Blog Archives

Interview with Eira Rose — Amorphous, Pocket-sized Model

Eira Rose is a 25-year old model residing in Purvis, Mississippi.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Eira Rose, born in Tampa, Florida, to a military family, and have lived all over the world. I’m a fashion designer and cosplayer; I dabble in writing, music, makeup, jewelry-making, and wig styling, and I enjoy reading and playing video games. I work as a full time dental assistant… and I model! Perhaps the most unusual thing about my success as a model is my size, as I’m only 150cm, which is aroun 4’11”.

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

I started actually modeling in February of 2014. Pretty much my whole life, I heard, “You’re too small for that” and “You’ll never make it because of your height”; but I woke up one day, determined to at least put myself out there: I wanted to model. I didn’t want to just look at the artistic, beautiful images… I wanted to be them.

Eira Rose as pin up girl for Coca ColaWhat are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

When it comes to the modeling industry, I’d like to see myself in more artistic formats in five years. I’m in love with fantasy, science fiction, and the absolute ethereal. I’d love to be paid to be in magazines that so often depict men and women who look simply untouchable. It doesn’t particularly interest me to be outright sexualized, which is a lot of the industry, and what a lot of people really enjoy doing. That’s just not who I am, or how I want to be depicted. In ten… well, ask me in five years.

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

Usually, I do fashion, glamour, and art photo shoots. I’m really big on Japanese street fashions, so I’ve recently done a cute space-themed coordinate “uchuu kei” shoot, a lolita shoot, and I have a gothic aristocrat shoot coming up in the cooler months. I’m also into alternative fashions, from punk and grunge to pin-up. Pin-up seems to be a favorite with local photographers, and I’m definitely not complaining! I’ve done a cosplay shoot recently too, and that was magnificent; I made the costume myself, so, for me, it was art, as I made the character, then became the character. I’ve done some runway, too. In July 2015, I walked for the Japanese lolita fashion label, “Baby, the Stars Shine Bright” at Mechacon in New Orleans. It was a lot of fun, and I managed not to fall even though the shoes were five and a half sizes too big! I’d do it again too, given the opportunity.

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

Some of my best experiences come from working with groups, actually. A friend of mine, Doll, organized a Fourth of July pinup shoot this year, and there were at least six photographers shooting, and I believe eight models. We laughed and had a lot of fun working that day. It was so hot and crowded in the studio, but everyone left happy with the work we did and the people with which we interacted. I won’t discuss my worst experiences in too much detail. I’ve met some photographers that make me very uncomfortable, and some who seem to know the exact angle that highlights a model’s flaws.

Eira Rose wearing a green gawnHave you had anything funny, embarrassing or completely out of the ordinary happen during your modeling career?

One of my first shoots, the photographer thought it would be cute to have me put on a little boy’s shirt, and I’m talking real little, like 7-8 years old… and it fit, it was a little short, but it fit. It was kind of embarrassing, and kind of funny.

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

“Industry standards”. By no means is it anyone’s right to decide what’s beautiful or right. As a designer, I understand haute couture requiring height minimums and weight maximums- after all, the walk is about the clothing, not the people in them- but the standards are hurting people who are extremely beautiful, but weren’t born the right shape. A thousand times, I’ve wished my legs were longer and thinner, but genetics gave me hips, and martial arts gave me substantial thighs. I’ve wished I were taller, but that will never happen. And there are people killing themselves inside with these things, telling themselves they’re not good enough… all because of “industry standards”.

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 never been good at sports, even though I was the most aggressive defender in my soccer division when I was in 6th grade; I can’t dance, and I love food. However, I love yoga, I walk daily, and I love to roller skate. I pretty much eat anything I want, but my “bad” foods are always in moderation, so I limit myself to one soda a day as a maximum, drinking predominately water, I don’t eat a lot of sweets or other junk food. I’ve found that eating excessive amounts of processed and empty calorie foods actually makes me sluggish, so maintaining a healthy diet isn’t even primarily about the way my body looks, but how it feels… it’s very important to me to make sure I feel great.

Eira Rose wearing a victorian era dressPlease share something people don’t know about you.

I don’t have a definitive gender identity. I’ve honestly been asked about it on several occasions, and I can never find an answer less vague than “nonbinary”. I’d love to describe it to you, but it’s not something anyone who doesn’t experience it can understand.

Would you change anything about yourself?

I did already mention that I’d like to be taller, but otherwise, I think I’d ditch my “jack of all trades, master of none” abilities to be a master of one or two of my favorite things.

Have you ever been fired from a job?

I worked, very briefly, at an AT&T satellite store called Extreme Wireless. About two months in, I was helping an elderly customer who wanted to add her tablet to her plan, but was on a fixed income and couldn’t afford to add it to her existing plan. So, I offered to change it, eliminating the unlimited calling and texting, since she didn’t use them often or even at all, and they weren’t required for the plan. Immediately, a coworker jumped on me, saying those plans had to have the texting, which I disagreed, and he insisted.

When I asked him why, he couldn’t give a real answer, and in the end the poor customer left more confused and let down than when she’d come in. He told me, “Don’t you ever question me in front of a customer again.” The next day, I was told by a manager that I was there to make the company money, not help people budget. I took my weekend off a week later, vowing to start looking for a new job after I got back from an event. The manager fired me Monday morning when I arrived because I was “just not a salesperson, and that I was too much customer service.” Sorry for not lying to old ladies. Oh, wait… no I’m not.

Read more

Interview with Eliza simba — Beauty from pain

Eliza simba is a 20-year old model residing in Costa Mesa, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I am adopted and found out two years ago I am Portuguese and Spanish. I was born in Miami and have been an artist since I can remember. I’m only 20 years old but am a wise soul that has been through drug addiction, homelessness, and abuse, yet I see the beauty remaining in life. My body is my canvas.

Eliza simba modeling underwearWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

When I was young I loved art and photography. I started directing and editing films and sometimes I would act in them. Soon enough, I started to get offers to be in photo shoots and loved it.

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

I would love to see myself open an art gallery and get more experienced in modeling.

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

I model part time and mostly do pin up, lingerie, gore, and 420 shoots.

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

The best experience I’ve had modeling was with an amazing photographer named Rene who just made me feel so comfortable and we had a blast- worst experience was with a proclaimed photographer who was just straight up creepy and just wanted to see me naked, no artistic skills at all.

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

Omg yes. I was doing a shoot in Hollywood in huge platform heels and one broke and I fell in the middle of the street where I was posing !

Eliza simba wearing blue jeansIs there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

Yes- more thick bitches 😉

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

I excercise daily and only eat healthy. I love spinning and cycleates. I love hot room yoga and anything that gets u sweaty!

Please share something people don’t know about you.

My cat is my best friend? Lol

Would you change anything about yourself?

If I could I’d be 10 pounds lighter and not be so naive growing up.

If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you do?

Tell every girl she’s beautiful

Visit Eliza simba’s website for more photos and information

Read more

Interview with Tia Maria — Alternative Cosplay Model

Tia Maria is a 23-year old model residing in San Diego, California.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hey, I’m Tia Maria, a 23 year old alternative cosplay model. I was born in Minnesota, raised in Arizona and now live in San Diego, California! I have an addiction to Nine Inch Nails, I’m an avid hookah lover and I love attending comic conventions!

I’ve worked for the Stan lee Foundation not long after working as a booth babe for Anthony Winn (artist for the comic book Stripperella).

I now work as a booth babe for the comic book artist, Joe Benitez and I’m on my way to modeling for the first steampunk pin up website that was created by my idol, Kato!

Tia Maria wearing a blue dressWhen, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

Okay, first, I’m gonna explain cosplay modeling… It’s someone who creates, models and acts like a pop culture character of their choice!

I started cosplaying 5 years ago but didn’t start modeling until about 2 years ago while I was living in Australia.
I got involved in the industry when I cosplayed for an Australian comic convention… I ended up getting quite a lot of unusual attention and so I got together a few photographers

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

Personally my goals are to find the perfect permanent place to live… I moved around a lot but I’m ready to root myself.

Professionally I want alternative and cosplay modeling to be my full time profession! I hope to be there by 5 years… 10? I’m sure I’ll be at it here and there.

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

My modeling depends on the number of comic conventions I’ll be at in a particular month but on average it’s 2 to 3 conventions a month with about 10 photography sessions in a 4 day weekend. Some are cosplay related, others are alternative, pin up and fashion. While at the convention I model as the booth babe and I sell merch, while dressed in cosplay for a company or artist.

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

The best memory I have is of my first nude shoot. I was the only model, out of 5, that was featured in an exhibition twice and I was the only one with the largest photograph on display!

The worst was working with a photographer that was so beyond my experience I became terrified out of my mind! Sadly, it showed in the photos but it didn’t stop me from continuing my modeling!

Tia Maria behind a mirrorIs there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

I hope that eventually body shaming will stop. In my personal opinion, by now, literally everyone can be a model. Lightroom and photoshop have made it all possible and companies truly need to stop shaming society by only using models that are a size 2-0.

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

I use the military diet as a guideline when it comes to eating and if I can’t use Jillian Micheals’ Ripped in 30 then I make it a point to walk for an hour to and hour and a half.

Would you change anything about yourself?

I tend to be a bit envious of other models. I hope to change this in time because really… Who wants to constantly feel like they’re not in par with such amazing models?

What superpower do you wish you had? Why?

I wish I were like wolverine! Adamantium claws, superhuman strength and regenerative powers? Uh… hellz to the yea!

Visit Tia Maria’s website for more photos and information

Read more