Silk Shutter : ZHOE TROTTER

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to their week. I'm bringing you a very special interview this week with model Zhoe Trotter. I'm proud to say that I was the very first photographer she ever worked with!! I could tell back then from her professionalism and ease in front of the camera that she would go on to great things! She's currently in India on a three month contract. Check out her travel blog zhoetrotter.wordpress.com and read her interview below :)

Tell me about your background as a model, and the various campaigns you have done.

In 2011 When I was 17 I tried out for Australia’s next top model. Although I didn’t make it through the first stage of auditions, I was really determined to get my foot in the door and get signed. I didn’t know of many modelling agencies in Brisbane back then, but after many nights searching, I found Viviens, Dallys and Chic. I sent through my photos, which were mostly just really terrible selfies or photos of me on our back porch (I'd try to make them look as close to a real photo shoot as possible). They are actually quite funny when I look back on them now. Every time I opened my emails I would find rejection letter after rejection letter, but I was determined to get signed! I kept sending new photos through every single week for four months before I got contacted by Viviens in Brisbane. They put me on their ‘in development’ board, and then in Novemeber that year after my first test shoot they signed me onto their main board. I spent about a year and a half with Viviens before I decided to try out for ANTM again, which meant I had to leave the agency. I made it all the way through to the top 50 in Sydney where they held bootcamp, and was sent home when they picked the top 15. Six months after coming home from Sydney I was signed to Que and am still with them now.

I worked with the Mens fashion brand Vanguard in their Autumn Campaign in 2012, Universal’s online store 2013, Nancy King Spring/Summer 14/15 collection, Amira Summer 12/13 collection, Liberte Apartments at Kangaroo Point 2014 Campaign, Editorial for Frock Paper Scissors 2012, Cover of Australian Times 2014, feature on Italian Vouge 2014.

What are some tips for other models wanting to break into the fashion industry?

Don’t take things personally! This industry can be so brutal sometimes. If they tell you they’re looking for a girl with longer legs, or different coloured eyes, it doesn’t mean you’re ugly, or you’re too short, it just means that they’re after a different look. There are jobs out there where you would probably fit the description perfectly, it’s just unfortunate that it’s not going to be like that every time. Secondly, don’t expect everything to happen immediately. I’ve been in this industry for about three years now, and have only just received my first overseas contract. Don’t expect to be signed one week and off to Paris the next. To be honest I find the longer it takes, the more you appreciate it, and feel like you have worked hard for it.

How would you describe your personal style?

My style is constantly changing, it depends on how I’m feeling that day, and on what I’m doing. I really am one of those girls that loves to wear their sweat pants, hair in a pony tail, and no makeup. It’s such an effort to dress up all the time, and as long as I’m comfortable and feel good, that’s all that matters.

If you could choose to be the face of any brand, which brand would you choose?

Versace, hands down!

What fashion photographers have you worked with, and if you could choose any fashion photographer to work with, who would it be?

I have had the chance to work with some of Brisbane’s greatest photographers, and I am so blessed and grateful to have had that chance. I worked with you for my first ever photo shoot, and have also worked with Aimee Stoddart, Yazzi Williams, Katriena Emmanuel, Ian Chang, Andrea Jankovic, Victoria Aguirre, Amanda Shadforth (who is the creator of Oracle Fox blog) and so many more! If given the opportunity, I would love to work with Steven Meisel.

What are your career aspirations?

I would really love to stay in the industry for the rest of my life! I would eventually like to settle down, get married, and start a family, but that won’t be happening for a very long time. Once I do get to that stage in my life, I would really love to start working at an agency as a booker. I am really interested in learning that side of the industry, and hopefully I will get the chance to do that.

How do you stay fit and healthy?

I absolutely love my food! Indian, Mexican, Italian, EVERYTHINNNGGG!!! I use to put on a lot of weight really quickly, and it has only been this year that I have learnt to still be able to eat all of the foods I love, and keep my measurements down. I do this by watching my portions. I don’t have my license yet, so I catch a lot of public transport. Everything that is in walking distance I walk to. I love my fruits and vegetables, and I personally think I make a pretty wicked chicken salad. I don’t really go out of my way to do too much structured exercise because I find that I lose motivation quicker doing it that way. Everywhere I go involves me having to either walk there, or walk a part of the way. People have this false idea that all models either live on lettuce leafs or live in the gym. They would be surprised to know that it’s not like that, we eat healthy, but we love our carbs just as much as the next person.

What is your hidden talent?

I love to write! It is honestly one of my favourite things to do. While I’m away in India for three months, I am starting a blog so all of my friends, family, and whoever else stumbles across it, can read about all the adventures I will have whilst I am over there.

Favourite place that you’ve travelled to and why?

I actually haven’t been overseas yet, India will be my first time overseas which is really exciting. My dad used to take my friend and I camping when I was young. I must have been about 11 or 12, and we would go with our family friends to a place called Double Island. Even now it’s still one of my favourite places. It’s so beautiful you can actually camp on the beach, and there were these really big cliffs you could climb nestled right behind our camp site. We made one of them into a slide. Looking back it was actually pretty dangerous and explains all the cuts and bruises I walked away! Kids are like that, they think they’re invincible… well I did at least haha!