Lisa Verberght is a fifteen year old fabulous model from Antwerp, and not only is a she model on the rise ... we go to the same school! She's so incredibly kind, I just love her. She walked shows in Paris and has a spread in i-D Magazine (shot by Thomas Giddings) coming up, time for an interview I thought!
Laurent James: Hi Lisa! How are you doing today?
Lisa Verberght: I'm fine, thanks! How are you?
I'm good. Let's dive straight in! How did you "roll" into modeling?
I must've been 12 or 13 and I was at the movie theater with my mother and sister, and out of nowhere a woman approaches us. She asked if I would be interested in doing modeling, so she gave her card. I really wasn't planning on contacting her at all, but two days later I was at Ikea, and another scout from the same agency asked me if I was interested in doing modeling.
And?
I decided to give it a go, but didn't expect anything at all to be honest. So we got in touch with the agency (Dominique Models) and they asked to send over some pictures. I was so young, I'm so embarrassed when I look at them now! Then I went over there for some more pictures and I was so shy. They said they had serious doubts about me. I thought "See! That's it, it's over", but they put me on their website, and after a long silence I got booked. After that, a long silence again and then Walter (Van Beirendonck) happened and the train started rolling ...
Tell me more about Walter!
I had done some test shoots, so I had a couple of pictures to show and all of a sudden I get an e-mail asking me if I want to go do a casting for THE Walter Van Beirendonck. I decided to do it, but I was so, so scared. I never wore heels before, never walked before, nothing. I go into the casting, which was in his store, they took a couple of pictures and I overheard Walter saying "Pretty child." I never EVER walked before, but of course, I needed to for this casting. I'm still convinced I wasn't good at it, but they immediately said I was booked. They took a real risk. A week later I was in Paris, doing the Walter show in front of Kanye West and other big, big names. I never did runway before, I was so scared!
How do you stay grounded in the industry?
Well, I was bullied a lot as a kid so this whole "I'm a model" thing is still new for me. I never expected this. I haven't really "broken out" but I've adjusted to the attention people give me recently. Because of the bullying I really stay grounded. I saw a few bullies back a while ago and told them I do modeling now, their jaw dropped. I'm not going to lie, that felt good!
Tell me about the b*tch fights you models have!
To be honest, so far, no b*tch fights!
Really?
Well, I remember a woman at a show who was really mean once. She told me I was doing everything wrong, but I wasn't, I swear! I kept cool and was professional of course, but afterwards a few other girls came to me and told me I really wasn't. Us models stick together!
What are your ambitions as a model?
I take it as it comes! I will always try my best of course!
And besides modeling?
I really wanna finish school, unless there's some amazing offer I won't give that up for now. I study photography now, I wanna continue on that.
Thank you so much for this interview!
You're welcome!
