This scottish born and bred, flame haired, long legged alternative fashion model was snapped up by Spirit Models in 2012, after being bowled over by her unique style and bubbly attitude. Whether it is fashion, latex, lingerie, steam punk, pin up or character modelling, Raven fits in perfectly into every genre. We decided to catch up with her to find out about the highs and lows of her career, including opening London's Fashion Week aged just 17 years old.
Hi there! Firstly, thank you so much for
asking me to do this interview and to be your model of the month! I'm Jodie –
RavenEmber – a 6ft 2in Scottish red head model. I've been modelling since I was
17 and I love it more now than I ever have!
What were your ambitions for your modeling
career when you started out and do you feel you have achieved them?
When I began modeling in 1998 (ouch that
makes me feel old!!) I was very much in the mainstream fashion industry. I was
17 years old and being flown about between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh for
photoshoots, hair shows and catwalk shows. It was a great time and I learned so
much about the industry! However, my ambitions weren't being met at this time.
I had no control over what I was shooting and was told day to day what I was
doing. I stopped modeling at this time after several years due to personal
circumstances where I lost a lot of people I loved in a short space of time and
chose instead to go to University where I gained a 1st Class Honours
Degree, graduating top of my year!
How did you get into modeling and why
choose the Alternative genre?
I returned to modeling and chose to remain
freelance for a long time to build up my own portfolio, working with local
photographers to get my ideas for images out of my head and into the world!
During this time, I styled all my own shoots and did all my own hair and
make-up. I chose to return to the more alternative side of the industry because
is suited my personality much better. I had more control and input during
shoots and I got to see my ideas come to life!
How is it affected your life so far?
Modeling is so important to me, I can
honestly say it has changed my life! The freedom of expression I get from
modeling fulfills my desires for creativity. I love to create beautiful images
that inspire people. Although I still have to work part time to pay my bills,
modeling is my career and every aspect of my life is affected by this. From my
relationships with friends and family, to how I spend my money. Everything
relates back to modeling and the creativity it inspires in me.
You live in Scotland, is there much of an
alternative scene there?
There is definitely an alternative scene up
here in chilly Scotland, but it is not as accepted as it might be in the rest
of the UK. I still get comments from people about my hair colour, my piercings
or my dress sense – and not necessarily from the people you'd expect! Most
older people are fine with it and express their love of my individuality. It's
the middle aged Mum's that give me dirty looks and tut in my direction that
always shock me! I do live in a smaller town though. I don't usually get that
reaction when I'm visiting the city.
How would you best describe your personal
style?
I'm eclectic. I like a bit of everything! I
have two main styles, my loafing about style and my out and about style. When
I'm loafing about it's all about soft fabrics, no seams, fluffy socks and no
make up. When I'm out and about it all depends on my mood. From very tailored
fitted pencil skirts and feminine blouses, to full on hippy chic. My wardrobe
has been built up over the years from charity shops, ebay and cheap clothing
stores. A lot of my favourite pieces came from a lady I know who at 76 years
old is still 6ft tall wearing a size 8. She had to move into a smaller house
and gave me 13 black bags of vintage clothes! Everything from dresses to coats
to hats and vintage wedding dresses!! Also I have a lovely friend Fiona McCrae
who loves making clothes and is constantly giving me awesome things!
What is your personal view of the
alternative modeling scene?
I love the alternative modeling scene and
very much enjoy how it has almost become mainstream to be alternative! I very
much enjoy the fact that it is a much harder industry to get into and to stay
in. When I was younger, all you really needed was a few tattoos and bright hair
to be recognisable and bookable as an alternative model, this has drastically
changed for the better in my opinion. Models have to work harder to maintain
their place in the industry because it is becoming more common and mainstream. It's not about how many tattoos you have anymore, it's finally about how well
you can model and how much effort you put into learning your trade! Skill is
the key now as opposed to what colour of hair you have.
What does the term ‘Alternative’ mean to
you?
Alternative to me covers a huge genre!
There's the obvious alternative scene of dying your hair and having tattoos and
piercings, but there a much bigger alternative scene developing and it fits
everyone who doesn't fit into mainstream. If you're too old, or too tall; too
skinny or too curvy! Geeks/nerds have become applicable in the alternative
scene as well as goths, lolitas, emos and many more! It almost feels to me that
“mainstream” has become the new elite and alternative, whereas “alternative”
has become the more commonplace! A strange turn of affairs. :)
Have your friends and family supportive of
your career? What was their reaction?
My friends and family have been a HUGE
support during my career. They've always been supportive of anything I've
wanted to do, and when I went into the modeling they were delighted for me
because they know how much I love it. When times have been tough because of my
career choice, they are always there to rally about me and cheer me on and
support me in any way they can. My family – my Mam and my big sister – mean the
world to me. If they had chosen not to support me, I don't think I would have
gotten this far. We are a tiny family and their approval and love keep me going
through the good times and the bad. My partner Grahame has also been a huge
support to me, encouraging me when I'm feeling blue, pointing out the good
things when all I can see are the bad, and giving me cuddles when I'm home from
a shoot and frozen to the bone!
What has been the most special, memorable,
highlight or most unique experience during your modeling career?
Oh this is such a tough question! Back when
I started modeling, my most memorable and unique experience would be opening
London fashion week at 17 years old at Wembley Arena, on the stage by myself
with all the lights off and the hush of the auditorium, then me standing
up, the lights flooding down on me,
throwing my hair back and “Hey Joe” blasting over the speakers as thousands of
eyes turned to look at me.....I remember the feeling, the joy, the nerves! But
most of all I remember thinking, “This is it! This is what I want to do for the
rest of my life” *smiles at the memory*
Since getting back into modeling for the second time, there have been so many
wonderful moments, but my own personal favourites have to be when
photographers/designers/make up artists/hair stylists look at the pictures that
have just been shot and are speechless....I love to make people proud, and
having a room in silence because of the poses I do and the expressions I pull
are amongst my own personal favourites :) Oh, also becoming a sponsered model for Geisha Wigs has to be a highlight!! :)
Who inspires you?
Another really tough question! I've never
really had any famous inspirations.....style inspirations maybe, like Dita Von
Teese and Kato, or pose inspirations like Ulorin Vex, but my life inspirations
come from the people I love :) My two biggest inspirations in life have been my
Mam and my best friend in school Morgan. My Mam has the most amazingly positive
attitude of anyone I've ever met! She's been through some really really hard
times, but always has a good outlook on life. She taught me and my brother and
sister to be whoever we wanted to be, even if the rest of the world, including
her, doesn't understand and that we should never be frightened of what the
world thinks of us. You only have to answer to yourself, and if you see a good
person in the mirror, and know you are trying your hardest to be best person
you can, then you are doing a good job.....she also taught me manners are free,
a lesson I've held close to my heart all my life. Morgan, my best friend when I
was in school, is one of the bravest people I have ever had the pleasure to
meet in my life. She developed brain cancer when we were 14, and she died a
year later. This girl, at 14, woke up one day to discover she was blind and
couldn't walk anymore, and still she smiled :) All through her horrendous
treatments, she smiled, through her agonising physiotherapy, she smiled. She
was the bravest person I have ever met and she still inspires me everyday to
keep going and not let the world, or life's circumstances get me down <3
Is there a particular model/photographer/designer
you would like to work with?
So many it would be boring to list! But top
of the list has to be Tim Walker. This gentleman's work blows me away! His
fashion work has a surrealist edge and I literally cannot say
enough good
things about this man.....amazing, awe-inspiring, at times amusing,
beautiful....unique.
Do you have a sideline career and if so
what do you do?
At the moment I work in a supermarket to
make sure I can pay my bills at the end of every month! On top of that I am a
learning photographer and I do work as a stylist for shoots. No matter what
becomes of my modeling career, I hope to remain in this industry. The freedom
of expression and the creativity are aspects I would always like to work with
throughout my life.
Interview by Sapphira Chattan