Interview with Morgan Matchuny — Computer Engineering student and model
Morgan Matchuny is a 19-year old model residing in Louisville, Kentucky.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I am from the middle of nowhere in Greenville, Indiana, directly across from a cornfield, actually. I spend the majority of my time messing around with computers, reading philosophy books, watching horror films and modeling of course. My family is extremely supportive of all of my interests and always has been my rock.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I first started modeling professionally in May of 2015, when I got asked by an old friend to do a shoot for Elegant Magazine, and I happily obliged, although I had previously been modeling recreationally, just building a portfolio and a name for myself. Modeling has always been an interest of mine as I find it a unique art form.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
My professional goals for modeling are essentially to keep climbing the ladder in my area and continue meeting new artists, and would also love to travel for modeling or maybe get signed by an agency as well. In five to ten years I see myself working as a computer engineer and making lots of art in my free time, maybe writing a book.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I usually have one shoot a week, as it is hard to fit in more than that with full-time school, and I mainly do fashion photoshoots, occasionally more artsy work, if I’m lucky!.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
The best experiences I’ve had in modeling come from that moment in a shoot where something is off; it might be that the hair doesn’t look right, or that the equipment falters, and what comes from this is a time-crunch for creativity, and usually the best work. It is amazing to have a team of people so diversely creative come together and find a brilliant solution. My other best experiences simply come from seeing published work, as being an unsigned model by choice is rough, because many photographers only want agency models, but I have made a name for myself and built my career, and it is phenomenal to see it all pan out on paper in a published work.
My worst experience has only happened once, and that was the dreaded “creepy photographer.” I had a photographer repeatedly ask me to get naked, and it was honestly the most degrading and uncomfortable situation I’ve ever experienced in the industry.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
Ha, this is a good question, since I seem to always get picked for the most interesting shoots. I have had panty hose wrapped over my face, I’ve been painted head to toe, worn pounds of leather, laid in a bath tub filled with milk… and loved every second of it. The “weird” shoots are the best ones, for sure.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I would certainly change the standard of body weight, since I’ve realized throughout history there are usually a few aesthetic qualities romanticized, but in the fashion industry these qualities are often very unhealthy. I do not currently do runway modeling, but seeing the girls who go through hell in order to lose weight is extremely saddening and should not continue. Every body is beautiful, and I am a huge proponent of the body positivity movement. I would love to see this movement take hold of the fashion industry and show the world that not only one body type is beautiful.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I have always been an active person, as I was a dancer for about 10 years, and growing up I never ate particularly unhealthily. However, the past few years have been a journey for me, through recovering from an eating disorder with restriction issues, it was very difficult to safely move back into eating normally. I am finally settling into a healthier weight and diet, as I do not obsessively track what I eat, and now I enjoy eating healthily and take pride in my exercise routine. Nutrition is important to me, because I had to learn the hard way how detrimental it can be not to practice healthy habits.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I’m an artist! I will be selling prints soon, so look out for that on my social media.
Would you change anything about yourself?
I wish I was a vampire.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is still playing my Nintendo… actually, I have no shame in that
Visit Morgan Matchuny’s website for more photos and information