Interview with Cynthia Aileen — A Dancefloor Enabler
Cynthia Aileen is a 24-year old model residing in San Francisco, California.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, how do you do!
Let me start off by saying I was born a male. Just kidding. Now that I have your attention…
I was born in the up-and-coming city of Oakland and have lived all around the Bay Area -The Yay to be politically correct-. Please don’t be the ignorant type that automatically cringes with you hear the word “Oakland.” It’s a bustling place with a true urban feel and all types of vivacious characters. Oh, and with a Whole Foods!
Mamasan and Papasan are divorced, but ironically working symbiotically together in the same workplace. My dad is actually half Chinese and my mother is Scottish. My mom is currently at Burning Man without moi. My sis just had a baby boy named Brady who is actually not so disturbing looking, and my brother owns his own bar… and no I don’t get a plethora of free drinks.
Furthermore, I have a grown up job in the Financial District of San Francisco by day, and DJ at night, and model or act somewhere in between. Kinda that jack of all trades type, ya dig?
I love DJing, manipulating music, and witnessing the enjoyment from people when they hear a good beat. It gives me chills. I’ll dance anywhere, without music, on the spot. Dare me?
I see as many concerts and shows as my wallet allows me, I have 3 tattoos with more in the works, I love sour candy, and I have a German Shepherd who is the love of my life, along with my boyfriend, yes babe. I love vintage anything and play zombie video games quite often. Essential oils are the bees knees.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I really wanted to eat cotton balls for the rest of my life.
No, just kidding again. I stumbled upon Model Mayhem when I was about 22. On the docket was always that want for a chance to model or act for fun. So I signed up and starting getting some hits right away, I don’t know how. I remember my first photographer. He was Vietnamese, hilarious, and made me feel super comfortable. I didn’t tell him it was my first time. Nonetheless, he couldn’t tell. He fed me chips. Spicy ones. Score.
Then, a friend, and still one, Dominic was casting for a short film. He found me on Model Mayhem, chose me without meeting me, interviewing me, knowing me whatsoever and said you need to be my leading actress in this film. The character was a bad ass Ryan Gosling in Drive and Rooney Mara in Girl with the Dragon Tattoo type. I was on board. I was amazed he could read me from my profile like that. He gave me the script, we filmed in a week, got to slap my co-star, and it ended up playing in the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. From then on I have been on the website SF Casting for Commercials, Print, Film and TV. Among popular names, I just recently filmed Wives with Knives on Discovery ID, and Murder in the First on TNT.
There is something about the kinetic motion of acting that has a fulfillment for me modeling doesn’t necessarily not have, but feels like a total different animal.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I am a constantly on the road towards spiritual nirvana. I lost my best friend 2 years ago in a school shooting at 24 years old, and actually saw my own life flash before my eyes, believe it or not. So, really, all I want is to be able to live life in the most poetic manner for you, Grace.
If I impress someone with my work, great. But all that matters at the end of the day is how you feel about yourself because no one will love you if you don’t love you. I do what I do because it feels good. I make way for any type of adventure and run far with it. When I have the chance to partake in something whether it be DJ’ing, modeling, acting, or dancing in the street, I put my absolute all into it. Then see where it goes. With that being said, I have no idea what my goals are. Haha! Actually, to live in another country for a year or more has been something that has been on my mind. Sorry, am I just ranting?
Rather than having the end result in mind, I’d rather have the journey and the process to be thoroughly excited about. I think many people forget that. In 5 to 10 years I could be on the streets, or in my own private jet. Who the hell knows.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I don’t model as much anymore, but if an intriguing project comes along that sparks my quirky and edgy nature, I do it. I am pretty picky. I mostly do auditions and filming now. I audition for things a couple times a week and film maybe once every 2 weeks. As I said before, I DJ and have a full time job so I don’t know how I am still alive. What is sleep?
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
Best experience – Meeting James Franco. I was actually on break for a modeling gig and went to a quick dinner in Palo Alto and ended up sitting next to James Franco. So for some reason, I associate the two together. hehe.
Worst experience – Not running away with James Franco; I repeat, I left the restaurant without James Franco.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
I was doing this intimate scene in a short film, not sexually intimate, just really mentally demanding, and… farted. It wasn’t the audible type of fart, but the smelly one. I had to watch the face of my co-star twinge a little. hahaha. I am lol’ing just writing it.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I want girls to give the address, name, and phone number of wherever they are going so if something goes horribly wrong, their boyfriend can fuck up that mother fucking twat.
The industry will never change their expectations of girls and “what is pretty” so I won’t even ask for that…it’s a vicious cycle unfortunately. I just hope girls have the confidence and right mental capacity to deal with it and feel good about themselves no matter what, or be able to tell them to fuck off.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
Hahaha! No one ever talks about those things to me because they know I don’t do either. I did band in high school and was raised a vegetarian. Which means no sports and a boring, yet nutritional diet. I make sure I eat healthy and make up for my lack of protein but that’s about it.
I take my dog to the dog park to make sure she gets some exercise and I live vicariously through her. I snack a lot and have an unyielding sweet tooth. My favorite food is vegetable chow mein with fried tofu. Yes.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
A nap can not be any less than 3 hours for me. I also suck at calculating percentages on the spot.
Would you change anything about yourself?
Negative. Love yourself ladies. Growing up the only thing I hated about myself was my skin color, which is on the pale side. In elementary school I was called Casper. haha. I used to sit in my backyard and try to get at least a wee bit of colour but I would only burn.
Now, I have come to embrace it. I feel extremely lucky I have no insecurities about my looks because that can be utterly poisonous. It’s a truly rewarding and freeing feeling. Please try it.
What is your favorite thing to do alone?
Need I explain? wink wink.
Watch youtube videos of Beyonce and mimic her every move, right? yeah, duh.
Visit Cynthia Aileen’s website for more photos and information