Kaycee, why modelling?
I love meeting new people and connecting with photographers. I aim to have my own styles and ideas shown and modeled once I become a bit more successful. I love to draw, and I would love for some of my concepts to one day come to life.

What do you love most about modelling?
The creative expression and role play. Whether its "vintage", "Pinup", "Wedding", "Alternative", whatever it may be that I am styled after- I feel like I truly have to fill the role of that character for a short period of time. Imagine what facial expressions and poses would be best with each, what kind of makeup, outfit, the colors scheme, the setting, everything. I literally get to be in somebody else's shoes for a while.

Who would you say is your 'style muse'?
I collaborate the musings of Audrey Hepburn, Edgar Allen Poe, Tim Burton, H.P. LoveCraft, and a few others when I come up with outfits or concepts.

Your favourite designer is… ?
Me. Just kidding. But really, I don’t have one.

Is there any particular designer piece you are crushing on right now?
No.

What do you hope to be doing in the next 5 years?
Having one or two years left until I complete my Masters in Cognitive Psychology.

If you could be anywhere else but here, where would you go?
I suppose I will work on traveling the world, and experiencing different cultures so that I can give you a true and honest answer. Current answer would be Santa Cruz

Samantha, why modelling?
Modeling gives me the opportunity to express who I am through photography.

What do you do when you’re not posing in front of the camera?
I am a tumble coach for a local community center teaching young children.
I am a three time National Gymnastic medalist. I’m also a onetime district qualifier in Track and Field and I love soccer.

What’s your best asset?
My best asset would be that I can work in any circumstance and I work well with everyone.

Tell us about some of your recent shoots. Which photographers in the industry do you most enjoy working with?
Recently I have been working on a project called “the one girl project” with my photographer Don Brainard. He and I have been working together since 2011

Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar?
Both please, but if I have to choose one, it would be Vogue.
 
Define your personal style.
I don’t believe I have specific style, because I have many different styles. I love being unique and standing out.

Julia, it is about one year ago, since we published a feature about you in ZZ MODEL FEATURE. At that time you were living in Brunswick, Germany. Now you moved to Capetown, South Africa. Please tell us a little bit about your reasons to stay in South Africa. Was it about modelling or do you have another profession, which comes first?
To move to Cape Town had two different reasons for me. First i have to spend six month in another country to finish my study as a mediamanager, but i defenetly wanted to move to a model town an skip the german winter. So the best solution was Cape Town. It was easy to find an agency to do my internship and to make my first steps in the international model industry. Another reason for me to chose Cape Town is the african wildlife. You can swim with penguins or just see a new born wild elephant in front of your car. Its just an amazing country.

.As we could see, you already had several sessions in and around Capetown. So what is your impression? What are the differences to your work in Germany?
The people here are way more relaxed. A huge difference is that everyone first wants to shoot at the beach as you dont have that option in germany. And most of the photographer invest way more in their equipment, so you gave shoots in another dimension. And here are so many models everywhere and a lot of castings. Today i had for example a casting for Maybelline.
 
How long will you stay in Capetown and what kind of sessions do you plan in this time?
I will still stay until April, so six month at all. I will still have a session with horses at a ranch and a shooting at Cape Point (hopefully with some Zebras)
 
You do quite a bit of commercial modelling work. Tell us about some of your recent shoots.
For commercial i still have to go and visit castings. In Cape Town they produce for the big ones in the industry, like h&m, haribo or maybelline. I just had a shoot for wedding dresses so far

What really goes on behind the scenes as a model?
Most of the models are really friendly, but its a lot of pressure. My old agency told me for example that i look fat at a picture where you could see my bones. You have to stay selfconfident and change agents. Unfortunately i know some models that could not handle it and stopped eating, but most of the agencies are really friendly and helpful and care about their models. But all the girl thinking that modelling is a luxury business, i'm sorry it is not. True you see the world and meet new people, but for a shooting that looks so nice on instagram you spend hours in a garage to shoot in uncomfortable poses. And even the victorias secret angels have to spend hours in the very cold water to guez the perfect pic.
 
Which photographers in the industry do you most enjoy working with and is there a different attitude about the photographers in Europe and South Africa?
Yes there is a difference. Most of the photographers here are perfectionists. They care about the styling, perfect poses and perfect make up. But for me its great, cause in the end that gives me perfect pictures for my portfolio.

What do you love most about modelling?
I really love it that i always meet new people. I love to see the results of my work and how different you can look with another style or another make up. It’s amazing. And it’s a great feeling if everyone cares about you, cause you are the one, who has to rock the session.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
Oh my god. There where a lot of highlights. First of all i signed with a big agency. That was a highlight. I had the honor to open my first fashion show here in Cape Town. I had a big wedding shoot with a photographer, who also made pictures for a shaik in Dubai. And as a big highlight i was allowed to be part of the dance movie Honey 3 with Jessica Alba on set
 


Define your personal style.
I love to play with my style, but most of the time i keep it natural. In my private live i don't wear a lot of make up. A friend of mine said i always wear something, that looks like rock. So i love my chucks, my leather jackets and low backs
 
Who would you say is your 'style muse'?
I love the style of Candice Swanepoel and Blake Lively. I do not really copy them, but sometimes they give me inspiration
 
Your favourite designer is… ?
As almost every girl i'm in love with victorias secret, yes they also produce normal clothes

Is there any particular designer piece you are crushing on right now?
To be honest, i don’t need things cause they are from a certain designer. Here is a lot of great local stuff to see and to buy.
 
What do you hope to be doing in the next 5 years?
If i dream really really really big, then i want to wear the victorias secret fantasy bra in five years.



We cross fingers for you, Julia, that you will reach your goals.
 

... are the words of Omzoo Leak Ndoye, a young and upcoming model based in Paris. He's right now looking for an agency. If you're interested, you are welcome to contact him. We had a short interview with him.

Omzoo, why modelling?
I am modeling because it has been my passion ever since I was a child. I love to model. Modeling means everything to me. When I was younger, people told me, I look like a model and I grew up with that passion in my heart.
 
What do you love most about modelling?
I love everything about modeling. Modeling is not just a simple passion to me, I think, it's hard work and I have the ability to model, so I'm going to go for it.
 
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
I have done a lot of photoshoots and I did some runways.

What really goes on behind the scenes as a model?
Behind the scene as I model, it's very hard. Behind the scenes might look easy but it's not. You don't have much time. You have to really prepare and hurry up, get dress rush to get out on scene and make sure your on time.

Define your personal style.
I don't have a personal style as a model. I think, you should love every style. Fashion is the key to success. I am kind of swag but beside that I love every style
 
What do you hope to be doing in the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years I hope to be modeling

If you could be anywhere else but here, where would you go?
I would go everywhere else but my current location, because I love to travel. I love to experience new places. It doesn't matter where the location is.