Spirit Model Interview: Lesley Rose

 

 

Lesley Rose is fast becoming one of our most popular models, this stunner has graced the cover of magazines, appeared in music videos and worked on feature films. And she has brains too! Check out what our lovely lady Lesley had to say when we interviewed her....

 

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. 

Well my name is Lesley Rose and i'm 23 years old and living in London, I was born in LA, California in the United States and grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire in England. I started modelling professionally a couple of years ago and really it was my mum who supported me through the first stages.

What are your ambitions for your modelling career?

Having been published several times now my biggest ambition is to be on the cover of a well known magazine. I'd love to walk into a shop and see myself on a cover, or get a phone call from my mum saying she's seen someone reading a magazine with me on the front of it. That has always been my ambition and something I'm aiming towards. 

Have your friends and family supportive of your career? What was their reaction? 

Family have always been massively supportive, as I say, it was my mum who first gave me a gentle nudge into modelling and helped me promote myself and look for work. Friends love it, they love shouting around that they're friends with a model, buying the online magazines in print and showing their other friends. I remember when I was very first published in Nuts Magazine I had a whole group of army boys contact me who were friends with my friend's husband saying they were proud of me and congratulations! Boyfriends have been alright about it, my ex used to get quite jealous of the attention, the admin I had to do, the social networking but eventually he just put up and shut up I guess!

How is it affected your life so far? 

Being signed to Spirit has been amazing for me. I've had some cracking jobs and my face has been places that I didn't even think it could be! I've done music videos, catwalks, promotional appearances and it's been amazing. Some of the people I have met I never thought I would and these people have been an inspiration to me throughout my modelling and have proved that Beauty and Brains can be an amazing (and lethal) combination. Going to Tattoo Conventions is strange because people actually recognise me and want pictures with me and usually I'm a very confident person but I get quite shy about things like that! I was actually at work a week or so ago and someone came up to me and said they recognised me from the Spirit website and I felt like I was going to explode I was so proud!

How would you best describe your personal style? 

I'm not very girly but can be when I need to be. A lot of my friends say that although I come to work dressed in jeans and a hoodie most days and by no means can pull of 'cute' I do 'sexy' very well! So I'd say that most of my work is sort of around the Alternative Glamour side of things. On a normal day you'll catch me with my hair up, glasses on, hoodie and leggings or jeans, strolling around London without a care in the world. When I'm out or at events, I'm glammed up to the nines, with something either low cut, backless or short to show off my assets.

What is your personal view of the alternative modelling scene? 
I think there are a lot of girls in the alternative modelling scene who are amazing. Its difficult sometimes to not feel as if you're being overshadowed by someone else and at times you find that there are people who are influenced by your look and replicate it which can be quite annoying. Some of the best artistry I've seen however has been through being a part of the alternative modelling scene. I love that it challenges stereotypes of the types of people who get tattoos and I love that the people I've met have been truly beautiful inside and out and their artwork is just an addition to their existing beauty.

What has been the most special, memorable, highlight or most unique experience during your

modelling career? 
The most special experiences I think would have to be doing things like music videos or advertisements. I was walking along the South Bank by the Thames in London just after the Ben Pearce - What I Might Do music video came out, which I featured in, and a group of girls stopped me and asked me if it was me in the music video. It literally took me by surprise and I was with friend who answered for me because I just couldn't get the words out! To be recognised in the street was incredible and not something that I thought would ever happen. Especially somewhere as big as London.

Who inspires you? 

My mum definitely inspires me. She struggled through with me as a single parent and her work ethic is one that cannot be challenged. She inspires me to keep striving for my goals, always have ambitions and always have a path I want to take to get to where I want to be. She used to work 16 hours a day, sometimes two jobs just to keep food on my table in cities all over the UK to make sure I had a good upbringing and a good education. She taught me the facts of life, how to be streetwise and how not to be made a fool of which is something in modelling you need to be aware of. I take my hat off to my mum because she is incredible.

Is there a particular model/photographer/designer you would like to work with? 

I would love to do something with a brand called Teale Coco. Their full body harnesses are amazing and I'd love to shoot in one! I can't wait until Melanie Titus comes back to the UK, we've said we're going to set something up and I cant wait to discuss ideas and chat about concepts! And of course the amazing Scott Cole who was actually behind a lot of the work that I first saw when I stepped into the modelling scene. Once I get all of my tattoos finished I'm heading his way!

Do you have a sideline career and if so what do you do?

Yes! I'm actually studying at London South Bank University at the moment. I'm doing a BSc(Hons) Psychology with Child Development degree and I hope to graduate and go on to do a pHd! So fingers crossed for me!

By Sapphira Chattan.