Brooke - learn to love your body
I love exploring different styles! I'm open to anything.
Although, I do love the art behind boudoir/lingerie photography, because it's not just "some girl posing in lingerie" it's about empowering women, and the feminine beauty. After spending most of my life struggling with eating disorders and hating my body, the fact that I now have the confidence to embrace my curves and body is what makes me the happiest, and yes I do love to show it off because no one should ever have to feel like they're not beautiful. Its art, and It's the human body... we're all amazing in our different shapes and sizes. I love looking back on photos and just thinking to myself "Oh my god... that is me. I look amazing." Sometimes I'm so shocked I'm almost crying because it's an amazing feeling to not look at yourself in disgust but instead feel so empowered and beautiful.
I was born in Brisbane, and moved to the Sunshine Coast, Australia when I was 8 years old for a change (and because i wanted to live on a farm). I'm currently 19 years old. Growing up I had eating disorders which to this day I'm still struggling with, and the same with mental illness. I grew up in a great family however I always wanted to be a lot older than I was, so my childhood and teenage years were fairly rough, but it's shaped me out to be the person I am today and to that I am greatfull. I dropped out of school at 16, started uni at 17 studying psychology, as well as working.
What were your childhood dreams - like, what did you want to become when you grow up
I've always been unsure about what I wanted to do... one minute I wanted to own a goat and horse farm, next minute I wanted to be an animal rights lawyer, then I wanted to be a psychologist. Right now I want to see where I can go with my modelling as well as become a Make-Up artist. Plus with my modelling I would love to educate people on loving their body/accepting themselves for who they are. I've always had a passion for helping other people so I try to merge that with anything I'm doing.
Tell us about your regular day - how does it look like.
Honestly, you'll find me in front of the TV playing Xbox or watching a movie/TV show. I also try to go to gym everyday, and then I also work at a burger shop a few days a week. Plus I'm a marketing director for a clothing line (Kallistos Co) so I post instagram photos to there daily. My daily life isn't anything special unless I'm doing a photoshoot haha.
Model life. How and when did you start with modeling.
I started modelling in May for a women's activewear clothing company I used to be a marketing assistant for. At the time it was just a "yeah okay this will be fun" thing, and then the photographer and I hit it off and became good friends and then we started doing more shoots and I realized how fun and liberating it is for me as the model. I can be myself, I can incorporate ideas into the shoot so that is has a bit of my personality in it aswell as the photographer. When I realized that, I started doing photoshoots 2-4 times a week with different photographers (and the same)
First experience in front of the camera. How did you feel.
My first experience was fairly scary... i was trying hard not to vomit. Because I've had anxiety my whole life so to do something where YOU are what they're selling and the fact you're the main focus (besides the clothes), it was definitely terrifying. But Jonathan (the photographer) was amazing and we hit it off instantly, and playing music throughout the shoot definitely helped me loosen up and show off my personality in the photos. The more I got comfortable the better the photos were and the more fun we had.
What kind of photos do you prefer. Also, do you like to take instructions from the photographer or to be a part of the shooting ideas.
I honestly don't have a preference. I love exploring different styles! I'm open to anything.
Although, I do love the art behind boudoir/lingerie photography, because it's not just "some girl posing in lingerie" it's about empowering women, and the feminine beauty. After spending most of my life struggling with eating disorders and hating my body, the fact that I now have the confidence to embrace my curves and body is what makes me the happiest, and yes I do love to show it off because no one should ever have to feel like they're not beautiful. Its art, and It's the human body... we're all amazing in our different shapes and sizes. I love looking back on photos and just thinking to myself "Oh my god... that is me. I look amazing." Sometimes I'm so shocked I'm almost crying because it's an amazing feeling to not look at yourself in disgust but instead feel so empowered and beautiful.
I don't really need to take instructions anymore, after getting more experience I know what works well for me for the photos so before the photographer tells me what I need to do I usually do it before them haha.
I also do love being apart of the shooting ideas, like I said before I like to merge my style and personality into the shoot so that it's art that the photographer and I have created together.
How do you stay in shape
I've only recently started going to gym everyday, but before then I did absolutely nothing. I've just always had a good metabolism which is very lucky for me.
Tell us more about The Helpful Vegan
The Helpful Vegan is a company which sells women's activewear, lingerie, swimwear, glasses and all sorts of other cool stuff! I promote them with my discount code.
Tattoos. You have one or several. What does they mean to you
I have 5 tattoos and 4 of them don't mean anything, I just wanted them because i've always been a creative and artistic person, so I have them on my body because they're artwork. I've always been obsessed with tattoos and how they signify a person's individuality. Although, the 1 tattoo that does mean something is a semi colon on my wrist, it signifies the whole battle with mental illness including suicide.
"The semi colon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but instead chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life." Like I said before about how I try to help people, I would like to be able to help people who have struggled with mental illness like I have, and to help people embrace who they are (body and mind), because no one should feel alone.
Lingerie photos - your favorite lingerie that you like to wear during the photo session
In all honesty I don't own that many pairs of lingerie, however my favourite pairs are from Cotton On Body. They're pretty simple black and white lace bras and I do have a few different g strings and brazilian cut panties.
Implied nude photos - when have you done your first implied nude photo session ? How was the feeling ? Reactions ?
My first implied nude shoot was with a photographer in Brisbane. Amazing guy, and his photography is just so wonderful. He really captures the beauty of women in a very creative way.
I wasn't that bothered, I mean it's just the human body. I'm very confident in my body now, and like I always say: it's art. Plus it was something different so my reaction was like "Hell yeah let's do it". When I saw the outcome of the photos I was so amazed and impressed with how creative they were, and I still have people telling me how gorgeous the shots were!
Plans for the rest of this year
I don't have any huge plans for the year, I'm just going to continue doing my thing and modelling, and taking every opportunity I can get and see where it takes me!
Social media :
Instagram: @_brookenicola
Snapchat: @brookenicolaa
