On Instagram we all show only the happy side. What helps you in the hard moments?
My mother always says „don’t worry, this feeling shall pass“. It usually annoyed me alot, especially since I am much more prone to having melancholic feelings than her. However there was a point in my life where one shitty thing after the other happened. As a consequence I started to do the inner work to cope, reflect and become stronger. I slowly started to notice that I am reaching the point where I can have trust in this idea. Shitty things and feelings will always keep happening, but trusting in your own resilience is a really good feeling.
What do you do besides modeling for a living?
Modelling is my only source of income at the moment.
Who is the most important person in your life?
That would be my mother. Besides the fact that she is a huge boss lady, I value our relation tremendously. Growing up she thought me how to be strong, to have discipline and ambition. As an adult we have developed a more softer and equitable relation where we can talk about anything with eachother.
What has life taught you recently?
That you‘re never too old to make new friends, start new hobbies, learn new things.
As always, the future is uncertain. Nevertheless, the question: Where do you see yourself in the future?
I really like how the boundaries of the modeling industries have been slowly yet steadily shifting. This does not only mean having more diversity in shapes, sizes and skin tones but also in age. We will probably all become very old, so it makes sense to see more than only the young and young-looking represented in fashion. I would love to be a part of that if that is possible. At the same time I am also very curious about working on the other side of the camera. Not as a photographer, but maybe in creative direction, styling or in production. One way or another, I would like to keep working in the fashion industry.
Photographer: Suzy Zeylmaker – www.suzyzeylmaker.com – @suzyzeylmaker
Model: Afra van Ooijen – @afrakatelijne
(https://www.c-heads.com/2022/12/17/5-minutes-with-afra-van-ooijen/)
I only need 2 minutes with her HAHA
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