Urbanity Chic , Spotlight Interview

Ana Kingsley is a fashion model from Melbourne Australia who despite just completing her VCE’s has started to carve out a successful modeling career. We were really happy when Ana chose to complete a feature interview at Urbanity Chic. Read on to discover who inspires her, what its like living in Melbourne and how she prepares for a fashion shoot.

Ana Kingsley

Q: How did you get into fashion modeling?

In year 12 I attended school with a model, that interaction and seeing that she was normal made me think hey, maybe I could be a model. I initially googled modeling and came across websites like starnow.com and modelmayhem.com and over a period of time I applied for casting calls and slowly built up my portfolio, meeting people in the industry.

Q: How was 2010 for you?

2010 was a bit slow from a modeling perspective as I was still in year 12 and completing my VCE, I had been a part of my first modeling experience as a hair model in Wella Trendvision. The team got to the national stage of the competition held in Sydney in july last year. After that I did TFP shoots here and there but didn’t start booking my time seriously until the start of this year.

Q: Who inspires you?

Many, many people in the fashion industry inspire me. Flicking through Oyster to Vogue magazine I am inspired. Pop Stars such as Rhianna and Lady gaga inspire me. The old lady crossing the road inspires me. I cannot pin point one source of inspiration for me because there is so much in this would to admire, both beautiful and ugly.

Ana Kingsley

Q: Which modern day fashion designers or fashion icons do you look up to?

Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Winter. I recently finished watching The September Issue and my respect for the amount of work these icons undertake just fascinated me. Next in line to watch is Valentino and Karl Lagerfelds’ confidential.

Q: Do you prefer to shoot on location or in the studio?

I prefer to shoot in studio because from a photography perspective the lighting and way you want the image to look is more controllable. But don’t get me wrong, I would jump at the chance to work on location in Australia as we have some of the most diverse and amazing natural features.

Q: Do you have an interesting stories about a particular photo shoot, or a casting you’d like to share?

Haha, yeah this one shoot I did for a vintage brand was shot on a freezing cold day at St Kilda beach in Melbourne. I’m shivering away trying to pose and get great shots, it was quite funny. After a while we had a coffee break so I could get warmed up and the photgrapher is sitting there on her laptop looking at the photos we had taken with one of the garments over her so that she could see the screen. It was so funny I took a picture on my iphone.

Q: How do you prepare for a fashion shoot or show?

I make sure every single bit of me is squeaky clean. even if I’m going to get dirty on the shoot it’s just one less thing I have to be conscious of.

Ana Kingsley

Q: Is there anybody you would like to work with?

There are so many people I would like to work with in the fashion Industry from designers to models to photographers. My main aim is to get overseas though so that I can start meeting new people and working with those that inspire me.

Q: What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion to me is an artistic outlet for creative people. Fashion is not the clothes that you wear every day, that is style. Fashion is the intricate pieces of artwork that you cannot wear everyday that designers put time and effort into producing something unique and something that photographers can capture and enter it into the archives of history.

Q: How would you define your personal style?

I would define my personal style as somewhat chemelion-like. I can adapt to a look but at the end of the day a hoodie and a pair of jeans is what I’m going to be wearing down the street or around the house.

Ana Kingsley

Q: Where are you based?

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I would LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to live over seas though, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan.

Q: What’s it like being where you’re from?

Versatile. In Melbourne there is no one set culture or race. The weather is also very temperamental. Melbourne can go through all four seasons in one day. We also have a range of different environments, the country being only an hour out of the city, the beach just around the corner and during winter, snowy mountains only 3 hours drive away. A gorgeous desert in the middle of the country and rolling oceans on the edges.

Q: What’s been the highlight of your career to date?

Just working with new and exciting people to create amazing, eye-catching images. But, the most exciting thing for me was the first time I was published in a magazine and it arrived in the mail.

Q: What are you hoping to achieve in 2011?

I am hoping to at least get into Melbourne’s Spring Fashion Week. I would like to have more publications in fashion magazines and maybe even a small campaign. I’m also hoping in the back of my mind to go overseas for modeling.

Q: What do you do to relax?

I spend a lot of time on the couch at home with my laptop and facebook when I should be doing other things. I like to watch movies and edit photos in my spare time.

Ana Kingsley

Q: What songs are on your ipod at the moment?

Nero -- Innocence, Florence + the Machine, Kickstarts -- Bar 9 remix are my favourites at the moment.

Q: Do you have interesting hobbies?

I don’t really have time to pursue other hobbies whilst modeling and attending full time-study. However, I do have a part time job during winter as a snowboard instructor up at Mt Buller. I have been snowboarding since I was 11.

Q: If you could give a little piece of advice for new or aspiring models what would it be?

Learn to utilise direction quickly and be mindful of your body language and expression when in front of the camera. But, have FUN!

Q: What motivates you to do what you do?

I’m not entirely sure that I could pin it on one thing in particular. I love to create images and I have to admit I do enjoy the attention of having a camera pointed at me. But, the overriding motivation is working with people in a team to create a unanimous outcome and hopefully be recognised for that hard work.

Ana Kingsley

Editor’s Note: Ana has the talent to carve a successful career either on the catwalk or being a feature model. We’re sure we’ll see Ana on some of Europe’s catwalks soon.

If you’d like to see more work or contact Ana Kingsley just follow the links below:

facebook link: www.facebook.com/ana.kingsley

web page link: www.anakingsley.com

Any other links: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1634386