A CONVERSATION WITH MODEL KARINA LEPS

Karina is an Estonian model, who I worked with at Wilhelmina in Dubai and a dear friend because of her super down to earth nature and adventurous spirit. She is currently back in Estonia, but I’ll let her share her story and inspirations.

Tell us a little about yourself-

Modeling as a career, took me by surprise. I actually started pretty late, ( at 17) I was originally a basketball player but I decided modeling would take me to more exotic places not just Paris and New York so I made the switch. Some career highlights I guess, shooting magazine covers, working with Harpers, Elle, runways at NY fashion week, test shoots with David Bellemere in Paris , and appearing on commercials in Mexico.

Currently, I am an agent myself. I work on different fields not just fashion ( film, production) anything creative and fun. I have some tom -boyish hobbies and am even considering going for my childhood dream, to be a professional stunts double, ( hahahhahaha).

What are your greatest inspirations or influences?
What inspires me are simple things that really are the greatest and most important of all.

• Spending time in the country side, wild animals, different smells, for example.

• Old movies , different eras the 90’s 60’s 70’s 80’s.

• Classical music, jazz, hip hop.

• Dali, Beethoven, Alicia Keys, 2 Pac

• Amy Winehouse, Bukowski, D.Glover

• I’m inspired by things that are not ordinary. Weird stuff., being different and embracing it.  (Clearly this is why we are good friends Karina)……

• Laughter.

• People who forgive and pay it forward with acts of kindness

• and most of all, being alive, Life, Love, Compassion, Being real and true to yourself.

Traveling the world as a model Karina, what are some of your most interesting adventures?

My favorite place was China. I mean there’s a lot to dislike, the chaos, etc but it is adventurous as hell!

Going to the toilet anywhere in China was a challenge, I once had to pee in front of 100 people at an event cause there was no place to go! The craziness, getting lost there, the taxis, trains, noise, language barrier it made me feel alive!
Oh and I also love Mexico .

Favourite websites, or social media handles?

• Ummm, I don’t really follow anyone specific cause we all know social media is fake but i love to watch funny animal videos.

• I like one Finnish wildlife photographer and I sometimes check out pinterest

• I like to go to museums in person. I like to experience art, people and the streets but in person-Not on my screen.

Share with us some of the challenges in your opinion of the model industry.

You have to be tough and very clever to make it. You need to see right through and sense what’s right and wrong. and never ever let them ( anyone) doubt your own confidence, beauty, esteem and personality.

Three things you can’t live without?

• The dreamy/poetic side of me would say late nights, early mornings and the afternoon.
  Otherwise I’d have to choose Nature, Music and Feelings.

Anything else you’d like to share Karina?

Yes.

It is both a blessing 

and a curse 

to feel everything 

so very deeply.