Our Models and Their Brilliant Minds

Seven: Could you give me an overview of your degree?

 

Audrey: I study veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh. My undergraduate degree is five years. The first two years are preclinical and the last three years are clinical. I’m currently in my third year. The first two years are a basic overview of the animal body. We also cover things like cell biology and the clinical side of things, which include treatments, drugs, etc. In our third year we start learning a little bit more about surgery, anaesthesiology, and how to treat cardiovascular respiratory diseases. The final year is a bit special, when we do what we call rotations; essentially go and work. We do placement for the entire year and we have different kinds of core modules; we work on small animals, work on a farm. This all gives us practical, real life experience and responsibilities. Then we have our final exams. That is the most important exam because after that we are responsible for animal lives. 

 

Se7en: How long have you lived in Edinburgh? And where have you lived before that?

 

Audrey: I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I moved around a little bit; I lived in Australia when I was quite young. I mostly just had a home base in Hong Kong though, born and raised until I moved here to Edinburgh for university. I've been here for four years on and off through Covid, but I mostly stayed in Edinburgh. 

 

Se7en: That sounds amazing! I absolutely could just forget the interview and go into a whole conversation about Edinburgh. What sparked your interest in modeling and when did you get into it?

 

Audrey: I got scouted when I was 16. I was approached and asked if I had considered modelling. At that point in my life, I was like, ‘Oh, well, it's a little extra cash.’ Also, this was for a fashion show, so I was like, 'Okay, what's the worst that can happen?' So I went in for a couple of fittings, and did that fashion show and really enjoyed it. I thought ‘Oh, well, I can make a little extra cash out of it as well.’ I also think it was really cool to see all the designs and learn the right way to walk. 

 

There's a lifestyle that comes with being a runway model that I found quite interesting. In some ways, it's almost like dancing. I've always been quite athletic but I had never explored that kind of avenue at that point in my life. So I did a couple of fashion shows here and there and through that got scouted to do photoshoots for editorials, and then for those designers as well actually. A lot of designers after I walked the runway with them, they were like, 'we're thinking of doing a product shoot, would you like to be a model for it.' That's how I got into the entire thing. I didn't sign to an agency because that would require my parents to agree and they didn't approve of me modeling and didn't even know about it. So I did that on and off from like 15, 16 all the way till I was 18 when Elite models, their Hong Kong branch, scouted me and wanted to sign me. I was considering signing with them  because Elite models is an extremely well known brand and they have really good connections. But, I also knew I was moving away for university so when I got the offer from Edinburgh, I knew that I probably wouldn't be able to sign with them and uphold my part of the agreement. I wanted to focus on my studies so in the end that’s the choice I made.

 

Se7en: How has having your roots based in Hong Kong affected your life here; especially transitioning from modeling over there to modeling here in Edinburgh?

 

Audrey: Hong Kong is a very international city, it's very fast paced, it's very city life based. There's always something going on. The public transport is incredible, slightly better than here. The MTR metro system makes everything super efficient, the pace of life is much quicker. And skyrises are generally just a lot more packed with people. Transitioning over here was not as difficult as I imagined it to be. I've grown up speaking English because I went to an international school. A lot of my friends were German because I went to a German-Swiss International School for a little bit, but I also have Singaporean friends from when I went to Singapore International School. So I grew up with people from all kinds of different cultures and backgrounds. Since transitioning over here, the independence has been really nice; I have always been quite independent growing up. I think now that the pace of life is slightly slower in Edinburgh, I actually enjoy things more and there's still always things going on. There are always things for you to do; you just have to seek them out. In Hong Kong, you kind of get wrapped up in it. Here I get to calm down a little bit and take things a bit slower, which I think is better for me.

 

Se7en: How have the other aspects of your life benefited as a result of your modeling?

 

Audrey: It's interesting; now that I've picked up ballroom dancing, it's [modeling] actually made it worse. My coach had to hold my hand and walk me across the room, because at this point I walk in a straight line; I walk like I'm walking on the runway in everyday life. My posture is great, but I don't know how to walk properly, apparently. So that was a struggle for the first year, which is quite interesting. But other than that, I think I've always had good body awareness because of my athletic interests growing up. 

 

It has also allowed me to meet a ton of really interesting people like yourself and Max, and form a community based on shared interests and a pursuit of artistic endeavors. That's the creative side of things, because I'm not as good at creative things. Given what I study, I focus a little bit more towards the STEM side of things, but having this be a creative outlet and creating some form of art with other people as a collaborative attempt has been really, really fun.

 

Se7en: How do you think the modeling community differs from other kinds of communities?

 

Audrey: It really does depend on what kind of scale of modeling you do. So commercial modeling is very different to recreational modeling, or the modelling scene in Edinburgh. It’s also not as developed, not as fast as I would say  Hong Kong or London or kind of those big fashion cities are. It's hard to do a comparison between these two, because they're also vastly different. And it really does depend on the people you meet and the people you choose to connect with. It's a lot more commercialized and efficient in Hong Kong, compared to Edinburgh where it's a little more laid back and a little bit more about your individuality a lot of the time. Ultimately, I think it's just a way for you to meet people. And whether you decide to connect with them or not, it's kind of like any other avenue.

 

Se7en: What would you say to those who think modeling isn't a worthwhile use of time?

 

Audrey: It really depends on your definition of worthwhile. If this is something that you're not particularly interested in pursuing, then maybe it's not a worthwhile aspect of your time. I have to be honest and say that I got into it because of money. And that's absolutely true, because you do get paid a lot as a model, especially as you go into editorial or kind of the higher end of things. But I think the lifestyle where you have to eat to keep your body in shape is not for everyone. I know a lot of models kind of do the restrictive diets, but I think there is a health benefit, especially now that the fashion industry is moving towards a more inclusive or more a source supporting a healthier lifestyle for models and not just featuring all skinny models but also muscle tone and kind of promoting a healthier way of living. And just generally having healthier looking models on this on stage has really kind of impacted the way I view food and how I view my body; how I keep it in shape and fit for work, essentially, because it is, in my mind a job that someone is paying me to do, and there's a responsibility for that.

 

Se7en: That's perfect, because it leads me right into my next question, which is, what do you think is the best way to get the modelling community and brands to be more inclusive, more body positive?

 

Audrey: I think current society is doing a big change with the consumer demand for awareness for things has definitely increased in the last five to 10 years. We're seeing a slow gradual shift. Cancel culture is a difficult one because I know that has had a positive impact, but it’s also had many negative impacts. I think awareness and pushing for and making demands for more inclusive shapes, sizes, and more awareness that all kinds of body types are okay, as long as there's that layer of health to it, that will honestly have the biggest difference.

 

Se7en: As I think you know our lead staff writer Barbara Labatte recently wrote a piece arguing that society should cast aside the idea of beauty as a whole. As a model, what are your thoughts on that?

 

Audrey: I read Barbara’s piece and I think it was really, really well written and Barbara is lovely; I met her at one of our team night meetings. I don't necessarily agree with the point she's trying to make, I don't know if it’s necessarily feasible for the society we're in, at least not in the next five to ten years. I remember there was a bit where she talked about how beauty is like light, and cannot exist without the dark. So it is really an interesting idea I think; beauty. Having a beauty standard is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just not a good method of someone's value. It can be like someone who is successful in terms of money, but their home life can be not that great. You can still call them successful, there's nothing necessarily wrong with that. It just doesn't determine someone's value. And I think that's the issue of the standard of beauty because it determines your value in society.

 

Se7en: I think in some ways you and Barbara agree in some ways and disagree in others, which I love, because we want to have all differing viewpoints for the magazine. For you personally, what insecurities do you have as a model?

 

Audrey: That's a very good question. Depends on how you define insecurity. You can define it however you want. I think, as someone who's not a model, when I think of insecurity, you know about myself, I immediately go to my own body, which I think is so common for a lot of people. As a model, you have to be out in front of people, you have to be doing all this stuff, like walking the right way and posing the right way and not falling off those really tall shoes. I think it can mean really anything that comes up for you. There's a level of technical skill and experience that comes with knowing your angles and posing in front of the camera, that all takes practice, I wouldn't necessarily call that an insecurity in the same way. I think when people think insecurity, a lot of them think maybe of their bodies. It's kind of uncertainty and anxiety about yourself and a lack of confidence. So I think that it's perfectly normal and okay to be anxious in front of a camera, but it's accepting that and accepting that not every pose is gonna be perfect. Not every photo you take is going to be perfect. It's just keep trying over and over again; you can't really see through the lens and the photographer is also part of the collaborative effort, so you're not solely responsible for the end product. It's something where you're doing all that you can and trying your best. I don’t have that kind of quality anxiety anymore, because I know that I'm doing all I can and I'm putting in my due diligence. That means exercising, eating properly, practicing in front of a mirror, communicating with the photographer and helping understand their vision and trying my best to bring that to life. If the photos don't turn out perfect then that's kind of part of life and I don't think there's a perfection that can be found in art. When we talk about the body and insecurity in general, if we compare our own bodies to the current beauty standards, which I personally disagree with, as I touched on with Barbara's article, for example because I'm Asian, people would want me to have bigger eyes, double eyelids and paler skin. I've had quite dark skin since I was ten, soo sometimes when I go back home, people will say ‘Oh, you look paler now, because Scotland doesn't have as much sun.’ To me, it's not so much insecurity, because I disagree with that beauty standard. Like my nose should be smaller, my cheekbones should be more defined, I should have a smaller face. All of these are societal expectations of beauty, but because I don't subscribe to them, I don't have the same anxiety about it. I have an awareness that my body does, in fact, fit the beauty standard of being tall, slim, size zero, (maybe, I'm not really sure what the sizing is now). But as long as I feel good in my body, and I am healthy, my body works. That's all I can really do, and whether or not it fits, the beauty standard is not something that defines my worth.

 

Se7en: I think that's such a good mindset; it’s the one we're all working towards and it's sometimes a daily battle. What's something people don't necessarily know about you, but you wish they did?

 

Audrey: There are a lot of things, I guess people kind of see different aspects of me depending on our interactions, depending on where I meet them. So I don't really know which aspects I'd like people to know more about me. I personally appreciate my support system the most. They're not what I always talk about, but they are the reason why I'm here. My support system includes my brother, and three really close friends of mine, one of them who's dating my brother, actually, but we've been family friends for 12 years. They are always supportive of me; will always drop everything to help me if I'm ever in trouble. Having such a good support system to fall back on has made my life so much easier. I am truly grateful for them each and every day because without them, I wouldn't be here. Without my parents, I wouldn't be in Edinburgh studying the degree that I love as well. But having my best friends, some of them are in Hong Kong, one of them is in Australia, then the other in Singapore; knowing that they'll love me and support me no matter what has allowed me to pursue things I would otherwise be scared to try. Whenever I'm feeling a bit down, I can always look and see the photos we've taken together. The letters they’ve written me, they're actually just right there. I put them next to my desk and every time I study and I get discouraged, I know that they'll be there to pick up the pieces if I fall. They're not afraid to tell me when they think I'm wrong, and they're always going to be honest and want the best for me. 

Oh, wait, I also want people to know that I don't understand sarcasm as well. I just don't. I'm trying to get there.

 

Se7en: What can Se7en do to improve the modelling environment at our magazine?

 

Audrey: Mmm. So recently I had recommended a friend to come and try modeling for Se7en, and a couple of Se7en models had their own issues and were unable to make the shoot, and canceled on really short notice. He has given me feedback that he felt like a lot of his time was wasted and was not as appreciated given that he had cleared his schedule to do this and had done all his makeup and was fully prepared to go multiple times because the time slot was moved throughout the weekend. I completely understand his concerns and I absolutely know that this is something that, because Se7en is a recently rebranded magazine, they're kind of still working through the kinks and working their way through a couple of knots along the way. And that's absolutely understandable. I think a lot of the models don't necessarily have the experience with the camera, because they're also students and might not have done much modeling. But they're here because they appreciate and support the magazine's ideals and would like to kind of be a part of it. And I completely understand and support people trying new things with  breaking into the modeling industry, even just to support a magazine and have their voices heard because diversity and inclusivity is really, really important. So having better directions and having a clearer vision will make their lives and the photographer and the editors lives a lot easier. That's something I'd really like to do for Se7en, as well as to help people who are first starting out to feel comfortable in front of the camera and have fun as well. That's something that I really hope to do more of in the future.

 

Se7en: That was great; thank you so much. Those were all wonderful, wonderful answers.