“There are opportunities everywhere you go,  You just have to create those opportunities"  Ana Monique,  is one of the most talented fashion photographer i have the joy to interview. Maybe her story is similar to Adriana Lima or Kate Moss, to name few, but her career starts...one day...on a runway for Oscar de la Renta.This is my conversation with Ana Monique from New York where she is based. Let's go back When you were modelling for Oscar de la Renta at the time, where were u living? I was living in Honolulu, where I am born.  He came out here to do a special showing of his collection for an audience here. I was extremely young, 14 or so and was so nervous at the casting.   He was so gracious.  After that, my career sort of started and I got agency representation in L.A., New York and Europe. Why did u decided to move to Milan after your graduation? Milano was a decision my agency made for me.  I was with Click Models in NY at the time in their Runway Division and they sent me to Milan.  I always wanted to be a fashion designer so for me it was perfect! I got to meet many designers there and was in awe of the art form of design in general, so it was a very inspirational time for me. 

 What were your goals? I really did not have any major goals of being this big super model or anything at the time.  At that time, Kate Moss and the entire "waif" look started to emerge, and I was not that sort of look, so I just set my goals on really just experiencing where I was.  I was in Italy, and so I did a lot of sight seeing on my free time and really just soaking up the beautiful culture in between castings and jobs. How old were you then?I was 17 In what Milan was different from where you were living before? Milan is an interesting city to me because it is a mix of industrial and traditional.  It is obviously one of the most important cities in the fashion world and  that is very present in every day life.  I grew up in Hawaii, so it is different because we are so laid back in Hawaii with style and fashion. Hawaii is a beach culture so its very natural to see beachwear, bikinis, board shorts and flip flops rather than be decked out in Prada or Armani.  But, the people are very similar.  Family oriented and love to have a great time. 

 Was it easy to find jobs in Milan? Jobs were good in Milano for me at the time.  It really depends on what the designer is looking for.  There is work. I also did a job as a fit model where the designer basically uses you as a live mannequin while they are making the final adjustments to the garments.  That was great for me because I also got to see the process so it was very exciting.How many places have you visited during your modelling career?I have been to many places....but there are so many more I would love to visit! Have you found any other places difficult or easy to find jobs opportunities other than big cities? 

 I think there are opportunities everywhere you go! You just have to create those opportunities. What makes difference between working in Milan or New york and working in Los Angeles? I think Los Angeles is a very interesting place to work. L.A. has its own style which I think marries the fashion industry and Hollywood together so the look is different. In Milan and

New York, I felt that there was more of a concentration on fashion itself. It is just as competitive in both places, but I feel that New York and Europe really sort of dictate what is going on in the industry. Where do you prefer to live? and why? My favorite place to live is Paris. I love everything about Paris. I think because I love the culture, the food, the people, the country is beautiful and it really is creatively stimulating for me. 

                                                          "I do have a very long way to go,                                        and am thankful for every chance that I get to do it."  I would like to talk bout photography. You do a lot of work, as a photographer, what type of pictures do you take? I am a fashion photographer. I adore it very much.  It is only really my own views of how I see things. I really try to be very honest with that and hope that it crosses over into my work.  I have also started to do more documentary photography as well, so that is a good balance between the sort of "fantasy" world of fashion and the realism of doing the documentary style. 

MUA - Ana Monique Styling - Ana Monique Models - Sierra

 

MUA / Hair - Ana Monique Styling - Ana Monique Models - Rain Rusden

 Who is your favorite model? That is a very hard question for me to answer because I love a few. For the female models, I would have to say that I love Christy Turlington. She is perfect to me.  I adore Kate Moss; Giselle Bunchen and the rest of the Brazilian Victoria secret girls and one of my favorites as well, Yamila Diaz-Rahi.  But like I said, it is a hard choice for me because so many have influenced me or inspired me.For male models, hands down for me is British model David Gandy. He is just beautiful. What strategies do you use in a place where the competition is so fierce? You know, I am often asked this question.  I really dont think about it to much.  I am really just continuing to grow, and learn, and just focus on what is at the moment.  I do it as a creative outlet and it often takes the beauty and raw quality and for me the "life" out of what I am doing when I start to think about that.  I guess you can say my strategy is to keep doing what I do and be true to it.  I was a model, as well as a make-up artist and now I am doing photography. So at this point in my career, I do everything alone. Sometimes just me and the model, whereas I know most other photographers have this huge team of people working on set with them.  I think that doing the make-up as well allows me to really connect with the model so that by the time they step in front of the camera, they are able to be vulnerable and pure and open with me. 

Photography: Ana Monique Model: Rain Rusden / Premier Models and Talent MUA/ HAIR: Ana Monique Head piece: Ana Monique Tatau Moko done by artist Rueben Ka'ahanui

 What are your plans to get develop your  career in the future? Like I said, just continue to learn and grow and continue to express myself through my images.  Humbly speaking, I do have a very long way to go and am thankful for every chance that I get to do it. 

Photography: Ana Monique Model: Rain Rusden / Premier Models and Talent MUA/ HAIR: Ana Monique Dress: Ana Monique Tatau Moko done by artist Rueben Ka'ahanui

 I have the impression observationally from knowing you a little from your blog that you have balanced your photography work with consulting and youco-own a cosmetic line, how do you balance life-work, leisure, family? That is a great question because I ask myself that all the time! (laughing).  You know, I am very career driven and thankfully, so are the members of my family so we are sort of alike as far as that is concerned and I mean career driven in the sense that I love to have my hands in many projects. But my work, in all my companies, allows me to really travel and meet all sorts of new and interesting people so I get to do those sort of things as well.  I try to spend an hour or two alone. Just myself. So I can hear myself again and then when that is done, I continue with all the projects I am doing.  I love what I do, so it is not to hard. Thank you for your time Ana Thank you so much for your interest.