There’s been a push for diversity in the workplace, but what about on the runway? Shouldn’t fashion be for all? What about the models? Shouldn’t the models on the runway also be diverse? While there are more and more models breaking into the world of fashion, is it really enough?
Who chooses what “the look” is? Is the press only giving exposure to certain models? Are designers only focusing in on models with a certain look? Are photographers only photographing and working with certain models? Or maybe it’s society who deems models should look a certain way?
While I can’t tell you where it stems from, I can tell you that having diversity on the runway is so important. It shapes the way we see things. I’ve always viewed models as rolemodels… people you want to look and be like. They’re always wearing the newest styles and showing me the next trends. When I went to get my haircut last week, I showed the hairstylist a picture of a model who had the hairstyle I wanted. Maybe it’s subliminal, maybe it’s not…But the fashion world impacts our views and models are a huge part of that.
Photograph: @fashionnova
Model Monifa speaks up about diversity in the fashion world. Watch her video here:
What do you think about diversity in the fashion world?
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New York Fashion Week is one of the best times of the year! I love seeing the shows and going behind the scenes. I spoke with model Mara Cifuentes just as she was getting ready to walk the runway for swimsuit designer BFYNE.
Model Mara Cifuentes shares her thoughts with us right as she was getting ready to walk for Arts Heart Fashion. Watch Mara’s video here:
Love what you see? Be sure to leave a comment below! Also, be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow my blog’s Instagram @newstylemode.
I love Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a day to celebrate your partner, your friends or even yourself…it’s all about love. In honor of Valentines Day, model Kateryna Saveiko shared her guide to self love with us! Here it is!
Model Kateryna’s Guide to Self Love:
First things first. “You have to love yourself. When you love yourself other people will love you too.”
Give yourself the confidence you need. “You should wake up every morning, look in the mirror and say “I’m beautiful.” Tell yourself that you are beautiful. You have a beautiful soul, you have a beautiful heart, you are kind, and you are a great person.”
Take care of yourself. “Your body will be grateful for you.”
Have a positive outlook on life. “If you think your life is horrible, then it will be horrible. If you think your life will be great, then it will be great.”
Photographer: Amit Singh Chauhan
Jenny A: Thank you so much for your guide. So tell me, what is the dating scene like as a model?
Kateryna Saveiko: It’s not easy. In New York, guys don’t take it seriously. You really have to find the right person.
Jenny A: What is the ideal Valentine’s Day present?
Kateryna: Writing a poem for your partner or even making them a collage of pictures.
Jenny A: What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced as a model so far?
Kateryna: Fighting with myself. I always thinking about what I look like… like if I gained weight. I’m always watching myself. I love food but I have to run everyday.
Jenny A: What advice would you give people who struggle with their weight?
Kateryna: Everyone needs to take care of themselves. America is bigger. You have to keep a diet. Even if it’s for 2 – 3 weeks at a time. If you want to live longer, you need to start watching yourself. Your body will be grateful for you.
Jenny A: What was your craziest modeling experience?
Kateryna: When I was 15 years old, we went for a body art festival in Odessa. When we won 3rd place, a Russian agency invited us to work with them for a month in Russia. During that time we went to one of the lakes for 10 days. We lived there in tents. It was the middle of the summer and it rained every day. There were no restrooms and I had mosquito bites everywhere.
During one of the photoshoots, I stepped in an ant hill and there were ants all over my foot! They were crawling all the way up my knee! I was professional about it and finished the shoot.
Jenny A: What do you think about when you walk down the runway?
Kateryna: My body. You have to control your back, your legs, your face…even the muscles in your face! Lots of people are looking at you when you are on the runway. You need to talk with your eyes.
Jenny A: Do you have a goal for this year?
Kateryna: I want to start a modeling blog with my friend who is also a model. Our blog will be about the modeling life in New York. I love this city and I want to help people to see New York positively. People think that the life of a model is easy but, there’s a lot to it. You’re hungry. Your heels aren’t comfortable. Your feet might be bleeding. You have to smile even when feet hurt or you are tired. You always have to be awake and fresh.
Photographer: Amit Singh Chauhan
3 Fun facts about Kateryna:
Favorite hobby? Writing Russian poems
Favorite animated character? Catwoman. She’s strong, sexy, smart and she has her own opinion about everything.
If she could be a fruit or vegetable she would be… A grape because it can turn into a healthy juice or a fine wine.
Have you ever wondered what a model thinks about before stepping onto the runway? I caught model Madeline Berl literally right before she stepped onto the runway for designer Wanda Beauchamp at the Art Hearts Fashion show.
Madeline was the closing model for designer Wanda Beauchamp and I must say that she looked absolutely stunning! When I saw her walk down the runway, I was in awe. She looked like she just walked out of a magical garden. She really made us feel like we were in a fairytale.
Model Carley Beck’s hair is crimped for designer Alexandra Popescu-York at New York Fashion Week
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This season I decided I wanted to switch it up and try something new. Usually I ask fashion models questions that I come up with during New York Fashion Week. This time, I wanted to make it a little fun and asked my friends to come up with questions that they were dying to know about fashion models.
My friend, Mara from the Upper West Side wanted to know : Does all of the runway prep – like dressing up and getting your hair and makeup done – take away from the fun of doing it on your own free time? Watch the video to find out!
Thank you so much for your question Mara!
A little backstory behind the video:
I was behind the scenes at Couture Fashion Week when I saw model Carley Beck getting her hair crimped for her next fashion show. While I’ve seen different crimping videos online, I’ve never scene it in person. So I wanted to get an up close view. I started talking with Carley and we really connected. When we exchanged Instagram accounts, I was so surprised. I was already following her! I looked up and saw that she had the same look across her face. Apparently she recognized my logo and was already following me too! It was so funny! While we didn’t figure out exactly how we know each other, I have a pretty good feeling that it was probably through all my work at past New York Fashion Weeks.
Watch Carley getting her hair crimped by hairstylist Ramika Guillory:
I want to hear from you! What do you think about the crimped hairstyle? Be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow my blog’s Instagram @newstylemode
For more of Carley’s fashion adventure, you can follow her on Instagram @carley_beck
Photo (left): Justin Photography; Photo (right): Joe Harary
Meet Carina:
Carina Castagna is a model who lives her life between 2 worlds: her high fashion lifestyle in the city and her outdoorsy country style in the mountains (aka her home). She describes herself as a tomboy who loves to embrace her femininity. When she’s in her hometown, she’ll wear sweatpants, an oversized flannel shirt and a beanie. But when she’s in New York City, she’ll wear a trendy Calvin Klein dress and a pair of heels.
Raised in a small household surrounded by nature, Carina loves to spend her free time doing outdoor activities. You can find her out on her boat, hiking in the woods, and even going horseback riding. “I’m nature’s wild child!” Did you know that Carina has won trophies for her horseback barrel racing? In the summer, Carina likes to hang out on the beach. She enjoys playing beach volleyball and surfing the waves. Amidst her love for the beach, it is interesting to know that out of all the seasons, her favorite is winter; after all, she is a January baby! She loves the snow almost as much as she loves snowboarding in it. “A good winter is one that snows a lot!”
Carina is obsessed with music – she simply can’t live without it! If given the choice of becoming deaf or blind, she would rather become blind then to never hear music again. She listens to everything from Pop and EDM to Country and Hard Rock. When asked what her favorite music genre, she exclaimed that she loves it all! “I listen to everything! It just depends on the mood I’m in or the activity that I am doing that dictates what I am going to put on.” She has attended numerous concerts over the years and recommends experiencing either a concert or a music festival at least once within your life. “Music is more than a sound, it is an experience and it brings people together. It’s also a great outlet for people to express themselves or even ‘get lost’ for a moment in time. It’s a beautiful experience to create music or even listen to music, especially first hand at a concert.”
“Nature’s Wild Child,” Carina has a big heart for animals and is a big advocate against animal cruelty. At one point, she had 6 rescue animals from either abusive situations or life or death. She has even nurtured 2 squirrels, a turtle and a bunny back to health! “Loving an animal releases a certain part of the soul, it’s a fantastic experience. I don’t understand how people can be so cruel to living creatures.” She has a dream, or rather a goal, that one day she will own a ranch and have the ability to save even more animals over the course of her lifetime.
If she could have 3 items in her bag it would be her rescue dog, her perfume collection, and a devotional book because you have to be kind, humble and remember who you are and where you came from.
She loves modeling because it takes her to places she’s never been to before. She says that for her, modeling is an artistic outlet. She compares herself to an art piece that walks down the runway.
Photo by: Justin Photography
Carina’s role model is Adriana Lima, Victoria’s Secret Brazilian model. Like Carina, Adriana also comes from a small town, has humble beginnings and has an athletic build. Carina admires Adriana because she has a lot of confidence, is mysterious, and commands attention & respect.
If she could be a fruit or vegetable, Carina would be a pineapple. “Be sweet on the inside, stand tall and wear a crown.” She says to always respect yourself and treat others properly.
3…2…1…The countdown begins! Everyone keeps asking me what is on my New Years resolution list so I decided to share my list with you! I feel like it’s going to be a great year filled with a lot of hope and wonderful opportunities. For me, 2018 brings a lot of excitement, happiness, and growth.
Just like a countdown, I counted down my top 5 New Year resolutions:
5. Interview more models – While I have interviewed a lot of fashion models, I would love to do more interviews in 2018. I would also like to interview and feature more international models.
4. Buy new equipment- I really want to get a good external camera light for my pictures and videos.
3. Host my first New Style Modé fashion event – I would like to network more and maybe even have my own event!
2. Create more videos – This past year, I focused a lot on my writing. I would like to make more short videos in 2018.
1. Grow my readership and blog – I want to thank all of you for reading and following my blog! If you haven’t already, be sure to follow the blog on Instagram @newstylemode
Happy New Year! 🙂
So tell me, what’s on your New Year’s resolution list?
