Interview with Rachel Zader — Model, crime fighter, demon slayer
Rachel Zader is a 22-year old model residing in San Francisco, California.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Rachel, and have been a model in the commercial and fashion industry for over 5 years now. I was born in California, and moved around a lot, although most of my memories are of growing up with my younger brother in a small town in Northern California. I was 16 when I moved to start school at UC Berkeley, started modeling as a way to pay my tuition, and as a kid, I always preferred science experiments and computers to sports or dolls, and not much has changed since. I’m fascinated by social justice, law, and crime, which led me to my main profession, and read a lot about technology and psychology. I also do a lot of art and music production, and taught myself most of the instruments I know.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I was approached by an agent while I was walking to a college class, and was told I might consider going to an open call at LOOK. I never ended up looking into an agency then, but it did plant the seed. I talked about it with my favorite alternative model Adora Batbrat, and she was encouraging of it, so I thought, ‘what the hell.’ I made a profile on an amateur modeling site, Model Mayhem, and it took off from there.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I’d love to someday be able to say that I’ve been published on every continent, although so far, I only have three down, but it’s a fun idea. Right now, I’m in the process of obtaining a license to be a private investigator and fraud examiner, so that’s my main goal. I’m hoping the eventual detective work or the FBI can coexist with this more fashionable alter-ego, so you’ll have to check back with me in a decade or two to see if I was successful.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I do mostly commercial, fashion, and fine art modeling. I’ve pretended to eat a pig heart with corn syrup blood; I’ve tbeen a tech in a commercial for Google, so it varies, and time is always the challenge – in the past few years, I’ve been a probation officer and supervisor of offenders on house arrest, so needless to say, it’s usually been impossible to take an extra-long lunch to go to a shoot. Going to castings and go-sees are often out of the question, and I get lucky to schedule only a shoot or two a week at times. You make it work, though.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
One time, I was on set and standing on a post right next to railroad tracks. We noticed an oncoming train, but for whatever reason, I didn’t climb down. At 70mph, that amount of machinery blowing past created more than enough force to knock me off. I landed with a jagged end of a pole in the back of my thigh. I had a bruise the size of an apple the next day, and it lasted for several months.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
The eating disorder issues that you tend to see run rampant at some agencies. I’m a firm believer in the idea that if a woman is hungry, she is limited. On the other hand, it’s difficult to reconcile that ideal with the demands one faces as a model in participating in what is basically a fantasy world. Kate Moss once said “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” but the list of foods I can come up with that do are one of the reasons I’m not Kate Moss. It’s also that reason that I also try to be especially mindful of my position as a model, and pay a lot of attention to messages I could be helping to create about women’s bodies and sexuality.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
I’ve always been athletic. If you’re as tall as your mother by the time you’re 10 like I was, sports will be a breeze – I ran track, played soccer, and practiced Takewondo. Team sports tended to bore me, though – I was usually in front of a computer whenever possible. Now, I usually just try to get on the elliptical and lift weights. At my age, my father ran regular marathons, so I find it funny that I can’t stand running.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I recently genotyped myself and made some cool discoveries – my father’s ancestors are what were essentially indigenous American, which means they crossed the Siberian land bridge into North America, and my mother’s ancestors can be traced all the way back to a group believed to be female Vikings.
Would you change anything about yourself?
I never have enough time in the hour, day, week – I’ve always wanted to be able to be more productive on less sleep.
When did you last cry? Why?
After I became a victim of a major violent crime a few years back, I turned into a pretty cynical and lonely person. A former professor of mine who knows about this, however, said something to me last week that made me stop in my tracks. “You might not realize it,” he said, “But you have people you can call up in the middle of the night – no matter where you are or what you’re doing – who will have your back. Don’t forget that.” That completely floored me. I couldn’t not cry.
Visit Rachel Zader’s website for more photos and information