Thank you so much for doing this with us dear Penthesilea. Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory of how you came upon this career path and to where you are today?
Well, I got scouted when I was 16 and shopping with my mother by a scout. At first my mother didn’t want me to model, but wanted me to finish my school first, but after being really persistant she gave in, but I had to finish school and I couldn’t go to shoots etc without her.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
To be really honest, I achievement everything in life without any help and on my own. But I have to give credits to my mother for raising a strong woman with discipline.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
Hahaha, I have made so many mistakes, but we learn along the road right. I was doing my first runway and fell, flat on my face and I didn’t know how to react well, and I started crying. It’s was hilarious.
As an influencer, you have been blessed with great success in a career path that many have attempted, but eventually gave up on. In fact perhaps most people who tried to follow a career path like yours did not succeed. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path but know that their dreams might be dashed?
I have one advice for everyone who has a certain goal in life; never give up and “no” does not excist. In the end persistence pays off.
Can you share with our readers some of your strategies you’ve used to build an engaged, loyal, and large online community?
Good one, I really don’t have a strategy to be honest. I love interacting with my followers and I’m always real on my Insta page, so besides the ‘perfect pictures’, you get to see the real me, through my stories. I think people like to see a genuine person.
You are a busy person with a demanding schedule, can you share with our readers two self care routines, practices or treatments that help your body thrive? (Kindly share a story or an example for each.)
Life can indeed be pretty hectic, but it’s important to take your: ‘me time’. That can be anything you like: going for a hike, watch netflix, going to the gym. For me sleep is very important and I always keep a few days per week totally free. So no work or socializing, just taking my me time.
Can you share 3 ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)
I think to feel beautiful you have to be confident, be happy and try to be a good person to all living beings.
Is there a particular resource, a practitioner, expert, book, or podcast that made a significant impact on you and helped you to thrive? Can you share a story about that with us?
When I was 12 I had a notebook, and in this notebook I would write my wishes, desires and goals I wanted to achieve. When I was 14, my mother gave me a book, it was called “The Secret”. After reading this book I realized, that since I was 13, I was practizing the art of affirmations. I truly believe you’re mind can make you achieve anything in life.
As an influencer, you are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
You never know what your idea can trigger. I would like to raise awareness about animal cruelty and racism.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this.
Oeh that’s a good one. I think that person would be Jane Elliot, and we’re having lunch, cause I’m not a morning person. She is so inspiring, that as a Caucasian woman she, till this day tries to raise awareness about racism, for me she’s a big inspriration.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Give me a follow on Instagram: @model_penthesilea_
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!