Over the coming months our intrepid reporter and all-around fabulous Anna O is doing interviews to highlight our equally fabulous models!

And just to keep things in the family - new face and pretty cool illustrator Kyla Neary is imortalizing everyone with her pencil & sketch pad.

Siovan

 

The first time I met Siovan Hope-Ross, she was showcasing drag-queen eyelashes and a fake, horse-tail length ponytail at a shoot we were both on. She looked like a modern day Pocahontas in heels. And then I found out she is a university student at Western, majoring in Environmental Science and popping into Toronto every now and then to do a modeling gig. Evidently, Ms. Ross, as a concerned member of society and fashion, one day participated in a charity show on campus and came upon a real model. The girl advised her to try the real thing, enticing with the prospect of actually making money while cat walking. It’s somewhat like the story of Peter Parker the nerdy science kid turning into the amazing Spiderman - except in this case we eventually get the power of the amazing La Senza model. Siovan has since graduated with a Bachelor of Science and is now modeling full-time. Signed in both Montreal and Toronto, she splits her time between both markets and in her spare time expands her horizons with French lessons. Now whoever said models are dumb?!

I sat down to have a quick chat with Ms. Ross about the world of fashion:

AO: If you weren't a model you would be a...
SHR: A fashion buyer…I plan on doing this anyway!!

AO: A stylist in the making! So what’s something from the fashion world you'd never wear?
SHR: Probably the ridiculous new couture shoes out this season - even I won’t try walking in them!!! And I have walked a lot of runways!

AO: Yeah, this industry does get a little strange sometimes, what amazes you most about it?
SHR: The hypocrisy.

AO: But on the other hand there’s some really cool stuff you get to do, what’s your favourite modeling moment so far?
SHR: Wow! I have had a few, but I have to say the best was a five day trip to Barbados to model swimsuits…that was way too much fun to be paid!

AO: Exotic! Are there any other sweet places you’ve been to?
SHR: Well that would be Barbados and L.A. - not too exotic in locale but exotic in its Hollywood culture for me!

AO: I hear travelling is the best and worst part of modeling for people.
SHR: Oh yeah. It becomes a pain when you try and fit in school, friends, loved ones, profit, and tackling more than one industry city. But it’s still the best part of modeling.

AO: Any particular places you’d like to visit?
SHR: I would love to go New York and London for modeling. But when it comes to my choices of where to just go... the list is endless!

AO: How do your parents see whole fashion gig?
SHR: My parents have no problem as long as I’m NOT costing them money, and I’m still happy. They will see a problem with it if I’m no longer moving forward…then it's time for them to convince me to do otherwise!!

AO: So what do you plan in the long term?
SHR: My plans are to keep at this business, until I’m fed of reinventing myself for it... Then I plan on working in it and doing the reinventing myself! Hahaha.

AO: Haha, so what is the future stylist up to besides modeling?
SHR: Well at the moment, I’m trying to learn French... other than that I’m not splitting myself into too many pieces for awhile. I JUST graduated university so its time to "explore myself" as they say!