Interview with CC Mason
CC Mason is a 20-year old model residing in Los Angeles, California.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I am a 20 year old singer and songwriter, SAG-AFTRA actress, and model. I grew up in Los Angeles and consider myself a true Valley Girl, down to the fact that I was born in Los Angeles Counties’ San Fernando Valley hospital… I am a first generation daughter of an immigrant on my dads side and some say that I have a slight European accent, but that is mostly because my dad never lost his accent and I have grown up around it.
My passions are science fiction, auto racing, gaming, cosplay and cats. I’ll often go to conventions, like Anime Expo, to show off my cosplay costumes. This year I went as “The Stig” from “Top Gear,” but usually I dress as characters from the anime “Naruto.” I also have a YouTube channel on which I play video games and post vlogs.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I got involved in modeling by accident. I had done a couple photo shoots to promote my music and acting and one of the make up artists who I had worked with gave me a call and said that she was working on a look book shoot for some people from Tokyo. The clothes were for a size 0 model and the girl they had was no longer available. They gave me a call and the next day I was in downtown Los Angeles doing the shoot. I got some nice photos and a couple hundred dollars for the four hours work and had a lot of fun!
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I believe in grabbing every good opportunity that comes my way. I just finished filming a pilot for a major cable tv station where I have a co-starring weekly role and I have been lucky enough to work on a number of top tv shows. In the coming weeks I am recording some of my original songs at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood. I am also always looking out for new modeling gigs. I intend to keep all of these avenues open and will do that until one aspect takes over all the others. Until then, I will be involved in all of them.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
Like every business, the entertainment industry has an ebb and flow, but most weeks I am very busy. I was in two seasons of the television show “Pretty Little Liars” as a mystery character. If you were a viewer, you would see me most weeks but would never have seen my face! We worked a lot of long hours on that set, sometimes 16 or more hours a day, but it was very fun because the cast was very entertaining! I also was the body double in ABC families “Bunheads” for the lead ballerina, and often did many late night and evening shoots with that show. I have done featured roles on a number of shows where I did not know who the actors really were, but when I was on the set of “Vegas”, Dennis Quaid introduced himself to me. I was very star struck. My whole family are fans of his so I was a bit intimidated.
As a model, I have done a lot of look books. It is a good way to get a steady income. It isn’t the kind of thing that will make you the next super model but it builds your portfolio and your credentials.
Music is the one thing that I’m always doing, even if I’m not in the studio or in front of a microphone, I’m always writing and composing. It’s a fun thing to do when I have downtime on set!
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
It isn’t totally uncommon to see the occasional fireworks when you are working in an environment with a number of artistic people. I was on one shoot where the photographer was a maniac but the photos turned out so amazingly that you just have to let the crazy go over your head and roll with it!
I did a shoot in downtown Los Angeles and there was a limited amount of daylight left so we were rushing to get all of the shots. We did not have a dressing room so we were in an alley stripping down to change clothes behind a really stinky dumpster! I thought it was pretty funny but one of the other models was in tears. I’ve even had directors throw things at the cast to get us to move!
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
I did a photo shoot in a tunnel in downtown Los Angeles, and it absolutely reeked of urine! In some of the shots I was laying against the concrete. I could not wait to get out of those smelly clothes!
Another time I was shooting a music video for my song ‘Inappropriate.” It was filmed by Thomas Kloss, who does most of JLo’s videos as well as videos for Britney Spears and Lady Gaga and a bunch of others, and because of this, he has a lot of celebrity friends, as you can imagine. Anyways, I looked up after a take and Jason Momoa, Kahl Drogo from “Game of Thrones” was standing there. He had stopped by to say hi to Thomas. My mom, who is my manager, said between shots, “Oh there is a nice looking young man there maybe you should talk to him.” Ummm mom no, that is Conan the Barbarian and he is married to Lisa Bonnet.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
The modeling industry generally does not care about you as an individual. You have to have a strong sense of your self and be confident in who you are and how you look. Constant criticism is something you must learn to take on a daily basis. You are there not to become famous, but to make their product famous. Would I change that? No. It is what it is.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I am genetically thin. I am 5’8.5″ and weigh 105 pounds. I eat bacon cheeseburgers, pizza, sushi, salads, pasta and a lot of chocolate. I walk daily but do not have any sort of workout regime. My parents were both the same way and they tell me it is all good until they hit 50. Now they have to work hard to stay trim. But until I’m 50, I’ll stick with pizza and chocolate!
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I am in the NASA archives! When I was in middle school I was the captain of a robotics team that took home a World Championship Award for Excellence. I also play French Horn and saxophone!
Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?
No one is perfect but I think I feel pretty comfortable about myself.
What superpower do you wish you had? Why?
Any super power would be a bonus, but if I had to pick one it would be Immortality . I would like to live long enough to see humanity leave the galaxy. That would be cool.
Visit CC Mason’s website for more photos and information