Always wanted to write for a magazine...

My next piece is an article with an entertainer and model that I have been itching to publish for a long time. It took a while for our schedules to marry up, but I was thrilled to get the interview finished. The lady in question is one Venus Starr, a multitalented Australian native that has wowed me with her work ever since my first glimpse. A gloriously tattooed model, as well as burlesque and circus performer with a killer look and dedicated attitude. It was a great experience finding out about her passions, and it’s a joy to share those passions with you all.

There’s so much to talk about when it comes to your work Venus, what with your modelling, burlesque, circus performing, tattoo convention appearances, dancing etc… I thought we’d start with your fascination and involvement with circus performance. How did you get into that world? Were you not put off at all by the clowns?

I got into circus back in Australia. I lived with a bunch of circus girls; they were very inspiring. I have done dance, gymnastics, theatre and catwalk modelling most of my life. Circus seemed natural and I fell in love with it, it’s a little edgier and not as disciplined and boring as the world of dance. My work is modern circus contemporary, there are no clowns or bears or tigers sorry. I have never been afraid of clowns, I think that’s a strange fear; clowns are beautiful.

Your trapeze work is astounding, I love how you can contort yourself and achieve positions in the air that most people couldn’t on solid ground. Could you tell us a little about performing aerially, how long you’ve been doing it, and have you ever had any close calls while performing?

I have been performing for 10 years; I have had 2 falls and never broken a bone in my body. It’s a lifestyle and very hard work, not a hobby a lifestyle! I specialise in aerial silk. I don’t do trapeze much anymore. I used to do double swinging trapeze with another aerialist but we split, it was like a marriage to a sister, we were always arguing but fuck we were good.

Your dexterity while performing is something that I always pay attention to. May I ask if yoga plays a part in your preparations, and do you have a specific eating and exercise routine you need to stick to?

I eat healthy I am hard on myself and I run. I also like to drink party and be wild. Yes I do yoga, not religiously though.

Burlesque is an art form that has captivated me since I was first introduced to it. It’s a method of performance that is beyond theatrical, and is often misunderstood as purely erotic and sexual. What are your thoughts on Burlesque, and did you have any industry heroines before you got so involved?

Burlesque added edge to my circus skills. I combined circus and burlesque to create ‘neo burlesque’. But no, I had no one I looked up to with burlesque. Actually Miss Saturn from New York! She rocks.

When you’re performing burlesque, how much input do you have on music, choreography and costume? Is it all your own creative drive behind your shows?

All my own acts I create and choreograph, I design my costumes with my designer and they are custom made for me only. I also choose my own music and cut it with my sound guy so it can not be copied.
When I am hired for other roles or events that require a theme or for me to play a certain character then that is what I am there for, but all my Venus Starr stuff is mine. All mine.

Something I applaud you for and marvel at is your incorporation of the hula hoop in your shows. It’s a piece of apparatus that has been forgotten somewhat these days. What made you bring it into your act?

I trained hula hoop for years, I have a diploma in circus I went to circus school I incorporated hoop into my act because this is what I love and what I do. I like when a performer can incorporate a skill in a burlesque act. I get bored easy, it’s not hard to take your clothes off.

You not only utilise the hoop singularly, but also many at a time. What is your record for number of hoops if I may ask?

I can do 20-something in a bunch for a few rotations. This is a common question for me, but what will wow people is that it’s actually harder to do one hoop tricks than multiples.

I love the characters you become in your shows, weather it be a bandit in a bandana, or an exotic bird resplendent in plumage.  Where does your inspiration come from?

I am an artist I create my act, they come from somewhere in my crazy mind. I actually don’t know how I come up with them. My parents are both artists and creative so I guess I’m just gifted like that. I’m a creator.

I must move on to your modelling now Venus, even though I could talk about your performances for ages. What got you into modelling?

Modelling came out of performance art really and most of my life on the catwalk (my mum is a fashion designer). It seemed natural to follow that path, I know so many photographers so I couldn’t avoid it really. I love it, it’s so less strenuous than circus!

You’ve worked in a multitude of styles already, but can I ask what your favourite flavour of shoot is?

I like glam fetish, a little darker is more me but I am versatile. I think that’s what makes a great model, if you can be creative and flexible.

I’d love to talk about some of my favourite sets now if I may. Your circus inspired shoot with Sarah Mudle was terrific and such a unique idea for an alternative photo shoot. Where did the idea stem from?

The circus shoot with Sarah was my idea and Sarah had no experience in circus at all so I taught her those moves as we went along. She picked it up quick it was fun! What we were doing is called adagio or acro balance.

I also really enjoyed the sets you did in America with Andy Hartmark as well as AJ Photography. They were some very dramatic and atmospheric fashion/lingerie and fetish pictures. Is that a style you’d like to work with more in the future?

I love shooting with Andy Hartmark he is my fav, I have never been so in my element. We shot for 13 hours that day it seemed like 5 minutes. I will be shooting again with Andy this coming June!

In a more recent collaboration, your set with AJ Photography in that bath of pink liquid is extraordinary. What was that like to be a part of, and how was the picture created?

Again the pink bath was my idea, and it took a shit load of powdered milk and food colouring to get that bath looking like that. I shot that image for Empire Skate it is now on T shirts.

You must enjoy working with AJ Photography, and you create such splendid imagery together. What is the collaboration like?

AJ photography and I are very close friends and we create good work because I am completely myself and we just see the same vision. We are always on the same page it is really an unspoken understanding of each other and how we work. It just works.

You are also an esteemed tattoo model, and have some marvellous pieces of art on your body. I couldn’t interview without asking about them, so what was your very first tattoo?

First tattoo is now covered with a star on my hip; it was my star sign. Ew!

You’ve made some lovely choices in terms of your tattoos, I personally love your vibrant sleeves. Could you talk a little about any themes you may have for each sleeve, and how their completion is coming along?

My left sleeve is all female villains, original drawings by my tattooist Simon Morse. My latest tattoo was my hand tattoo of a rose by Lifestyle Tattoo.

Is there a portion of your body that you wouldn’t get tattooed for any reason?

I would never tattoo my face! However I think it looks pretty on others just not my style. 

All that’s left is Bernard Pivot’s questionnaire; would you be so kind Venus?

What is your favourite word? Don’t have one.
What is your least favourite word? Chuddy (Kiwi term for chewing-gum). 
What turns you on? A yummy smell on a man. 
What turns you off? Smokers. 
What is your favourite curse word? Fuck. 
What sound or noise do you love? My son laughing.
What sound or noise do you hate? Flies or mosquitoes. 
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Events manager or film director.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Love your shoes.

There is no doubting Venus’ love of her craft, she’s someone that lives and breathes performance and is quick to dispel misconceptions. I’ve learnt a lot through working on this interview, and chief amongst those lessons is how much I adore the work ethic and results Venus Starr stands for. She’s a talented lady that will go on to even greater and more entertaining things down the line. Keep your eyes on her, and do so by heading to the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Venus-Starr/211053272248479?fref=ts

http://www.youtube.com/user/MsVenusstar?feature=mhee

The images used in conjunction with this piece were submitted and okayed by Venus, and are the results of collaborations with: Brett Stanley photography, Miss T Pinups photography, Photography by Sharyn, Andy Hartmark, AJ photography, Directive photography, Paradox photography.

I’m very pleased to once again be plugging the remarkable work of indie clothing company Small Victory Clothing. We’ve had a relationship ever since this blog began, and Krys the company’s fearless leader was one of my first ever guests. Now whenever a new product is available to customers it’s my pleasure to spread the word and get you all checking out their latest merch. Today I’m here to extol the virtues of two new and very different products in the Small Victory range.

Small Victory is primarily a unisex clothing brand producing wears that both flatter and coolify ladies and gents. However, on the rare occasion they do specialise in ladies garments, they get it superbly right. Look no further than their “Boyfriend briefs” a range of underwear so adored and sought-after that it’s a constant battle to keep them in stock. The newest addition to the ladies apparel arm of Small Victory Clothing is the “Jellyfish Nebula” custom leggings. A sleek, unique and custom design will bring your legs to life and electrify them with the galactic beauty of jellyfish. It’s a juxtaposition that works so well, with ethereal jellyfish floating against a cosmic background. Only Small Victory could provide it’s customers with such ingenious design, and you can own them right now!

Another new product from the minds of Small Victory is their “Lord Victory Foxtrot” and “Sir G Hunter” shot glasses. A very classy way to get your drink on and look spectacular doing it. Incorporating the stunning Lord Victory and G Hunter illustrations, these shot glasses are the perfect gift for a loved one or yourself. Looking as good empty and on the shelf as they do resplendent with Jack Daniel’s (other booze choices are available of course), grab yourself a pair today and toast yourself for making a marvellous choice.

As always you can buy, chat and be merry at Small Victory’s various links, all of which are listed below. Happy shopping:

http://smallvictory.bigcartel.com/products

http://smallvictoryclothing.tumblr.com

https://twitter.com/_SmallVictory_

https://www.facebook.com/smallvictoryclothing

The beguiling Venus Starr is my next guest on the Alt Girl botherer blog. I’m very excited to share with you her astounding work and passionate attitude towards everything she does. A real personality, and such a cool performer. Stay tuned, our collaboration will be posted in the coming days. You won’t want to miss it! 

It was a struggle to review the last issue of FRONT to be honest. I actually got it done and posted on the day this current issue was released. I was left very uninspired by issue 180, even though it featured Rebecca Crow and Mel Clarke, two of my favourite FRONT models. This month’s FRONT however is a joy to talk about, with a lively Alt Girl shoot and an eye-opening kill list shoot. Here’s what I thought.

I greeted the cover image of issue 181 with some trepidation. Tasmin adorns the front of the magazine this month, with a secondary cover featuring… A MAN! I believe the first man to appear on the cover of FRONT, and not personally knowing much about Oli Sykes, I think it was very unnecessary. The mag has had other “Big Interviews” before, and with stars a lot bigger than Mr Sykes. Sure he’s got nice tattoos and dreamy eyes, I just wonder if he’s big enough to warrant such acclaim. I’d honestly never herd of him before, and while that says more about me than him, is he a big deal?  

Forgetting about the unfathomable Oli Sykes cover alternative, the fact that newcomer Tasmin got the cover just one issue after making her debut seemed a little strange. I wasn’t wowed by her spread in issue 180 if I’m honest, and I was surprised to see she was elevated to cover status so quickly, especially considering the fact that Seren is also in the shoot with her, but more on that later.

My first port of call in reviewing this issue is page 12 and the “reader’s shit” section. It’s my first port of call for a good reason: I got a picture selected and printed in the mag this month! It’s a doodle I did of the irrepressible Abbie Mac, attached to which was the message “get her back in the mag pronto”. I’m chuffed they liked it enough to print, and it looked good next to the other submissions. Let’s just hope they listen to my plea for an Abbie return.

Page 16 next, and one of the best “kill list” sets ever. I really do like it that much, and hold it in the highest regard amongst the material FRONT has produced. Natalie is a model I was unaware of prior to this issue of FRONT, she’s now a model whose work I’m scouring the internet for. Her first image may be slightly obscured by the page crease, but you still get a sense of a beautiful woman with a unique sense of style. Her blonde dreadlocks grab the attention, and her pert bottom thrust in the air is a close second. I love the purse of her lips in the shot, and her ever so feline eye peering out longingly. A great introduction that had me turning the page furiously to see more.

The quality of Natalie’s work continues throughout her spread, with my two favourite shots coming on page 18. I adore the attitude in her face and body in the pictures, from her funky hair right down to her toes seems to be positively charged with sleek sensual posture. Directly opposite we get a better glimpse at her face, and gorgeous cheek bones and eyes are masterfully enhanced by Becky Rule (hair and makeup). The image on page 19 is absolutely wonderful, with Natalie nonchalantly looking down, while grasping her breasts and tousling her hair. It’s effortless quality that to me shows real nous in front of camera.

We finish up with a side by side double page spread on 20 and 21. Natalie’s feline eyes are again a wonderful feature, as well as her pouty pink lips. A bite of the finger hints at the wildness I’m sure we’ll be treated to in future FRONT shoots, and the clothing selected really champions the work of the entire team on the shoot. I don’t usually talk about the styling and makeup on a FRONT shoot, but sometimes you’re treated to a shoot that just makes you happy, and encourages you to rhapsodise about every element. A terrific introduction to Natalie’s modelling; she’s someone I hope we see back in FRONT soon! A hearty cheer must also go to Chico Willard, the photographer who captured it all.

Other notable issue 181 occurrences prior to the Alt Girl shoot:

1) I never knew Marvel comics had created so many crap super villains. 2) After reading the Oli Sykes interview, I personally concluded that he didn’t need to have his own cover. 3) LOVED the shark juicer and the zombie cookie jar in the “splash your cash” section. 4) Why is Nick Grimshaw in FRONT?

And now on to the Alt Girl shoot. This month Portuguese model Anastacia is the focus of our attention, and what a wonderful choice she is. I actually spoke with Anastacia briefly about appearing on this blog many months ago. Sadly I didn’t get my arse in gear and make that happen, but I will certainly be doubling my efforts. This wonderfully tattooed purple haired petit picture of perfection is a great addition to FRONT’s stable of Alt Girls. The dialogue between Anastacia and photographer Gemma Edwards is clear to see, and the results are fabulous images where a sense of connection is achieved even when the model is not looking into camera. I particularly love the larger of the two images on 59 as it has so much to take in at once. First of all Anastacia’s gorgeous features, from her perfectly accented eyes, to her cute pierced nose (which I fell in love with straight away). Following down from her face we are introduced to a vibrantly colourful tattoo of a Russian doll. The story progresses through the wondrous “s” shape of her body, right past her perky bottom and down to her descending green leggings. The picture just works, and to say it speaks to me would be an understatement. I think we’re looking at a definite inclusion in the 2014 Alt Girl calendar.

Anastacia’s set finishes as strongly as it began, with the striptease culminating at the bottom of page 61. My favourite picture in the sequence is in the top left corner of 61, and sees Anastacia peering over her shoulder as her hair cascades over her face. Now over the shoulder looks are well used in FRONT for a reason, but there’s something even better about this version. Maybe it’s Anastacia’s tousled hair, perhaps the expression on her face, but it all amounts to a very alluring visage, and escalates the tease perfectly.

From the Alt Girl D.I.Y section there were a few lovely submissions. I like to gauge who might make a reappearance in future FRONT issues, and I think I’m doing okay with my predictions thus far. From issue 181 I’m not sure who we’ll see again, but I was impressed by the offerings from Ali, Frankie and K-Jey.

The featured shoot this month sees the return of Seren to FRONT pages. I was very surprised that her involvement wasn’t advertised on the cover of my issue. She appears at the top of the musical alternative cover, but it was a complete surprise to me when I saw her on page 75. Perhaps a missed step from FRONT, who surely should have cashed in on any cache Seren’s name/image may have. As a fan of her work and follower of her career, it’s always a pleasure to see her working with FRONT, the magazine that I first saw her in. However, this shoot, like a few others from FRONT recently, had a feeling of torch passing. Ever since Mel Clarke surrendered the solo cover status to newcomer Keshia, it’s seemed that FRONT are phasing out their well used models. Perhaps because they have better offers from the likes of FHM etc, but I’d like to think it’s a gesture from FRONT to bring on some new talent, and find those next flagship girls.

The initial trepidation when I saw Tasmin was back in FRONT one month after a lacklustre performance was eased slightly by her showing in this issue. I discovered previously unnoticed elements of Tasmin that I was very pleased to behold this time around, like her incredible dimples. She’s much more expressive in this shoot, and the “fuck you” vibe I got from her last effort is replaced by a very pretty smile, accompanied by awesome dimples. Another thing that I noticed for the first time during this shoot was the dandelion clock tattoo on her forearm. I’m not sure that’s what they’re called, but it’s a beautiful piece that I totally missed last month. My favourite shot of Tasmin comes on page 79, where she’s kneeling on a bed grabbing her feet and arching her back. Her hair has fallen over one eye, and her look off camera is very endearing. There’s a vulnerability that I didn’t get from her work in issue 180. It’s a slight shame she’s wearing a particularly baggy t-shirt, but the image still works wonders.

As for Seren, her best image in my opinion comes on the adjacent page 78. She’s tearing a SlipKnot t-shirt asunder, with hair flailing wildly and a lustful eye cast the viewer’s way. There’s a snarl on her lips that’s just amazing, and I think it’s a really powerful picture. With connotations of Clark Kent ripping open his suit, this super model once again shows her qualities, creating an image worthy of hanging on any wall.

This issue of FRONT has had a few highs that have really made me smile. Anastacia’s Alt Girl shoots was wonderful, and I’ll always remember issue 181 as my first introduction to Natalie’s work. The main feature again failed to live up to the other photo sets included in this month’s FRONT. I’m awaiting a featured model’s set that blows me away and stands out above everything else in the magazine. I’m hoping we haven’t got to wait until Alysha Nett’s next appearance to achieve that. A much improved issue from last month, providing reasons to be happy and enthusiastic. The one thing I will ask though is if anyone has more information about Natalie’s work, it would be very much appreciated. A second name to aid a Google search would be a start. Thanks in advance.

The maestros over at Small Victory Clothing have done it again, with summer threatening to hang around a bit this year, the indie clothing brand extraordinaire has brought out some new merch for you all to drape across your nipples. Their signature style and wear quality is back in spades, with new designs equally drool inducing for men and women alike.

Alongside the (quickly becoming iconic) Small Victory bold crested designs (as seen in: coastal, swords, idols and anchors, etc) these new releases up the illustrative ante, with imagery that captures the imagination and benefits from extensive and prolonged regard.

As summer inches its way closer and has us opening up long battened down hatches, Small Victory’s lucky customers will be able to get their tats out and frolic in both short sleeved and vest options. Head to the website now and get yourself looking marvellous. While you’re at it, hit up the blog and the facebook page to join the community and maybe even model your purchases for the company.

Links:

 http://smallvictory.bigcartel.com/products

http://smallvictoryclothing.tumblr.com

https://www.facebook.com/smallvictoryclothing

http://instagram.com/smallvictoryclothing

Images for this piece were provided by Krys from Small Victory Clothing, cuz he’s nice like that.

LATEX LATEX LATEX

The magnificent Cole Black shared his latest video with me, and now i’m sharing it with all of you. I love these vignettes from Cole, he’s a talented fellow and i hope i’ve introduced a few more people to his wonderful work. Some stunning models feature, wearing amazing outfits. Check it out. 

Today’s guest is of course a beautiful and talented model, but as well as her stunning pictures, which I am honoured to display alongside her words, I’ve also been blown away by how down to earth and accommodating she is. The lady in question is the wonderful Sophia Wilde, FRONT model (Bella) and coincidentally the third participant in FRONT’s Alt Girl party special of 2012 to appear on this blog. It was one of FRONT’s greatest issues (and concepts) in my opinion, and in this interview we touch on what it was like to be a part of. As well as all that we discover Sophia’s changing approach to her modelling, exciting upcoming projects, her musical outlet, and obsession with getting pierced…  

 

Welcome Sophia. It’s a great to have you on the Alt Girl Botherer blog today, how are you doing?

Hey! Thanks, it’s pretty exciting, I’m awesome thank you!

For many, the first introduction to your work came in issue 166 of FRONT magazine, with your involvement as the headline Alt Girl DIY. Is this where your modelling adventure begin?

Yeah pretty much. I’d never done anything like that before and was stupidly happy to be accepted into the FRONT world, everyone was so nice!

What was your initial reaction to seeing yourself on the pages of FRONT? Were you a fan of the magazine for long before appearing?

I’ve always been a fan of FRONT, I’m forever drooling over the website. It was a little cringey seeing myself on the pages, especially having friends see it! I had amazing feedback though which then gave me the confidence to do more shoots like this.

The Alt Girl section of the magazine regularly excels all others in my opinion. What are your thoughts on FRONT in general?

I think I’d have to agree with you on that, the Alt Girl section has always been my favourite and is a great place to find out about up and coming models. It’s also quite edgy and features girls with attitude such as Rebecca Crow who absolutely kills it every time! FRONT magazine is a definite must have for me every month!

You were one of the youngest contributors to FRONT when you made your debut, how does such exposure influence such a fledgling career?

I think for my first ever shoot to be published was amazing and such a confidence boost it made me want to do more and excel. Compared to a few of the other girls I am relatively young and so for FRONT to want me when I was so young and had so little experience was awesome!

As well as FRONT, you’ve also been seen in the likes of Zoo and Bizarre. Were these titles you aimed for when you started stepping in front of cameras? Did you hold any particular ambition to work specifically in glamour at the outset of your career?

Obviously Bizarre is an iconic magazine and I’d always wanted to be featured in it, so when I was, I was completely over the moon; especially considering I’m not heavily tattooed, I was honoured to still have them want me. I’d never really set myself any major aims when starting out, I just wanted to do well and have people appreciate my work and the fact that I achieved that from the very beginning was amazing. I’ve always wanted to do glamour but I feel that it’s maybe time to take another career path modelling-wise at the minute.

How have you found the modelling industry personally? Would you say it’s a welcoming world to new talent?

People say a lot about the modelling industry - especially glamour - and I have heard a lot. However I have found the modelling industry to be fun and friendly. A lot of the girls I’ve met have helped me out and it’s like we’re a little family. We’re always recommending each other and helping one another to do their best and have fun! 

To those on the outside looking in, modelling can seemed like a charmed life. Have your own ideas about the business changed at all from before you started? What do you think are the most common misconceptions about the work?

Glamour modelling can be tough and unless you’re in demand then it’s pretty hard to make a living from it. I have a lot of respect for girls like Melissa Clarke and Lucy V who work hard and give modelling their all. They are both so successful and have both achieved the page 3 idol of the year, which is amazing considering Mel is alternative and Lucy has a gorgeous curvy figure that wouldn’t have been accepted previously. People who don’t know the industry tend to think it’s easy and that the girls ‘know’ people and that’s how they do well. However, the people I have met are determined and hard working ladies that deserve all the success in the world!

Modelling isn’t currently your full time occupation of course Sophia, but is it something you could see yourself devoting a proper career to? Or are you of the opinion that it’s just a hobby for now and you’re enjoying the ride?

I’ve never wanted modelling to be a full time thing, it’s simply just a hobby and I’ve loved every second!

Away from your work with FRONT etc, you also seem to enjoy fashion shoots, and have worked with some great indie clothing brands. Are these the kind of gigs that keep you going and the magazine stuff is just an awesome bonus? Do you get any perks from working fashion shoots? Many freebies floating around?

I love shooting for up and coming clothing brands such as Paris & Cuffs and Grim! I think they’re the sort of shoots that I enjoy the most, purely because I’ve met some amazing people through them and they’ve always been a good laugh! Ha-ha there’s always a few freebies which is awesome, I love helping out the clothing brands by repping their items and in return they help promote my modelling.

You’ve got a terrific look if you don’t mind me saying, petit with a rocking figure. Do you have to dedicate much time to gym work etc to stay in model trim? Or are you one of the lucky ones who can eat whatever and still maintain a fantastic physique?

That’s so kind of you, thank you! I did attempt to start going to the gym but I’m way too lazy and love food too much! I think I must be one of the lucky ones.

Another important feature of your look is your piercings. You’ve made some superbly bold choices in body furniture Sophia, can you tell us a little about your fascination with getting pierced?

I love getting pierced as it gives me such an adrenaline rush!! It’s like going on a roller coaster. I’m just a massive fan of surface piercings and think that they look super hot, so I got them all!

You’ve got piercings in places I didn’t even know could be pierced. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I honestly do not know. I got most of my piercings around 3 years ago and it was just a case of ‘Right, what can I get pierced this week?’ it became a little bit of an addiction, and any patch of skin that looked like it could be pierced had to be done!

I particularly love the bars you have at the small of your back and on your hips. Those are notorious places to get pierced; did they heal and take without any compliant? Have you had any negative experiences with your piercings?

Thank you. Yeah all of my piercings have been fine and until now I’ve had zero negative experiences which is pretty lucky considering the amount of piercings I have.

You’ve favoured the piercing gun over the tattooist’s, have you got any interest in adding more ink in the future at all Sophia?

I’ve always been a fan of tattoos and apart from the tiny one I have I’m still unsure about getting any more! I change my mind too easily which isn’t good when deciding on a tattoo!

What other artistic outlets do you have Sophia? What are some of your creative pastimes?

I’ve played the guitar since I was 11 and there’s nothing I love more than chilling out and teaching myself a new song. However I fail at singing which sucks a little ha-ha. I’d love to say that I’m a good dancer but the only dancing I can do is the cha cha slide!!

I have to take it back to FRONT now Sophia, and your involvement with one of the best issues to date in my opinion. In issue 176 FRONT dedicated an unprecedented six pages to its Alt Girl section, and christened the feature “The Alt Girl Party”. You were involved alongside Abbie Mac, Rebecca Crow, Keshia and Chelsea. What was that experience like?

I loved that day!! I got to meet some amazing girls and still speak to every single one of them now; they were all so cute and lovely! We had a laugh shooting and filming the scenes with the amazingly talented Gemma Edwards and the finished pages showed how much of an awesome day we had!

It looked like one of FRONT’s more insane shoots; could you give us some insight into what it was like running around with those girls?

I had the most fun! All of the girls were different but so much fun in their own little way. I was unfortunately late to the shoot but all I remember as soon as I got there, was Chelsea running around in her knickers wearing a Bruce Forsyth mask and instantly I thought I was in for a hilarious day. There wasn’t really an order to anything; it was the best kind of chaos ever with beer, naked ladies and Doritos!!

Featuring alongside such an incredible selection of Alt Girls must have been wicked. Which one made you laugh the most and do you keep in contact with the other girls regularly?

I’ve kept in touch with Keshia the most simply because we’ve worked at events together like the FRONT valentines party at uprawr, which was a mental night! I think I’d have to say that Chelsea made me laugh the most though. She’s so cute and funny with her little Scottish accent, that girl is crazy! However I loved every single one of the girls to bits!

You mentioned Gemma Edwards, the photographer behind The Alt Girl Party. She’s an artist whose work I really admire. What was she like to work with?

Words cannot express how amazing Gemma Edwards is! Every single one of her shoots is amazing. I did my first ever shoot with Gemma and she made me feel so relaxed and at ease! She seriously is amazing and I’d definitely class her as a good friend!

I can only imagine what your reaction was when the feature was released. Did you buy multiple copies of the issue? Have you got any of the commemorative material (posters, special covers, etc)?

I bought multiple copies for me and my Mum ha-ha, and got given funny looks by the guy serving me. I bought the special cover edition of the mag purely because me and my little Alt Girl family are on the front!

Like I mentioned, for me it was one of the best issues of FRONT in a long time and since. With Girls like Rebecca Crow and Keshia getting main features in the magazine following the Alt Girl special, do you feel proud that FRONT chose you to take part in the piece?

I felt completely honoured that they wanted me to feature with the best Alt Girls of 2012, as soon as I got the call asking me to do the shoot with the other girls there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted in!

Having mentioned others that have gone on to reappear in FRONT since the shoot, are you hoping to collaborate with the team in the future? Girls like you Abbie and Chelsea should have a standing invitation from FRONT, do you think making The Alt Girl Party a regular occurrence would be a winning idea?

I think that’s an awesome idea! I’d definitely be up for working with FRONT in the future, they’re an amazing bunch of guys and have helped me out a lot. 

Away from your involvement with FRONT, what other projects have you got coming up in the future Sophia? Where might followers of your work be able to check out your imagery?

I’ve got something lined up with Suicide Girls which is all pretty hush hush at the minute, but apart from that I’m just going to be aiming towards the fashion side of modelling. I’m going for a more natural look now and have ditched the red/black hair, so hopefully this will open a few more pathways.

When thinking about your career, have you got a list of photographers or inspirations that you’d like to work with in the future someday?

I’ve always wanted to work with Rob Jamieson and Stuart Mitchell (WALNUTWAX) they both capture creative and edgy images and to shoot with them would be an honour!

Before I let you go Sophia. Would you please be so kind as to answer Bernard Pivot’s questionnaire?

What is your favourite word?  Moist ha-ha!           

What is your least favourite word? Snatch!!

What turns you on? Glasses all the way!

What turns you off? Cockiness.

What is your favourite curse word? Bollocks, it’s the best!

What sound or noise do you love? Birds in the morning.

What sound or noise do you hate? The bin men in the morning!!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I would love to be a vet for a day.

What profession would you not like to do? I’d hate to be a teacher, I can’t stand screaming children!

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Come on in, I’ll put the kettle on ha-ha.

I had so much fun putting this piece together. Sophia is a thoroughly professional worker and so kind with her time and zesty energy. She’s someone that has achieved so much in a short space of time, and a model whom I really feel is finding her niche. I wish her every success in whatever she turns her mind to in the future.

I strongly urge you all to check out Sophia’s links below. They’re filled with beautiful things: http://sophiaewilde.tumblr.com

Instagram – sohpiaewilde

The images used in this piece were mostly provided by Sophia, with the Alt Girl party pictures sourced by me from my previous blog posts. The photographers represented include: Gemma Edwards, Ben Bell and Alan Lee.

The next guest on the Alt Girl Botherer blog is one of these fantastic FRONT magazine models, but which one???

My reviews of FRONT are generally rambling and thought filled pieces. It’s a magazine I have purchased for years, and on this blog I endeavour to share my thoughts and feelings on its content issue by issue. Now I don’t delve into the social relevance of every article, my commentary centres around the models featuring, and their shoots. What else would you expect from a blog about models and modelling right? Frustration abounds for me this month however, and my enthusiasm to delve into the current offering is absent. Therefore, a more curtailed review is the result this time on the Alt Girl botherer blog… At least that’s what I’m envisaging as I begin this piece… they rarely end up how I envisage though.

Let’s begin at the beginning and the cover of issue 180. Even now, a seasoned FRONT reader, I’m not sure how I feel about ensemble shoots as main features. There have been some cracking team-ups in the past don’t get me wrong; Jessica and Seren’s house party springs to mind, and Mel Clarke’s duet with Keshia was memorable (and somewhat of a torch passing I thought). I think my problem with multiple girls in FRONT features is the inevitable disparity of exposure one or more of the girls ends up getting. There always seems to be a big name in the mix, and the other participants do tend to get overlooked. So trepidation would be a good way to describe how I felt upon seeing Jess, Mel and Rebecca peering out at me from the shelf. I was surprised to see that Mel wasn’t the central figure in the trio’s cover images; I was also delighted to see a return for Rebecca Crow, who is steadily tightening her grip on FRONT audiences, and becoming more of a regular. The subject matter of the shoot was plainly gaming, I didn’t know what to expect from that. Most things have been tried by FRONT already, so a re-hash or something distinctive was equally expected.  

The “Welcome” page provided my first minor gripe about issue 180. That came in the form of this month’s “Limited edition signed cover”. Tucked away in the bottom right corner of page 8, it looks pretty lousy if I’m honest. Not the ladies involved I must stress (kudos to FRONT for including Rebecca and Mel only), but the way in which they’ve tried to shoehorn the letters F-R-O-N-T into a wonderful image that’s used on pages 84 and 85. It’s a tiny quibble, and maybe no one else cares. But if FRONT are going to continue with these “special” covers that we have to pay again for, they can at least go to the trouble of making them worth while… That R stuck on Mel’s stomach is just   bollocks, and looks like a clipart sample if ever I saw one. Sorry, but it irked me. Not an ideal way to kick-off an issue.

My mood lifted slightly on page 10 as I got to see Seany again. Her appearance in the Alt Girl section of the last issue was a highlight, and even though they were the same pictures this month, it was nice to see her again. Let’s hope for a proper return for her before long.

With “The Kill List” being the new “Full Frontal” it’s got a lot to live up to. I loved the experimental nature of the shoots we used to see in the “Full Frontal” section, and the free reign photographers seemed to get at times. They didn’t always work, but they were exciting and different at the very least. This month sees the extremely attractive and inherently cool looking Tasmin featuring. It didn’t help that Tasmin’s first image on page 16 showed her gazing into the camera with a look that seemed to tell me she thought whatever I was getting up to was lame. It’s that kind of cool irreverence that I’ve found irresistible in women for a long time, but it still made me ask why she seemed to hate me so much. My personal issues aside, Tasmin has an incredible lithe, elegant figure, with a dream catcher tattoo that punctuates her pictures amazingly. My favourite shots from her set came on page 21, great work along a banister and contorted on the floor. The location was reminiscent of a very recent FRONT shoot actually, but can’t put my finger on which one. A solid offering from Tasmin but nothing extraordinary.

Moving swiftly (I told you this was a curtailed review) on to this months Alt Girl shoot beginning on page54. Josephine is the subject of issue 180, photographed by Grimbo. The artist in Josephine is evident in her choice of ink, lovely sketches highlighting various points along her body. The set as a whole didn’t amaze me to be frank. Josephine is an incredibly attractive lady don’t get me wrong, but the ideas and positioning within the series didn’t highlight the uniqueness I can see is there. Her look is dangerously similar to Keshia in my opinion. I say dangerously not because that’s a bad thing, but in terms of standing out it’s not the best. I’d love to have seen more made of the braids and plats in her hair, showcasing some of the more kooky elements to her sense of personal style. Incorporating some of her surroundings would have been cool too. With the camera being so tight on Josephine you don’t get much context from the shots. I’d love to have seen the pictures taken from a step back, and perhaps some props or at least some theme to the images. I understand the Alt Girl feature isn’t rocket science, it’s a striptease in a bedroom at the end of the day. But the right pictures echo a model’s personality, her interests, or at least her sense of humour. For me these were just nice pictures of a pretty girl. Now many may think that’s what they’re meant to be, but for Josephine’s sake I think they deserve to reflect her more. I think she’s got a lot to say with her modelling, and with her interests and artistic talents I think she could be a worthy addition to future FRONT issues. For me her best shot this month was on page 57. I loved her body placement as she sits in her closet; the coy little hand to mouth and slight inward turn of her feet are nice touches.

The Alt Girl DIY section this month was a triumph for one girl in particular. I loved Lucy Chambers’ submissions. Wonderful hair, piercings, eyes, figure and relationship with the camera. I don’t want to predict that she’ll be back just in case I jinx things, but I certainly hope FRONT took notice. Great showing and I for one want to know more about her.

Feature time, and we begin on pages 76 and 77 with our triumvirate adopting very similar poses from the magazine’s cover; somewhat of a wasted double page perhaps? It’s strange for me personally seeing Jessica as the figurehead of the trio in this shot; I came to see Rebecca and Mel. By the way, Rebecca Crow’s slight frown in this first shot works wonders for me, and the purse of her pierced lips is just perfection. Moving on to page 78 and YIKES! What’s happened to Mel’s nails? Am I the only one freaked the hell out by her new ruby red talons? Any time her rose foot tattoo is in shot is usually awesome for me, and the humour in her face is great… but those nails… NO! They scare me.

On 80 and 81 there’s a nice shot of Rebecca and Jess side by side. The juxtaposition between the two varyingly inked ladies is interesting. For me it’s somewhat of a cautionary tale for FRONT, with Rebecca Crow on the left representing the direction the magazine should take with its models, and Jess representing perhaps another publication’s target audiences. But that’s just my take on the picture. Loved Rebecca’s nail polish by the way. The gaming theme I could take or leave. They’ve done some nice stuff with fonts and thrown in some text here and there, but it doesn’t make much of an impact. I remember an Alt Girl shoot featuring Sophie Butcher from a while back, now that was a gaming tinged set I remember fondly… Note to FRONT, get Sophie back involved!

On 84 and 85, as mentioned, we see the shot that is used for the “special edition cover”. A marvellous double page spread with Mel and Rebecca surrounded with Tetris cubes. Why in the world FRONT would choose to paste cartoon letters around this shot is a mystery, but I’ve said my piece on that already.

The entire shoot has its ups and downs for me. I always appreciate seeing Mel in FRONT. I know people say she’s in it too much, but I was buying FRONT when she came into the business, and I feel a certain connection to her work. Those nails though… I’d say that Mel’s involvement was a little diminished in relation to what it has been in the past. I’m not sure if FRONT are using her to bring on the next generation of models (like they did with Keshia previously) but there seems to be a smaller billing for the tiny temptress these days. I love the fact that Rebecca Crow is getting more exposure, she’s surely someone that could take over the mantle of FRONT features girl in the long run. As for Jess, unfortunately for me she could have just as easily not been there. I don’t think she added anything to the images she appeared in, and the rapport between Mel and Rebecca seemed to be much stronger and more natural.

Okay, so this “shorter” review didn’t really pan out how I figured. I guess I had a lot more to say on what was in issue 180 than first thought. I think it’s clear from what has been said though that this month’s offering from FRONT didn’t set the world on fire in my opinion. As I always stress, these are only my opinions, and I encourage other views on the work I have discussed. I never feel good when an issue of FRONT leaves me feeling like it was a placeholder for the next. But that’s what issue 180 has left me feeling like. Which surprises me as Mel and Rebecca are two models whose work always impresses. I’ll take heart from Lucy Chambers’ emergence, and eagerly anticipate the delights of issue 181 (which is out NOW by the way).

Yet to feature Rosie Jones on these pages, but she’s showing her support here. Good on ya RoJo!