Do you want to start by telling us how you got scouted?
I guess scouting is kind of a loose term. My mum actually sent in photographs to Models1 when I was 13 years old and it’s quite funny because they replied to her email saying that they didn’t want me! I kept going in every three months and when I was 16, they offered me a contract.
What have you been up since you got scouted?
Well I have done two seasons in Paris and Milan, lots of commercial work, a couple of shows here in London.
In terms shoots and shows, what’s your prefernce?
My first big show was DSquared when I was 17 and the rush! Obviously I love Dean and Dan, I love them to bits, because I was around all these big male models that I knew and I remember thinking like ‘what am I doing here’ and it was exhilarating, it was sublime actually. Their production is massive and they spend loads of money on the shows, it’s more a party than anything else.
What has been your favourite modelling moment so far?
There are lots of things. I was lucky enough to live in L.A for four months. I’ve travelled over the world to Tokyo, LA, New York, Paris and Milan but when I look back, the moments that I think about are partying during fashion week and walking for Balmain – that was a really really good time; I’m a big fan of Olivier. This was before they had men’s runway shows so it was like half presentation half catwalk, but that was really nice! I was the last look in the show so that was amazing.
One of my first jobs, you know those Abercrombie & Fitch campaigns where they fly like 50 models out. I knew who Bruce Weber was by 16, so for me the prospect of having a one-on-one photo shoot with him was sublime. I was so young, my auntie came with me!
Out to the places you’ve mentioned, which was your favourite?
Tokyo, and it wasn’t my market at all! I was there for a couple of months working here and there. Just the experience of going to Japan and seeing a different culture was so fascinating to me. It was really beautiful and an eye-opening couple of months because I had no idea what to expect when I was going over there. I found that really daunting but when I got there I was pleasantly surprised to find that the people there are really respectful and accepting of other societies and cultures. I think that the Western world could learn so much from them, and that’s not to put barriers between us, but I remember thinking little things, like everyone has boxes that they put their cigarette butts in instead of throwing them in the street and you wouldn’t find a single piece of chewing gum on the floor, whereas you walk around east London and you get loads stuck to your shoes!