Interview with Public Myth Clothing Designer Kerry Pollock

I am thrilled to have been able to interview Kerry Pollock, the founder of Public Myth. Public Myth is a unique Vancouver-based active wear company.  Traditionally, fitness clothes were not meant to be fashionable, but Kerry’s designs are living proof that fitness clothing can be fashionable, stylish and comfortable. Kerry is passionate about fitness and it shows! Kerry is very talented and Public Myth is a great company.

AVIVA:What inspired you to start Public Myth?

KERRY POLLOCK: The lack of style in active and yoga wear, I wanted to create a line with style, attitude and rock n’ roll flare.

 

 

 

 
AVIVA: What is your favorite thing about designing clothing?

KP: When I meet someone wearing pieces from my line and they tell you how much they love it.

AVIVA: Could you tell us more about your company’s vision?

KP: To bring style into active/yoga wear while investing in ecologically sound practices, including local manufacturing in Vancouver and using eco-friendly fabrics like bamboo.

AVIVA: What do you feel sets you apart from other fitness clothing companies?

KP: The designs, I bring influences from the rest of the fashion world. Also, attention to detail including zippers, buttons, mesh panels and metallic stitching that doesn’t look like your typical yoga line. The leggings have diverse designs that can be dressed up with you favorite boots to head out on the town or throw on a pair of runners with a sports top and hit the seawall. Some of the pieces aren’t for every girl out there, but definitely for the fit and confident ones that know what they want in life.

 
AVIVA: What do you look for in models that you select for your shoots?

KP: I have mostly worked with models looking for industry experience and am more focusing for the future on working with models who have a natural healthy look and who choose to live a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes the look also depends on the kind of shoot I want to do, just like fashion looks always change!

AVIVA: What is your biggest influence as a designer?

KP: Rock n’ Roll, California and European Fashion.

 
AVIVA: What are your other passions, hobbies and interests?

KP: I’m a bit of a health nut so eating healthy is big. I’m always keeping active including the gym, mountain biking and getting my vitamin D from doing anything active in the sunshine (when it’s around).

AVIVA: Name your top three travel destinations?

KP: I work too much to travel but I love Southern California, would also like to visit Germany and Australia.

 
 
AVIVA: If you could meet any famous fitness person, who would it be?

KP: Tough question, not a big person in awe of celebrities but I have amazing respect for several rock bands that fought hard to make it big. So, on that note, I would probably pick Josh Todd of Buck Cherry just to hear some stories of the 10 + year battle they went through to make their passion for music a career. I find bands that have these stories in their music to be a big inspiration.

AVIVA: Do you have any additional comments?

KP: Live with passion!

You can also like Public Myth on FACEBOOK.The photos displayed in this blog post were copied from the Public Myth website.

P.S. I would also like to thank Kerry for the beautiful pieces that were sent to me from Public Myth. 🙂

Prominent Makeup: Only for Shoots and Special Occasions!

In our society, there is a lot of emphasis on women having to wear makeup every day. I even heard of some spending hours doing makeup before leaving the house to run some errands (they must have a lot of time on their hands)!!

On regular days, I don’t wear make-up at all, not even concealer. Being a student and having limited time to spend in front of the mirror is one reason for not wearing make-up. The other reason is that I don’t want to have clogged up pores.

Today, the worldwide spending on cosmetics is estimated at $19 billion a year. Makeup is a subset of the general category of “cosmetics” which refers to products that are primarily used to alter a user’s appearance. Daily use of make-up could get expensive.

My goal with this post is to let women know that they do not need to wear face-altering makeup every day to be considered “beautiful”.

In my opinion, I think that the use of prominent makeup should be limited to special occasions (or if you’re a model, photoshoots). I definitely limit make-up only to photoshoots.

First, using too much makeup is not very good for the skin because it does not allow the skin to breathe (of course, this depends on the make-up). Some make-up even clogs the pores too, which can cause breakouts.

Second, many guys don’t like it when women wear too much make-up (I actually surveyed some guys about this one), because the less make-up a woman wears, the less she appears to be “hiding” and thus is more confident in herself. Many women use make-up as a security blanket, or feel like they are not pretty enough if they don’t wear make-up. The truth is, YOU are beautiful.

Third, sometimes it is best to be yourself and be natural. I think that it is very important for a woman to have confidence in herself without having to cover her face in 2 lbs of concealer and face-altering eye shadows. Then again, that is only my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I like make up, just not all the time.

What do you think about make-up? Is it something that you wear to special occasions, or can you not leave the house without it?

GUEST POST: Martha’s Vineyard Wedding Ideas for a Perfect Vineyard Wedding

If you are planning to have a vineyard theme wedding, you should definitely check out Martha’s Vineyard wedding ideas.

Flowers

  • For your bouquet:

When you choose the flowers for your vineyard wedding bouquet, be sure to pick out flowers that go with the theme and the venue of your wedding. Calla lilies and roses that have a red wine hue coupled with fern and green berries that provide the hint of green to your bouquet is just what you need.

 

  • For the centerpieces:

To ensure that your centerpieces are also designed keeping the theme of your wedding in mind, be sure to decorate them with roses, calla lilies as well as ferns. Remember to use a water filled tray which will help keep your centerpiece fresh throughout the ceremony and reception. Ask your local florist to show you some options.

 

Flavors

Goodie box filled with vine goodies is just the right favor to give your guests. The goodie box can comprise of a bottle of wine from the vineyard, chocolates and cheese to go with the wine and a thank you note or card from the bride and groom. You could also go in for boxes of grape flavored jelly beans packaged in wood veneer boxes that look like a wine barrel.

Cake

You can bring in a little bit of your venue into the cake, and you can do this by ordering a wine inspired cake. Also instead of using a regular table to hold your grand cake, you can use a wine barrel as it makes the perfect stand for your cake during your wedding.


Candle holders

Instead of the regular candle stand and light holders, you can use wine bottle lights which is nothing but a wine bottle with a candle inside it.


These are some of Martha’s Vineyard wedding ideas which will help add that extra touch of uniqueness to your special day.
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Sponsored by the guest poster.

Guest Post: From Military Boots to Tactical Gear!

Professions that involve risk often require commitment of the mind and body. Having been in the army for three years I know I cannot have equipment or gear I cannot fully rely on. Given the nature of the job, your gear has quite a lot of rough use to last through and investing in clothes and boots that last through some hard physical activities and terrains is very vital. One of my favorite choices to shop for combat boots is definitely Afmo.com. You can find that they have a variety of boots along with many other great products I have reviewed below.

Amazing tactical gear from chest and thigh rigs to sniper gear to tactical belts, they offer great variety and amazing quality. You can find a range of products that are geared for all kinds of terrains and work with the existing army camouflage colors. All products are waterproof and follow army guidelines.

Uniform. All uniforms are designed to provide maximum coverage and protection, while being extremely comfortable to wear. From fire fighter uniforms to tactical shirts and pants to digital battle jackets, there is hardly anything you cannot find here. All uniforms are designed with snag free pockets and run from an extra small size to 3 times extra-large.

Bags and Packs. You can find extremely spacious and durable backpacks and bags here, from shoulder packs to day packs to messenger bags to ammo bags; there are a number of options you can choose from, depending on your activity. For hikes and exercises there are tactical bags that offer a lot of space for water, food, ammo and communication equipment. The gear slingers are also very popular since they provide great space but distribute the carrying weight effectively, making carrying it about less of a hassle.

Footwear. The footwear is definitely remarkable. Not only can you can find all the top brands here, you can also find shoes that are extremely low priced! Just some of the reasons to shop for your military footwear here:

The shoes are 100% waterproof and breathable and have lining that keeps your feet dry even when the shoes are wet! The material used to make the shoes is easily cleanable, extremely long lasting and resistant to rough elements. The shoes are also designed to provide stability and grip.So visit their website today and shop for some long lasting, amazing gear at incredibly low prices.

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Disclosure: Sponsored guest post by AFMO

Police Uniform Shirts

It’s important that police officers have all the necessary equipment to do their jobs properly. And while most people may think of equipment like ballistic vests or firearms, the clothes that officers wear to get their jobs done is no less important. In fact, it may be even more important, since the main way you identify a police officer is by his or her uniform. That’s why all great police uniform shirts need to strictly abide by the NFPA 1994 requirements, and all of the updates that have been added to them since.

What Are NFPA Requirements?

These requirements, which have been regularly updated as a standard, list out the rules and regulations regarding the uniforms worn when responding to terrorism. This includes protection from chemical and biological agents, as well as more traditional forms of attack. While it would seem that these standards focus more on equipment like gas masks, full body chemical suits or ballistic vests, even the standard issue shirt is not exempt from scrutiny. And to make sure that officers are following all the rules, it’s important to buy shirts that meet all of the requirements listed.

Modern Materials, Up To Date Rules

When uniform requirements are shifted for police officers, it’s always done for a reason. And much like the armed forces, these rules have to be applied uniformly across departments in order to make sure that they have the necessary and desired effect. And for officers to make sure they’re properly following the requirements, they also have to go to reliable merchants that are equally familiar with these rules and regulations.

These regulations can have multiple, positive impacts. They promote uniformity and protective standards, which is important. They also make certain that old, outdated materials and equipment are not being relied upon to keep officers safe in a pinch. When your life can depend on the equipment you’re wearing, from the weave of your ballistic vest down to the material of your work shirt, it’s important that you buy in accordance with the standards that have been put forth for you, your fellow officers and all other police in the country.
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Disclosure: Sponsored guest post.

Beach Weddings Disadvantages

We all know that beach weddings, just like beach wedding venues, are extremely popular nowadays and one of the reasons for that is that planning and making such kind if wedding costs less money in comparison with a traditional one. Surely, it makes a beach wedding a very attractive and great option, especially if your budget is limited. One more thing is that such event can be less formal and if you have got such friends who don’t like formal clothes, they will be happy to attend your wedding. There will always be some guests who would love a less formal event and in such a case, a beach wedding will be a brilliant option.

Now you know, that there are more than enough advantages of making a beach wedding. Yet, there are also some disadvantages, and following they can be found.
The first problem that comes to beach weddings is the weather. Actually, weather will influence outdoor weddings anyway and in this regard, you have to consider it carefully. Certainly, there will be absolutely no problem if the day is sunny but who can guarantee this? It can occur that there will be a heavy rain all your wedding day long. Of course, this will significantly affect all your plans.

Thus, couples should consider what to do in such case. For example, you can find a venue which will provide an indoor space as well. But the rain is not the only thing that may occur, as it can be also windy can also affect your wedding planning. It can be very windy on the beach and it can blow the sand on the beach which can cover the food and also affect the photographer because sand is camera’s worst enemy.
Therefore, you will need to cover the food really well in order to protect it from wind and bugs before being serving to the guests. Besides, advise your photographer to take precautions against the issues of sand. This advice will help make absolutely sure that there will be no problem about your wedding photos.
You see, safety issue is the greatest disadvantage about beach weddings. Thus, you will have to think that the beach will can become dangerous for the older couples to walk on the beach and you will need to take extra measures to ensure that there will not be any danger.
But although there are some disadvantages and weak points of beach weddings, people still love them, make and attend them, so if you think, that’s a perfect option for you, then here you go and have fun!

Sponsored By: The Breakers Palm Beach.

Interview with Fitness/Commercial Photographer James Patrick

James Patrick is a highly published fitness and commercial photographer based in Tucson, Arizona. He is a very talented and passionate photographer. James takes pride in his work and his team. His work has appeared in the following magazines: Oxygen, Scottsdale Health, Fitness Plus, Max Sports & Fitness, Physique, World Physique, Las Vegas Sports & Fitness, Tucson Lifestyle, College Affair, Entrepreneur, FHM, Maxim, The New Southwest, Tucson Green Times, Model Scene, eGirls News, So Scottsdale, 944, Campus, RedBlue, Latino y Style, Perfectify, SW Style & Living, Tombstone Epitaph, Oro Valley|Marana, Top Pair, Tucson Women’s, Young Money, Teeze, theScast, Petite Styles, Mobscene, Tucson Foothills, Biz Tucson, Iron Man, Muscle & Performance, M Fitness, CitiScapes, Fit and Firm and many more. Additionally, James works as a marketing professional, website strategist, and a public speaker covering a variety of topics including photography, marketing, and business development.

I really feel that this interview with James has given me a great insight into fitness photography and fitness modeling. If you are interested in being in the industry, I think that you will find James’ responses highly useful.

AVIVA: How long have you been a photographer?
JAMES PATRICK: I was literally tossed into the photography industry about nine years ago. I say “tossed in” because at the time I was a journalist for a small newspaper. As I was working late one night and about to head out to interview someone for a feature story my editor tossed a camera in my hands. Apparently there were no staff photographers in the office that night and I had to play double-duty of both writer and photographer. I fell in love with it instantly. From that point I had to figure out how to actually take a quality photo. I took only one photo class in college so a large portion of my development in the industry (pardon the pun) came from interning for various photographers as well as from making a lot of mistakes and learning along the way. I spent a few years working on the editorial side as a photo editor for both a newspaper and a magazine. In that field I had to manage a small staff of photographers, divvy out projects, select images for print, post process them and so on. In my mid-20s is when I really started to push myself into the freelance editorial and commercial markets.

AVIVA: Do you pre-visualize your photos or do you put all the components together as you go?
JP: That would completely depend on the project. With a lot of my editorial clients, I will have either a sit down meeting with the Art Director or Creative Director – or at least chat through the phone. We will discuss the project in detail regarding who or what the photos are of, what the article is about, what is important to incorporate into the images. We share inspirational images back and forth and determine what we hope to achieve during the upcoming shoot. Then during the shoot we always keep our eyes open for on-the-spot creative ideas. Often times commercial shoots are also very precise in the planning stages. Many times as a photographer bidding or proposing on a job, we have to type up a fairly detailed project approach in our bid package that we send into the client. In that we state our “creative vision” for the shoot. That is exactly why any artist, including photographers, will live and die based upon their style. Their style will get them hired just as much as their style will get them overlooked. It is not about having a style that everyone likes. It is about having a style that your key niche or target client connects with. On the flip side of things, there are times where my team and I have to play the role of photographer and creative director right on set. We had that a few nights ago were we were hired to photograph a rock band at a small concert venue. We show up and the band and their manager tells us “we are open to whatever you think will look good.” Over the new few hours, my assistant and I had to fire on all creative cylinders. It worked out beautifully and the band received a variety of creative images and setups.

AVIVA: What achievement(s) in your career are you most proud of?
JP: That is a difficult question because I look at each project my team and I take on as an opportunity to do something new, something different and something exciting. I would say what I am most proud of is that I can do what I do for a living. That I am fortunate enough to have built such a great team to work with, that I have such fantastic clients, that I can spend endless hours building something I am truly passionate about. No award, publication cover, or big budget assignment can compare to knowing that I am doing the right thing.

AVIVA: We have heard the statement: “Success in photography is 90% business and 10% photography skill”. Do you agree or disagree and why?
JP: I may push it as far as success is 99% business and 1% photography. A photographer needs the skills, but just being able to take great images is not nearly enough. One of my favorite authors Daniel H. Pink stated “Persistence trumps talent.” I could not believe that more. I see brilliant photographers get passed up by those who, although may not be as talented, had a little more grit and will and drive to succeed. It surprises me that more art schools are not teaching basic business courses for their students. Standard things like how to do book-keeping, how to do taxes, understanding local laws and regulations (if there are any), and most importantly – how to market yourself. Every year I am privileged to return to my alma mater to speak to college photographers on what it takes to define their brand and then how they can go about marketing that brand to build their business. If one were to look at my bookshelf, they will see a bevy of books on photography for sure. However they will see three times as many books on marketing and business. That goes back to me being insanely curious. I love to learn and marketing is a universal language that can be applied to so many ventures.

AVIVA: Which photographers (if any) inspire you?
JP: There are two that immediately come to mind. One was a professor I had in college. He was one of the first people who gave me the opportunity to sink or swim with my abilities. Over a few years I worked alongside him and learned as much as I could from him, not necessarily about how to take a great photo, but how to develop a great professional life. Another is a fantastic commercial photographer here in town. We go to lunch fairly regularly and are able to act as a sounding board to one another – helping each other out. I am also inspired by those that work as part of my team. My lead assistant is growing a fantastic business as a photographer and it is so exciting to see his journey along the way. My production manager has developed a fantastic business for herself as well. Watching their success pushes me to improve as well.

But in full disclosure, I am actually inspired by more than just photographers. I find inspiration from great videographers, visionary directors, thought-provoking writers, captivating public speakers and more.

One thing about me is that I am endlessly curious. So I am always seeking out new avenues for inspiration and education.

AVIVA: Since many aspiring models have asked this in online modeling forums, I’m going to ask you the same question and hopefully help them out: How important is breast size as a factor in getting published in fitness magazines?
JP: I had to give a bit of thought to this question as my original response was simply just “no” – however after thinking it through I feel it really just depends on the goals of the model. Specifically it relates to what type of market is the model attempting to pursue. I’m sure there are probably markets out there that it may matter.

When it comes to fitness, the industry I work in, augmentations can actually sometimes be a deterrent that prevents a talent from being hired. I’ve been on sets where the stylists and wardrobe manager have to ask the talent to wear clothing that hides or minimizes the size of their bust. When looked at some athletic based publications – it is very rare that you will see augmentations at all.

I am not an advocate, nor am I against augmented talents. It all really comes back to what are the talent’s goals and where do they want to market themselves towards.

AVIVA: What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to models (ie. what are some things that models do that you feel they shouldn’t)?
JP: Another hard question. For the most part I work with some truly amazing, driven and energetic talents. I would say the only time it becomes frustrating is when there is a lack of drive and passion behind what they are doing. If a talent shows up on set and is not loving what they do, the photographer will notice, the art director will notice, the photo editor will notice. The same can be said for when a photographer shows up without being invested into what they are doing. Making the effort to try and have every project your best project will go a long way.

AVIVA: What do you feel is the biggest mistake that new models make?
JP: Perhaps the same mistake a lot of new photographers make. Simply being able to take great images is not enough as a model, just as it is not enough as a photographer. Starting an online profile or throwing them up on a social media channel is not enough either.

It is about doing research to learn as much as you can about the market you want to be in. It is about developing a marketable portfolio that is going to resonate with your target clients. It is about taking the endless hours it requires to build quality relationships with the decision makers for your target clients. It is about super delivering on projects. It is about always staying in touch with your clients. And it is about doing that all over and over and over again.

A good friend of mine began their career as a talent about a year and a half ago. Through that time they’ve worked relentlessly to build up their brand, market what they do, connect to the right people, build quality relationships and more. They are starting to book some high profile jobs right now and commented to me recently “I never would have imagined how much investment this takes.” And it is true. It was an investment of finances, time and emotions. They then said, “I would not change a thing.” Their success, like the success of most, is earned, not given.

AVIVA: Do you have any upcoming projects that we should be on the lookout for (if you’re allowed to talk about them)?
JP: The team and I always have a few things in the fire at once. We are in the process of launching our second season of The Pro Exposure podcast which is available for free at www.theproexposure.com – there you can hear our interviews with various professionals in the talent industry sharing tips and insights on how they made their own journey.

I’m presently working with my videographer on some creative projects. We are in pre-production right now, but hope to have more details available this coming fall.

This fall I will be speaking as well as photographer at Fitness & Sports Network’s FMI 2012 conference in Los Angeles, California. At the same event I will be working with Max Sports & Fitness Magazine as we will be casting the January 2013 cover model or models at the event.

Also my lead assistant and I are launching a new site before the end of the year that will share some of our more creative projects in a different format.

AVIVA: Do you have any additional comments?
JP: Just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to share these thoughts with the readers. If they are interested they can subscribe to my blog – as I post a new article each week. Also feel free to connect with me via my Facebook page.

I would like to thank James for the interview, and I wish him continued success.

Aviva 🙂

GUEST POST: Get Your Dream Figure In 30 Days

This article was submitted by Anna. Anna loves to blog on belly fat reduction. To know more about her updates, please view How to burn belly fat.

Every one of us desires to have a well shaped and toned body. Unfortunately, not all of us are bestowed with an enviable six packed body. There are many contributors to our love handles and bulging bellies. Genes, lifestyle, eating habits all play an important part in determining your weight. This does not however mean that you have to be saddled with this extra baggage all through your life. With a bit of change in your lifestyle and eating habits, you can easily attain a dream figure. All it takes is motivation and dedicated efforts on your part. You are at an arm’s reach away from your dream figure.

1. Exercise: Exercise is the key to a dream body. Our sedentary desk jobs and hectic lifestyle has hardly left us with anytime for exercise. With the result that there is growing obesity and related diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart diseases. Our body needs physical activity to enable it to perform well. Exercise speeds up your metabolism and helps in burning fat. Incorporate a 30 minute exercise regime and follow it five times a week. Once you move out from being a couch potato and start to enjoy the workouts, you will slowly but surely start to lose weight.

2. Eat healthy: Improper eating habits contribute to weight gain. If you desire to lose weight to have a fabulous body, the first step is to eat right. Keep away from refined and processed foods, carbonated beverages, high fatty foods and foods laden with sugar and salt. Include lots of fiber rich foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods and fat burning foods like cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower).

3. Reduce belly fat: Belly fat makes you look saggy and unattractive. Since most of our excess fats gets stored n the abdominal region, taking steps to eliminate the belly fat will help in reducing the overall weight. Avoid alcohol and high cal foods. Perform abdominal workouts, exercises specifically intended to reduce belly fat and tone the abdominal muscles.

4. Stick to a lower carb diet: A low carb diet has been proved to be very effective in reducing weight. When you reduce the quantum of carbohydrates in your diet, there is a reduction in the calorie intake. To make up for the calorie deficit, the body starts to withdraw the reserve fats. By sticking on to a low carb diet, you will start to use up your stored fat and this meltdown will contribute to weight loss.

5. Build your muscles: if you have more muscles, you can burn fat faster. Include lot of proteins in your diet, because proteins help to build muscle. Incorporate resistance training exercises. These exercises help to build the muscle mass. More the muscles, higher will be your metabolic rate. If your metabolism is high, you can burn fat faster. Do 20 minute resistance training for 3 days a week.

Follow a good and healthy diet combined with structured exercises. You will be on a healthy weight loss schedule and you can forever maintain a fabulous body.
 

Chinos Versus Jeans: The Big Debate

Chinos and jeans are both fashion staples of the male wardrobe. The epitome of casual coolness for decades, these items of clothing are embraced by men across the world and worn in various combinations to achieve a diverse selection of styles.

Given that most men love both their chinos and their jeans in equal measure, deciding which item to grab in the morning can be a tough call.

To help you or the man in your life make such an arduous decision, take a look at our guide to when one fashion staple may be more appropriate than its rival:

Hot Weather: Chinos 

Whilst jeans are typically made out of denim, chinos are typically made out of cotton; hence the latter is usually considerably cooler to wear in hot weather than the former. It is advisable therefore to opt for mens chinos in hotter weather, where the cotton material will help keep you considerably cooler than thicker, heavier denim.

Dinner Parties: Chinos 

Whilst both chinos and jeans exude a certain degree of casualness, jeans ultimately overrule chinos in the casual stakes. As a result, it’s often a better idea to wear asmart pair of mens chinos when attending a formal occasion, such as a dinner party or a meal with colleagues.

A dark pair of slim fitted men’s chinos in either navy blue or black, looks particularly smart when worn with an elegant pair of shoes and a crisp white shirt.

Football Match: Jeans

 

Men that wear a pair of chinos to a football match run the risk of looking slightly ‘out of place’. Similar to all items of fashion there is a time and place for men’s chinos and a football match on a Saturday afternoon is certainly not one of them. 

Instead, stick to wearing your favourite pair of mens jeans to a football match and you’re likely to look and feel more appropriately dressed for the occasion.

Office Attire: Chino 

Although the days of wearing a suit and tie every day to the office may be long gone, jeans still remain that little bit too casual when it comes to dressing for work.

Men’s chinos on the other hand have been considered a stylish, cool, comfortable and appropriate item of office clothing for several decades and they continue to remain so.

Office chinos can either be ‘dressed up’ with a shirt or ‘dressed down’ with a t-shirt, depending on how relaxed your boss is when it comes to the company’s dress code.

Interview with Full-time Traveling Model Jessi June

Jessi June has been a full-time model for about 3 years, so she definitely knows what she is talking about when it comes to knowing the modeling industry and where she fits in. This girl is amazing! Although she is 5’6″ and was constantly told that she is too short to model, among other things, she persevered and proved that nothing can stop her. Jessi has been published in countless magazines, has taken part in a large number of events, and has toured the USA being paid to shoot with photographers of all skill levels. She knows how to reach her goals and is always striving to improve herself as a model. Although she primarily shoots glamour, she excels at other genres too.

In her interview, Jessi tells us how to succeed as a model, how she got started as a model, and what keeps her motivated to advance in this brutally competitive industry. Read and share her success story to inspire others.

AVIVA: What inspired you to become a model and how did you get started?
JESSI JUNE: Well, it was always my dream to be honest. When I first started, I was another naive girl who thought “I wanna be a fashion model at 5’5 with big boobs and curves!” Well, that notion quickly dissipated into reality, but for the better, because I came to realize that I loved doing glamour model so much more than fashion anyways! As for getting started, your looking at it! I didn’t take senior pictures for high school because I graduated in 3 years, so I promised my mom we would go to glamour shots (I know, stop shuddering, I’m sorry! It’s the truth though…). In the mean time, I was trying to figure out how the hell girls became models, and found all these wonderful online sites. So we went, we took some shots, and when I got them back, I posted them! I worked hard at trying to get shoots, and finally, a photographer named Gil Purcil in Miami gave me a shot! It was a swimwear shoot, my mom came (It was a week before I was 18, so she had to, calm it down escort forum posters), and it went amazing! After that, I was hooked! I’ve been working my ass off ever since to make sure I made this happen!

AVIVA: Have you always wanted to be a model or did you have other career aspirations in the past?
JJ: This was always supposedly a pipe dream. “Theres no money in it!”, “You’re not pretty enough”, “Do you know how much weight you’d have to lose??”, and “Hahahaha, you?? Please!!” were just some of the responses I got when I told people. Granted, I was overweight at the time and not really going anywhere, but man, did that light a fire under my ass! If I wasn’t a model, I don’t know what I would have done to be honest, because I never gave myself an option. During my “Senior Year” which was spent at a community college full time, I spent my time modeling and working part time at a pet store and a night club to make money to get my 1992 AC-less 250,000 mile corolla to shoots. I’d have to fix it while there half the time to get it home. Photographers from Miami can verify this!

Above: Photo by Rich Cutrone
 

AVIVA: If you could meet 3 famous people, who would they be and why?
JJ: Well, that’s rough because I’ve met everyone on my old list of people I would love to meet. My first person would probably be Jenna Jameson, because I would love to discuss how the transition from being in front of the camera to CEO and best selling author went, and how hard it was for her to do. My second one would be Michael Jordan, because he may be one of the best self-branders to ever live, coming from basketball player and building a retail monster, that really, no other sport star has been able to match. The third would have to be one of the famous chefs off the Food Network; Anthony Bourdain, Bobby Flay, Emeril, etc. I love food, and I would love to be able to get down and cook one day with one of those guys, because I think just the talking shop be worth it, ignoring how great the food would be!

AVIVA: What career achievement are you most proud of? (name publications, etc)
JJ: The fact that I can call it a “career”. I mean, I’ve been in numerous magazines, and every time it’s still cool to see it, but the fact that I’m here, that I’ve been a model full time for almost 3 years, has to be what I’m most proud of. That I proved the naysayers wrong. Penthouse is cool to be in, I work for Maxim and am in that monthly now (international) and I worked for playboy in Miami, and those were all cool experiences, but I still think above all, the fact that I’m a “Professional Glamour model”, Chubby, ugly, little Jessi from 5 years ago who had no future, is just awesome, and I’ll never take that for granted. It still motivates me every day.

Above: Photo by TH Taylor


AVIVA: What do you believe has been the key to your success as a model in such a short period of time? 
JJ: Honestly?? This is going to sound kind of bad, but the fact that I take everything personally. I know, “crazy bitch!”, but hear me out! So back when I was starting, I had a shoot with a photographer which was gonna be my best to date. Well, he didn’t like how the shots came out, even though I did, and it was because of me. Well, that hit me hard! I didn’t have thick skin back then, and it got to me! I swore I would work so hard that I would never have to hear that again! So I did! And still to this day, when I have a shoot, which is almost once a day, that when I see a photographer not use the shots, it still bothers me, and motivates me to do better! I know it’s kind of silly, but I don’t want to lie either. Everytime I get passed up, told I’m too young, or anything else, it just adds fuel to the fire! I’m vindictive, but not in an egotistical way, it’s more like I just say “Told you so” in my head! I thank some of the Miami photographers everyday who treated me like I was nothing because I was a newbie down there, for keeping me motivated for these exact reasons.

AVIVA: What do you look for in photographers that you would do trade with?
JJ: A photographer who can add to my port. By now in my career, I’ve done a lot, and I’ve been so lucky to work with some of the best MM has to offer. I never look down on anyone who tries to offer me a TF shoot, because hell, I was that person at one point messaging people begging for a TF opportunity to improve myself, but I am more selective these days. I try to make sure that not only do they produce great photos, but that they are photos that sell me. See, there are so many amazing photographers on Model Mayhem that create amazing pictures, but sometimes, the shots they make, though great pieces of art, just don’t sell the model, and therefore, it’s not really something I can add to my port. A few photographers have gotten offended when I responded that I couldn’t trade for shots because people automatically think, “Oh, so you think your better then me”, but that’s just not the case. So if I’m going to do a trade shoot, it would have to be something I know I could use to book more work, so it ultimately does make me the money that wasn’t involved in the shoot, and if it doesn’t sell the model, then it won’t serve that purpose.

AVIVA: When you are not doing shoots/booking work, what can people expect to find you doing? (ie. other hobbies/interests) 
JJ: Wait a minute, there’s a time when people aren’t doing that?? What is this madness you speak of?!? Honestly, I would say on any given day, I work about 12 hours a day, minimum. I plan my schedule 3-6 months ahead, so I’m constantly negotiating and booking in shoots since I travel full time (ie no taking a break to go home). In addition to that, I’m planning a huge workshop for December with the best models on MM, I’ve got a business I’m starting to help people with their pinterest followings (pinleague.com), I run 3 different companies social networking efforts, so that takes time, not including blogging to my 2,000,000 followers on google plus and networking myself around the web. TL;DR: I don’t really do much else. I enjoy movies, so I occasionally hit up one of those, and I love food, so you can find me at good restaurants, but if it’s not a movie or a burger, I’m sitting at the Macbook typing my brains out.

AVIVA: What is your favorite skincare/beauty tip?
JJ: You know, I’m no expert on cosmetics and if I knew more about skincare, I wouldn’t still get pimples every few weeks, but I do have a Beauty tip for people. This industry is rough, especially on ones self confidence. No matter what you choose to do, be it natural or through surgery, do it for you, and you alone. Don’t get fake boobs JUST because you think it will get you more work, because you know what, there are just as many people who like small natural boobs as big fake ones. Don’t get lip injections or nose jobs because you think it will pay off. Do whatever you’re going to do, but do it because it will make YOU feel better, not for the job. Cosmetic surgery, diets, etc. have been some of the best things to happen to some of my friends, and some of the worst to happen to others, and it all comes back to their reasonings.

AVIVA: What other endeavors/goals would you like to pursue in the next 5 years? (ie. where do you see yourself in 5 years)
JJ: Well, hopefully this workshop goes over well in December, and I’ll still be running those. I’m hoping a few of my side businesses take off before then, but I guess my main goal will be to be more established as a business woman and a CEO than as a model. I love modeling, with all my heart, and I’ll never stop until it tells me to… but this life ends one day. When the cuteness fades and the lights stop flashing, I want to make sure I used this time wisely to not only create a life for myself outside the lens, but to make it’s a sustainable one for my loved ones. Whenever I look back on my early high school years, I’m full of regret for not being smarter about it, as it was so easy to just get good grades and I could have been in an Ivy-League school or something. I promised myself I would never feel that way again, so I work myself to the bone every day to make sure when I look back on this crazy life of mine, and all that’s come with it, I’ll be able to smile and know, successful or not, that I left it all out there!

AVIVA: Do you have any additional comments?
JJ: Just to thank you guys for asking me to do this, and all the AH Life & Style followers and readers who took time out of their day to read it! I really appreciate it!

_____________________________________________________________________________
I would like to thank Jessi for her interview. I wish her continued success in her career.

If you want to see more of Jessi’s work, check out her FACEBOOK page, Twitter, and WEBSITE, and Model Mayhem.

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