NYFW with Fashion Model Tommy Maksanty

As New York Fashion Week comes to an end, I thought it would be the perfect time to publish my interview with 2016 Mr. NYFW Model of the Year, Tommy Maksanty.

Meet Tommy:

Jenny A. (Me): Which celebrity do you think you look like the most?

Tommy (TM): People say I look like Edge the Wrestler if I were to put on weight.

Me: What is it like for you behind the scenes of a fashion show?

TM: I’m pretty much laid back. I just watch and take a lot of things in.

Me: Does it ever get hectic?

TM: I live in Virginia but I travel up to New York for fashion weeks. Some days I’ll overbook myself. In September 2015 I had 9 fashion shows back to back. I would go to a fitting where I would hop on my longboard and travel to the next fashion show. Last February 2016 during the snowstorm I snuck backstage during Style Fashion Week and ended up walking for M the Movement and accidentally closing Style Fashion Week for Richie Rich @richirichworld.

**Credit: @amconyc @soulmodelmanagement @clickmodelny**

Me: What’s your worst fashion experience?

TM: Back in April 2016 I had a fashion show up at the UN and my taxi cab drove off with my knapsack, longboard and all my stuff. It was a complete nightmare. I lost everything from February New York Fashion Week.

Me: If there was one designer you could model for, anyone in the world, who would it be?

TM: Tommy Hilfiger.

Me: How would you describe your style?

TM: I wear what fits and I make it work.

Me: What are your hobbies?

TM: Walking on the runway, longboarding, traveling and other outdoor activities.

Me: Where do you like to hangout?

TM: Anywhere by the water, somewhere on a mountain and sitting VIP at fashion events.

Me: What are 3 things you always carry with you?

TM: When I’m in the city I always have my longboard since I don’t like to walk –it’s too congested. I’ll also have my Bluetooth headset and portable phone charger on me.

Me: What’s your dream job?

TM: Getting paid to work out and smile.

Me: Who inspires you?

TM: My father. He gets up around 5:00am for work every day and doesn’t come home till late. He taught me how to be a hard worker.

Me: Who is your favorite demigod?

Hercules. I like the way people idolize him. He’s pretty cool.

Me: If you could be a fruit or vegetable, what would you be?

TM: A watermelon – because everyone loves watermelon and it’s my favorite fruit.

Me: How would your friends describe you?

Tommy actually had his friend Ben answer this question.

Ben: Tommy is like Johnny Depp’s stunt double. He’s smart, good looking, and has a great body with cut muscles. You can put him on any billboard and any product will sell– he’s the real deal.

Photographer: @sarosh_photography ; Designer: @imalandrinibeachwear

Tommy won the September 2016 Mr. NYFW Model of the Year by ASC Productions. He was even featured on a billboard in Times Square for winning! He was awarded Model of the Millennium by the King of Fashion, Andre Galliano. Tommy has modeled for New York Fashion Week in 2015, 2016 & 2017. Tommy also promotes onemama.org lolafo.com luminousworldwide.com eznethaircare.com.

You can follow him on Instagram: @TommyMaksanty

-Jenny A.

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Casting Auditions: What It Was Like To Be There

Everyone’s been talking about the Victoria’s Secret fashion show auditions! For the past 3 weeks, Victoria’s Secret models have been

coming to New York City to audition for the big 2017 fashion show. While I wish I was actually able to watch the auditions, it was exciting to watch the models show up for their chance to be picked.

Each potential Victoria’s Secret model has shown up in a cute outfit while strutting her confidence as she walked into her audition. I knew when a model was coming since the paparazzi would snap into action and start taking pictures.

Some of the models would have some fun and would show us their practice runway walks. They would also do a quick photo shoot for some of the photographers.

Last Monday, the auditions took place during the solar eclipse! So there I was watching the breathtaking moment with both friends and some of the models. It was really nice because it brought everyone together where we were all sharing our eclipse glasses or homemade eclipse viewers. It was definitely a once in a lifetime kind of moment.

Victoria’s Secret model Liela Nda borrowed my friend’s solar eclipse glasses and the paparazzi took a photo. I really wish I had also taken a picture of it! I checked to see if the photo was released online but I haven’t found it yet. But I did find different pictures of the Victoria’s Secret models arriving at the office. Another one of my friends had snuck into the background of one of the photos! I couldn’t stop laughing! It was fun to Google pictures & videos of the past few weeks and see how many of the models I actually saw.

Good luck to all the models!

You go girls!

-Jenny A.

Top 5 Tips for the Summer

Model Tanasha Nelson; Photographer Chromatic Culture

Model Tanasha shared her top 5 ways of how to spend the summer like a model.

Wear your outfit like it’s a statement! Whether it’s a simple t-shirt & shorts, or a sassy dress, always rock your unique style. Bring out your best self!
Go outdoors and shoot. Meet with your local photographers. If you have your own camera, bring your tripod with you and shoot in unexpected places. You’ll be in love with how amazing you feel afterwards.
Travel! Travel & modeling go hand in hand! It’s really an exciting feeling to just get out of your comfort zone and shoot with photographers from different states. Personally, I can’t wait to begin my summer travels where I will get to create and network.
Be body positive! Always keep a light spirit. As a model, I have to be able to be myself in the best way possible. That is what brings out the beauty of a model. My authentic self is everything.
Love yourself. Before anything, know that you’re a model and love yourself in your own skin. Believe in you!

You can follow Tanasha on Instagram : @Shezamodel

What are your top tips for the summer? Share them below in the comments!

-Jenny A.

10 Fun Facts about Model Yaxin Han

new image - 6r61l — Photographer @street_views MUA & hair @rissasally Designer @stephj.etfashion

Meet Yaxin:

10 Fun Facts

#1 Not only is Yaxin a model, she is also a boxer! She shared that she boxes to give her more power, energy and some stress relief. #beast

#2 You can find her on the basketball court shooting some hoops and playing basketball. Did I mention she’s very athletic?!

#3 She loves to belly dance!

#4 She enjoys hanging out with friends and watching animated movies.

#5 She likes to hop on a bus or a train and travel to different places.

#6 She is bilingual! She speaks both Mandarin and English.

#7 She defines her style as street style. Her go-to outfit is jeans, a shirt and a pair of sneakers.

#8 She looks up to Brazilian fashion model Giselle Bündchen and American fashion model Gigi Hadid.

#9 If she could be a fruit or vegetable she would be an apple because it’s amazing, smart and fresh.

#10 Yaxin walked the runway for Banana Republic, ZARA and Ann Taylor during the Boston Fashion Week Fall 2016 show!

new image - gevco_meitu_3 — Photographer @imaginator_deto Designer @rebekahsilverdesigns

new image - zd07e_meitu_1 — Photographer: @imaginator_deto Designer: @_williambradley MUA:@trendtye

new image - y7sj0 — Photographer @imaginator_deto Designer @qsnewname

Yaxin has also modeled for Style Week Swim Fashion Show, Project Runway Designer Showcase, Boston En Vogue Fashion Week, Plitzs New York City Fashion Week, and Voge Fashion Runway.

You can follow her on Instagram: yaxinhan

Which is your favorite fun fact? Write to me in the comments! I’d love to know!

-Jenny A.

Hello from Fashion Model and Designer Raven Ledbetter

Meet Raven:

Raven Ledbetter is an American model and designer from North Carolina. She always lives in the moment! As a former army girl, she says that you always have to stay positive and believe good things will happen.

Raven LOVES heels. Not only is she always wearing a cute pair of heels, she also loves customizing them. Right now her go to fashion style is velvet and suede. Her favorite makeup brand is MAC. She wears a signature long ponytail which is inspired by her role model, The Queen B Beyoncé. #queen

“I dream it, I work hard, I grind ’til I own it.”- Beyoncé, Formation

Raven is a go-getter and a risk taker. She doesn’t like taking no for an answer. She is inspired by dominating and empowering women. Her favorite Disney princess is Moana, a powerful woman who went out on her own to accomplish her voyage.

If she could be a fruit or vegetable she would be a peach because it is juicy, sweet and beautiful on the inside-out, just like her.

Raven5 — Raven modeling her own design. Photographed by: Ibe Bello

Raven modeled a designer velvet dress from her own collection at Fashion Gallery’s New York Fashion Week. She thanks her beautiful daughter and fiancé for all the support.

You can follow her on Instagram: @KemiNEVAR

-Jenny A.

Australian Model Kartia Crane

It’s so amazing to be able to interview models from all over the world! I’ve faced different challenges from big ones ( like the time difference between New York and Australia) to the smaller ones ( like how do you spell the word “favorite”? Like a New Yorker “favorite” or like an Australian “favourite“?) But no matter the challenge, what really matters is that I really love what I do.

Last weekend I went to a Father’s Day BBQ where I met my cousins’ relatives from Australia. They were telling me how beautiful it is there and all the cool places to go. I would really love to visit. Coincidentally, I just happened to be working on my interview with model Kartia Crane from Australia!

Meet Kartia:

Kartia walked the runway for New York Fashion Week in February 2017. She’s done fashion shows, bridal expos and runway shows for charity events in Australia. She was a contestant in Miss Country Girl Australia 2016 and was also a contestant in the World Supermodel South Pacific Pageant.

Jenny A. (Me): What are your hobbies? Please explain.
Kartia Crane: (1) Modelling (2) makeup (3) watching Netflix (4) going to the gym (5) listening to music and (6) hanging out with family and friends.

Me: Do you wear makeup? If so, what is your favorite brand?
Kartia: M.A.C (is there anything else!?). I love the eye-shadows from H&M. Sadly, we can’t them here in Australia but the pigments are beautiful!

Me: What is your style?
Kartia: I don’t really have a style. Maybe modern classy? I like to always look and feel nice in what I wear.

Me: What is your favorite TV show? Favorite movie?
Kartia: My favourite TV show is 13 Reasons Why and my favourite movie is The Great Gatsby.

Me: Do you have a favorite animated character or superhero?
Kartia: I don’t really have a favourite.

Me: Are you athletic? If so, what sports do you play?
Kartia: I am not athletic and I don’t play any sports but I do go to the gym 3 – 4 days a week to keep fit. When I was younger I did Ballet, Tap and Jazz.

Me: Are you adventurous? What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Kartia: I like the idea of being adventurous but as I am only 17 years old, the chances have not really presented themselves yet. I do enjoy roller coaster rides. Does that count?

Me: Where do you like to hang out?
Kartia: In my bedroom and on the beach in the summer.

Me: Where do you love to go for vacation?
Kartia: To New York and the Gold Coast here in Australia.

unnmed — Photographed by: Gary Kirk Brown

Me: What are 3 words to describe you?
Kartia: (1) Bubbly (2) Ambitious and (3) Caring.

Me: If you could be a fruit or veggie, what fruit or veggie would you be?
Kartia: A pineapple because it’s spiky and a little tough on the outside but sweet on the inside.

Me: What are your goals and dreams?
Kartia: I want to become an established model in Australia and overseas. If modelling doesn’t work out, I would like to be a beauty therapist and work behind the scenes. I am currently 100% focused on my modelling career and would love to be given more opportunities.

Me: Do you have anything interesting coming up?
Kartia: I am a contestant in Australian Supermodel of the year (ASOTY) in the Curve division. I hope I can make it all the way to the grand final!

unnamed — Photographed by: Dean Tuohill of Great Southern Image

You can follow her on Instagram: @kartia.k

Do you have any adventures coming up for the summer? Tell me about them in the comments below!