[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”25079″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Check our interview with gorgeous youngest finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain 2018 Bella Glanville who is an international model, coach and founder of the ‘Lovekidz’ foundation.
She grew up in London, where she has worked with companies such as Stella Mccartney, Topshop, Nike and Vogue. Bella is also a motivational speaker and has given two TED talks: one on the ‘myth of perfection’ and another on ‘Embracing Uncertainty’.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”25080″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]Hi Bella, Please tell us a little about you?
I am a finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain 2018, a model and a motivational speaker! I run my own foundation called Lovekidz, through which I have got to deliver two TED talks in America. One was on the ‘Myth of Perfection’ and the other was about ‘Embracing Uncertainty.’ This was always a dream of mine and was incredible to do! In my modeling career, I have worked with companies such as Stella Mccartney, Topshop, Vogue and Nike.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Passionate, musical and positive!
Who was your role model as a child?
As cliché as it sounds, it was and still is my mum. She has always gone for every single one of her dreams, no matter how random or unrelated they may be. She was even an opera singer for 20 years and then became a midwife! I have always been inspired by her to step up and work towards everything I want to achieve, no matter what.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?
I have a mirror next to my bed that I smile into every morning and every night before I go to bed. It is so important to be kind to ourselves and to be confident in who we are. Some people do not realize how damaging it can be to roll out of bed in the morning, groaning. If you start your day by playing full out, the day will play full out for you!
How did you get started in modeling?
It’s ironic, but the day I was scouted to be a model was actually the day that I gave my first workshop on self-love. This was when I was 14, and I have been modelling ever since.
How has modeling changed your life?
It has definitely made me more hard skinned. In an industry where you are constantly in comparison to other girls, it is important to stay true to who you are and to focus on becoming the best version of yourself. It has also given me so many opportunities to travel the world and work in different places. I even got to live in Australia this year! I have met some of the most amazing, talented people and am so grateful to be in this industry.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Without a doubt, it is the connections that I have made. I have met some of my closest friends in this industry, and they all add value to my life in so many different ways. The opportunities that I have been given from networking have been incredible; whether it has been a trip to Bali, a modelling job, a role in a movie or an invitation to a designer’s party, every opportunity has been unforgettable. I have also learned something new from every person I have met on my shoots, such as makeup and styling tricks!
The most important thing when you are shooting is?
As a model, it is important to acknowledge what the mood of the overall shoot is and to adjust your poses and facial expressions accordingly. When you and the photographer both want the same outcome, nothing is ‘weird’, so be confident and have fun! Also, imagine you have an invisible head string. This will help your posture.
What’s your advice for the newer models?
Firstly, it is great to build rapport with the photographer and ask them questions about their work and interests, or tell them a funny story. The boundary between you will fade and you will feel more at ease on set. Secondly, some of the best pictures that I have ever taken have been from an experimental idea that someone, including myself, has come up with. If you have an idea about how something can be improved, don’t be afraid to bring it up! Lastly, if you are getting tired on set, it is okay to ask for a break. Yes, work hard play hard, but this is legal by contract. It is also worth mentioning to always bring nude underwear to a shoot. When I was new to modelling, I wore dark green underwear to a job where we exclusively shot white dresses!
Who are some of your favorite models and designers?
My favourite designer that I have worked with is Stella Mccartney. She is so lovely, funny and caring, and made sure we had food 24/7. I actually bumped into Stella when I was on my way to a funeral and she took her time to make sure I was ok before leaving me. As a vegan, I also love that all her clothes are animal friendly. Of course, they are beautiful too! My favourite model is Miranda Kerr. As Victoria’s Secret is a big ambition of mine and I, too, love to empower people to love themselves, I feel as though I can relate to her a lot. She truly inspires me and I love her self-help books.
Biggest beauty inspiration? Why?
Margot Robbie. I just think that she is so unconventionally beautiful and that her confidence radiates outwards. I am not into wearing a lot of makeup, and Margot doesn’t wear a lot either. She makes the most of being her blonde, lovely self and has always been my role model as an actor.
How would you explain your fashion style and what items in your closet can you not be without?
When it comes to fashion, I love to embrace my femininity and see my clothes as a physical manifestation of that. I quite often wear dresses or something pink (you will rarely find me in dark colours). I couldn’t live without my Michael Kors jumpsuit, pink ladies jacket, LOV denim jacket or my blue fake leather jacket from Venice.
Now tell us about your foundation Lovekidz? Why and when did you created your own foundation?
When I was younger, I was bullied for my looks and had incredibly low self-esteem. However, I decided to redefine the word ‘hate’ by taking the ‘e’ from the end and putting it at the beginning, turning it into ‘e-hat’. When someone handed me ‘hate’ after that, I saw it as an ‘e-hat’ with a label on it but it was my choice whether to wear that hat or not. At the age of 13, I started up my foundation, Lovekidz because I wanted to empower other young people to love themselves and take control of their lives. This has involved running workshops in schools, giving talks at leadership events and mentoring kids one-to-one.
What is your favorite healthy food?
I am actually known in my family as the ‘queen of salads’. Apparently I make them well? Anyway, I do love my vegan salads.
And your favorite cheat food?
Pancakes!
How do you keep fit?
I love a good spinning class. To me, it is like UPW on a bike. UPW is a Tony Robbins event that I go to, which is filled with motivational speeches, dancing and life changing exercises! However, when it comes to keeping fit, I definitely focus more on my nutrition. This has been super healthy ever since I became vegan.
Any fitness tips you want to share with us?
You know your body better than anyone, so you know what is right for you. Find an exercise routine that works for you and make sure that you find it fun! When you find it fun, you will be more motivated to do it.
What would be a deal breaker on a first date?
If they can’t make me laugh. That is a big thing for me when I measure my compatibility and connection with someone.
What is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done?
I asked my friends if we were in Germany when we were in Vienna.
How do you feel about the controversy of the size 0 in the industry?
I think that the industry should embrace all shapes and sizes, and that girls should stop being told to be more ‘skinny’. Some models are only a size 0 because someone in the industry has told them to lose weight. It is different if a girl happens to be a size 0 than if she is told to become a size 0. I do think that the popularity of curve models will reduce the amount of cases that there are of models being told to lose weight. That being said, my friend Rosalyn has actually got a petition to protect models from becoming dangerously thin and she has already made amazing body campaigns happen, such as the one by Dove.
How is a normal day in your life?
The best thing about my life is that every day is an adventure and is so different to the day before. One day I could be walking on fire or teaching kids to break through wooden boards with their hands, and the next day I could be shooting ball gowns. Of course, I also have my lazy days, which involve me snuggling up with my golden retriever and binge-watching friends!
What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?
Every Sunday, without fail, my Grandad comes over and we all go for a big pub lunch somewhere. Sometimes, my extended family join too. I love my Sundays because I love spending time with my family. At the end of the day, they will always be there for you.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would properly meet Tony Robbins. He has completely changed my life, inspired me to ‘walk the talk’ and to become a motivational speaker. I just want to tell him my story and thank him! So far, we have met in passing but I would love to have an actual conversation with him.
Best advice ever given?
Define yourself. It is very simple advice, but it has changed my view on everything. So much of the time in life, we rely on other people to label us, we rely on other people to be happy! The truth is, no one can physically climb inside you and force you to be or feel anything. At the end of the day, everything you do is down to you. I would suggest that you define yourself as awesome, driven or whatever positive affirmations work for you!
Any future plans that you want to share with us?
I have a big passion for Psychology. My long term plan is to become a Clinical Psychologist at Harvard and to open up my own private practice. In my modelling career, my big goal is to become a Victoria’s Secret model and to work in LA.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I see myself graduating with a Psychology degree, living in (or moving to) America and potentially being engaged!
Favorite song? Why?
Get shaky by the Ian Carey Project. It reminds me of old school dance music, which I love. Any time someone asks me what my favourite type of music is, I just say ‘anything with a good beat!’. There are a lot of great beats in older music.
What do you think of Social Media?
As a millenial, I believe that I am somewhat part of a disposable generation. Everything is at our fingertips because of social media. If you do not like the relationship that you are in, you can literally or metaphorically swipe left. If you do not like your friends, there are literally apps to find new ones. If you do not like how you look, you can edit yourself to be whoever you want to be on social media. You can portray yourself as a completely different person, which I think is ok as long as you are doing it for fun and that you do not lose touch with who you really are. That being said, there are some great opportunities on social media these days. Lots of my friends are full-time influencers or manage other people’s accounts, and businesses now have a great opportunity to advertise themselves. As a model, my instagram account is very important. It is literally another portfolio for clients to refer to. Therefore, as with most things, I can find good and bad in social media, but am choosing to focus on the good.
Where we can follow you?
My instagram is @bellaglanville
Quote: You only have one life, so live it to the fullest
Favorite Singer/Artist: Bruno Mars
Movie: Forrest Gump
Travel Destination: Bali
Drink: Lemon lime juice
Sports Team: Arsenal
Tv Show: Friends
Book: Jane Eyre[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
