Interview with Wenchi – Model and Artist
Wenchi is a 24-year old model residing in Santa Rosa (California) with a passion for art. She has been doing runway, print, and promotional modeling since 2007. Here is her story:
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi folks! I’m Wenchi, a Fine Art, Fashion, Fantasy chameleon model out of the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve been modeling since 2007, and have been self represented and managed the entire time. I’m also a makeup artist, and love participating in conceptual shoots, fetish fashion, alternative nudes, and getting nekkid in nature. I tend to be into darker more sensual work, and that’s expressed pretty well in my portfolio.
Do you have a nickname or artist pseudonym? Who came up with it and how?
My pseudonym is Wenchi, and in 2003 it’s root was bestowed upon me. My two best friends, Jessica and Amanda Shepherd who has also become a stellar model, would be little punk brats causing a ruckus around town, and we called ourselves The MOFOs and Wench. Amanda named me Wench, because I was acting particularly saucy that day, and the nickname has stuck around since then. In 2007 when I was getting into modeling, I had to figure out a pseudonym to keep my modeling work separate from some other aspects in my life. I was really into the “Suicide Girls look” which I found very alternative and really alluring, so being the alt girl I was, Wench seemed very fitting. I didn’t think it was quite socially acceptable enough alone, so I added an “i” on the end to make it cute and foreign sounding.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I was helping a friend in May 2007 with her high school senior project, and as she was making a fairytale fashion line for her submission she decided to do a fashion show to show off her hard work. I helped with makeup for the show, and modeled one of her gowns. I was an aspiring makeup artist at the time, and modeling had interested me in a way nothing had before, so I went for it and this is where I’m at now!
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I’d like to get to a point where I can live in whichever city I like and be comfortable and secure. I’d like to see myself traveling the world, participating in humanistic volunteer work, and getting to participate in work that shows in national museums, large magazines and possibly on television. I’m very interested in science, and nature preservation, and if there is a way to figure out how to tie what I do now into both of those things, I’ll be very satisfied. I’m very interested in traveling, and am looking into how I can find creative ways to tie that into my modeling, and get to experience new cultures and find inspiration in their practices.
How much do you typically charge for a photo-shoot?
For Fashion work I charge $75/hr with discounts on multiple day, full day and half day rates. For Nude work I charge between $100 and $150 per hour depending on content, and also have discounts on multiple day, full day and half day rates. If you’re interested in booking me, shoot me your ideas and we’ll make something work!
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
Recently, I woke up to about 50 facebook notifications, and messages from my team that we had been chosen for the cover of Central California Magazine for our underwater photoshoot featuring Yellow Bubbles Photography, Black Lotus Clothing, and Spoiled Cherry makeup and styling. We had shot on Christmas Eve, and while it was a beautiful 70 degree day, the pool we were told was heated…wasn’t. It was a whole ten degrees cooler than the air outside, and was the most surreal photoshoot in my life. I nearly got hypothermia, and felt high from the shock my body was going through to make our beautiful artwork happen. We decided as a team to keep going even with the non heated pool surprise, and it worked out so well that we got cover on an awesome magazine!
In June, I got heat stroke working SubZERO Festival for Black Lotus Clothing. I was staying well hydrated and fed, but our building we were working in to get ready was sweltering hot, and had no ventilation. While getting sewn into a priceless bone and pearl encrusted gown, I passed out while standing there. Thankfully I’ve dealt with these symptoms before, and knew to throw myself onto a bar stool as I was falling over so I wouldn’t break the amazing gown I was getting sewn into. I was quickly rushed outside, as I was gagging from the nausea of passing out. My stomach voided itself, but I was in fresh air and had a way to sit down, and get my senses back. I promptly ate 3 bowls of chili, drank a glass of wine, 3 glasses of water, and proceeded to wow the crowd for the festival evening in a group of amazing models in a rad cabin wreckage themed installation. Thankfully I recovered well and was able to get my job done regardless of dealing with some heat stroke.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
When I was working in Los Angeles this past winter, I was fired from a national television TV show (who’s name I cannot disclose) for being allergic to latex. I had been requested to work for the show for the whole series (a month of filming), but after reviewing my forms on the first day of work, they decided to let me go that day. I had gone to LA for the audition, and we discussed my allergy there at that time, they said it would be no issue, and then they went back on their word. I was somewhat stranded work wise in LA, but got ahold of some friends who helped me find work. Instead of working for this TV show, I got to bodypaint with Trina Merry at The Edwardian Ball at The Fonda Theatre, I got assist Trina Merry in painting for a NERF commercial thats on TV right now, and I got to get bodypainted by the world famous Pashur and Alex Hansen. My fury from being fired and huge embarrassment over my allergy got turned into some really rad creative energy!
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
I would make San Francisco a much more popular place for industry work, like LA or New York, as I live here and selfishly don’t want to move to get all the work I want 😉
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 been “vegetarian” since 2003. I say “vegetarian” because I have very high standards for the poultry and mammals I consume, as I wont eat it unless someone I know killed it. I feel like I have no right to eat meat that was killed outside of my community, because closeness with food is like closeness to god. Besides my addiction to gummy bears, worms, rings and other gummy candies, I try to eat food that’s without pesticides and GMOs. For exercise I like to go mountain hiking, bicycle riding, yoga, swimming in the Russian River, and having a great sex life with my boyfriend. Keeping my exercise well rounded and diverse helps me feel the most healthy.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I had my first lesbian sex at church camp. This is literally the only thing I could think of that people don’t really know about me, this was a hard question!!
Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?
I wouldn’t mind being taller and having some more weight on my bones, but I think that things really worked out well in my favor physically 😀