Interview with Kara Camille Delonas — Professional Musician, Part-Time Model
Kara Camille Delonas is a 23-year old model residing in Kearny, New Jersey.
How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Kara, born in Newton MA at the same time as my triplet sister Molly and my triplet brother Gary, and also have an older sister named Suzanne. I grew up in a very artistic family, where my grandmother was an actress, my uncle a painter, my dad is a musician, my mom is a writer, so from a very young age I knew I wanted to perform. I first wanted to be a ballerina, then a writer, actress, painter, poet… anything to entertain others. Eventually I discovered how much I loved playing music and writing songs so I stuck to that. I never once pictured myself as a model.
When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?
I first became involved in the industry when I was 18 years old. I randomly decided to teach myself to be a contortionist when I realized that I was double jointed in most parts of my body and unusually flexible, then I shared some of my skills online and got a surprising amount of attention, and one person in my area asked if I would do a photoshoot showcasing my talents, to which I agreed. After the shoot he told me I have a natural ability to pose in front of a camera whether I’m contorting or not, and he recommended I create an online portfolio, so I created my Model Mayhem page using pictures other people took of me and very poor quality selfies. It was so unprofessional at first but the jobs immediately started pouring in… It was so surprising and exciting.
What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?
I hope I’m still modeling in five to ten years but it is definitely not a goal of mine. I hope that I will not be scared of aging, and if I am still modeling I will not try to look, dress or act younger than I am. In ten years I hope I am still playing music, possibly teaching; I hope that I will be happy and have most of my life figured out, as I am doing well but I am still so young and have so much to learn. I also don’t really see myself settling down in ten years, as I love to travel and meet new people and have thrilling, nerve-wracking experiences. Maybe I’ll settle down in twenty years. Maybe thirty.
How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?
I took about a year off from my modeling career to really focus on school. Now that I have graduated I am slowly trying to make my way back in, and have many shoots coming up in the future that I am excited about. Before the hiatus most of my shoots were fashion or fitness related, but sometimes I modeled clothes or makeup. I was very young when I started so most of my jobs were innocent, cute, not very serious, and now that I have grown up a bit I am open to being a bit sexier in my work. I have a few things planned out, so you will have to wait and see.
Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.
I’ve had so many good experiences! It’s hard to pick the best. I occasionally model with my sister Molly and that’s always fun, since we don’t see each other very often these days but when we work together you would think we’re attached at the hip. We’re always on the same page and we’re able to compliment each other, not overpower each other. Also both of us came very close to being on the 20th cycle of America’s Next Top Model, which was an incredible, surreal experience.
As far as worst experiences, well, I think every long-term model has one or two horror stories unfortunately, since it’s a risky business and you have to be smart about who you work with. There was one photographer who was adjusting my poses but gradually started to become inappropriate. I’d prefer not to go into details, but I got out of the studio as fast as I could once I realized what was going on and thankfully I’m okay. I now run a very thorough background check on every photographer I work with.
Have you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?
There’s a photographer I’ve worked with many times and our shoots are always a little eerie, and mysterious. So for this one shoot we picked our location at an abandoned barn, we thought it was abandoned anyways. The roof had completely collapsed, there were trees and vines growing on the inside, the furniture was all covered in thick layers of dust and dirt. About thirty minutes into our shoot we heard a man yelling for us to get out. Apparently he was the owner of the barn. He started screaming and cursing at us and told us he called the police and they were on their way. After a while of listening to him yell at us, we sensed that the police were never called, so we dismissed ourselves. He actually chased after us and keyed the photographer’s car! We eventually went to the police ourselves and it turns out we were in the clear because the state had actually ordered him to put up a No Trespassing sign but he refused for some reason. The barn was recently torn down for being a public safety hazard. I hope that had nothing to do with us.
Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?
The way models are so objectified is a little discouraging, as it can really affect a person’s self esteem. Modeling is like acting but through images, so who you are in a picture is not who you are in real life. There are so many times that I have been talked down to like I am not smart or like I am somehow a lesser human being because I am a model. I always stand up for myself when I feel as though I am being disrespected, but not all models are like me. Some just take it and it’s not okay.
Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.
Those who know me well know that nutrition and exercise are extremely important to me. After months and months of reading and research I decided to permanently go vegan; it’s been a year and three months and I’ve honestly never felt better. Almost everything I eat comes from the produce aisle of the grocery store, and I never calorie restrict or cut carbs, especially fruit. I do however limit my fat intake, especially oils, do not drink alcohol anymore unless it is a very special occasion, and I try to have a green smoothie every day: this is what makes me feel my best.
Exercise is also a very necessary part of my life. I practice Ashtanga yoga every single day, and I do not take days off no matter how busy or tired or sick or lazy I feel. The amazing part about yoga is you can modify it on days you don’t want to practice; there is a yoga practice for everything and everyone. I do try to push myself a little on most days though. I’m always trying to get stronger, and more balanced and more flexible. Bonus: since I started practicing I am much calmer, and in control of my emotions. Yoga has changed my life.
Please share something people don’t know about you.
I love classical music and jazz, and always put on WQXR or WBGO in the car and it puts me in a good mood. When I turn on classical radio in the middle of a piece I always try to guess the composer and I’m almost always right. My friends can back me up on this. It’s a bit of a nerdy obsession.
Would you change anything about yourself?
That is a hard question. There are some days I wish I were skinnier, or had thicker hair, better clothes, etc. I was so insecure growing up, as other kids would always point out my flaws and make me question myself. Now that I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that the things that make me different are what make me unique. I also don’t value the way I look as much anymore because beauty is so temporary. I have a boyfriend who loves me for my mind, not for the way I look; I did not graduate college for the way I look. The only things I would change at this point are things on the inside, not to sound too cliche: I wish that I cared even less what others think of me, I wish I didn’t get so mad when people cut me off in traffic, I wish I didn’t have so much trouble falling asleep some nights, I wish I weren’t so attached to my phone, I wish I spent more time practicing guitar and less time watching TV. They’re little things, but otherwise I am perfectly content with who I am.
What superpower do you wish you had? Why?
If I could have one superpower, I would want to be able to control time. If you really think about it, you can pretty much do anything if you could control time; I would only use it for good though. For example, if I didn’t get enough sleep one night I might go back in time so I could get more. If I ever did something I regret, I could go back and undo it. I could also freeze time just to get some peace and quiet, it would be amazing. I don’t think I would go into the future very often although I am anxious to see who our next president is going to be.
Visit Kara Camille Delonas’s website for more photos and information
Read more