Can you tell us a little about you?
I come from Belarus (Pinsk), but in 2009, when I was 19, I moved to Italy. First I have been living in Milan, where I studied in Milan State University and got my Bachelor Degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures in 2013. Meanwhile I started some modelling experience, working for fashion shootings, showrooms, presentations, events. In 2013 I moved to Florence, city I am actually living in and I hope to stay for long – because I find it really a magic place, and as says my best friend, place for "peace for senses". Here in Florence I started to work on a higher level, collaborating with professional photographers and best Florentine and Tuscan model agencies and actually working for last 3 years as a full-time model.

 

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
I would like to be maybe more self-confident on moments... Sometimes I am a too severe critic of myself. J

 

How did you start modelling?
I started in Belarus when I was 14 – first I attended a course of modelling for young aspirant models, and in the age of 19 when I moved to Italy I just began to do it on a professional way.

 

What do you think of the work as a model?
- I have never had career ambitions in this field, since ever I see this job only as a transitional period of my life (even if it last already 7 years, but as a proverb says it – there is nothing more constant as temporary), as a way to have fun and at the same time to travel, to know a lot of people and to discover a many-sided world of fashion, and not to undervalue -  to earn money in order to be economically independent... But all this till I will graduate and find a real possibility to have a different, high qualified job (I dream so will happen). Obviously, I can always continue to make shootings or interesting events, but more for personal enjoy than for job.

 

What is your beauty regimen?

Can you believe me, but actually none! Never made any diet (and hope won’t need it in the future J ), I eat actually everything (and in big amounts) and I adore cooking, especially all caloric Italian dishes as pasta and lasagne! I don’t use particular beauty treatments – just use the simplest cosmetics, and try to use minimum make-up during the day. What about sport, I am moving my lovely Florence mainly by bike o by walking, and 3 times a week I am going to swim. Swimming is helping me not only to be fit but it brings me a psychological relaxation.

 

What are your personal qualities which distinguish you from others?

I am little bit stubborn, when I decide something I will try thousand times but will continue to pursue my goal (but it does not leave out the possibility to change my goal as much often )… And I think to be at the same time a dreamer and a rational person.

 

What are your plans for the future?
Actually I am attending an annual course in Digital Communication in Cappiello Academy in Florence.. My plans are all linked to my future profession in this field.

 

What are some of your favourite experiences so far?
I love to do non-commercial shootings, where I have freedom to express myself  - the centre of the picture is not clothes or shoes or something else that we have to do advertisement for, but the emotions of the person, face, eyes, expressions, feelings, the mood of the place, situation and capture of the moment. My favourite photographer is Gabriele Rigon who always manages to pull out the real me during the shootings. And in front of his camera I always feel beautiful (and not always in other situations I do).

 

Do you have any advice for those who want to start modelling?
To define in a precise way, what do you expect from the model job. It's important to have clear ideas, is it your hobby or your future profession, and to not have too many expectations or even illusions, but just letting it go as it will. Fashion business is a little bit as a lottery.

 

What do you think of the magazine?

Modellenland for me is a refined magazine that makes a keen selection of fresh fashion material. It’s also a friendly place, made actually for everybody, where to know news about interesting and real people around the world who have passion in photography and in fashion.

 

pictures. All them are made by Italian photographer Gabriele Rigon (Instagram (@)gabrielerigon, website www.gabrielerigon.it).
Let me know if you received everything.

 

Website: www.alenamayuk.com 
Follow me on Instagram to be updated daily of my shootings & personal life:  @alenamayuk