Interview with Ali Zagame — Vocalist, Writer, and Model
Ali Zagame is a 21-year old model residing in Boston, Massachusetts.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Ali, I was born in Paris and raised mostly in MA, USA. I have a small family and a huge passion for writing, modeling, and music. I study at Berklee College of Music and model for artists and photographers in the Boston area while writing my third novel.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
When I was 12 and at my half-brother’s wedding, the wedding photographer approached me and asked if I would like to work for his modeling agency. My mom and I checked it out and signed up, receiving a free portfolio, although it didn’t really go anywhere, he mostly stuck to wedding photography, but I loved being behind the camera.
Later, at 16, one of my friends was going into art school and asked me to model for her project. She told me I was a natural and should consider taking it up as a side hobby. So, when I got to Boston to attend Berklee I signed up to Model Mayhem and now work with a large variety of artists in the area.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I really hope to be performing my own music. I write songs as well as novels and if I can make an impact with my writing, that would be huge for me. I write songs about personal experiences and serious topics, not just love. My EP about mental illnesses, if that went somewhere and got myself noticed by a record company, I’d be thrilled.
Modeling wise, I hope to be doing it on a more consistent basis and modeling for my own album covers someday.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
Typically once every two weeks, sometimes less, sometimes more, though I’d say that’s the average. Usually people I work with really want head shots because I have a unique look and really large, blue eyes and huge, puffy, curly, brown hair. So mostly photo shoots, I’m too short for runway work.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
The best experience was modeling for a book cover; I had to wear a wig cap and get ‘tattooed’, which was all paint of course. To see my face on the cover of a book was incredible, I’d love to do that again.
The worst experience was when a photographer gave me more and more odd requests about our upcoming shoot as time went on. First, he couldn’t find a studio so he asked if it could be in a hotel room, then he said a girl from the previous shoot would be there, and they were doing a lingerie shoot when I specifically said I wanted no nudity or sexually implied themes. Then he said could his wife be there and in the end, I cancelled; it was weeks in advance that I cancelled but he got angry and called me crude names. Awful.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
I was modeling for a painter in a park and we were getting to be good friends, so he offered to take me out for dinner to catch up. I thought nothing of it until I realized how fancy the place was, and afterwards he told me he’d actually fallen for me and wanted to be together. It was extremely awkward when I turned him down and the relationship sort of fizzled out after that for a long time. He recently contacted me again though, and we’re o.k.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
Yes! Short models should be able to do runway too! I’m 5’1 and there are so many females my height or just a little taller. I understand you want tall models to show off the clothes but few women are actually that height; we have plus size models, we broke that barrier, let’s break this one!
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I don’t exercise almost at all unfortunately, I have lyme disease so my joints are extremely sore when I walk around too much or exert a ton of energy, and I do walk as much as I can though on campus, and eat fairly healthy. I love fruits and veggies but I don’t avoid sugar, I just keep an eye on it. I don’t need to be a skinny mini person, I do like having some curves so all in all, if you feel healthy and your weight isn’t fluctuating dangerously, then that’s what matters.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I adore multi colored lipstick. On a regular day I wear blue lipstick or purple or green, I can’t wear that for shoots obviously, but I wish.
Would you change anything about yourself?
I know that when I’ve had a long, stressful day I get whiny and so pessimistic about it instead of calming down and taking a moment to breathe. I need to relax more instead of worrying about every tiny detail. Appearance wise, I actually like my puffy hair and crazy big eyes, although there are some days I wish I were more toned, but overall, I’m happy with my appearance.
What is the sickest thing you have ever done?
So many college students my age go out drinking and have incredibly hilarious drinking stories. The sickest, best college experience I ever had was when I was stone cold sober at 11pm on a weeknight. My friend Matt told me his mother had just finished her stay at the Hilton hotel and still had her key-card. He then proceeded to invite me to go to the hot tub with him, in October, that night, at the Hilton hotel behind my dorm room building. Heck yes! I didn’t have any swimwear so I wore tight shorts, a cami and sports bra with a huge overcoat. Problem is, they deactivated the card. So we waited outside the pool area and asked a young boy to let us in because we ‘forgot’ our card. The hot tub was on the first floor so we didn’t need the key card to get in to the floor or anything. When we left, soaking wet, we could see it on the security guard’s face that he knew what we did, haha! Best college experience I had.
Visit Ali Zagame’s website for more photos and information