“When I was growing up in Texas, I was a ‘punk.’ My style was mostly band t-shirts and skinny jeans and lots of personalized style. One of my favorite things I liked to wear in high school were these jeans I got all my friends to sign and write all over. They were torn and safety-pinned together and I wore pink and black striped tights under them. At one time, I was called ‘Skittle’ in school because my hair was rainbow-colored.”
"One thing you would be surprised to know about me is that my apartment is never actually this clean! I'm horrible about cleaning up after myself, which is probably not that surprising. Growing up, I was an avid Pokémon card player and collector. Probably not that surprising either! This question is always hard for me. I am an open book!”
“In March of 2009, I was at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas at Waterloo Park. I was walking to watch Circle Jerks play and on the way, Tanni and Alan Foreman of Foreman Management stopped me to ask me if I'd ever be interested in modeling. At the time I was working at the grocery store HEB and customers would stop and say I was pretty, but I never thought modeling was a real thing! I wasn't even an avid fashion follower. I mean, I didn't even know who Kate Moss was. I didn't follow fashion rules—I made up my own! Anyway, they took my picture and gave me their card and I met them a month later to take some more photos before they sent them to agencies in NYC. Some agencies were interested, but I knew I needed [to get] my actual foot in the door to sell myself, so they flew me there for two weeks and in that time I fell in love with the city and decided to stay."
“I have been modeling for five years and I have traveled all over America, Europe, South America, and even got to go to Russia! I’ve had the opportunity to be on many magazine covers and shoot many editorials for magazines like Italian Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and be a part of great campaigns, like Alexander Wang, and even walk runways for incredible brands—all beyond my wildest expectations!”
“My go-to beauty routine is pretty simple.
I normally splurge on moisturizer and go for CHANEL's Hydra Beauty Crème. (Buy it duty free, it’s better!).
[I use] a little brown shimmer eye shadow, then mascara and a little shimmer powder on the cheekbones—all courtesy of Lancôme's travel case in Absolu Au Naturel. I finish off with my new favorite CHANEL lip gloss in 171 (Lèvres Scintillantes, whatever that means)."
“I don't know if I have any modeling [icons]. My ideas mainly come from instinct and being in the moment while I'm shooting. When I'm on set, music is the biggest inspiration for me. When I first started modeling, I didn't know what the hell I was doing! I just knew how to dance and groove to the music, so I would make playlist after playlist and that's what would help me stay loose and energized on set. My day-to-day life is inspired by music because nothing helps a crappy mood better than my headphones and the volume up to 11 on my favorite new song!”
“My dream designer to work with would be Viktor & Rolf. I love the theatric energy of their designs and shows.”
“If I could trade closets with anyone, it would probably be Dita Von Teese. I can only imagine her lingerie collection! Or maybe Madonna! OMG yes, I bet she has the most insane closet!”
“One of my favorite photographers to work with is definitely Ellen Von Unwerth because her style and energy really match with mine. My most memorable moments have been walking for CHANEL and Balenciaga. The spontaneous and fast-paced energy backstage and on the runway has a similar feeling as performance art and acting, which have been two interests and practices of mine since I was little. Also, I did a fragrance campaign with Diesel, 'Loverdose,' during which I traveled all over Europe doing public speaking and celebrity appearance-type events and interviews. That was a surreal experience!”
"The best advice I have ever received is that, as a model, it is your job to experience everything and educate yourself; to be a sort of role model, if you will.
‘A photographer wants to see that there is something going on behind those eyes!’ Advice given to me by Lauren Hutton, a gap-toothed modeling pioneer and, of course, an amazing woman and role model!"
"My signature scent is For Her by Narciso Rodriguez. Sometimes I switch it up with Gucci Guilty. "
“My favorite food is sushi and Japanese cuisine in general. If I could invite anyone to a dream dinner it would probably be Howlin' Pelle Almqvist from the band The Hives. I have had a crush on him since I was in the 7th grade.”
“If I weren’t modeling I would probably be doing something with drawing. Growing up, that's the only thing that I knew I was good at. Before I left to start modeling, I was saving up money to attend The Art Institute of Austin for Graphic Design.”
“Currently I am listening to a lot of trap music and bands under the label Mad Decent. I am obsessed with this new artist they just starting representing named Elliphant. Listen to ‘Revolution’ and ‘All or Nothing.’”
“My vices are all in my taste buds. Candy, candy, candy! Which explains my dental bill this year! They just put a Handsome Dan's candy store near my apartment on First Avenue. So good, but so bad!”
“My favorite lip color is red! Like Little Red Riding Hood red. Red that says, ‘Yes, I am good, but so on the verge of being bad.’ I like nail polish that is more of a neutral because I like iridescence. I normally go get gel [manicures] up the street at this salon called Pastel (on the corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street). There is this one color that looks almost nude, but when the sun hits it, it gets a little green glittery iridescence.”
“Flats are definitely more my thing than heels. My favorite shoes are these old man penny loafers I wear in like a wine color by Acne. If not those, then probably sneakers by Vans.”
"The emoji that is looking to the right with a crooked half smile is the one I use the most. It’s kind of naughty, that’s why I like it. I think he's saying, ‘Well I never thought about it before, but yeah, I'll try anything once.’ I bought these goggles before I ventured out into the desert for Burning Man last year! Originally, they were to keep the sand out of my eyes, but I like the Cat Woman feel they have!”
“My first collection I designed with RVCA is purely based on my essentials—things that I can’t live without and that a NYC girl shouldn’t live without. It has a bit of a teen spirit, ‘50s vintage spin on it. It’s my first of six collections with RVCA and I can’t wait to share the rest with you! Both hair accessories are by American Apparel, bought for the shoot I did for my first look book with RVCA. For the shoot, I made up the concept, modeled and got my friends Sandy Kim to shoot and Miyako Bellizzi to style.”
“Things that are always in my bag include headphones, rose balm, my Lancôme travel makeup kit in Absolute Au Natural, my script from acting class, a little notebook, my Chase bank "Preferred Customers” pen and normally some candy or mints, like fruit Mentos or Life Savers in only the cherry flavor.”
“5 things I can’t live without:
1. The black RVCA leather jacket I designed that is coming to stores this August!
2. Lancôme travel makeup kit in Absolut Au Natural
3. An HBOGo account
4. The kitty pillow my grandma made me
5. Jawbone Jambox.”
