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INTERVIEW WITH CAILIN ALYSSA

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1. Hi, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself?
TOO many interests to fit on the page haha. Although I am no longer a collegiate athlete, I am passionate about learning new sports and the process that comes along with learning how to do them well. I pride myself on being a water sports girl but recently have taken up golf, tennis and the prestigious sport of polo. Yep, on horses. I also enjoy surfing and skiing... You will never catch me sitting still as I love to be on the go!
I also love art as I am creative and my great grandfather was a famous painter. I love creating or designing things to fulfil my creative brain.
                             

2. Tell us about your journey so far?                                                                  
I think that it is every young girl's dream to be a model or work in fashion in some capacity. I was scouted by a representative from America's Top Model on a California beach just after turning 18. It was at this moment that modelling became a goal within reach and later signed with a modelling agency.  I have always been a go-getter and try to be the best at anything I set my mind to. I have a plethora of talents and like to try them out in various ways and don't want to limit myself to any one thing. Though I have been modelling from a very young age and have the utmost respect for the industry, I also have a career that allows me to utilize my other talents in diverse ways. I have Scottish, German and Spanish roots which I think adds to my drive for success and living life to its fullest.
                                                                         

3. How would you describe your style?
“casual cool girl” I want to look classy and hip but like Effortless

4. Tell me about your experience as a model.
I am not your typical model. I was scouted when I was you der but have other priorities that have limited my ability to really let my career take off. I wanted to go to college and was a college athlete. It was difficult to be a college athlete and a full-time model when castings and shoots would take place during practice times. After college, I did meddle full time and sign with an agency while also working in the corporate world. My career as a model was needed when I found I had cancer a few years ago. I lost the left side of my face, I went thru chemo and radiation, lost my hair and was dropped by my agencies. I have only recently had enough confidence to start trying to model again and I am praying I can make something happen as I’m not in my prime anymore.

5. 2020 has been the strangest of years, how did you find lockdown? Any lessons or discoveries?
I think the past 2 years, the pandemic years have been some of the strangest times. Initially, I was bitter about the whole situation as I was being furloughed from my sports and  entertainment corporate job, and it was a serious struggle. I lost a lot during this time, including my assets, but I know a lot of ppl did. Instead of harping in all the bad, I was proactive. I went back to school And completed my pre-medicine requirements at UCLA. I also got my real estate license as well. I learned what it was like to have a work-life balance. I was able to have hobbies again and took up polo were met my amazing boyfriend learning how to play polo. At the end of the day, I didn’t mess around and a lot of positives came out of the pandemic. I also just applied to medical and got in and am starting this journey in January 2022. So many life changes but all for the best.

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6. What are your hopes for the future of the fashion industry?
Would love to resign from an agency and start working more and expanding my portfolio.
                                                                         

7. Who has been some of your favourite collaborators so far in the industry?                                                         
Love working with Levi’s and Calvin Klein

8. What first piqued your interest in fashion and modelling?
I think working with brands and making art through photographs.

9. What is fun and rewarding about modelling? And what is not?
Modelling is hard. It’s not easy. There’s a lot of pressure to be fit and eat right and have the best skin and hair but it is hard to always live up to perfection. The judgement is hard too and I feel it’s hard not to compare yourself to others. However, the industry is very rewarding as well. When you do book that job or sign with an agency you feel like you are on cloud 9. You also meet amazing ppl, brands and colleagues that build lasting relationships to last a lifetime.

10. What is the biggest highlight of your career so far?
Working with Maxim and QP Magazines

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11. Do you have a favourite designer or high street brand?
My favourite designer /brand is probably Tom Ford or Chanel. However, for everyday street style, I’m an Isabel Marant girl

12. How has your style changed over the years?
 I define my style as a casual-cool girl. I love fashion but I also believe in comfort. So I am a cute t-shirt and jeans kind of girl but love to accessorize with cool shoes, a sick jacket and jewellery. Over the years I’d say my style has changed from the Tom Boy/ athlete jock girl to more of a feminine cool girl. I have even recently seen myself throwing in some floral print dresses from Zimmerman which is unusual for me as I usually like the neutral Scandinavian look.
                             

13. What is your greatest strength?
Dedication, passion, hardworking and kindness
                                                                         

14. What are your goals as a model?
My career as a model was halted when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I went from an agency signed model to no agency and no work when my agents saw I lost 1/2 my face to cancer. Though I had an incredible team of doctors and my face looks better than ever, and I’m cancer-free, it has been a struggle breaking back into the industry. I would love nothing more than to start working more with fashion modelling in 2022. I would love to make the cover of some more magazines this year and start getting my confidence back as a woman and model. I would love to resign from an agency and get back to working regularly. I would love to be a SI Rookie model too one day!

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