Meet the girls

15 June 2011

Name

Charlotte De Carle

 

Campaigns

Over the last three years Charlotte has appeared in a Microsoft TV ad and has worked for the following clients; T-Mobile, Caterpillar, Alice & Astrid, Nicole De Carle, Nicole Farhi, Ralph Lauren, Grazia Magazine  Drapers, Range Rover and Super drug.

 

Background

Charlotte grew up in Leicester in the quiet town of Wigston. After school she worked as a receptionist at a gym, and at a crazy golf range.

‘I kicked off my modelling career after my sister Nichole sent a picture of me and my sisters to a London-based modelling agency. I got the call back.' 

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

‘You get to do a lot of travelling and meet loads of different type of people. You also get pampered a lot, and who doesn't like being pampered? In regards to keeping clothes, in modelling, you either get paid in clothes or paid in money and I'd rather take the money. I've blagged a lot of jewellery on shoots as the designer will sometimes let you keep it if you promise to wear it at an event - but I never have. You do get the underwear they give you at shoots free though! ‘

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘It's not that easy to do. It doesn't matter if you're naturally skinny, you always have to watch how you look. Even on your days off you have to keep yourself looking good whether it be your body, your skin or your hair. You also can't have an opinion, you have to go to shoots and leave everything you care about at the door to embrace someone else's vision.'

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘Spanish Marie Claire because it was a cool one to do. We shot it in a freezing cold warehouse in Germany and I had to wear a really floaty dresses, but the photographer was great and the pictures came out amazing. Also, the T-Mobile campaign I did was cool - I got paid a healhty sum of money just to run around with a girl for 10 minutes.'

 

Proudest achievement

‘I was quite proud of my performance in my Microsoft ad. I had to speak in a northern accent and did alright. It was also played in cinemas so all my friends saw it and called me up.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

 ‘I can burp! Only joking, I'm not a girly girl. My father wanted three boys, but instead he ended up with three girls so I took on the role as tom boy. I grew up with micro-machines not Barbies and now really like doing DIY.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...unemployed! I would probably be working with my sister Nicole on her fashion line.'

 

 

 

 

Name

Ariella

 

Campaigns

Ariella has been modelling since she was fourteen years old. She is both an editorial and commercial model. In London her clients include Selfridges, Tom Ford and L'Oreal and Matches. She has walked in runway shows for Guess and Gai Mattiolo in Milan, Guess by Marciano and Gomez Gracia in Paris.

 

Background

Ariella describes herself as ‘a serial nomad'. She grew up in several European countries but is now based in London. She was scouted outside Oxford Circus Tube and got signed on her first day of castings. She admits that ‘modelling is as natural a yoga in heels.'

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

 ‘It's the recession. You don't get free stuff as much but you do get lingerie; they don't re-use that afterwards. And sometimes shoes, they don't really re use shoes after the show because they're scratched. Nobody just goes ‘oh you're beautiful! We'll give you free things!' For me it's just so nice to become this live work of art. There is a team of maybe fifteen people; hair stylists, make up artists, assistants, lighting, the director, stylists for clothes, for the shoes and they're all creating for the whole day and you're in the centre and it's your responsibility to carry that off and to me that's the satisfaction. That's the perk!'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘The biggest myth is that it's glamorous. Most of modelling is waiting and castings. And castings are no different to interviews. As a model the biggest part of your job is to go on these interviews with not one boss but maybe three bosses who ask you to take your clothes off and do an interview half naked and judge you.

You look after yourself; you have to be very conscious of how you look. How do you moisturize? Do you have long shower? Do you have good hair? It's your job. You are your product.'

 

What's your favourite shoot and why?

‘It was a cover shoot with an amazing ten page editorial by Juan Trujillo for Super Sweet magazine which was in London and in Thailand. He's this amazing Spanish photographer. We had three layers of lighting and there were extra lights and shadows and shapes. It was the most difficult thing ever because my make up was melting, I was hot, I couldn't see because I was blinded by the projector in my eyes and he's telling me to make these shapes and we had one day to get a cover shot and ten different shots and all of it with different clothes, different hair, different styling, different accessories.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

 ‘I am an absolute tom boy. Even though I have blonde Barbie looks. I grew up with three boys and we raced motorbikes and scooters. I'm a total petrol head. I learnt to fly an airplane when I was fourteen. I love fast machines. I love fast cars. I am such an adrenaline junkie. I've done bungee jumps in New Zealand. I love the rush.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...making films. I'm a geek. I like computer programmes, they make everything creative. You learn on set because you're waiting for hours sometimes and I get bored so I just ask ‘can I help?' So over the years I've gotten really interested in being behind the camera and in making film. It would be called Geek Girl Films.'

 

 

 

 

Name

Ocean Moon

 

Campaigns

Ocean has been modelling for four years and has worked for Vogue, Vivienne Westwood, Aveda, Duck and Cover, Toni and Guy and Indiaska. She has done a Topshop campaign and walked the runway in a Kate Moss show.

 

Background

Ocean grew up in St John's Wood, London and in her own words ‘went to a really rough school'.

Before modelling Ocean attended fashion school, worked as a hairdresser and also on a stable yard but confesses 'I always wanted to be a model. I was a child model and did a C&A campaign and appeared in a Sinead O'Connor video. Then I was scouted when I was 20 and it all took off from there.' She considers herself a ‘regular girl.'

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

‘Freedom is the biggest perk as you're not stuck in the office and every day is different. You also get to do a lot of travelling and meet a lot of interesting people.'

‘Occasionally you get to keep the clothes. I got to keep a pair of Vivian Westwood boots once when I did a show for her as I'm a size 4 which is rare for a model, so they had to make them especially for me. And as they said they wouldn't be able to use them on any other models, they said I could keep them.'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘Contrary to popular belief, bookers/designers don't always want to use skinny models. I've been turned away from work before because they wanted a different body type.'

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘Italian Grazia in Paris, because it was a great publication to do and the photographer was great.'

 

Proudest achievement

‘My proudest moment was probably when I just started modelling and got the Topshop campaign. I spent my life in there shopping so it's about time that they paid me.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

 ‘I can ride horses really well and I eat a fry-up every morning.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...studying to be a stylist or doing something in fashion.'

 

 

 

Name

Jessye B

 

Campaigns

Jessye was born and raised in North West London and has been modelling for a year. Her most prominent campaigns have included Regan Cameron, Puma, starring in a Rankin exhibition and being the face of Kelly Hoppen.

 

Background

Jessye has been in the National Youth Theatre and has a part in upcoming film the Somnambulists.

‘My mum used to be a model so I've always had it in my head but I was always good in school. Mum was hesitant for me to get into it but I've grown up in the in the industry so for me it's normal. I couldn't do an office job.'

‘I don't trust a soul. I keep my family close. I love being creative - writing poetry, stories, making collages. ‘

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

‘The money is great. I'm travelling to new places and I'm doing things most people my age wouldn't get to experience. It builds character being a model. I recognise that I have a blessed life.'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘People think you make lots of money for doing very little but that's bullshit. You don't always get good money and it can be mentally hard work.'

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘Working with Rankin in his new exhibition is definitely a career highlight. I've always wanted to work with him. I think he's a genius.'

 

Proudest achievement

‘I went to a high achieving private school so my proudest achievement was my decision not to succumb to their vision of success by going to university. It was terrifying doing something different to everyone else but it was the right thing for me.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

 ‘I read a lot of books and my favourite thing to do is going to the theatre by myself. The last thing I saw was Kafka's Monkey with Kathryn Hunter at The Young Vic. She's the reason I wanted to act.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...studying drama at university!'