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Interview with Lauren Ashlee Boyette

Lauren Ashlee Boyette is a 24-year old model residing in Beverly Hills, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

Lauren Ashlee Boyette is from Virginia Beach, Virginia. At the young age of 13, Lauren was discovered and signed with a top-modeling agency in NYC. She began her work doing countless runway shows, print work and began traveling right away. From Milan, Paris, India, Thailand, Japan to Madrid, she was working throughout the World doing what she loved most, modeling. She was also a spokes model for AIDS awareness and traveled throughout India with the reigning Miss Universe to raise awareness, while educating the young women in the prostitution business. This was a life changing experience for her to see women as young as 8 being exploited by their own families, just so they could put food on the table. Lauren was featured on “The Tyra Banks Show” as a guest to speak of her travels and education in AIDS awareness. Lauren has been in numerous runway shows, a few including Donna Karan, Tom Ford and Baby Phat, and was also featured on the TV show, “Excused.” She was also the model of the month in FHM’s Australia, Miss Coed Magazine, Macho Rhino, and ModelModele. She has had many spreads in IM image magazine, Cosmopolitan, Vow, and numerous others. She took time off to finish school and is now back full time modeling. You will definitely be seeing more of Lauren in the future!

Lauren Ashlee Boyette holding a curvy handbagWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I started around 13. I was an awkwardly 6 foot tall and an extremely, both naturally and healthy skinny girl at that age, and at the time that it was the industry wanted. I love doing runway shows and i love the glamour and diversity of each shoot and getting to work with such talented people on set.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

I would love to continue modeling. I am a work out enthusiast and certified nutritionist and would love to open up my own gym that would hold classes that teach a cross between pilates and cardio barre in one and also offers meal planning and cooking classes!

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I model at least once or twice a week, usually for print work, runway shows, glamour, lingerie, swimwear, beauty and some commercials and acting.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

Some of my best experiences were getting to travel the World for runway shoots, destination shoots and just being in certain countries for a certain duration of time for work. I love meeting new people from different cultures and trying all the amazing food in each place!

Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

I slipped in the Donna Karan show while wearing a beautiful lingerie set, but managed to pull it off and not fall!

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

Yes, I think models sometimes get a bad rep by people saying they are too skinny or don’t eat. This is not true for most successful, working models. We all eat. We are just very healthy and naturally skinny. The hateful and hurtful comments are just ignorant!

Lauren Ashlee Boyette wearing a purple dressDo you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

Pilates and cardio barre is my work out methods. I eat very healthy. I prefer eating 5 smaller snacks throughout the day, rather then eating three big meals. I love sushi, steak, fish, chicken, and usually try to cut out carbs and focus on veggies and proteins. I also do not eat out much, I typically make dinner about 5 or 6 nights a week, which I think is important as you know what you are putting in your body.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I speak 3 languages.

Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

I wish I could sleep in just once in my life!

Do you have any fears or phobias?

I am terrified of spiders

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Interview with ArtemisAesthetic

ArtemisAesthetic is a 21-year old model residing in San Francisco, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

Konichiwa everyone!

I am known as Artemis the ever changing mistress of disguise. Or at least, that is what my fanbase refers to me as! I was born in San Diego, then moved with my family to the Sacramento area when I was around 8, underwent homeschooling up until 3rd grade then endured through the social game of hell from 3rd-8th grade in which I was the “shy nerdy goth girl” that most bullied, or did not notice I existed. I then transferred to an independent study based school called Shenandoah for 9th grade, which changed my life forever. My passions, interests, and professions all coincide; anime, playing ps3 video games, modeling, makeup, hair, corsets, latex, traveling, making artwork, gogo dancing, aerialist with lyra, acting in music videos and films, performing live on stage for events and bands, eating sushi, reading… I am an anime girl in the body of a high fashion runway model.

ArtemisAesthetic in the woodsWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

When I was about 14, while out with my girlfriend at the time – I was lesbian for a period of my life, then bi-sexual- taking photos of her; I enjoyed photography of nature and my friends, we ran into this well known Asian hair stylist in a cafe. She asked if I had ever modeled before, I answered with curiosity, ” No, but I have always been interested in the art form, why?” She then told me to walk for her, so I strutted my bondage pants, corset self down the cafe shop. She asked if I would be interested in modeling for her salon, and being taught how to catwalk by The Caren Templet of New York City!! I was utterly blown away and in shock, I accepted it without a second thought. I was in the prime shape and porcelain complexion of my life at that point. You can see the photos for the salon here and here.

From then on I put the photos up on Deviantart.com first since I had already posted my poetry, and photography so I had somewhat of a following, then I decided to join ModelMayhem. I networked online pro-actively, modeling independently for local Sacramento photographers that were worth putting in my port and gaining experience within modeling beauty, glamour, alt fashion, and lingerie.
Was not until I was 18 that I left for L.A. making great high quality art but that is a story for later. I fell in love with the idea of acting out different persona’s, characters of my psyche with costumes, makeup, hair, posing, props, settings, emotions, creating a story without speaking.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

My personal and professional goals are one in the same and finally are now being realized after 6 years of hard work!! There are agency plans in the future which has been a dream of mine ever since I began so it means the world to me that someone who is reputable, professional, and straight up in the mainstream industry sees the passion in me and is willing to make it a reality. My ultimate goal which I will make happen no matter what, is to travel the world creating art, modeling for designers, walking on runways, acting in feature films and music videos! Especially for Japan! Anime and their entire fashion culture is my top inspiration!
I am also working on getting my cosmetology license in hair, makeup, and nails at Federico Beauty Institute!

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

When I lived in L.A. for almost 2 years, I was actively out every single day from morning until night working my model butt off, going to auditions, casting calls, booking paid gigs for shows, designers, magazines, and more. Now I travel to SF about once or twice a month for publication work and acting work. Over the 6 years of modeling I have been apart of countless runway shows like I was in L.A. Fashion Week for Kicka Custom Design, rock indie music videos, extra in catherine hardwicke’s PLUSH with Emily Browning, published in Gothic Beauty Magazine issue 44, and more!

Model: Artemis AestheticPlease tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

The best memorable experiences in modeling, acting, performing would be every gig in L.A., such as for Ryder Makeup Labs Bootcamp, being in Beverly Hills transformed into different characters everyday for a week was super exciting and having a poster of one of my photos in the Paul Mitchell headquaters I am still very grateful for. Acting in a music video for Lesser Key that was rich in cult symbolism which hit very close to home. Meeting, partying, and seeing Emily Browning act, talk, sing in person was a dream come true and the highlight of my gogo dancing/acting experiences! Performing as a grindkore girl for Perish Dignam of Swoon Entertainment at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas for the Fantasy and Fetish Halloween ball made my theater nerd inside all wet haha; performing on a stage that big to over 2,000 fetishists was fucking surreal. Modeling an other worldly headdress that was almost as tall as I am and weighed so much my temples were splitting a headache at L.A. Fashion Week was the most exhilarating runway show of my career. Just really meeting all of these super unique creative eccentric artists made and makes the journey perfect. Creating art with fellow artists that have inspired me like Miss Mosh, Ulorin Vex, Ophelia Overdose, Le Mew photography, and others.
The worst experiences would have to be dealing with fake, unprofessional, flakey models and photographers on set, which is why I work with industry professionals that I trust and have a good friendship with that makes being on set enjoyable and not stressful. Also, dealing with GWC (guys with cameras) that have tried to fuck me, and I was sexually molested by two different “photographers”… which gives me more reason to change the beauty industry and stand up for woman not being treated like sex objects just because they are models.

Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

Meeting Emily Browning randomly at a party in Hollywood, I am friends with Nick Launay and he brought her, that was extraordinary. Meeting and working with James Ryder who was special fx makeup artist for the cell blew my mind. Every gig I was in from L.A., Anaheim, San Diego, Long Beach, San Francisco, and Beverly Hills were all out of the ordinary because I felt like I was dreaming every time I was booked and living my dreams. Though one was quite out there, when I was booked to star as Artemis in this indian film about the greek gods and goddess, the director and one of the models that I stayed with at the palaces near Long Beach for a week which was fucking crazy waking up to the beach every morning haha they believed they were working with the Reptilian race which if you are unaware is an Alien race in Scientology. That was interesting to say the least haha.
Couchsurfing and being homeless off and on while in L.A. was embarrassing and makes being a clean cut reputable model more challenging but I surmounted every road block because I was not okay with giving up after coming so far.

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

How the mainstream media portrays beauty to the masses, appealing to a certain criteria that has to be met otherwise you are not cool, attractive, or good enough in society. That is the root of our problems. I was afflicted with an eating disorder when I was younger, no one knew, but I was affected by what I read in magazines, billboards and others; now it all does come down to thinking for yourself, realizing that saved me and I began a body image group. Presented for peers and saved a few friends’ lives. I want to change how we perceive beauty, beauty is subjective, I see beauty in everything but we need to know the difference between models being altered or enhanced with photoshop or being on a killing-yourself-fashion-statement suicide mission. I want to show and teach people to look deeper, love yourself for who you are, not what you look like, not who you look like, not what brands you own, not what car you drive. I aspire to create art that opens the minds of society. Also, to put celebrity photographers who hide behind the camera while forcing models to fuck in jail and to be exposed for the manipulative monsters they really are.

ArtemisAesthetic holding a basketDo you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I was Vegan for 2 years, lost too much weight and became too weak. Now I strictly eat non gmo, vegetarian, organic, low carb diet. I love sushi so that is my only exception which I only have like once a month. I go on a raw “fasting” for 4 days-6 days out of a month, every month, where I only eat raw fruit, veggies, and that is it.
I walk, run every day along with pilates 2-3 times a week. I have a background in gymnastics, tumbling, and cheerleading. I think positively, and believe in being self aware while caring about animals and the environment, because without that we would be nothing.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I am an otaku for life. I am addicted to death, blood, vampires, anything supernatural or other worldly. I know how to read, write, and speak Katakana and Hirigana of the Japanese alphabet. I have traveled to Portland, and Alaska. I used to be a fine art nude and fetish model. I had an eating disorder when I was young, alone with being bullied. I almost went to juvi for runaway to see my boyfriend at the time when I was 13. I am obsessed with House of Leaves. I have fallen from grace, I am not perfect, yet have a fixation with symmetry. I am flexible and a contortionist. I can perform with the lyra. I have experimented with drugs. I proudly support Ganja. I am a horror fanatic. I auditioned for America’s Next Top Model twice.

Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

Yes and No, while I find plastic surgery an intriguing advancement of science and follow Anastasiya the real life anime girl, personally would never alter my body even though I would love to look like an anime girl it would limit my career. I really have come to truly accept myself internally and am happy with who I was, who I am, and what I will become.

Are you currently in a relationship? How would you describe your partner and sex-life?

I have somehow found the love of my life, the love that breaks through your skin into the deepest parts of your soul inspiring you to fight with everything you are to love them, to give them your all, to achieve dreams together. My other half explains it perfectly at his poetry blog, that he and I would appreciate if you would follow here!

“We met once briefly, we exchanged pleasantries a quick hello and a hand shake. Then you were gone, some time passed and we ran into each other again. Neither of us knew it was the other. Then strife occurred in my life and darkness arose, then you were there to hold me and help me. From the moment that you held me there was an awakening deep within, my soul screamed and I knew not why. I couldn’t comprehend what had awakened, it was foreign to me something that I lusted after my entire life. As time passed I grew to understand what it all was, my soul resonating with yours. I fell in Love with you from the moment I met you and will continue to till the day that my existance ceases. Koishiteru my Artemis.”

Visit ArtemisAesthetic’s website for more photos and information

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Interview with Michelle Nease

Michelle Nease is a 24-year old model residing in Fairfax, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m half Chinese, half European, born and raised in Northern Virginia, and California for some time. I was blessed with such an amazing family! I’m currently studying to earn a degree in Fashion Merchandising. I live a healthy lifestyle, love to dress up, and all aspects of art. I don’t know where I’d be today without my family – I get all of my best qualities from my parents along with my Grandparents – who helped me become the lady that I am today! They always taught me to be a leader, to be polite, as forgiving as I can be, to have polite manners, put others before myself, along with much more!

Michelle Nease wearing a brown bikiniWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I got involved in the industry at around age ten, I remember always getting so starry eyed whenever Miss teen USA or Miss Universe would come on TV!

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

In five to ten years from now I see myself at the peak of my career, making enough money to be able to donate to good causes (i.e. children hospitals, wounded veterans, cures, etc). I also see myself starting a family of my own, and owning a home in Northern California!

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I’ve taken a minor break in the modeling industry the past year since I moved back to Northern Virginia from Los Angeles. I usually do promotional modeling, advertisements, commercials, hair shows, print work, runway -when my height allows-, extra, art, mannequin/freeze modeling.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

The worst experience I had was having a boyfriend, I was young and in love, also naive! I let the relationship rule my world, and probably let myself miss out on some great opportunities, but that doesn’t stop the many wonderful opportunities I have coming in the future! I love to travel and meet new faces, in new places I’d never been to!

Michelle Nease wearing a necklaceHave you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

I rarely become embarrassed, but I’ll admit that I’ve caught myself saying stating some pretty oblivious statements in the past, but that’s taught me to start thinking before I speak more!

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

Yes there are but I can’t say it because I don’t want anyone taking my idea, but I will say that this idea will be going global!

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I love to go hiking, anything active really! My mom taught yoga for 15 plus years so I have a very yogi lifestyle that I get from her! I am a health fanatic! I always have to have a well balanced meal, and consume as much water as I can. For breakfast I usually tend to have yogurt, lunch I’ll do a salad or smoothy depending on how big my breakfast was, for dinner I always have a good protein with vegetables! I try to stay away from starches, white carbs, sugars, etc… For a snack I love to have almonds or any kind of nuts, something like kale chips, or a protein bar!

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I swear I was born a Disney Princess! I have a very down to earth personality once you get to know me, but on the core I’m as nerdy as can be! I have a huge imagination, and like to think of myself as a philosopher! oh and I love to sing!

Michelle Nease in jeansWould you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

Everything I eat likes to go to my butt, hips, and thighs! I’d stop that from happening -and that’s not an acception go to my belly!- I’d also make it so I could use more than ten percent of my brain!

What superpower do you wish you had? Why?

To travel through space, and time with no problem! and to use more than ten percent of my brain!

 

 

 

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Interview with Kaila Uli

Kaila Uli is a 25-year old model residing in San Francisco, California. She is of Dutch and Sicilian descent and whole-heartedly supports sustainability, local shopping, and being a nice person.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Kaila. I have been a model for 6 years. I was born and raised in Southern California, though I currently reside and work as a full time model in San Fransisco. My hobbies include snowboarding, shopping (of course), broadcasting to my network of followers on Hang With, and swimming.

Kaila Uli in Best of LAWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I was interested in modeling at a young age, but I grew up in a strict baptist household where modeling, celebrities and fashion were sinful things. My church and my family told me to stop dreaming about it, and to never get involved in modeling. At 19 and decided to ignore them all and go for it. Around this time I also began struggling with and eating disorder. I lost weight rapidly and started getting more attention as a model, thanks to my leaner figure. I began modeling several days a week, and was able to sustain myself on my modeling income. During this time I was struggling tremendously with anorexia and bulimia. I took a short hiatus from modeling to get myself together. I sought help to recover. I’m not fully recovered, but I am no longer anorexic, and I am well on my way to being fully recovered.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

My goals as a model is to make room in the fashion world for women who don’t fit into the anorexic or plus size realm. Right now there are two categories. “Models” who are size 2 and below, and “Plus size models” who are sizes 12 and up. That leaves 10 whole sizes of women who are untouched by the modeling industry. I intend to get my size 6 butt into every campaign and billboard possible. I want tobe part of the body-positive revolution! I want to dispel the myth that anorexia is glamourous. I want to kick down the signs that say skinny is the only kind if beautiful. I want to create a world where little girls can grow up feeling beautiful, whatever size they are!

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I model 3-5 days per week, often times with double bookings. In the past I was primarily a runway girl, but nowadays my bookings are mostly with tech companies, artists, and lifestyle shoots.

Kaila Uli in a pink dress and green shoesPlease tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

The worst experience I’ve ever had was being ridiculed for my weight and being to large while I was clinically underweight. I was sent home for being ‘fat’, and they found a model who was even more anorexic than I was.

Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

The best (and debately worst) story I have was when I did a runway in San Fransisco. One of the other models stole all my clothes and left me backstage naked. She literally took ever single peice of clothing I owned. Fortunately, a designer gave me his leftover scrap designs, and I left in a big cost and lime-green leggings.

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

The fashion sizing standards are ridiculous. I saw so many models doing drugs. I don’t know one single model (not ONE) who could sustain her tiny frame without drugs. We need a new, realistic standard about what models should look like.

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I currently work out and squat every day to maintain my physique. I eat a strict no-sugar, low carb diet. I focus less on exercise and more on what I eat. I aim for 1300 calories per day, and if I go over then I spend a little extra time in the gym.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I have a pig-phobia.

Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

I would give myself a head with interchangeable hair. So I could go short one day, super long the next and have any color I wanted 🙂

Visit Kaila Uli’s website for more photos and information

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Interview with Samantha Jax

Samantha Jax is a 24-year old model residing in San Jose, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hey everyone! I’m Samantha Jax. My real name is Samantha Jacqueline Fisher- Lewis, but its so darn long I prefer Samantha Jax. I was born in Los Gatos in California but moved into San Jose where I was raised. My mother was a single mother of three girls and we all have different dad’s. My mother struggled with a drug addiction so my sisters and I were sent to live with our grandparents for a few years.

Samantha Jax in a pink veil by the poolI feel that my struggles as a child has helped me become a remarkable individual. I feel I have a lust for life and a goal to try to make the world a more loving and accepting place.

I have many hobbies and they seem to change weekly. Some days I decided I’m going to be a painter and pant a beautiful scene of a mountain. Then the next week I decided I’m going to ride dirt bikes and try to beat all the boy’s. For some strange reason I’m one of those people that are good at almost everything. I can sing and dance, I do ballet and workout, I paint and ride dirt bikes, and also like to model and act.

When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

When I was a child I always wanted to be the center of attention, my mother used to call me Varoka from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory because she said I was such a drama queen.
Throughout my childhood I would get compliments from my mothers friends or people in town saying how pretty I was and they suggested I should be an actress or model.

When I got out of high school I got a chance to make this dream a reality when I signed up to a local Modeling school in Willow Glen, California called John Casablancas. During my schooling there I met other students with the same goal as me and with the classes we all were improving our skills and understanding of the industry. After i graduated from John Casablancas I signed up with an Agency Called MTM Agency that was ran by the director of John Casablanca school.

Samantha Jax in an artistic poseWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

My personal goals right now is complete the 30 day squat challenge hahahaha, and finish school. But as for professional goal I would like to find a new agent and continue networking to maybe one day be in a fashion magazine.

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I model ever so often, it’s like I wont do any modeling gigs for a few months and then I’ll do ten modeling gig’s in two months. I’m not very organized with my time at the moment, but when ever i feel sexy and confident is when i am ready to shoot. Most of the work i do consists of photo shoots. I usually participate in implied nudity, glamour, Fashion, Commercial, artistic, group modeling and I have done about ten hair show for shampoo lines. I have done over a dozen fashion show’s for local designers but I’m too short to be a runway model 🙁

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

Let’s save the best for last. My worst experience modeling I think was when I got scammed. I was looking through the casting portion of ModelMayhem and i sent a message to a photographer that said they were casting for a magazine in Europe. I received a message back from the photographer saying him and his team picked me to be their model. I was so excited and over come with happiness. The photographer said I would be paid 3,000 dollars to do the shoot and they would first send me the money in a money gram through UPS before the shoot. When I received the money gram I called the photographer to let him know I had received it, during our talk the man told me I would have to pay for the MUA and stylist with some of the money that was sent to me.

The man gave me the address to send the money gram. I went to my bank and deposited the $3,000.00a dollars sent to me and then took out the $700.00 to send to the MUA and stylist. Then a couple day’s later my bank called me and told me I had deposited a counterfeit money gram into my account. I tried to call the photographer to figure out what had happened and the phone was disconnected. That’s when i realized I had been scammed. They sent me a fake money gram worth $3,000 and then told me to send $700.00 to pay for stylist and MUA. They stole my money and I got in trouble with my bank.

My best experience was when a photographer from Texas flew out to San Jose just to shoot with me. I felt so special, he bought me lunch, I got to pick the location for the shoot, and I got enough money to buy my first car.

Samantha Jax in chainsHave you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

My most recent shoot I was sitting on a white chair with white fur and white flowers surrounding me. I doing an implied nudity shoot with a photographer I had worked with a couple times. It was a night to shoot and I was feeling skinny and sexy. But during my shoot the photographer points down towards my hoo haa and gave me this strange look. I looked down and dripping down my leg was blood. I jumped up and ran to the bathroom, mother nature had decided to grace me with her presences. I didn’t want to come out of the bathroom I was so embarrassed. We had to end the shoot early but I’ll never forget that horrible embarrassing moment.

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

If I could change anything about the modeling industry it would be photo shop. I honestly feel that photo shop gives people an unrealistic view on how models and actors look. I learned from one of my classes in college that only 9% of the women population in the world feel beautiful and I believe that photo shop will only make that number decrease more.

One more thing I would change is the pressure to be super skinny. I feel that if these products are trying to sell products to normal people why not put normal people in their commercials or magazine. Then people wouldn’t feel that only skinny people can wear that or only people with that type of body should buy it.

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I practice ballet and I’m in the processes of completing the 30 day squat challenge but other then that I don’t usually work out. I have always been at a healthy normal weight up in till three years ago after my high school boyfriend passed away I haven’t been able to put on weight. Right now I weight about 110 and I wish I was about 120.

Nutrition is always on my mind, I don’t count calories or carbs but I do try to stick with foods like fish or chicken with steamed brown rice and veggies. When I go out to eat I usually order a salad with some type of protein. I don’t believe people should do hard core diets or try to limit foods they love, however I do believe in moderation. Everything in moderation.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I can burp really loud and for a long time. When I was younger my mom would show me off at BBQ’s saying ” She doesn’t even have to drink a beer to burp loud”. I can sing the ABC’S up to the letter M in one burp. My cousin say’s i should videos tape myself burping and send it Tosh.O

Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

If I could change anything about my physical appearance it would be eye color. I have a blend of brown and green eyes, but I would love to have all green eyes. If I could change anything about myself in general it would be to complete eliminate the feeling of jealous from myself. I hate feeling jealous, I feel it’s a useless feeling that makes you act on emotions that are usually just temporary , but the action you take while jealous usually are lasting.

Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever peed?

Once I was at a party with my best friends Rachelle, we were drinking Bacardi 151 and other things 🙂 My friend decided to stop drinking but I kept pouring her a shot of Bacardi 151 and then myself a shot. Rachelle kept saying no to the shots so I drink her shots and then my own. By the time I started to feel super sick I was 17 shots deep of 151, needless to say I was f**ked up. Rachelle helped me into the bathroom. I decided I had to pee and started to pull down my pants. When I attempted to sit myself on the toilet seat I missed and fell on the floor were my friend was standing. I guess I thought I was on the toilet because I proceeded to pee on my friends leg. We still laugh about it to this day.

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Interview with Izzy Diep

Izzy Diep (short for Isabelle) is a 23-year old model from Ontario, California. She is an Alt/Print Model looking to expand her portfolio. She has experience in Fit, Bridal, Promotional, Lifestyle, Fashion, Hair, and Bikini modeling.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m Isabelle but everyone calls me Izzy. I’m an old soul in an oddly proportioned body and I’m much too ambitious for my own good.

A bit about my background, I’m a first-generation American and parents are immigrant refugees. Being the oldest out of 6 children I’ve always been had the “I can and will do everything and nothing can stop me” attitude. I’ve been told sometimes I’m a bit instance but usually I’m the girl who is laughing at everything.

I’ve always been a bit of a bookworm. I double-majored in Media and Global studies at University, and earned two bachelors degrees in 4 years while studying the German language and working part-time in the university library. I can’t stand having nothing to do. It drives me crazy!

I enjoy random adventures, turbulence on airplanes, delicious foods and drinks, and a good comedy show. I’m not much of a team player but I enjoy individual endeavors like rock-climbing and Pilates.

At the moment I am in Germany working on my language skills and attempting to network because my dream is to pursue academic research in Western Europe.

Isabelle Diep as a canvas for a paintingWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

I had a friend growing up who liked to dress me up and put a bunch of makeup on me and take photos. He later came out to us as being gay and started dating a Canadian photographer who also wanted to photograph me. I was 15 at the time and I dyed my hair every week a different color of the rainbow and everyone in town knew me as “the rainbow-haired chick” so I lived the notoriety and signed up on model mayhem and started booking photoshoots. And now I’m here.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

I would love to be on a magazine cover one day, but who doesn’t? The number 1 thing on my bucket list is to have a part in a Quentin Tarantino movie, no matter how small! Haha! I would like to think that in 10 years people can refer to me as “Doctor” and I’ll would have seen most of the world already with the love of my life.

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

Having a full-time school and workload almost my entire life I haven’t done much modeling work compared to my peers but I’ve done a few fashion and lifestyle shoots, usually helping out my artistic friends with their concepts. I’ve done a lot of hair and makeup modeling because well-my hair dyes really well and I have more exotic features. I would love to model full-time though now that I have the time.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

I am lucky enough to have never had any terrible experiences. The best though was when I shot for a men’s magazine launch issue in a gorgeous mansion.

Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

One of my first shoots was a guerrilla photoshoot in what is now the Los Angeles cultural center building when it was still under construction. We ran around in an unfinished building shooting illegally and I would change behind unfinished walls. Very fun!

Isabelle Diep on a grafitti couchIs there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

Be more accepting and promoting of men and women of color.

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

The only sport I do is indoor rock-climbing about once a week. Tones your body and strengthens everything. I like to call it my stealth-ninja training.

I love food. I love carbs and cheese. But I also love not gaining weight so I let myself eat my carbs and cheeses in the morning and I drink an insane amount of juice and water. Usually I’ll just have heavy dinner foods for breakfast and just snack for the rest of the day on fruits and vegetables and nuts.

I also hate sugar, so I take my coffee black and my tea plain and strong. Also, eat plenty of eggs! Keeps you fuller longer.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I get sleep paralyzation almost weekly. It’s not even scary anymore, just annoying.

Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

I wish I was a more consistent person who enjoyed socializing more. I swear, if people never invited me out I would just stay in bed all day watching movies.

Visit Izzy Diep’s website for more photos and information

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Three day Low-Carb High-carb cycle

I thought I’d share my current meal plan with you. It’s low on carbohydrates the first three days of the week while I focus mostly on cardio rather than strength. During this period I’m eating about 500 calories below maintenance in order to lose fat. The next three days are high in carbs and calories as I ramp up resistance exercise with the intent of building muscle. The images were produced using DailyBurn Tracker which is a great way to keep track of your calorie and macro-nutrient intake for free. If you want to track sugar consumption as well as some micro-nutrients, you will want to upgrade to the premium version but for most people the free plan should work just fine.

Low-Carb: Monday through Wednesday

DailyBurn low-carb

 

High-Carb: Thursday through Saturday

DailyBurn high-carb

 

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Glycogen depletion gymnastics & weights training schedule

Considering I’ve basically been doing the same routine for nearly three years now I figure it’s time to switch things up a little. I’m already starting a new nutritional plan to try and trigger glycogen depletion and super-compensation on a weekly basis and I need a revised training schedule to match. My plan is to do two hours of gymnastics from Monday to Wednesday while not eating any carbs. Thursday I’d start doing one hour of gymnastics followed by an hour of strength training as I switch to a high-carb diet. Saturday since there is no gymnastics class in the morning I’ll go to a park to practice parkour and follow that up with an hour in the gym as well. Sundays I rest and ear whatever I feel like to reward myself for a week of dieting and training. I feel having a cheat day or at least a cheat meal is essential in any diet in order to stay motivated and avoid cravings.

Split training schedule

  • Monday: With plenty of stored glycogen I should get the most physically demanding and explosive exercises done first. For me, that means pommel horse and floor, equating to back, shoulders and legs.
  • Tuesday: This is the first day of reduced glycogen stores. The first hour of class we usually focus on stretching so that leaves two half hours to practice tumbling track and parallel bars, equating to legs and shoulders again, but less intensely.
  • Wednesday: Glycogen should be pretty much depleted by now so I’ll focus on high bar and trampoline. High bar mainly works abs, arms and upper back. Trampoline mainly works legs but supposedly it’s one of the only ways to exercise every significant muscle in the body at once. However, it’s not as intense, which is why I usually switch to trampoline when I feel I don’t have a lot of energy or strength.
  • Thursday: This is the first day that glycogen will be replenished, which means the muscles trained today will likely get the most benefit from the rush of carbs. As such, it’s recommendable to try and train the entire body. During gymnastics this means still rings and some floor work, mainly focusing on vertical jumps. Since I’m only spending an hour to an hour and a half doing gymnastics, these two combined with some stretching should be enough. At the gym I focus on my upper back and shoulders, since the latter is what I feel I need to improve on most.
  • Friday: My goal during gymnastics on Fridays is learning something new or work on a movement I haven’t mastered earlier this week. In the gym I’ll do my favorite workout: chest and arms.
  • Saturday: Since there isn’t any gymnastics class on Saturdays, I visit a nearby park where they have some parallel bars, high bars and trees that can be used to warm-up and practice some parkour. Afterwards I hit the gym to work legs and lower back.
  • Sunday: Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest.
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Can creatine and caffeine be combined effectively?

Effects of supplementing creatine and caffeine simultaneously

Many people using pre-workout supplements ask if creatine and caffeine can be combined effectively. It’s a valid question considering creatine and caffeine are often combined in popular pre-workout products such as MusclePharm’s Assault,  BSN’s N.O.-Xplode, Bentancourt Nutrition’s Bullnox, UPSlabs Jack3D or BPI Sports’ 1.M.R. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of studies to either fully confirm or debunk the fact that caffeine influences the effect creatine supplementation has on strength training.

Examine.com has evaluated the results from various studies and also concludes that the effects of co-ingesting creatine and caffeine are not yet clear:

Co-ingesting creatine with Caffeine appears to partially negate the benefits of creatine supplementation (at 5 mg/kg bodyweight) during the loading phase. The exact mechanism is not known, but might be related to opposing actions on muscle contraction time.

However, caffeine does not negate the benefits of creatine loading when not co-ingested, but just taken before exercise in the same dosage. This result indicates that loading creatine without caffeine on a daily basis, but saving caffeine for select workouts, may be an effective strategy as creatine does not adversely affect Caffeine’s ergogenic effects and may enhance creatine’s effectiveness in anaerobic exertion if the two compounds are alternated.

For more information regarding recent research, also read my article on how to combine creatine and caffeine effectively.

Caffeine’s effects on creatine absorption

Does caffeine influence the absorption of creatine? Again, due to lack of scientific studies, the short answer is “we’re not sure”.  If you wish to use both, perhaps the best solution until more information becomes available is to play it safe and use caffeine as early as possible in the morning and load up on creatine later in the day. As you are probably aware, creatine is shuttled to muscle cells more effectively when combined with a carbohydrate-rich beverage, so I would recommend drinking some grape juice or some pure glucose with your daily dosage of creatine.

Also read my article on how to maximize creatine absorption.

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How to improve insulin sensitivity with cinnamon and grapefruit

What is insulin sensitivity?

Insulin sensitivity is the opposite of insulin resistance, a condition where cells fail to respond normally to the hormone insulin. Normally, insulin release triggers cells to extract glucose from the blood to use as energy. However, insulin resistant cells fail to take in nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids despite insulin being present in the blood stream. In other words, increased insulin sensitivity is  a good thing, since the cells will be more responsive to the hormone and better regulate blood glucose levels. As insulin resistance is a major risk-factor for developing type-2-diabetes, increasing your insulin sensitivity with the right foods and regular exercise is a must.

How can I improve my insulin sensitivity?

Grapefruit:  The active compound in grapefruit, a flavanoid known as naringenin, seems to prevent carbohydrate absorption from the intestines, possibly reducing rapid rises in blood sugar and insulin after a meal. This means it’s not ideal for use right after exercise when you do want heightened insulin levels, but grapefruit naringenins have some other very interesting qualities. According to an article at Ergo-Log, grapefruit flavonoid naringenin helps muscles’ glucose uptake while inhibiting glucose uptake by fat cells. Due to low bioavailability it’s recommended to also take β-cyclodextrin, an FDA approved excipient.

Cinnamon help regulate blood glucose levels

Cinnamon help regulate blood glucose levels

Cinnamon: In a study entitled “Changes in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity following 2 weeks of daily cinnamon ingestion in healthy humans“, research concluded that cinnamon can improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in average 25-year olds. This means you need less insulin to trigger a similar response after your workout, which is a good  thing as s I explained in my article about macronutrients. Most studies use Cassia cinnamon, but Ceylon should be just as good if not better. Six grams daily should start having effect after 20 days.

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