INTERVIEW: MODEL - MADELEINE ANGUS

A model and student from Houston, Texas, Madeleine Angus is quickly becoming someone to look out for! Scouted at just fifteen years old, she is now immersed in the world of fashion and modelling!

EF: Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself!

MA: The high fashion modelling industry is pretty non-existant where I'm from in Houston, it differs greatly from places like New York and a few European cities. I am in my last year at high school, my life is getting a little hectic! It's pretty tough balancing school and modelling but the experiences make up for it.

EF: How old were you when you first got scouted? Do you remember your first job as a model?

MA: I believe I was fifteen; I was walking into a grocery store with my mom and a local agent (who scouts for agencies in Asia) approached me. I had braces and was at that awkward gangly stage, to a point where I was used to being stared at in public, so I blew her off! I knew I didn't look anything like those girls in the magazines. 

   I didn't really see modelling as an opportunity until I was sixteen. My first job was a photoshoot with an amazing photographer from Houston! I remember feeling so natural in front of the camera; which was weird because I'd never done anything like it before. When I tell clients that those were some of my first pictures, they don't believe me! 

EF: Describe a typical day at work?

MA: Currently, because I'm in high school, I don't get to work often. It's hard turning down jobs because I have a math test the next day, or a paper due. I just have to work when I have the time! 

   I recently worked in Milan this summer, I would go to castings all day, but on days when I had a job I'd come home exhausted! It was full on. I wouldn't really say there's such thing as a "typical day" in modelling - it's so varied!

EF: What would your ideal shoot be like? Theme/Styling/Make-up?

MA: Japanese styling is everything to me. It's so cool how stylists for Vogue Japan, among others, are able to put together the most obscure look with it still coming together perfectly. They definitely have a unique eye.

EF: What's the most obscure shoot you've done? Any horror stories?

MA: I've had orange eyeshadow literally thrown on my face and neck. It was pretty funny riding the metro and bus with makeup half wiped/half smeared on my face! This was in Milan, and I noticed that no one really cared - they were used to weirder things! 

EF: Where's the furthest you have travelled as a model?

MA: Milano! But now that I've been home, I only want to travel further and longer! Just one summer wasn't enough. We'll see!

EF: Is modelling your chosen career path or are you looking to do it alongside other things?

MA: I wouldn't say I've chosen it as a career, but I just want to see where it takes me, mainly just out of curiosity, it's a hectic industry. I do want to study Communication Arts and Advertising so I'll have to learn how to balance the two.

EF: Do you aspire to be like any other models?

MA: I definitely think so, but really, I think it's just down to luck. Being at the right place and the right time; having the right person say, "wow, I love your look" can make a model's career! The one thing that's important to me is that I don't want modelling to change who I am as an individual... I want to remain my own person.

EF: I feel like modelling incorporates acting to a certain extent, what character from any film would you most like to emulate in your day to day life?

MA: You're absolutely right! It's impossible just to sit there wearing the clothes and still be captivating enough to photograph in the first place. It's like playing dress up, and I think that's why I love it so much... You get to be someone else for a bit! 

   I would choose to emulate Lisbeth Salander ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") because I have a total girl crush on her and Rooney Mara (the actress who plays her). She's so badass and independent, which is something I really admire in people. If you can be yourself and say "fuck it! I don't care what other people think!!", then I will probably want to be your friend!

EF: Any clothing item you wish you could've sneaked home from a shoot?

MA: Oh plenty!! Miu Miu glitter shoes to be exact! SO. INSANE.

EF: I have to ask everyone this! Who are your favourite fashion designers?

MA: Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Miuccia Prada, Alexander Wang.

EF: Who are your least favourite?

MA: Kanye West. I really like his personal style, however, why he didn't venture into menswear first is totally beyond me!

EF: Last fashion/beauty item you bought? Where from?
MA: The last thing I purchased that I really remember was Embryolisse cream from a pharmacy in Milan. It's great, can be used for anything really!

EF: Please name 5 celebrities/designers you would love to invite to a dinner party (dead or alive)? Reasons for choosing them?

MA: Miuccia Prada, Daphne Groeneveld, Anna Dello Russo, Riccardo Tisci, and Choupette Largerfeld (Karl's cat). Theyre also so eclectic (the cat included! ha!). I actually ran into Anna Dello Russo at a party in Milan, literally!

EF: Has modelling brought you any opportunities you're glad to have received? 

MA: I'm so grateful for all the opportunities I've received! I've made connections with a lot of people that I absolutely love and admire. Travelling as much as I have (and hopefully will do again) wouldn't have been realistic if it weren't for modelling, I have it to thank for that also.

EF: Now a few quickfire/random questions! What's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?

MA: I don't know really, but in general, I think people are really beautiful. Everything that composes a person, their personality, voice, laugh, appearance... It all really matters in the end, when you're not with a certain person you really remember all of those aspects.

EF: What do you think is your greatest extravagance?

MA: Probably my phone and the internet, haha!... It keeps me in touch with everyone back home and around the world! 

EF: What excites you about the future?

MA: How unpredictable it is! I don't know where I'm going to be even three months from now, and that is really quite enthralling.

EF: What is most precious to you?

MA: My friends and family. You really find out who your friends are when you go away for long periods of time. My family has been beyond supportive in everything I do and have done. I can't even put into words how grateful I am for that. 

EF: And lastly, what era would you love to have lived in, fashion wise?

MA: I think the future, if that counts! Because people right now look back to reflect on fashion trends of the past and think, "wow, what in the world were they thinking?!" - I'm just curious what future generations will look back and say about us.

Thank you very much for letting me interview you Madeleine! It was a lot of fun!

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