International Artist Profile

for Eloquence Magazine, May 2010

Anina

The Geeky Model

by Michelle Viljoen

Whether it’s Beijing, Paris, Amsterdam, or the internet’s business domain, Anina manages to crossover to each in style.

Getting discovered

It’s the story many young aspiring models dream of being able to tell their friends, family, and entertainment news reporters - that of getting your modeling talents discovered by the right person.

Anina was working in a healthfood store in New York when a stylist noticed her and asked for a photoshoot. Anina agreed to the shoot, setting a chain of events in place which recently landed her the Top Foreign Model in China award.

This girl from Michigan has become a supermodel who regularly flies between continents for modeling work, can speak five languages, and runs her own fashion business online.

“Of course every girl has the dream to be a top model. Modeling is a great way to see the world, to grow up, experience cultures and more,” Anina says.

The modeling world

While some people might have fears for young girl’s well-being in the modeling world where they are under constant pressure to stay in shape, while so far away from their family’s support, Anina speaks positively of the impact modeling has had on her life.

“I think modelling is like the old finishing schools where women would learn to dress and act in high society. Thanks to modelling I speak five languages, I know how to dress well, and I can speak to anyone from a busker on the streets of Paris to the marquee of Spain.”

Those language skills would come in handy as Anina has spent the past two years jetting between Paris, Amsterdam, New York, and China. Moving to China was a strategic move.

“I felt the economic crisis coming and thought this would be a great new market to work in during this period.”

Taking the east by storm

Arriving in China as the country’s first foreign top model was an exciting experience both for Anina and the Chinese.

“On photoshoots it's kind of crazy. Clients get so excited because the level of photos I'm doing really bring their brand level up to a higher standard. They often start chanting "Anina, supermodel! Supermodel!"

Modeling in China has its differences to modeling in New York, a city that has long been in the fashion and modeling business.

“[It is] a developing country, so they are not all up to the global industry standard. I still have to remind them that I am vegetarian and I have to set-up the change room, ask for heat or cool depending on the weather, put something on the floor to keep my feet clean, ask for water, and to go to the W.C.”

At the same time that Anina is sharing her experience with her Chinese colleagues, she is also learning from them.

“As it is, I am working with all the top photographers in China. So, I am very honoured to learn about their style and they really are top quality.”

The workload in China is another thing Anina had to get used to. She has gone from doing a maximum of six to eight shots per day, in New York, to 50 to 100 shots per day, in China.

“You have to learn, as a model, to be fast and efficient... it’s a great training ground.”

Having top foreign models in China seems to be a recent development. “Sometimes I look around in China and think ‘Is that a model?’”

She attributes China’s lack of top models to low modeling rates and a modeling industry that is still in its infancy. “Only models in Hong Kong are my competition because many top models go to work in Hong Kong.”

Tecchi-model

She probably has one-up on her competition as Anina isn’t only a successful model, she is also a business savvy tecchie. Apart from the economic crisis driving Anina to China, she also saw it as an opportunity to promote her company 360Fashion Network.

“Modeling, for me, is a way to get to know the market and the people, so that I can work with them at a later date for my company. It gives me staying power.”

Anina describes 360Fashion Network as a digital marketing tool for the fashion industry to enter the new media marketing space and reach a global audience. It’s a network of fashion professionals who use their mobile phones to create online media by posting content and thereby getting their brand noticed.

These days her time is spent doing modeling and running 360Fashion. Doing the work you love, is something Anina says is possible for any woman to achieve.

“I think the world needs more women CEO’s. Also, women can wear many hats in their day and I feel it’s important to show that you can be beautiful, technological, and entrepreneurial as a woman.”