Author: Gary

Meet The Rising Star Behind The November 2020 Issue Of Model & Mode: The Talented Andrew Belle Wilson

Posted on by Gary

Photo Credit: EFAN Photography

It’s not every day you come across a talented music teacher and a model, simultaneously – and Andrew Belle Wilson is both. Andrew is an Australian international model. He has worked for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, The Iconic, and Blackcraft, amongst other local/international fashion labels. On top of that, he is also a multi-instrumentalist, where he plays the piano, guitar, and violin as well as being a primary school music teacher.

Model & Mode Magazine recently had the privilege to interview Andrew regarding his experience in the modelling industry and his music career and here’s what went down:

How did you get into the modelling industry?

I was 8 when I first auditioned for a Pepsi commercial overseas, and it was around then when I was scouted by a local talent agency. Things took off from there and I haven’t looked back since. I started modelling for small fashion businesses, and soon after a scout discovered and recommended me to a modelling agency.

What do you like most about being a model?

You get to travel a lot and fly around to different cities while working with a fantastic crew. Also being able to try on different fashion outfits, especially for runways, which are stuff I usually wouldn’t wear on any given day. Walking at various fashion shows and shooting/modelling for major international brands gives you a thrill like no other.

What are the downsides of being a model?

It can be exhausting at times, and you have to be strict with your regime, as the agency/clients expect you to look your best at all times. Rejection is standard and it’s part of the job.

What has been the most memorable experience of being in the modelling industry so far?

Working with Tommy Hilfiger was a highlight, and collaborating with The Iconic and Blackcraft within the music scene by wearing their outfits at the gigs I play. I recently modelled for an LA streetwear brand which aligned perfectly with my musical style. Also doing partnerships with local businesses to help promote them on social media.

Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?

I’ve worked with so many talented creatives, and they are all unique, whether it be a fashion designer, photographer, director, editor, fellow models, or even my agent.

What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while in the modelling industry?

To never give up and keep trying even if things don’t go your way. Mental health is imperative in this industry, so it’s essential to look after yourself and to surround yourself with supportive, positive people.

Is your family supportive of you being a model?

Yes, they are, I am extremely grateful that I managed to make a career out of modelling and music.

What genre of music do you compose and who is your favourite singer?

I compose mostly metalcore/electronic ore which combines metal, pop, and EDM as well as instrumental piano. I’m also a classical pianist, so I occasionally do session work with ensembles. I’m currently working with Zai Sheng from the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

You mentioned you are a music teacher, what are the joys of being a music teacher?

My kids are excellent – they are a great bunch of people to teach music. I can’t imagine doing anything else in life. The best part is seeing them progress in an instrument while enjoying/loving it at the same time. It’s always a ‘fun first’ for me.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I wished I had taken modelling and acting more seriously as a kid, as I felt I could have done so much more back then.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

The best advice I have ever been given is to create a look book.

What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.

Doing more runway work and collaborating with high fashion/alternative houses, as well as playing gigs overseas and hopefully selling out shows.

The ‘LIGHTNING FAST’ Round:

1. Last good movie I’ve seen: Schindler’s List.

2. What do you consider beautiful and why? A person’s smile, because it can brighten anyone’s day.

3. What haven’t you done yet that you wish you could? Walking for Balmain would be the absolute dream.

4. Complete this sentence: “If I had no fear, I’d…” Try and find love again.

5. What is the one “flaw” you wouldn’t change about yourself? Being a perfectionist.

5 Effective Workout Secrets That Will Help You Lose Weight

Posted on by Gary

You may have tried different workout exercises and routines but still, you cannot have that body that you want. What could be the possible reason for that? People would say that they have tried their all effort just to have the body that they have always wanted, but they would end up as a failure in their endeavour. Let me share with you the top picks of experts and successful exercisers they use to get the most from their fitness routines.

Consistency

Consistency is very important. How fast you do the routine is not the factor by which you can have those extra pounds off. Consistency is the best tip for maintaining a successful regimen. Remember that no exercise program in this world can ever work if you are not consistent with how you do it. Like for now, you do this routine, and then the next day, you will not do it anymore. Make sure to follow the best exercise program that you are in right now consistently.

Effective Exercise Routine and Set Realistic Goals

Before trying out your desired routine, you should make sure first that it is right for you. Having the right program will make everything not as easy but at least you know that in the end, you will be the one who will benefit most from that kind of program. Always choose to have the best routine that is best for your body type.

After having the right program, you can already set your goals. These goals should be realistic. You do not have to drive for perfection or improbable goals that you yourself know can’t be met. This would mean that you don’t have to run 5k now. It takes time. You can have a habit of walking 15 minutes a day and each day onwards you can add up to that.

Buddy System and Be Happy

It would always be good if you can have someone go with you for your workout routine. You can have a friend or a relative whom you can like and trust and wants to have a healthier lifestyle just like you. You can encourage one another and you can do exercise together. You can have this opportunity to enjoy each other’s company and to strengthen both of your relationships.

Always do what makes you happy. Make sure that this routine that you do makes you happy and you love everything you do. If you love mountaineering, do it. Do what you love.

Plan That’s Fit for Your Life

A person’s work can affect how much time you can do workouts. If you are a businessman and sometimes you are too busy that you cannot go to the gym, there are other possible ways by which you can still do exercise. If you got flat floor space, there are a lot of exercise routines that you can do. Just be creative also.

Be Inspired

“Fitness is a state of mind” as what Allan Fine has said. Try asking yourself, “Who inspires you to lose weight and be fit?” You can read blogs and articles and be inspired by how these people have worked hard to have the best body they have ever wanted.

Meditation To Handle Depression: Why It Works and How To Get Started

Posted on by Gary

By: Jess Nugent

I remember a few years back when I first started hearing about meditation and to be honest, I thought it was a bit of a joke. A few weeks later my doctor suggested I control my anxiety by cutting out weight lifting and taking up Tai Chi… to which I responded, “oh haha ok.”

This is only because I didn’t truly understand the process or the benefits of meditation. I felt if I had just sat myself on a mat, closed my eyes, and started humming along (my very naive image of what meditation looks like) – I would immediately start thinking of what I need to do tomorrow/next week, or that dumb thing I said to someone five years ago.

MINDFULNESS AND MENTAL BALANCE

To explain meditation I want to explain to you how I view mental balance. Depression lives in the past so when we spend so much time thinking about things that have happened, it affects what we are doing today.

Anxiety lives in the future, again we spend time worrying, not just about things that are happening but things that could happen or go wrong. Or, you may be doing both. I have been there and it honestly feels like you are living in limbo! And no, living equally in the past and present do not balance you out as you are on a different frequency.

Happiness lives in the present. It is inside you right now and is unlockable through practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is being aware and conscious of your surroundings, what you see, and what you feel with your senses. So if it is inside us, why is it so hard? When you are in a depressive or anxious state you are mentally living in either the past or the future, so your body almost goes into autopilot to get you through the day. Do you ever get into your car and drive, then you end up at the destination without even really remembering the journey? That is the opposite of mindfulness and consciousness. We all do this a lot more than we think.

SO WHAT IS MEDITATION?

Meditation is anything that draws you away from your thoughts of past/future and brings you into the present moment. It involves you truly being conscious and aware of your surroundings – it is not being absent of thought as I used to believe.

The great thing is that there are so many different ways to incorporate this into your life, you may already be doing it without knowing, and some of you won’t even need to change your schedule – just your mindset.

EXERCISE

I never really understood why I felt like a new person after most gym sessions (obviously endorphins etc, but it was always something more than this). When I am doing weight training, I literally clear my mind and am purely thinking about what my body is doing, how I am moving, where I feel tension, and pushing through each exercise. That is meditation. Living in the current moment.

I then leave the gym having been brought back to the present, that central position of the diagram, rebalanced and with a fresh new outlook. So I know now that when I am having a particularly anxious day, or I’m feeling really down about something that has happened – a good gym session can usually help.

Tips: Limit your phone use at the gym. Nothing breaks your meditation like a message from your friend saying “omg can you believe that status Becky posted yesterday” or your partner saying “We need to do washing tonight” or “what are we having for dinner”. Forcing you to live again in either the past or future!

If you feel your mind wandering, take a deep breath and really focus on the action you are doing currently, don’t just go through the motions, squeeze the muscle you are trying to target, and think about how it feels.

WHEN ARE YOU MOST HAPPY?

Meditation is not only available while being active. Think to yourself – when are you most happy? Maybe you love to paint, you can get out a big canvas and some paints and concentrate on what brush strokes you are using, how your hand moves, and the combinations of colours.

Activities that require some form of physical movement are best as they make you become aware of controlling your body. Even listening to music and going for a walk can be great as long as you really focus on the way your steps hit the pavement, the way the air feels on your skin, or the way the music sounds.

Think about your five senses and how the environment stimulates each of them. Being around friends can be a good way to get yourself back into the present also, but it is more difficult to control your mindfulness here, especially if you are new to the idea. Organize an activity to do that limits past/present talk, go out for a meal that is an experience. You could even communicate these ideas to your friends and involve them in steering conversation away from negativity or worries, to what is going on at the present moment.

Tips: Remain focused as mentioned above. Do things that you feel comfortable doing, where you won’t be putting pressure on yourself! I.e. If I am terrible at drawing and aim to recreate a work by Michelangelo as meditation, I am likely to get frustrated with myself. The exercise is not goal-oriented but process-oriented. The satisfaction is not in the completion, it is at the moment.

Just breathe and focus, it gets easier the more you do it. Actually, allocate time every single day, your mind will enjoy being brought back to ground zero and you’ll find it easier to get through other tasks afterward.

About the writer:

Jess Nugent is a writer, model, advocate for mental wellness, and a baker! Her passion for all areas of mental health stems from her personal battles, and time spent supporting loved ones through struggles also. She graduated from Macquarie University with a BA – Psychology and uses this knowledge alongside lived-experience to, not only raise awareness and remove the stigma around anxiety/depression but provide strategies for coping. Jess has a strong focus on health and well-being. She has spent 6+ years working in the fitness industry and uses exercise/diet to create balance in her own life.

5 Tips For Success In The Modelling Industry

Posted on by Gary

Pursuing the modeling dream is never an easy undertaking. The road towards the top will be filled with challenges, with many people giving up before they reach the reality of what they have always dreamed of. Whether you would like to pursue a career in modeling, you will be facing stiff competition. In some instances, you will end up being frustrated and with low confidence. With this in mind, keep on reading and learn from some of the tips that we will be sharing which will help you in reaching your dream of becoming a model one day.

Start with Training

Before you even start with auditions and going to go-sees, the first thing that you have to do is to have extensive training in modeling. There are some schools offering formal training to those who would like to harness their skills. Even at home, you can practice with the help on online modules and tutorials. This will help you to be familiar with the different techniques.

Prepare your Portfolio

This is specifically the case for those who have big dreams to have a career in modeling. This will serve as your resume. Your folio will show how you look in front of the camera and will make it easier for agents to assess whether they should accept you or not. It should be made in such a way that it will be able to highlight what you can do and offer. This will be a tool for marketing yourself, so make sure that it will be convincing enough.

Find an Agent

You should also exert effort in finding a talent agency. The agent will make it easier for you to land gigs in the future. Their extensive network will also increase the likelihood of creating a name for yourself. You just have to make sure that you are working with a legitimate agent.

Go on Auditions

This is another important thing if you want to have a successful modeling career. Be proactive in looking for potential auditions. Before auditioning, make sure that you are fully-prepared. Get enough rest, and as it has been earlier pointed out, practice so that you can deliver an impressive performance.

Never Lose Hope

This is perhaps the best to keep in mind as you pursue your modeling dream. Rejection is part of the game, which will make you frustrated. This, however, should not be areas on to give up. If you fail once, ask yourself on what happened and use this as an inspiration to be better. Learn from your past mistakes. Use it as a motivation to be better.