I had the pleasure of chatting with Brooke Styles, a professional model from Australia who I'm sure more than a few of us are amongst her 74K Instagram followers. This sunshine coast model gets her fair share of love in front of the camera, as well as on her various social media outlets! Man, what I would do to walk a week in your shoes, Brooke - photoshoots and cute outfits galore! (P.S. I loved reading her Australian way of writing certain words - organise, favourtie - so awesome!)
•Name, Age, Occupation?:
Brooke Styles, 19-years-old, model and influencer
•When did you get started as a professional model?:
I suppose there’s a tough line to where you class an experienced model as professional. It wasn't until I could go to a [modeling] job, comfortably walk in and do my thing, that I knew I was meant to be there. I’ve studied, worked in a shop, but nothing makes me feel like I have so much worth like what modeling does. As the word spread around, I began to do more local jobs, than getting even more jobs while at jobs. I was told I'm very professional in how I do my work so why not give myself the name “professional model”. It was hard though, the Internet can be so harsh.
•Did you always want to be a model, or did the opportunity just randomly happen?:
No way! As a young girl, I was bullied a lot, through to grade 10, to be exact. After begging and begging my mum to let me have braces, I had to sacrifice dance (which I loved with a passion) to afford them. Finally when they came off in grade 10, my face also changed though puberty. One day, a friend and I were on Facebook and we came across a competition to win a photoshoot, and she dared me to enter it - I won! Once I went along to shoot, the lady had told me about a group of girls she used to organise (kinda’ like an agency). She asked me to come along, but being stuck in the mind frame of how I was viewed through school, I didn't take it so seriously. Now, today, I still take photos with her and we've become close friends. She's taught me everything I know and I owe this all to her!
•If you could choose any other occupation, what would it be and why?:
I’ve always wanted to be on the other side of the camera. Taking film has always interested me. We can capture something and change the perception based on how each individual views the same story - That’s magical.
•What is the coolest company/agency/campaign you’ve ever got to work with?:
Mmmm, this is a hard one. Probably a shoot I did for a local bridal designer just because I didn't even know how great it was going to be until I got there. I was getting my makeup done when the makeup artist asked if I was nervous. My face must of said it all, because she said, "don't you know your shooting with an owl and its going to be the front cover of a magazine?” My heart certainly dropped and oh my gosh was I nervous then!
•Was that also the coolest photo shoot you’ve ever done, or was there one cooler?:
It definitely was a favourite! Every shoot has its own personality, so hard to choose between them all.
•When you’re not modeling, what are you doing in your free time?:
Emailing, Instagraming, posting, it’s non stop! I do try and get out to the beach as much as I can, or go on dates with my partner and pup, but it definitely is a full-time job and if you’re not careful, can make you crazy.
•Top four people you follow in Instagram?:
-Mimi Elashiry- We’re in the same boat! We’re both just a few centimeters too short [to model], but she has proven we can do it! She has such a fun, enjoyable personality that no one can't love.
-Sabo Skirt- The most amazing lookbooks I've ever seen a company do. Always find myself looking to see what they are doing next.
-The Naked Tiger- My little bit of inspiration. This lady isn't afraid to post what she finds inspiring, despite others that don't appreciate her love of fine art. Love, love, love it!!
-Cara Delevingne- Like Mimi, she has the personality everyone loves. Definitely my woman crush!
•If you had any sort of advice for young people out there wanting to model, what advice would you give them?:
Go for it, no matter how short, tall, skinny, curved, fair or tan you are. It’s not what you've got, it’s what you make of what you've got. Make sure you have support, it’s a harsh business and sometimes you need the ones around you to remind you of your worth, but don't push them aside if they’re worried about a path your taking. They say it because they love you.
To follow Brooke, check her out on Instagram and Facebook:
Instagram: @brookestylesmodel
Facebook: Brooke Styles Model
Brooke Styles, 19-years-old, model and influencer
•When did you get started as a professional model?:
I suppose there’s a tough line to where you class an experienced model as professional. It wasn't until I could go to a [modeling] job, comfortably walk in and do my thing, that I knew I was meant to be there. I’ve studied, worked in a shop, but nothing makes me feel like I have so much worth like what modeling does. As the word spread around, I began to do more local jobs, than getting even more jobs while at jobs. I was told I'm very professional in how I do my work so why not give myself the name “professional model”. It was hard though, the Internet can be so harsh.
•Did you always want to be a model, or did the opportunity just randomly happen?:
No way! As a young girl, I was bullied a lot, through to grade 10, to be exact. After begging and begging my mum to let me have braces, I had to sacrifice dance (which I loved with a passion) to afford them. Finally when they came off in grade 10, my face also changed though puberty. One day, a friend and I were on Facebook and we came across a competition to win a photoshoot, and she dared me to enter it - I won! Once I went along to shoot, the lady had told me about a group of girls she used to organise (kinda’ like an agency). She asked me to come along, but being stuck in the mind frame of how I was viewed through school, I didn't take it so seriously. Now, today, I still take photos with her and we've become close friends. She's taught me everything I know and I owe this all to her!
•If you could choose any other occupation, what would it be and why?:
I’ve always wanted to be on the other side of the camera. Taking film has always interested me. We can capture something and change the perception based on how each individual views the same story - That’s magical.
•What is the coolest company/agency/campaign you’ve ever got to work with?:
Mmmm, this is a hard one. Probably a shoot I did for a local bridal designer just because I didn't even know how great it was going to be until I got there. I was getting my makeup done when the makeup artist asked if I was nervous. My face must of said it all, because she said, "don't you know your shooting with an owl and its going to be the front cover of a magazine?” My heart certainly dropped and oh my gosh was I nervous then!
•Was that also the coolest photo shoot you’ve ever done, or was there one cooler?:
It definitely was a favourite! Every shoot has its own personality, so hard to choose between them all.
•When you’re not modeling, what are you doing in your free time?:
Emailing, Instagraming, posting, it’s non stop! I do try and get out to the beach as much as I can, or go on dates with my partner and pup, but it definitely is a full-time job and if you’re not careful, can make you crazy.
•Top four people you follow in Instagram?:
-Mimi Elashiry- We’re in the same boat! We’re both just a few centimeters too short [to model], but she has proven we can do it! She has such a fun, enjoyable personality that no one can't love.
-Sabo Skirt- The most amazing lookbooks I've ever seen a company do. Always find myself looking to see what they are doing next.
-The Naked Tiger- My little bit of inspiration. This lady isn't afraid to post what she finds inspiring, despite others that don't appreciate her love of fine art. Love, love, love it!!
-Cara Delevingne- Like Mimi, she has the personality everyone loves. Definitely my woman crush!
•If you had any sort of advice for young people out there wanting to model, what advice would you give them?:
Go for it, no matter how short, tall, skinny, curved, fair or tan you are. It’s not what you've got, it’s what you make of what you've got. Make sure you have support, it’s a harsh business and sometimes you need the ones around you to remind you of your worth, but don't push them aside if they’re worried about a path your taking. They say it because they love you.
To follow Brooke, check her out on Instagram and Facebook:
Instagram: @brookestylesmodel
Facebook: Brooke Styles Model