Interview with Brooke — Jill of All Trades and Badass
Brooke is a 25-year old model residing in Louisville, Kentucky.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I am a 25 year old entrepreneur born and raised in Louisville Kentucky with 4 other siblings by two wonderful, hard working doctors. I have had the opportunity to travel to most of the US states and over 30 countries. I received a BFA from University of Arizona and have opened my own small business, which is a letterpress. I have held all sorts of odd jobs including: kennel tech, AR15 designer and builder, security officer, motorcycle mechanic apprentice and model, and as you can see I have trouble being idle and at any time could be doing a hobby, picking up an odd job, or in the gym, and if it’s a DIY project, I’m doing it. I’m self sufficient and determined, maybe even a little hardheaded! I am a serious dog lover and my two dogs come first, and I also love tattoos, so I’m not stopping at the 13 I have now.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I became interested in modeling at a young age, maybe 13 and joined a so-named school, which turned out to be really just a money pit, and landed one acting job but quickly realized the company for what it was and was tired of being told “you’re not tall enough” to be a model and get an agent. I moved to Arizona in 2011 and really put in time and effort and quickly built a good portfolio and met some wonderful photographers and other models, while I was a college student, so modeling was some good side cash and really fun for me.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I hope to build my letterpress company, have a family and continue doing all the things I love, which includes modeling. I’d also like to continue body building and do more fitness photoshoots.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
In Arizona I did about 2 to 3 shoots a month including video shoots, but when I got into grad school things slowed down, and I also worked for a lingerie company in Arizona for a bout a year. Now that I am back home in Kentucky I have maybe 1 to 2 shoots a month, and although I love video work, I usually end up doing nude, implied, fashion, lingerie and fitness shoots; in general I love outdoor work and anything badass.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
I have definitely run the gambit with photographers and modeling shoots, and have also found a few photographers who I have absolutely loved and continued working with on silly shoots or just for fun shoots pretty regularly, and I have also met the “guy with camera” about 100 times, so I am pretty good at weeding through those. I can read how a shoot is going to go from the first encounter with a photographer, and I have also learned to expect at least half the payment upon arrival after doing a 6 hour shoot and the photographer refusing to pay me.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
Plenty of inappropriate behavior from photographers for sure, but one particular photographer stole all my lingerie from my suitcase when I wasn’t looking! And I once did a “group shoot” with some other girls where we dressed up as zoo animals, probably a bit more scandalous than we should have, and went to a zoo where a giraffe licked my armpit, gross.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
If I could get rid of all the “guys with camera” that would be great, and also anyone who preys on models, since I think no one should feel uncomfortable at a shoot.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I go to the gym 5 days a week and am big into weight lifting; in fact, I’ve gone from 90 lbs in 2011 to 115lbs by 2014, all 25 lbs being muscle. I love to swim and be active, I eat extremely cleanly, and I do not drink alcohol, take any type of recreational drug, drink caffeine or carbonated drinks and tend to eat balanced meals. I’ve seen people not be well enough to play with their children or grandchildren and I have sworn to never be that way… I want to be healthy and active until the day I die.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I have trained on a flying trapeze.
Would you change anything about yourself?
Honestly I wouldn’t change anything about myself, but perhaps I wish some things had not happened to me; although those experiences, despite being horrible, have made me who I am today and I am pretty proud of that. Physically? OK maybe I wish I had been blessed with more defined calves.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I do not have many vices, I don’t drink, or do drugs or really have an addictive personality; I have tattoos, though, but I grew up in Kentucky and love betting on horses. Also peanut butter oreos, whoever invented those I want to kiss you and also kill you.