THE CULTURAL OMNIVORE

Hannah Ferguson: The Sports Illustrated Rookie On Life

Hannah Ferguson hails from a small town in rural Texas. You might recognize her as a Sports Illustrated rookie or from her spot in those Carl’s Junior ads, but wherever you have seen her before get ready to see plenty more of her. Hannah spoke to me about growing up in a strict military family, adjusting to life in New York and why you won’t find her spending her down time at the mall.

Tell us how you got started in modeling.

After I graduated from high school I participated in a model search that summer, held by the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas. I ended up winning and immediately moved to Dallas and started modeling.

Growing up in rural Texas how did you adjust to life in New York?

My transition from life in Texas to life in New York was such a huge move for me. Where I’m from is completely the opposite from the city. I was lucky enough to live with two of my sisters for the first few years which definitely made my life a lot easier. As with a lot of things, it just took time to get used to the lifestyle.

Both of your parents are Marines. How did your upbringing influence your approach to modeling?

My parents instilled in me the importance of being a hard worker. If you want something you have to work for it.  Their support and those two factors played a big part in where I am today.

How did you feel when you were selected as one of Sports Illustrated’s rookies?

I was in utter shock and completely excited. It was a dream come true. I have been so blessed by this life changing opportunity. I couldn’t be more grateful.

What has the response been from your friends and family to your success?

I think some people are shocked given where I went to school and grew up, but everyone has been so supportive, encouraging and happy for me.

What do you hope to get out of your career?

I want to have longevity in my career and just continue to advance. I have new goals that I have set for myself and hope to be successful in reaching them.

If you weren’t modeling, what would you be doing?

I would have either taken the steps to open my own barber shop or become a pre-k/kindergarten teacher.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I hate shopping and I only go into a clothing store if there’s something I need.

What are your short-term and long-term goals?

My short-term goals are to continue to work hard and be successful so that when I become a mother and wife I can still continue to model. Ultimately, I like the idea of having a business of some sort.

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Posted on by theculturalomnivore in Female Models

2014: The Year In Review

Illustration: Justin Teodoro

Two thousand and fourteen hailed a triumphant return for models as their presence dominated the covers of magazines and many of them became social media stars. Interviews with industry veterans Haylynn Cohen, Shirley Mallman, Agyness Deyn, Danielle Z, Claudia Mason, Liisa Winkler, Lisa Cant, Jade Parfitt, Michelle Alves, Anne V, Mini Anden, Nathan Bogle and Scott Barnhill featured heavily. While the world was introduced to Bart Grzbowski, Leebo Freeman, Morris Pendlebury, Justin Hopwood, Dan Murphy, Dorian Reeves, Cory Bond, Toby Sandeman and Ataui Deng all of whom are making their mark in the fashion industry.  

We gained a behind the scenes look with Soul Artist Management founder Jason Kanner, Casting Director Andrew Broz, and Model Manager Gabriel Ruas Santos-Rocha. It was a great year for artists too as illustrator Justin Teodoro, photographer Conor Clinch, and founder of Hello Mr. magazine Ryan Fitzgibbon emerged as ones to watch. While personal trainer Justin Gelband talked about the importance of the mind and body connection.

I would like to thank everyone for their unwavering support and belief in my vision. This wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of you.

Posted on by theculturalomnivore in Fashion

Introducing Dan Murphy

After a short-lived career playing hockey in Canada, Dan Murphy migrated south to Florida to study Small Business Management. He began his modeling career shooting for W magazine with Kate Moss before working with Armani, Abercrombie & Fitch, Boss and Barbour in addition to shooting the cover of Fantastics magazine. I caught up with Dan to find out how he handles the hectic pace of modeling and to talk about his passion for the culinary arts.

Tell us about how you got started as a model.

When I was in college in Palm Beach, I became good friends with a photographer who took some simple pictures of me and sent me to meet with some agencies in Miami.

How do you feel your peripatetic upbringing helped you adjust to the hectic work schedules of modeling?

Well, I would say that because of the amount of traveling I did as kid I’ve always felt comfortable jumping on a plane at a moments notice and being dropped in a foreign country. I understand that probably doesn’t sound appealing to most people, but it is part of the job.  Over the years it just gets easier and easier. After doing this for so long I now have friends in most of the different cities around the world that I work in.

What do you hope to get out of modeling?

The fashion industry has been really good to me for the last eight years or so. Every day I count all my blessings and try to make the most of the opportunities that modeling provides. I truly do love what I do and enjoy connecting with people. Someday I hope to leverage my career and build a nice charity organization.

How do you feel your Bachelor’s degree in Small Business Management has informed the way you approach your career?

This is how I make a living and I do take the business side of it pretty seriously. I think most of the older guys understand that.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far?

The last couple of seasons I shot the advertising campaigns for Barbour. This company has an incredible history in the UK and sticks to their roots. I’ve been blessed to travel with them all across Great Britain and Scotland shooting on mountaintops, at horse races and historical country estates that take your breath away.  I will always cherish the memories and friendships I made on those trips.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I love to cook! One of my favorite things to do in the city is go the Institute of Culinary Education and take their cooking classes at night. They have a huge selection of recreational cooking classes I’m working my way through. It’s all hands on and the best part is the huge meal you get to feast on afterward.

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome with modeling?

In one word, balance.  I have a tendency to be an all-or-nothing kind of guy which can burn you out over time. In turn, I have to remind myself to try to find a happy medium and take a little extra time for myself here and there to unwind.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

I talk about this one a lot actually – and it kind of goes back to finding balance in life. The advice, “enjoy the process” was given to me by a dear friend and mentor of mine. It’s easy to enjoy the high points in life, but it is trying to find the good within the bad times and finding little wins through the tough times. Whether you are up or down, you still have to go through it to get where you are going so you might as well make the best of it.

Posted on by theculturalomnivore in Male Models

Justin Hopwood: The Ralph Lauren Model Discovered by Bruce Weber

With matinée idol looks, Justin Hopwood landed the cover of the Abercrombie and Fitch Quarterly and has become a mainstay in the Ralph Lauren family fronting campaigns for the brand season after season. Named by Models.com as one of the industry’s Money Guys, this native South African routinely has clients calling on him.

Tell us about how you got started as a model.

My younger sister, who was modeling at the time, dragged me into her agency to do some admin work and a gentleman by the name of Byron Kealumans asked me if I was interested in modeling.  I told him I wasn’t really interested. He asked me to grow my football inspired mohawk out and clear up my skin. At the time I had pretty bad acne. Once I followed Byron’s advice, I did a little work here and there in South Africa and then in 2010, Bruce Weber scouted me for an Abercrombie shoot. He flew me to Miami where we shot and one week later Jason Kanner, the owner of Soul Artist Management, signed me. Within minutes of meeting Jason he sent me to Ralph Lauren. A month later I shot my first ad with Ralph and then the rest is history.

Hailing from South Africa, what were the biggest adjustments you made living in the US?

I guess the culture and the exchange rate. Oh, and the weather – we don’t get snow in South Africa.

What do you hope to get out of modeling?

I hope to grow as a person as much as possible and really embrace the opportunity that I’ve been given.

Models Bridget Hall, Tyson Beckford and Tanga Moreau all had longstanding relationships with the Ralph Lauren Corporation much like yourself.  How does it feel to be part of such an iconic brand and family?

It’s a really special feeling! I remember growing up seeing all of the iconic Polo ads with Mr. Beckford. Now I’m able call him a good friend and work alongside him which is very special to me. Ralph Lauren has used the most iconic models in the world over the years and I am beyond grateful and humbled to be a part of the team. They really are like family.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far?

I would say all my shoots with Bruce Weber since day one with Abercrombie. The Big Pony fragrance and the new Polo S/S 15 campaign are also up there. Bruce Weber is really special to work with. He knows how to bring something out of you on camera that’s special and really captures a moment.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve had a unibrow since I was ten years old that I constantly have to tame.

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome with modeling?

The distance from my family.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Jason Kanner told me to “stay humble and be patient”.

What are your goals and aspirations for the future?

To invest in property and grow as much a possible in both modeling and as a person.

Follow him on Instagram

Posted on by theculturalomnivore in Male Models

Mini Anden – From Sweden With Love

Stockholm native, Susanna ‘Mini’ Anden began her career at the tender age of ten before signing to Elite Model Management when she was 15. She has been on the cover of Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan in addition to campaigns for Gucci, DKNY, Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton. Mini met her now husband on the set of a DKNY shoot and resides in Los Angeles with her family. Still very much in demand, Mini spends her time between her home in LA and New York.

Can you pinpoint a time in your career that changed everything for you?

My career really took off in 1998 when I moved from Paris to New York. I had already worked with some great photographers like Peter Lindbergh and Mikael Jansson but the campaigns and money jobs started rolling in after I arrived in New York.

You met your husband on set while shooting DKNY. How did you make the relationship work with such erratic schedules?

Oh, the fun we had on that shoot! It’s true that’s when Taber and I became a couple, but we actually met a few years prior to that on a shoot in Sweden for Arena Hommes Plus with Mikael Jansson. We were both dating other people at the time but definitely noticed each other.

About a year and a half later we met again, this time in New York for an Italian Vogue shoot with Peter Lindbergh. We were attached the whole shoot and Taber gave me his number. He went home at the end of the shoot telling his roommates if this girl calls, I’m done. I did call but whoever answered the phone never gave Taber the message. When we met again two weeks later at the DKNY shoot I saw him and asked how he was.  He said he could be better and I asked him why. He said it was because I never called.  That’s that the beginning of our love story.

How did we made it work with our schedules? Well, we made it a rule never to go longer than two weeks apart. When we were both traveling a lot we made sure we connected around the world. Relationships will always hit rough patches but I truly believe we belong together so we’ve just made it work. Meeting at such an early age sort of meant that we grew up together and luckily we never grew apart.

Your family splits their time between LA and NYC. How do you manage to maintain balance now that you’re modeling again?

We have lived in LA for over 10 years. It means a lot more traveling on my part which sucks because I don’t like flying but it’s worth it because of the quality of life we have. When I started modeling again, after becoming a mom, we’ve traveled together as a family. Taber can take his work on the road so I have been really lucky. Until I’ve finished nursing Felix I want him with me. It will definitely be a challenge when I have to start traveling by myself again. Leaving my boys will be hard but that’s the gig. It’s not fair on a toddler to drag him across the world for a few days at the time.

How has your modeling career evolved over the years?

I feel my career evolved in the way that I am now more settled. I have my steady clients and don’t up and leave every other day. Things are definitely more planned. In the beginning of my career it was full-force all the time with 12 seasons of shows and traveling non-stop. All that work paid off and I now have my steady well-paying clients.

What kind of career guidance did you receive at the beginning?

I have been lucky in my career to always have great agents around me that I trusted with whatever they would throw my way. I always felt cared for and protected.

What advice would you give to younger self?

Buy an apartment in New York! I can’t believe all the years I wasted on paying rent.

Who were the most influential people in your early career and why?

My amazing agents Jan Stewart and Susanna Rönn and photographers Peter Lindbergh and Mikael Jansson. The editorials that I did with them really paved the way for me.

Did you ever notice a inversely proportional relationship between your success and weight?

When it comes to the weight issue I feel I never really suffered too much pressure. I’m naturally thin and athletic. Taking care of your body and fitting into samples sizes just comes with the job. But yes, I do think most models, including myself,  have a bit of a warped body image.

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Posted on by theculturalomnivore in Female Models