Always wanted to write for a magazine...

There’s one way, in my humble opinion, to describe my next interviewee on here. That would be cool as fuck! But she’s not a person that courts “cooldom” mind you. She doesn’t go out of her way to try and be seen as cool in anyone else’s eyes, she’s just a natural. Correct me if I’m wrong, doesn’t that make her even cooler!? Seriously though, it’s a real thrill to have the opportunity to feature this lady on my blog. I was blown away when she agreed to be interviewed, but again that just shows the kindness and awesomeocity she possesses. The lady in questions of course, is the sublimely talented, the gorgeous, the creative, Miss Alysha Nett! She’s an Aphrodite from America, who was gracious enough to take time out to answer a few questions for me. If you’re not aware of Alysha’s work, first of all shame on you, you’ve been missing out big time. She’s appeared in some of the most influential and cutting edge publications in both the mainstream and alternative realms. She is a highly lauded but extremely hard working model. I think you’ll all be able to detect her passion and work ethic for what she does, in the following interview. As well as a snippet of her delightful personality.   

 

Q: You don’t ever seem to be beholden to a photographer in order take a
stunning picture. Do you have a method or mind set you get into while
you’re being photographed?
Alysha: I try to go inside myself, in my mind. I try to have appropriate music
playing to get me in whichever mood they’d like to convey. Pop music for
something fun, soul music for something sexy, etc. etc. I like to just
move around as it comes naturally and make the occasional eye contact. I
think being playful and staying as natural as possible always makes for
great shots.
 
Q: Your look has so many dimensions to it. One moment you can be the
picture of innocence and soft beauty, the next you’re depicting a
harder, edgy, intense persona. Would you say your multifaceted exterior
reflects the many sides of your personality, or are all these different
looks skilfully created out of thin air when on a shoot?
Alysha: I’ve never really thought about that, but yeah, I guess you could say
my different looks represent different parts of my personality. I’m
definitely a mixture of sweetness with a touch of sass. I think being
kind is very important but sometimes people can mistake your kindness
for weakness and that’s when the sass has to come out to let them know
that they can’t test you, ha-ha.
 

Q: Everyone probably asks how you got started in the industry, but cold
you tell me if you came into the profession with any notions about what
it was to be a model?
A: I’ve always had an obsession with fashion and the beautiful women I
would see in magazines and on television. I always wanted to be a part
of it but I can’t say that I had any idea what it was really like to be
a model. It’s a lot of hard work and takes a lot of determination.
Definitely not for the weak minded.
 
Q: You have some outstanding art work on your body. I find the most
striking and innovative to be the frame image on your back. Again, I’m
sure you get asked a lot, but would you mind telling me about it? Where
did the idea come from, and what are your plans for it in the future?
A: It’s a large picture frame usually mistaken for a mirror since it’s
empty. The idea came to me because its actually a cover up tattoo for a
bad one I got when I was 17. The tattoo I was covering up was on my
lower back, and I didn’t want to cover up a tramp stamp with an even
bigger tramp stamp. I knew I’d want to go big eventually, and I didn’t
want the contents of my bad piece to spill onto other parts of my body,
so I went with the idea of a frame to contain my back tattoo so that it
looked like a work of art. I brought the idea to my tattoo artist and we
looked through a lot of old books with great architecture in them to get
ideas of what I liked and what he could draw for me.
 
Q: At the moment there is a stigma surrounding tattoos in the “high end”
fashion industry. Do you think a time will come when the runways of
Milan and New York will feature visibly tattooed models, and will
tattooed women ever break into what’s considered the pinnacle of the
industry?
A: There are already men and women walking the runways that are
unconventional like Charlotte Free and Anja Konstantinova. For men, its
been acceptable for a couple years now with the likes of Josh Beech and
Ash Stymest. Honestly, I don’t think it will ever be something thats “the
norm” but I think there will always be a few firecrackers sprinkled in
the mix to keep things interesting. A few exceptions maybe, but never
the rule.
 
Q: What is your relationship with the art of tattooing? How do you feel
about them, and the sensation of getting one done?
A: Well obviously I love getting tattooed. While actually getting tattooed
sucks and hurts really bad, after I’m done I always feel a sense of
accomplishment. I love that I can display art on my body that, while I
didn’t do it, I had a part in and it reflects me as a person.
 
Q: In every photograph of you seem to exude confidence and control. It must take
intensive hard work during every frame. How emotionally and physically
draining are your shoots?
A: It depends, really. Every shoot is different. If I’m working with
someone that is really pushing me to pull from inside, it can be very
emotionally draining and maybe a blow to my confidence, ha-ha. I think
physically its more draining than people would imagine.
 
Q: Do you have any role models, female icons or style icons that you have
looked up to during your life and career?
A: I have a ton. My style icons change daily. Role models, probably not so
much. I just kind of strive to be the best person I can be and work as
hard as I can.
 
Q: You seem to have such a mastery of what a photographer is looking to
achieve when he or she works with you. Would you say you have the
ability to think like a photographer, or any desires to take pictures as
well as be the pictures?
A: I think that the fact that I have hundreds and hundreds of shoots under
my belt, it helps a lot. I know my best angles, I know what certain
lights do to my skin, and I know how to position my body. I love dabbling in
photography, but I think my main interest would be in filming, so
hopefully I can invest in a nice camera in the future and play with that
a bit more.
 

Q: What are your hopes and targets for the future? Any plans to work in or
visit the UK?
A: I keep my hopes and goals a secret :) when they happen, they’ll happen
and people will be excited about it, but just know I plan to be involved
in everything. As for the UK, yes! I’ll be over there soon, actually
from November 19 - December 5.
 
Q: You must be highly sought after in many different countries around the
world. Is there anywhere you’d love to shoot in particular? Or a
particular theme you think would be fun to work with?
A: I would absolutely love to go to Australia and Japan! Some day,
hopefully :) I don’t have many themes or concepts as much as I die to
work with other artists, photographers, etc.
 
 
Q: Could we please end with Barnard Pivot’s famous questionnaire:
 
What is your favourite word?
Love
 
What is your least favourite word?
Can’t
 
What turns you on?
Confidence
 
What turns you off?
No ambition
 
What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of Otis Redding’s voice
 
What sound or noise do you hate?
A crying baby
 
What is your favourite curse word?
Ha-ha, probably fuck. I curse like a sailor :P
 
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Styling, acting, designing, radio, etc. etc. etc.
 
What profession would you not like to do?
Anything confining
 
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive
at the Pearly Gates?
If heaven exists there would be no God, I would just be waking up in
Justin Timberlake’s bed and he would be saying “good morning, I missed
you!”

 

I was shocked that Alysha was so open to being interviewed for this piece, but as soon as I began talking with her I knew I shouldn’t have been. She was very supportive of the idea, and I will always be grateful that she was able to find time in her busy schedule to answer my questions. I hope I have introduced some newbies to this marvellous lady, and did her justice with this piece. If you want to know more about Alysha, then I suggest you follow her regularly updates and very entertaining blog (http://alysha.tumblr.com).

 

All images used in this piece, were taken (with permission) from Alysha’s tumblr. Please check it out for photographer credits, and outstanding posts.