Check out our interview with stunning Colombian Model Mariana Zuleta.
Follow Mariana @marianazuletam
How did you get started in Modeling?
I remember that my first contact with a similar industry was when I was very young and my parents received a call requesting permission for me to be a tv host on a children’s show interviewing Belinda. After that, I met some people, I learned the basics of catwalk in an academy and then, everything came out naturally.
Anything funny that happened during a casting?
It was a casting for a beauty event and we had to audition in a swimsuit. I remember I forgot to tan or apply self-tanning cream before that event and when I actually arrived, I was the only one with very white skin. We all had a good laugh at the time.
What does fashion mean to you?
It is the ability to represent who you are through tangible things. Fashion to me is not just the clothes or accessories you wear, but the attitude with which you wear them. That’s why I feel it’s different for everyone.
Who is your biggest beauty inspiration?
Gigi Hadid. She is a very authentic real woman and now she is also a mom.
What are your goals as a model?
I have several goals, such as working with international brands, getting covers for highly influential magazines and maybe participating in a modeling reality show, but above all, I want to show the world that behind every model there are real women feeling the same as them and that the pictures they see in the catalogs are just the end result of a complete production.
Who are some of your favorite models and designers, and why?
Emily Ratajkowski, Cara Delevingne and Paulina Vega are models who are constantly reinventing themselves, versatile, beautiful and who in addition to being models, are business women. As for designers, I don’t think I have one in particular; there are local brands that have a lot of potential.
How did you stay fit?
I train at the gym at least 5 days a week, including upper and lower body training. I drink water with most of my meals, not because of the calories, but because it is a taste that I acquired since I was a child, and I also eat foods rich in protein. Besides, all my childhood I was an athlete, I practiced artistic gymnastics, so discipline is not a problem for me. I believe that for a habit to work, it must have a balance.
How do you feel about the controversy of the size 0 in the industry?
I totally disagree with size 0, it should be obsolete as a standard. The goal of a model is to be able to represent the middle ground between the people who are going to wear a brand and the personality of the company; if we look at the statistics, the percentage of the population that reaches these sizes is minimal. Also, getting there sometimes involves complications with health and seeing this issue on social media can be really destructive.
What is fun and rewarding about modeling?
The funniest thing is that it doesn’t feel like a job but something I love to do and I enjoy it. I find it very entertaining how every day I get to represent brands with very different concepts, it’s as if you were allowed to have several personalities. Also, the people that you meet in the media are amazing human beings.
And what do you dislike?
The industry is still influenced by misconceptions about beauty. You still hear phrases like “If she’s beautiful, she’s probably not smart” or “I don’t know what they see in her”. There is a need for more empathy among and towards women.
What other modeling projects have you done?
I have done catwalks and photography for local brands.
Name one beauty product you can’t live without?
Eyebrow gel. It’s my obsession, my eyebrows always have to be groomed.
What’s your advice for the newer models?
Don’t try to look like the models who are already successful; on the contrary, be authentic and remember that no one is like you. I would also add a reminder that success in modeling can be a long process and that patience and discipline should be your best ally.
What are guilty pleasures food wise?
Sweets. Anything with sugar fascinates me, especially ice cream, although I am trying to reduce its consumption a little.
How often do you go to the gym?
Minimum 5 days a week and maximum 6. The body needs 1 day of recovery.
Where we can follow you?
Instagram: @marianazuletam
Travel destination: Paris
Quote: “You must not be the perfect person when you accept a challenge but you must be willing to become it along the way”.
Favorite Music: Pop music in english
Movie: Harry Potter or the Avengers
City to Travel: Bali
Agency: @lmcmodels
