Pure Rebel | VIP Member | Verified Credits (97)
Where are you from? Where are you based now and do you travel for shoots?
I was born and raised in Seattle, WA, and have lived there most of my life. In 2012, I left the restaurant industry to pursue full-time freelance modeling. I have been based out of Seattle for most of that time, minus a year and a half I spent living in San Diego from 2014-2016, but now I live in a camper van and travel full-time! I still frequent Seattle to visit my family and friends, but now I consider myself a full-time nomad.
Who or what inspired you to become a model?
Growing up, I was not allowed to express myself in a lot of ways, especially sexually. Drawing, painting, sculpting, and music were great creative outlets for me, but once I became of age I really wanted to express myself through my own image. Models and actresses like Carmen Elektra and Angelina Jolie were inspiring to me as a teenager. My parents sheltered me very heavily and did not want me to dress “sexy” or show any skin. I was raised in a strict “Assemblies of God” K-12 school church, and my dad was a big fan of the “Growing Kids God’s Way” program. My strict religious upbringing paired with my rebellious nature and desire to create creative and sensually charged imagery inspired me to begin modeling after I turned 18.
How and when did you start modeling?
MySpace was the popular social platform when I turned 18, and a photographer contacted me there to do a bikini/lingerie shoot right after my birthday. I was nervous because I didn’t think I was good enough… I am only 5’2″ and have very noticeable stretch marks. In my mind, a model had to look like the cover of a magazine. I was not very familiar with Photoshop and airbrushing back then, in 2006.
What type of modeling do you enjoy the most?
I have evolved through a range of modeling genres over the last 14-years. When I had just started, I thought I was “supposed” to find fashion gigs, run around to “go-sees” and try to find a commercial agent as a petite runway model. After several awkward Craigslist interactions and getting scammed by a fraudulent local agency, I finally started realizing that the independent creative photographers were my people, and I started falling into glamour, swimwear, and soft erotica for a while. Over the course of several years of glamour, beauty, gothic, cosplay, bodypaint, etc. type shoots I decided I wanted to branch out into more fine art styles of modeling, body-scapes, and nude in nature with more abstract poses became a new love for me. I still enjoy nude in nature in stunning outdoor locations the most! Since my transition into more fine art styles of modeling, I have become an experienced yogi and a certified open water free diver so that I can pose underwater in the ocean at depths that are difficult to achieve for some awesome locations.
What do you look for when deciding to work with a photographer?
First, I look for their references: have they worked with anyone I recognize as a professional? Are the models credited in their portfolios? Are the models in their port showing micro-expressions of fear? I also look to see their description of themselves in their biography: do they sound like a positive, creative individual, or, a negative, egotistical individual? The level of experience in their photography is not a factor when I am deciding when to work with someone. As a professional freelance model, my motivation is to help make visions become a reality incorporating my creativity and experience as a model. If I believe that the photographer has creative intentions, and not predatory intentions, and their references check out, I know it will be a fun and productive shoot!
Which models or other artists currently inspire you?
I am lucky enough to have been inspired by many artists and individuals throughout my modeling career, and many have become friends to me! I adore my good friend, Jin’N’Tonic. She is such a diverse model and watching her go from a platinum blonde to a bald-headed babe has been really exciting! Carolyn Jean is one of my friends and favorite collaborators in Seattle, she is an amazing model, photographer, and professional makeup artist. Another friend of mine who inspires a diverse body-positive culture is Lillias Right. I have traveled with her and witnessed her career expand well past my own over the last few years! A few photographers who inspire me are Lindsay Adler. I was blown away by her concept work in the studio and now I am furthermore inspired by her passion for teaching creativity and her most recent nudes in nature. Gary Breckheimer is another photographer I have enjoyed collaborating with. His nudes in cities are awesome!
What would be your dream shoot?
I have a running bucket list of shoots to accomplish. The loftiest one at this time is to model artistic nudes by the acid lakes in the Danakil Volcanic Depression in Ethiopia (highly worth the Google search). Neon green ponds accented by highlighter yellow and rust tones of dirt.
How important is social media in your success?
Today, social media is my main billboard to the outside world. I have become a content creator behind the camera for self-portraits, and have also been working with my boyfriend to create interesting and dynamic nude in nature photo galleries for my Patreon platform. Due to the current economic situation, my income is primarily coming from support from my fans, who mostly find me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc.
What else do you like to do outside of modeling?
Outside of modeling, I enjoy hiking, karaoke, eating avocados in my bed (in my van), and spending time with my partner, who also lives in my van with me. He is a musician and I film their Nirvana tribute band, Nevermind, as a side gig. I am also a commercially certified drone pilot, and I love flying my drone as I travel the country!
What’s the best career advice you can give to new models?
Safety is the most important thing! If anyone is compromising your safety, a hard “no” is always an acceptable answer. A hard no is always OK when one’s personal boundaries are being pushed. Proper communication in advance can help remedy a lot of potential issues at a shoot, like a start and an end time, what kind of photos are expected to be created, where the photos are going, if the model is to receive any images, and if so, what rights do they have to post, is there going to be payment, if so, how much and what method of payment? I could write a whole book of advice! If any aspiring or new models read this article and want to contact me with further questions for anything, please email me at Purerebelmodel@gmail.com.
Check out Pure Rebel’s Model Mayhem portfolio to see more of her work.