One of the best parts of having a blog is the people you are lucky enough to meet and the stories you are lucky enough to find out about.
Last year I had such pleasure when meeting the beautiful and very talented Jazz Bell, a model, producer, photographer, content creator, and all-round gorgeous Girl Boss.
Jazz has been the face of some of the most beloved brands around and produced TV favourites like Family Feud and Millionaire Hot Seat. But beyond her career achievements, she is a breath of fresh air in an industry that can often feel repetitive and static.
Her gorgeous kind and light personality has brands constantly lining up to work with her and her ability to capture some truly amazing content makes her a regular at some of the most prestigious events around.
We naturally connected over a delicious foodie event and I knew that her story was one I had to tell on Coffees & style ….
How did your journey into modelling start?
I had my first photoshoot when I was around 6 months old, someone stopped my Mum and asked to take my photos. When I was around 7-8 years old my Mum enrolled me into deportment classes to help with my confidence and I really enjoyed it. It grew from there.
On a side note, I was also a pageant baby when I lived in America. Again someone stopped my Mum and told her to enter me and my sisters into the pageant. We only lasted one pageant. Mum wasn’t popular when we won every category, the other Mums were staring her down.
She was also mortified and refused to pay $200 each for an evening gown for the three of us to be in the finals. I’m pretty sure she made the right decision.
Do you think that modelling, and really fashion itself has evolved over the years?
I think it has. Fashion trends have always done a big circle, I saw girls at the tram stop the other day and they looked exactly like the Spice Girls. I thought, damn, I am now at the age where I can actually say “I used to wear that when I was younger” *Insert shock face* I’m not even 30.
Fashion is moving extremely fast these days.
The modelling world has and is evolving. With the need for diversity and body positivity, brands have introduced curve ranges and there are many different ethnicities being used in advertising compared to when I first started modelling.
What role do you think social media plays in the industry today?
It has completely changed the industry. Everyone now has their own platform to share, has an SLR camera and a lot of people are happy to work for free or for a “free” item of clothing.
Social media is easy marketing for many brands and clients aren’t shy in asking how many followers you have before booking you for a job.
It isn’t all bad, it’s a great platform for creatives and is also a good way to share modelling work and the shoots you are doing.
I absolutely love your page and blog, you keep it so real and relatable – how important is that message?
It’s the only way I know. I am happy when I’m being myself, it doesn’t matter if people don’t like what I share and it’s amazing if they do.
It’s really important to me to always be true to myself. It’s probably why my social media posts fluctuate so much; if I’m not doing all that much then I don’t have all that much to share. I’m glad you can see that in my posts and blog.
You wear so many hats – producer, model, blogger – how do you manage to keep everything balanced and still, for lack of better term, have a life, outside of it all?
A colour coded Google Calendar, no lie! I am also a keen runner and Pilates fan – Wine helps.
Sudio headphones are a must and I have an amazing circle of friends and work colleagues. If I ever I do something and I’m not enjoying it, then I stop doing it.
What advice would you give anyone who wants to get into modelling?
Be prepared to be rejected, more than once!
Research and practice. Learn how your body moves. I still to this day practice poses in front of the mirror. It’s not just about being a pretty face. It’s hard work.
Find a reputable agency, there are many dodgy buggers out there who don’t have your best interest at heart. Remember if it doesn’t feel right and you’re not comfortable it probably isn’t right.
What would be your dream project to be a part of?
I’d love to do a BONDS campaign or a Seafolly campaign. Both cool Aussie brands who I wear. I love being in my undies and/or swimwear and curvy girls are now being used in campaigns for similar brands. It’d be pretty surreal, teenage Jazz would probably lose her mind.
If I was to leave the Aussie shores, Finnish brand Marimekko is my favourite. I love the prints and fabric and I would die to be part of one of their campaigns. I often post for them on social media and a campaign shoot would be a dream.
