When Carmen Julia was born her mother was enjoying the pinnacle of her own modelling career. Growing up the Spanish wonder was submerged in her future profession; her parents even eventually established a specialist school to teach models how to navigate the industry. 23 years later and the early exposure has clearly paid off. Currently based in New York, she travels back to Europe regularly for work and to spend quality time with her mum who she counts as her best friend. We caught up with Carmen to discuss what goes into such a fashionable life.
You’re clearly having a lot of success as a model, but you pretty much were born into the industry right?
My mum was a model in the 80s and she had me when she was really taking off. After I came along things changed somewhat and my parents built a teaching school for models — a school to teach you how to walk, do your make up and behave generally. It has since become an agency. Mum didn’t really want me to be a model, she wanted me to study and do something else. My advice is to never say no to your kids because that’s definitely what they’re going to end up doing. That said, I think I was meant to be in the fashion world.
What’s your favourite aspect of the job?
It’s definitely all the people I get to meet, so many different creative souls.
How would your friends describe you?
I think my friends would describe me as a fun and caring person. I will always drop everything for them when they need me. They all know I would do anything to help them, whether it’s in the industry or anywhere else in life. They are more than my friends, they are my family.
Besides your friends, what are you passionate about in life?
Art and animals, without a doubt.
Given you travel so much, what are some things you always take with you?
Shoes, contact lenses and the whichever bag I’m currently obsessed with.
How do you keep from getting bored on the road?
I’m currently listening to Cops X the Jury by Devyn Rose, Saturday by Steph Lecor and Surfin‘ by The Beach Boys. And reading Blind Willow, Sleeping Women by Haruki Murakami.
Which fictional character would you compare yourself to?
I like to believe you should never compare yourself to anybody else, you should be happy with who you are and make the best of you.
You mentioned your friends before being family. Is it ever hard to maintain those relationships when you’re so busy?
With modelling I am traveling all the time so I don’t get to see or talk to my friends every day. As a result social media has become a big part of my life, it lets me keep up with everyone. Also it’s become very important to be active on social media in this industry. It has become all about followers, but for me I just want to have fun with it and show people my personality.
Now days models are really made by the strength of their personality. Do you ever worry about losing yourself in all this craziness?
My biggest concern is people getting swallowed up in this industry. It can be very difficult to be yourself and not let it get you down. For that reason we are always trying to support each other and be there. My advice to people is to just let things go…and then I try to let things go myself too.
Credits
Photographer Georges Antoni
Stylist Ursula Lake
Fashion Assistant Steph Kelly
Make Up Artist Kenneth Soh
Hair Stylist Jennie Roberts
Model Carmen At Select