I ran into Elite Model Look Spain 2012's winner, 19 year old Sam Steele and we had a little chat. Check out what he had to say...
Elite: So tell me Sam, how did you start off?
Sam: Well I was out clubbing with my friends and out of the blue this woman comes up to me and asks me if I want to model. I accepted and now, looking back, I would have never guessed it would've turned out this way.
Elite: We're you studying at the time? Because you were quite young right?
Sam: Yes I was in my last year of high school and once I was done I took a gap year because I wanted to give modelling a shot. Either way I wasn't sure what I wanted to study further on, and I also wanted to travel so..
Elite: I assume your friends and family supported the modelling idea..
Sam: They had definitely proposed the idea to me already.
Elite: So you started out with little jobs here and there right?
Sam: Yes, I actually started off with the Elite Model Look contest in 2012 because Elite told me it would be a good opportunity.. and I ended up winning! After that I finished high school and started modelling full-time, starting with the 2013 S/S Barcelona Fashion Week.
Elite: That was your first big job right? How was that experience for you?
Sam: It was a good place to start. Fashion week here is not as hard as other places. It's good because it gives you a slight idea of what you can expect in fashion weeks elsewhere.
Elite: We're you starstruck at first?
Sam: Obviously you get a bit nervous at first but then you find yourself in hair and makeup with huge faces of the industry and you see they're just normal people like everyone else.
Elite: So after your big break here in Barcelona where were you off to next?
Sam: Well I headed to New York and things started off slow in the beginning but as time passed I got to work on some great commercial jobs like Avon and I got to sort out my Visa which now allows me to come in and out of the states easily.
Elite: So once you got back to Spain, did you have work secured?
Sam: The first thing I did once I got back was sign up to the gym to get in shape for the shows in Europe.
Elite: So what fashion weeks did you get to do?
Sam: I did Paris and London, but I confirm my best shows were during the 2014 F/W Milan Fashion Week , like John Varvatos and Frankie Morello. Frankie Morello was awesome because the rock band KISS performed so that was really fun plus it was my first international show.
Elite: Do you feel like you get less nervous now compared to when you started?
Sam: Of course you start gaining experience with every shoot and show and soon enough you start getting hooked.
Elite: So is studying in the cards for you?
Sam: Well I want to continue modelling but I'd also like to study something involving economics. It's important to have a plan b.
Elite: Any photographers or designers you'd love to work with?
Sam: Steven Maisel definitely, and David Sims. Designers.. probably Calvin Klein, Dsquared, and maybe a watch or glasses campaign for Armani Exchange.
Elite: So what's next for you?
Sam: Barcelona Fashion Week is up next and a trip to London is in the works.. so we'll see..
Elite: That sounds great! We wish you the best of luck in whats to come!!
Sam: Thank you very much for having me, it's been a pleasure.
Watch out for Sam in the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week walking for Josep Abril and Albéniz!
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Check out Sam's full book here!
Elite: So tell me Sam, how did you start off?
Sam: Well I was out clubbing with my friends and out of the blue this woman comes up to me and asks me if I want to model. I accepted and now, looking back, I would have never guessed it would've turned out this way.
Elite: We're you studying at the time? Because you were quite young right?
Sam: Yes I was in my last year of high school and once I was done I took a gap year because I wanted to give modelling a shot. Either way I wasn't sure what I wanted to study further on, and I also wanted to travel so..
Elite: I assume your friends and family supported the modelling idea..
Sam: They had definitely proposed the idea to me already.
Elite: So you started out with little jobs here and there right?
Sam: Yes, I actually started off with the Elite Model Look contest in 2012 because Elite told me it would be a good opportunity.. and I ended up winning! After that I finished high school and started modelling full-time, starting with the 2013 S/S Barcelona Fashion Week.
Elite: That was your first big job right? How was that experience for you?
Sam: It was a good place to start. Fashion week here is not as hard as other places. It's good because it gives you a slight idea of what you can expect in fashion weeks elsewhere.
Elite: We're you starstruck at first?
Sam: Obviously you get a bit nervous at first but then you find yourself in hair and makeup with huge faces of the industry and you see they're just normal people like everyone else.
Elite: So after your big break here in Barcelona where were you off to next?
Sam: Well I headed to New York and things started off slow in the beginning but as time passed I got to work on some great commercial jobs like Avon and I got to sort out my Visa which now allows me to come in and out of the states easily.
Elite: So once you got back to Spain, did you have work secured?
Sam: The first thing I did once I got back was sign up to the gym to get in shape for the shows in Europe.
Elite: So what fashion weeks did you get to do?
Sam: I did Paris and London, but I confirm my best shows were during the 2014 F/W Milan Fashion Week , like John Varvatos and Frankie Morello. Frankie Morello was awesome because the rock band KISS performed so that was really fun plus it was my first international show.
Elite: Do you feel like you get less nervous now compared to when you started?
Sam: Of course you start gaining experience with every shoot and show and soon enough you start getting hooked.
Elite: So is studying in the cards for you?
Sam: Well I want to continue modelling but I'd also like to study something involving economics. It's important to have a plan b.
Elite: Any photographers or designers you'd love to work with?
Sam: Steven Maisel definitely, and David Sims. Designers.. probably Calvin Klein, Dsquared, and maybe a watch or glasses campaign for Armani Exchange.
Elite: So what's next for you?
Sam: Barcelona Fashion Week is up next and a trip to London is in the works.. so we'll see..
Elite: That sounds great! We wish you the best of luck in whats to come!!
Sam: Thank you very much for having me, it's been a pleasure.
Watch out for Sam in the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week walking for Josep Abril and Albéniz!
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Check out Sam's full book here!
