Blog Archives

Nov 08 2015

Interview with Brooke — Jill of All Trades and Badass

Brooke is a 25-year old model residing in Louisville, Kentucky.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I am a 25 year old entrepreneur born and raised in Louisville Kentucky with 4 other siblings by two wonderful, hard working doctors. I have had the opportunity to travel to most of the US states and over 30 countries. I received a BFA from University of Arizona and have opened my own small business, which is a letterpress. I have held all sorts of odd jobs including: kennel tech, AR15 designer and builder, security officer, motorcycle mechanic apprentice and model, and as you can see I have trouble being idle and at any time could be doing a hobby, picking up an odd job, or in the gym, and if it’s a DIY project, I’m doing it. I’m self sufficient and determined, maybe even a little hardheaded! I am a serious dog lover and my two dogs come first, and I also love tattoos, so I’m not stopping at the 13 I have now.

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

I became interested in modeling at a young age, maybe 13 and joined a so-named school, which turned out to be really just a money pit, and landed one acting job but quickly realized the company for what it was and was tired of being told “you’re not tall enough” to be a model and get an agent. I moved to Arizona in 2011 and really put in time and effort and quickly built a good portfolio and met some wonderful photographers and other models, while I was a college student, so modeling was some good side cash and really fun for me.

Brooke holding a badass gunWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

I hope to build my letterpress company, have a family and continue doing all the things I love, which includes modeling. I’d also like to continue body building and do more fitness photoshoots.

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

In Arizona I did about 2 to 3 shoots a month including video shoots, but when I got into grad school things slowed down, and I also worked for a lingerie company in Arizona for a bout a year. Now that I am back home in Kentucky I have maybe 1 to 2 shoots a month, and although I love video work, I usually end up doing nude, implied, fashion, lingerie and fitness shoots; in general I love outdoor work and anything badass.

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

I have definitely run the gambit with photographers and modeling shoots, and have also found a few photographers who I have absolutely loved and continued working with on silly shoots or just for fun shoots pretty regularly, and I have also met the “guy with camera” about 100 times, so I am pretty good at weeding through those. I can read how a shoot is going to go from the first encounter with a photographer, and I have also learned to expect at least half the payment upon arrival after doing a 6 hour shoot and the photographer refusing to pay me.

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

Plenty of inappropriate behavior from photographers for sure, but one particular photographer stole all my lingerie from my suitcase when I wasn’t looking! And I once did a “group shoot” with some other girls where we dressed up as zoo animals, probably a bit more scandalous than we should have, and went to a zoo where a giraffe licked my armpit, gross.

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

If I could get rid of all the “guys with camera” that would be great, and also anyone who preys on models, since I think no one should feel uncomfortable at a shoot.

Brooke sitting next to a tree in a forestDo you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I go to the gym 5 days a week and am big into weight lifting; in fact, I’ve gone from 90 lbs in 2011 to 115lbs by 2014, all 25 lbs being muscle. I love to swim and be active, I eat extremely cleanly, and I do not drink alcohol, take any type of recreational drug, drink caffeine or carbonated drinks and tend to eat balanced meals. I’ve seen people not be well enough to play with their children or grandchildren and I have sworn to never be that way… I want to be healthy and active until the day I die.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I have trained on a flying trapeze.

Would you change anything about yourself?

Honestly I wouldn’t change anything about myself, but perhaps I wish some things had not happened to me; although those experiences, despite being horrible, have made me who I am today and I am pretty proud of that. Physically? OK maybe I wish I had been blessed with more defined calves.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I do not have many vices, I don’t drink, or do drugs or really have an addictive personality; I have tattoos, though, but I grew up in Kentucky and love betting on horses. Also peanut butter oreos, whoever invented those I want to kiss you and also kill you.

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Sep 07 2014

Interview with Kensi Chez — Collegiate Pole Vaulter Turned Model

Kensi Chez is a 21-year old model residing in San Diego, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Kensi Chez, I was born and raised in California. I have two brothers one older and one younger, I am stuck in the middle. They are very important to me, because of them I am motivated to accomplish all of my goals. My older brother is the reason why I found my main passion in life, pole vaulting. I pole vaulted all throughout high school and two years in college. Now I am a coach at a high school and I love my job.

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

I started modeling when I was eighteen years old. I went with my best friend to one of her shoots and thought it was the coolest thing. The next thing I know I began modeling too.

Kensi Chez wearing a flowered dressWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

In ten years I will have my masters in Finance and hopefully be coaching pole vaulting at a collegiate level.

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

I do a photo shoot about once every week. The types of shoots I do depend on who the photographer is. If it is the first time I am shooting someone I usually stick to casual, fashion, or swimsuit shoots. If I am shooting with a photographer I have shot with before I am a lot more opened to lingerie or implied work. I also recently started doing fashion shows, those are a blast.

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

My best experience modeling was when I did a partner shoot with my best girlfriend who is also a model. We both brought out the best in each other and we never stopped laughing. It is always so fun working with her.

My worst experience was one of my very first shoots, I usually like to bring an escort when I meet new photographers, and this photographer was so offended by me asking if it was ok if I do that. I ended up not shooting with him because of it.

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

One time I was at a beach photo shoot, and I was in my bikini and the photographer wanted me to lie on the sand by the water. I lied there, we got a few shots, then out of nowhere a giant wave came and drenched me. My makeup and hair was ruined and the photographer got pictures of the whole thing happening, it was hilarious.

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

I would stop editing pictures in magazines. Women are beautiful the way they are and their imperfectionsKensi Chez wearing a red dress are what make them unique.

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

When I am not pole vaulting, I am a huge crossfit and olympic weight lifting enthusiast. Most women think lifting weights will make them buff and manly looking but it doesn’t, it is one of the greatest things a woman can do, after those workouts you feel like you can conquer anything that is put in your way.

My diet is different than most models, I am a human garbage disposal. I generally eat healthy, but I have those days when all I do is binge on junk food. I think nutrition is an extremely important factor in my life, I grew up with a very health conscious family and they taught me one of the best things to do for yourself is to eat healthy.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

When I was fifteen I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. For the longest time I was really embarrassed of it because, well, if you have ever had a panic attack in front of somebody that isn’t your family it’s very embarrassing. It also made me feel like there was something wrong with me. While I was in high school I learned techniques to help with preventing panic attacks. When I graduated high school I decided to work really hard and learn to maintain my depression. It was a lot of hard work but I conquered both anxiety and depression, and I have never felt better.

Would you change anything about yourself?

I wouldn’t change a thing, every part of me is unique.

If you had only 24 hours left to live, what would you do?

I would find Micheal Fassbender -the guy who plays Magneto in the new X Men movies- and ask him to marry me. Hey, it won’t hurt to try.

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