Blog Archives

Mar 20 2015

Interview with Zuzana Star — Competitive swimmer wins in modeling

Zuzana Star is a 16-year old model residing in Tampa, Florida.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I was born and raised in Slovakia, but moved to Florida when I was 7. My twin brother and I were adopted by my step father and started a new happier chapter of our lives.

When I moved to Florida, I joined a local competitive swim team – the best decision I made as a kid. Now, I swim for one of the top teams in Florida and train to get national cuts. We practice 3+ hours daily and compete every month. I’m also a high school student attending Tampa Preparatory School trying to keep my GPA high. I’m a member of the National Honors Society, I volunteer at a local college and keep myself busy with modeling.

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

To be honest, I started modeling after I read the autobiography written by Amanda Beard titled “In Water They Don’t See You Cry”. Amanda is a US Olympic Swimmer, who also became a top model. She succeeded in both swimming and modeling and she inspired me immensely.

Swimming is an intense sport and training or competing can be quite stressful. Modeling gives me confidence. In swimming, if you don’t win or don’t get the time cut – you are devastated. In modeling, I feel great every time, because I get to create something amazing and I get to explore a more feminine, creative side of me. Modeling is a great outlet.

Zuzana Star lying on the grassWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

I recently read an article by Wayne Goldsmith titled “1 Thing In Goal Setting That Separates The Best From The Rest”. The article talks about how important is to set long-term goals, but does it work? Not really. Not if you do it the way most people do. The one thing in goal setting that separates the best from the rest are ‘moment goals’. People set admirable goals like becoming an an Olympic athlete or the next Victoria Secret Angel, but they forget that what is really important is to focus on the immediate goals now. Focus on what is in front of us. For me, it is to have the best practice, to win my next race or do the best photoshoot yet or impress a local agent. I am focused on the present.

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

I try to balance my busy life as a student, athlete and model. On those weekends when I don’t have a swim meet, I usually schedule a photoshoot or an event. I’ve done numerous shoots, ranging from lifestyle, fitness, to glamour and others, and enjoyed them immensely. I also did a few events such as a bridal show – it was a lot of fun. Now, I’m looking for an agency representation to be able to apply myself and take modeling to a new level. I’d love to do runway or fashion shows soon.

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

I guess the worst experience in modeling for me is when you go to a casting or meet an agent and get rejected in 2.5 seconds. Other than that, modeling is a lot of fun and I love it every single time… except on a bad hair day…

I love working with photographers who are patient and who make me feel… beautiful. Who guide me, but let me express myself, too.

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

One lovely afternoon, we did a shoot at a small lake in Sarasota, FL. The photographer’s face got really intense and he just kept snapping pics as fast as he could and then he just yelled “run”. We both ran… because apparently behind me was this nasty ginormous alligator who decided to get out of the lake and look for his dinner – me.

Zuzana Star face closeupIs there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

I’m still trying to understand the industry, so I’m not so sure at this time. Just like any other industry, it is very competitive. On a personal level, I wish I could block all the creepers from contacting me online. There are some predators, worse than the alligator in the lake, who are dangerous. I’m only 16, but I received a few really scary messages through my online profile. I wish I could somehow avoid that. I have to be very careful.

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

Being a high performance competitive swimmer requires to be on a special diet plan. I actually went to a holistic nutritionist to get guidance how to maximize my performance. Currently, I am 5′ 7” and only 106 pounds. I am still growing and I need to make sure I do not lose weight. Swimmers actually often struggle with weigh loss, because of the level of training that is involved. I have to have a balanced diet consisting of large amounts of protein and carbs with a lot of fluids. I cannot skip breakfast, I have to eat 5 to 6 times a day. Cannot eat light lunch and overeat at night. There are strict guidelines. Good nutrition is key to success in both modeling and swimming.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

I have a twin brother, who is also a model and swimmer. We often compete in everything we do, but support each other, too.

Would you change anything about yourself?

I am very critical about myself and have a list of things I wish I could change or improve. At the same time, I’m conformable about my body. I work very had every day in the pool and I’m satisfied with the way I look. I count my blessings and try not to be…. greedy. I try focusing on things I have control of instead of physical shortcomings I cannot change, like my chin, cheeks, and others.

Are you currently in a relationship? How would you describe your partner?

I’ll be honest – I’ve never been in a relationship. Never had a steady boyfriend. This area is all unexplored and I am looking forward to exploring it one day…. soon. My dream man would look like Theo James from the Divergent movies. He would have the biggest heart and lots of patience, and money… haha, love me unconditionally and forever. I’m a dreamer!

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Nov 23 2014

Interview with Sofia Novakova — Chameleon model/ Nerdy athlete

Sofia Novakova is a 24-year old model residing in Los Angeles, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

You are what you do and think every day. I am naturally curious about many things and the era that would describe me best would be Renaissance- universal man, whose day can span from inventing a parachute in the morning to as far as observing stars at night. I was born in a little spa town in Slovakia, but immediately relocated to the capital city Bratislava. My roots are deeply encraved in me, which I feel intensely while travelling. This is one my biggest hobbies and I found that out when I was 18 years old taking up on Camino de Santiago. This pilgrimage has opened my eyes and awaken an adventurer in me, that is ever hungry for new experiences.

My family is my life. I love every one of them, my mom is a strong and intelligent woman but most importantly she is kind, which gave me a lot to look up to growing up. My sister is a little devil with a good heart and challenges me every day. I used to love summers going to my grandparents’ house lost in the mountains of Slovak paradise. Being able to kind of “grow up in the nature” gave me the sense of true meaning of what is important in life and firmly set my priorities to focus on.

I think it’s great to combine knowledge and sports, like Greeks used to. I’m an athletic artist, I love to paint using duck-tape and sprays, box, run in the forest and do yoga in the morning listening to Maori songs by Kiri Te Kanawa or Nahko Bear. James Franco is similar- he is crazily witty, almost like an intellectual nerd but at the same time he makes this face and says “You’re peanut butter and jelly!” Most of my life I’ve done things that had something to do with art, theatre, film-making and education.

Sofia Novakova face closeup When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

It started as an idea in high school, when by best friend Klara got a Canon camera for birthday. She wanted to do a photoshoot and since we both loved fashion, we decided that we would be first-timers for each other- her as a photographer and me as a model. Which made sense really because she was more introverted and I was an exhibitionist, who would dance Hip-Hop all the time.

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

What you make of your days now, creates series of consequential moments, that will form your future life. I have finished directing my first promotional sports video for my exercising group MITS -military training simulation- which I founded in order to get together a community of women who would like to just go in the forest and have a helluva good work-out. Seeing positive feedback makes it meaningful to me. Myself in ten years may be blurred, but my goal is quite clear. I want to be of contribution and leave a mark for future generation- kids of today will one day be the young adults dealing with the same issues as we are now, and to make it just a little nicer or easier for them would be a good way to go. I would like to make films and art that would articulate my observations and be of positive influence. I will do what it takes to incorporate exploring the world and having a peaceful home and a family. That’s what I need in personal life. And book. I wanna write a book. I love books.

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

I model every now and then, depends on the project. I need to find the person behind it smart and stimulating, someone who knows what he is doing and to whom I can relate to. I do videos and short movies too, because it is more organic and uses mediums such as movement, spoken word or music. It touches different areas like sport, lifestyle, enviroment, love and others. The possibilities are endless.

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

Everyone I worked with was amazing. My latest shooting was with Stefan Merriweather, LA based photographer and we went to work in this remote beach called the Wedge in Newport and it was awesome. It was all surfers and big waves and empty beaches. Reminded me of Hawaii.

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

I had to put on an alien costume and dance with it.

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

Just put more honesty to 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 love this question.

Yes. Nutrition and sports- very big role in my life. I definitely put a lot of effort and thought into my every day diet and the way I schedule exercise. I wake up quite early in the morning, do my yoga for 30 to 40 minutes, eat breakfast which is oatmeal poured with hot water with cinnamon, bit of butter and honey. Usually I eat a lot of soups, tomato, cabbage or curcuma. I also like buckwheat that I put in pan along with lot of vegetables. I don’t eat that much meat, but I use onions, olive oil and lemon a lot for cooking. I additionally use vitamins if I work out a lot, magnesium, B6 and C will do. I go running three times a week at least and then there’s boxing…my grandma hates it, says it makes my shoulders wide, but I have just naturally well developed upper body.

Please share something people don’t know about you.

When I get cold feet I warm them up using hot water from the sink. It once happened in the kitchen too. I have repetitive dreams. I like to put salt on the bread that already has honey on it.

Would you change anything about yourself?

I am changing a little every day, I read a chapter per day from selected motivational books in the morning to set a good base-stone for my day. The more I read, the more I realize there is maybe not necessarily a lot to change, but definitely a lot to improve. My urge to speak when others do, for example, or be more patient, forgiving and you can always be more kind. That’s the best.

What is your favorite thing to do alone?

I put on earphones, get naked and dance like crazy to the remix of Party Up by DMX.

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Sep 21 2014

Interview with Kyrstannie Day — Petite Model and Actress

Kyrstannie Day is a 20-year old model residing in Dublin, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

Originally raised in Sacramento, I am a 20 year old model and actress living in the San Francisco area in sunny California. I have 6 brothers and was raised without my mom, who was a drug addict. My mom was not a part of my life and I’m happy to say I never amounted to a statistic. I’m just the daughter of a drug addict, not a by-product.

Most of my time is spent networking or on set. And if I’m not there you’ll find me working at a motorcycle shop part time! When I do have free time, it’s spent with close family and friends or writing script for films I hope to direct at some point in the future.

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

Modeling began for me right after graduating high school. I had a friend who was into photography down in LA and was up in northern California for a bit. So we met up, shot, and I was hooked from there! I saw a challenge that I wanted to take; being a model on the shorter side who wanted to make an impact in this industry. Eventually I branched out to acting and continue to grow and learn in both fields.

Kyrstannie Day face closeupWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

Personally, I want to be able to impact as many lives as possible in a positive manner. As a high school student with acne and braces, I never felt as if I fit in or was considered “beautiful”. If I can show others that there is no definition of perfect, then I’ve accomplished something. If at least one person can wake up in the morning feeling better about themselves, more motivated, and content then I’ve done my job.
Professionally, I would love to expand in not just modeling but acting. My passion is in both, but there is something about character roles that I love! In five years, my goal is to be in a successful blockbuster film, or directed one!, and potentially on a comedic TV show that people enjoy watching.

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

I’m on set acting more now than I am modeling. Typically I shoot 3 days out of the week, sometimes the whole week I’m booked on a project. I’m currently in the middle of a TV pilot and a couple feature films as well as some voice over work.

As far as modeling goes, I book about a shoot a week and do more commercial looks, fashion, love doing glamour, and lifestyle.

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

I remember showing up to a shoot one time and finding out I was modeling with the same car from 21 Jump Street. Not a similar looking one, the one. So that was a pretty cool experience and not what I was expecting at all!

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

One thing I would like to see change in this industry is something that is already being acknowledged and will hopefully lead to a more open and accepting world. And that would be the beauty campaigns showing women being themselves, not stressing about “being perfect”.

Kyrstannie Day wearing a black dressDo you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

I currently take barre classes, which is a fusion of yoga, pilates, and ballet training, a couple times a week as well as work out on my own lifting weights and running. I’m at the gym 4 to 5 days a week.

As far as nutrition goes, I stay away from high sugar and sodium foods. I never want to promote not eating to stay thin or consuming under the recommended amount of daily calories. It’s all about moderation and eating as natural as possible. I’m big on chicken, rice, lentils, oats and grains, fruits, veggies. All the good stuff!

It’s important to keep in mind that what you put into your body is going to affect it one way or another. Treat your body right and it will do the same for you.

Would you change anything about yourself?

Nothing physical, it’s all about embracing who you are as long as you take care of yourself and are proud of it! Other than that, perhaps being able to be a little more forgiving and able to let go of things that don’t matter.

Are you currently in a relationship? How would you describe your partner?

My boyfriend is the absolute opposite of me! We have modeled together before and he is so shy and introverted. He’s a great guy but not too fond of going out and mingling with people like me.

Visit Kyrstannie Day’s website for more photos and information

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