Interview with Liya — Singer and Model
Liya is a 20-year old model residing in Boston, Massachusetts.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! My name is Liya, I’m 20 years old and I was born in Sofia – the capital of a small Easter European country called Bulgaria. I have only one sibling, a brother, and both of us grew up in a very loving and supportive environment. Almost two years ago I came to live and study in Boston, MA, where I live with my boyfriend and am a full-time student, majoring in music. Music is my biggest passion in life, I love singing and composing, but even so, I am generally an artistic person. Except expressing myself through music, I love expressing myself through photos and that is why modeling has been a big part of my life in the last six years.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I got into modeling in 2009 when I was thirteen years old, and I did it because I was amazed at what people can create in photography and also wanted to be a part of that. It all started with improvised shoots with friends who also liked photography. After that I slowly began getting into the industry and making a lot of contacts, which led me to be involved in many projects.
When I came to the States I had to start from the bottom, since I didn’t know anybody in the industry here. But I am slowly meeting new people and having more shoots, which does, however, lead to some problems. For example for my latest project me and the photographer are looking for local Boston designers and fashion stylists but it’s hard to find any, since both of us are not from the area.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
In five to ten years I see myself married and even having a family of my own. I don’t know if Boston is the place I want to spend my life in, but I definitely want to stay in the States. Professionally, my goals revolve mainly around music: I want to be performing on a big stage, but I would also want to do shoots in my spare time, when I’m not creating music.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
Now that I am a student in Boston I am not allowed to work, and that is why I choose the photo sessions I do very carefully. When I spend my free time doing shoots, I want them to be interesting and I want them to involve the right people. I love having good chemistry with the people I am working with, since that way we are able to create beautiful images in a short period of time. I’ve created some of my favorite shoots in about two hours -hair and makeup included!- Speaking of makeup, I love it and I love experimenting with it, which is why for a lot of my shoots I do my own makeup.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
During the years I’ve had mainly good experiences. I’ve met a lot of amazing people and have worked with a lot of extremely creative and talented people, and some of my favorite photoshoots are ones in which I am among friends. Last summer I had an awesome shoot with friends, it lasted until 3 o’clock in the morning: We were eating, drinking and taking photos, it was a lot of fun. On the other hand, the worst experience I’ve had was during a shoot in which nothing seemed to go right and most of all I felt extremely exploited because I spent more time than I should have and was necessary and at the end I didn’t even get good photos. But I try to look at the bright side; after that experience I now know what to ask for and what to put up with.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
One summer I was having a pool shoot with the talented Bulgarian designers from Prototype23 -which you need to check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashioncreativecrew/?fref=ts-. During that shoot I somehow ended up in the deeper end of the pool and almost drowned, trying to protect my full face of makeup. The worst part was that the situation made me laugh, which only worsened the problem.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I think the biggest problem in the modeling industry is that it creates in many models a feeling that they are never good enough and need to starve themselves. I think that models should be fit and healthy: there is nothing more attractive than a healthy person in good shape. Some Victoria’s Secret models are a good example of that; they still follow a strict regimen of diet and exercise but it’s more like an athlete preparing for a competition rather than simply denying yourself food.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I’m a very active person and I’ve been that way ever since I was a child. To me exercise has always been important not just to look better, but to be healthier; I go to the gym a lot, love doing cardio, fat burning or regular yoga and I recently started boxing, and although I also like swimming, I don’t do that a lot anymore. I love eating clean and healthy food, and I’ve been a pescatarian for a year now and I love it. I also eat a lot of fruits and veggies, rice, seafood and pasta once a week, but if there’s one thing I can live on it’s definitely sushi.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I really like the water from canned corn. Don’t judge, it’s delicious!
Would you change anything about yourself?
I love change. I love changing how I look and my body is something I’m working on every day, but I don’t do it because I don’t like the way I look, but because I love my body and I want to be healthy. I try to be a better person with each day and that’s a change I think all of us should strive for.
Do you have any tattoos? What are they?
I have one tattoo so far, on the wrist of my right arm. It is the writing “Freedom” in Bulgarian and has the Treble clef woven into the letters. Shortly, it is there to remind me to always be free when I create and perform music; I had the drawing in my purse for a couple of years before I got it. I always knew that I wanted it and I got it done when I was eighteen, a couple of days before I came to the States to follow my dreams of becoming a musician.
Visit Liya ‘swebsite for more photos and information