Well, for starters I’m a teen mom & a dropout. I lost all hope when no fast food place would hire me, but then Michelle Prater contacted me asking if I’d be a promotional model. After that, opportunities just started flying at me, and I started believing that anything could happen if I followed my dreams. Nothing has ever been this good, I’ve constantly been struggling my whole life & still am, but now I feel like things might take a new road for once. I love playing guitar, singing, parkour, gymnastics. I’m just Raina, I don’t think there’s anyone else like me out there.
What does fashion actually mean to you? What inspires your passion and what excites & motivates you about modeling? Fashion to me is like a personality that you can see. I like being able to express vivid emotion in just a picture, I think it’s incredible.
What do you think, Is it important to attended fashion modeling courses? Do they really help newbies to get a foothold in the Fashion Industry? I’ve never been to a fashion model course, but I’m sure it’d help anyone gain experience.
Has modeling changed other aspects of your life? What does your career do for you? Modeling has definitely changed everything about my life, I feel like I’ve finally found something that I enjoy. I’m able to live my life any way that I want while still having a well-paying job.
Is there anything you dislike about modeling? The only thing I dislike about modeling is that I can’t do photoshoots 24/7
And what are some things you dislike or want to change about the fashion industry? The only thing that I dislike about the fashion industry is that most role calls are for girls 5’7 and up. I’m only 5’4, so it doesn’t really work out in my favor.
How you prepare yourself for a modeling shoot? I prepare myself by looking at other models’ work for inspiration.
What has been your best fashion look? What was your biggest fashion mistake? Once I went blonde, I started getting a lot more business opportunities. The worst thing I’ve done was doing an untasteful photo shoot when I was desperate to get somewhere modeling, I’ve learned that I’d rather not do a shoot if the photographer isn’t fantastic.
What are your favorite types of outfits to model in? What are your least favorites? I love dresses when modeling, the ones that fan out. I really dislike plain casual clothing while modeling though.
Any ultimate goal to fulfill as a model? How do you see yourself progress in this field? My goal is to be in a magazine or in a calendar! I’m going to keep trying until I get there.
What kind of shoots would you like to work on in the future? I really want to do swimsuit & fitness modeling soon, that would be a dream come true.
Which country you are from? Tell us something about your city, your favorite hang out spots there? I’m from the United States of America. I love my city St. Louis, the graphite wall is incredible & oddly enough, I usually hang out at playgrounds in the summer to practice my vaults & flips.
What do you like to do for fun & entertainment? I do yoga, urban exploration, play World of Warcraft, sing, write poetry. I like being active for the most part though.
What is your perfect day? My perfect day is going on a morning walk with my 11-month-old son, making a big breakfast, napping. We usually have family time with his dad after that & it’s the best feeling in the world.
What’s your fashion mantra? Please describe your style? What’s your beauty regime? I love comfortable clothes that are bold at the same time. I usually just wear my hair down & put on a little mascara. What I wear usually depends on my mood.
Do you eat nutritiously? Tell us about the diet you follow on a regular basis? Is there any food which you avoid eating? I don’t have a specific diet, I just eat whatever sounds good because I have a fast metabolism.
How often do you exercise or go to the gym? How much time do you spend there? I used to go to the gym a lot to tone up, now I just do squats or walk up & downstairs on a daily basis.
Excluding all complicated beauty & fitness mantra, what do you think to be the easiest way to look pretty and glamorous? The easiest way to look glamorous is shimmer spray, but I usually just do my hair or makeup a little differently.
What other modeling projects have you done? I have done photoshoots with John Blair, Jerry Steele, and Kara Friedman.
What are your experiences in the fashion industry? What is fun and rewarding about modeling? I love feeling so glamorous, Kara Friedman once told me confidence is key. She was more than right, she did me justice by telling me that early on.
What fashion magazines you like reading? I read Vogue, Cosmo, pretty much anything that gives me inspiration & ideas.
Tell me about your favorites My favorite model is Victoria’s Secret Angel, Giselle. The favorite photographer is Seth Garcia. Favorite food is definitely just a nice greasy burger.
How you access the Internet? What device do you use? I use my smartphone, it’s faster for me.
How you communicate with other netizens, especially your subscribers? Are you patient? polite? friendly? How often you reply to them? I reply to as many people as I can, although sometimes “fans” & peers say inappropriate things that make me not want to reply.
Do you own a domain? Do you have your own fashion blog/website? I have a fan page on Facebook, but that’s it. There’s too much social media for me to keep up with.
Is there anything you like to add? I just want everyone who supported me to know how much it means to me. I wouldn’t have had the courage without them all.