conversation. I really enjoyed it, and I signed with them. Funny, because they’re the only agency who gave me a shot.” Chase added
Balancing a modeling career with family life alongside Cody Bellinger
Chase Carter and Cody Bellinger began their relationship in 2020, and in 2023 they both celebrated their engagement and married later that year. The couple is now parents to two daughters: Caiden, born in 2021, and Cy, born in 2023. Despite the demands of motherhood, Chase continues to pursue her modeling career, collaborating with renowned brands such as Sports Illustrated, Victoria’s Secret, and Maybelline.
Her continued efforts demonstrate resilience and dedication to both her professional ambitions and family responsibilities, highlighting a journey that spans continents and personal challenges while keeping her modeling aspirations alive.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Can Cody Bellinger play 1B?
A. Bellinger can play both first base and center field. Jazz is able to play second base, third base, and center field.
Q. Did Cody Bellinger ever win an MVP?
A. He won three major MLB awards: the MVP award, the NL Gold Glove Award, and the NL Silver Slugger Award.