Well, to start my real name is Hailey not Ryzahna. I use Ryzahna as an alias because not everyone is supportive of the modeling career I have chosen to pursue. My love for modeling actually started at a young age. I used to look at magazines and tell myself that one day I want to be seen as that kind of beautiful. The problem was that when I was younger I lived with my father because my parents were separated. The problem wasn’t so much of my father more as his wife. His wife didn’t care for me. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup or anything through middle school or high school that might make me look appealing to other people. I was always talked down to and told that I would never amount to anything.
Once I reached sixteen I chose to move back to Colorado to live with my mom. This life was completely different. I had the ultimate freedom to express myself. I started changing how I felt about myself with all the support around me. I started believing in myself. My mother always told me modeling was challenging, which it is, but she didn’t think I could handle it at that age. During my high school career I had a few photographers express interest in me, but still being under my mom’s household I had to respectfully decline.
I did however fall in love with a boy named Marco. He was always pushing me to be the best and had brought up multiple times that I should go for modeling if that is what I really wanted. He promised to stick it out with me. We dated for three and a half years before we got engaged during our senior year of high school. I had let the modeling thing go because I felt content with how my life was. That was the year my entire life changed. Marco died that year in a tragic accident. My entire world and life that I had built were destroyed.
It wasn’t until a little over a year of grieving that I decided to start following my dream. I remembered him telling me I could do anything, and that’s when I started to pursue the modeling. At first I was doing it just for him. I was doing it because I made a promise that I wouldn’t let anyone hold me back anymore. After a while I realized it wasn’t just for him it was for me too. I needed modeling. It was the one thing that seemed to make me feel whole again after his death.
I started out with one photographer named Dennis Wagner. He runs All About You Photography. Dennis showed me that modeling can bring out the best in people. It can change a person’s confidence completely around. This was I became interested in photography. I loved the feeling of taking pictures of a girl who didn’t think she was beautiful, showing her the pictures, just to make her realize she has her own type of beauty. This is amazing for me because I went through that transformation. This brings me to my current life.
I work full-time now, with modeling on the side. I keep trying to inspire young women to realize that it doesn’t matter what you look like to be beautiful. You are who you are and you are your own kind of special. You shouldn’t have to conform to the world version of perfect. I just try to keep everything positive for me and everyone else.
What were you doing five minutes before this interview? Ryzahna: Five minutes before this interview I was playing with my cat. He is one year old. His name is Jax and he is deaf. I rescued him from a shelter that was going to put him down due to his loss of hearing.
What made you want to pursue a modeling career instead of any other career? Ryzahna: I want to pursue modeling because I want to show other people that you can be whoever you want. I also am pursuing a career in culinary and possibly psychiatry.
What do you feel that separates you from other models that are in the game right now? Ryzahna: A lot of models that I know are doing modeling for the money, fame, attention. For me it is different. Modeling is for me. No one else. I don’t care if I “get big” or not. I mean if I do that would be great because I might be able to make a difference, but if I don’t that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying to change how people see themselves. I want every person to believe they are beautiful in their own way.
Where have you made appearances? (video, print, etc) Ryzahna: Honestly, I haven’t made any appearances anywhere. I kinda just keep to myself. I haven’t had any opportunities for making an appearance.
Out of all the work you’ve done so far, which was your favorite video or photoshoot? Ryzahna: My favorite so far would be the photoshoot I did for my birthday. We got all kinds of bright-colored paint and had it splattered all over me. I had so much fun throwing the paint around and mixing the colors.
What projects are you currently working on? Ryzahna: Currently I am working on a post-apocalyptic set. We will have two to three models in this set. It will take place in an abandoned greenhouse by a lake after dark. It will be a kind of survival of the fittest kind of shoot.
Is there anything else you want to do outside of modeling? Ryzahna: I do currently work at a call center because I live on my own. Unfortunately modeling doesn’t pay too much.
When do you feel most beautiful? Ryzahna: Honestly I feel the most beautiful when I’m at home lounging around in my pj’s because that’s when I’m the comfiest.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night? Ryzahna: The first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night is snuggling Jax. He is very cuddly and it has been a routine for a while.
What makes you laugh uncontrollably? Ryzahna: I love it when I make a fool out of myself I tend to laugh harder than the people around me
What do you do to de-stress after a bad day? Ryzahna: I try to take a long relaxing bath with music. There is nothing better than a super hot bubble bath and John Legend to calm you down.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re with your friends? Ryzahna: My friends and I like to go on “adventure.” What I mean by this is we all get together and go do random stuff just to see where the day takes us.
What inspired your passion for modeling? Ryzahna: I have always loved modeling but what really pushed me to do it was Marco’s death. It made me realize that life is short and you might not ever get to do the things that you want, so you may as well go for it.
What excites & motivates you about modeling? Ryzahna: The best thing about modeling is the fact that it isn’t just a pretty picture. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not make it exciting. I love coming up with new ideas like the post-apocalyptic scene that we will be starting here soon. You can present a feeling or a situation that makes the viewers look at an idea differently.
What does your career do for you? Ryzahna: My career brings fun and new people in my life. I love being able to meet new people and try new things. It is one of the most relaxing things for me in my life currently.
What has been your best fashion look? What was your biggest fashion mistake? Ryzahna: Honestly, my best fashion look would probably be just my regular clothes because that is just who I am. My worst fashion mistake? I don’t think I have one because someone out there has a different eye for beauty and likes that photo.
What’s your beauty regime? Ryzahna: I just live like a normal person I refuse to limit anything in my life because I want people to see me for me.
What are your favorite types of outfits to model in? Ryzahna: My own clothes would be the most comfortable but I also love exotic outfits.
What are your least favorites? Ryzahna: My least favorites would be outfits that are hard to walk in. I like free to roam.
Any ultimate goal to fulfill as a model? Ryzahna: Just to be satisfied with myself and the message I stand for. I don’t ever want to become one of those models that freaks out because they are over lbs.
How do you see yourself progress in this field? Ryzahna: Every day is a new day and a chance to learn something new. I think the longer I’m at it the more I can share with others around me.
What kind of shoots would you like to work on in the future? Ryzahna: I would like to work on some shoots with animals, other people, everyday life. I think this would be good for my portfolio because everyone thinks that all modeling is about is beauty and high fashion and what it is really about is expressing yourself.
Tell me something about your city, your favorite hang out spots there? What do you like to do for fun & entertainment? Ryzahna: Colorado springs are beautiful. My favorite thing to do here is to go hiking in the summer. You can visit many places like the Garden of the Gods or the seven falls. It is truly a place of serenity.
Do you eat nutritiously? Ryzahna: I do eat nutritiously, but that is for health reasons. Don’t get me wrong it is defiantly not going to stop me from eating at my favorite burger joint!
Tell me about the diet you follow on a regular basis? Ryzahna: Honestly, I refuse to diet. I am not going to have someone tell me what I can and can’t eat how much I have to way or what my body has to look like this is my life, not theirs I’m the one who has to live it.
How often do you exercise or go to the gym, workout? Ryzahna: Not very often. I would like to exercise more just because I miss being in shape and doing 5k’s.
What is your perfect day, morning through to-night? Ryzahna: Every day has to be different for me. I hate everything being the same. It gets boring.
Excluding all complicated beauty & fitness mantra what do you think to be the easiest way to look pretty and glamorous? Ryzahna: Just be you. Your personality is what is important. Who you are on the inside. As long as you can let that shine through then you will be fine.
Tell us about your favorites. Ryzahna: Hmm favorites are hard for me because I have so many of them. I can defiantly say my favorite color is blue. It always has been. Blue is a tranquil color and is very calming like running water. The favorite film…if I had to choose one it would be serenity based on the firefly series. I like too many actors but I defiantly think Jennifer Aniston tops my list. I love Halloween because my family goes all out every year. I love spaghetti. And my favorite book would be Stravaganza: the city of masks. It is the start of an amazing series.
Where netizens can find the latest news feed about you? Ryzahna: They can find regular news about me on my regular profile on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbackes. I don’t really use a lot of other media sites.
One question out of this subject: Can you cook? If yes please share your favorite recipe? Ryzahna: Yes I did go to culinary school for a little while but I don’t really use recipes my favorite would be spaghetti. A basic favorite is to cook roughly 1lbs of ground beef with lots of garlic salt and onions. Don’t worry about over-salting the sauce will thin it out. Mix in prego traditional sauce and add about 1/8 of a cup of sugar. Really its to taste but it helps cut the acidity.
Your ultimate message for netizens? Ryzahna: Don’t give up. I have been through many hard things in my life, many of which were not mentioned here. The one thing I have learned is that even though bad things happen you can choose to be the victim or the victor. I refuse to be the victim anymore, and so should you.