Ph. Peter Gegrke Sty. Teddy Czopp via TFS
NIKA LAURAITIS
the dazzling
Nika Lauraitis is with FORD models NY & Elite Paris & TESS London.
showcard via models.com
PONY RYDER: Nika, what is your origin?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I’m 2nd generation American… I was born and raised in Illinois, as were my parents…my grandparents were born in Lithuania 🙂
PONY RYDER: And do you speak Lithuanian?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I pretend I do 🙂 , I know some words and key phrases but not enough to have a conversation
Ford Models via TFS
PONY RYDER: You are from Chicago, and I love Oprah. Now, explain your love for Spike Jonze?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I saw Where the Wild Things Are and i loved it! It was shot so beautifully, I wanted to watch it again 😀
via Elite Paris
PONY RYDER: Let’s concentrate on fashion. How and when did you start with modeling?
NIKA LAURAITIS: Shannon from Ford Chicago scouted me during the summer at Woodfield Mall (outside Chicago), I was about to turn 15 and she gave me her card (which I still have) and I gave her my moms phone number.
I was interested yes, but I didn’t think anything was actually going to happen, but my mom got a follow up call and my mom asked me “so.. What do you think? Is this something you’d like to do?” and I said yes and they waited until I got my braces off and I did my first test shoot that November.
French magazine
NIKA LAURAITIS: I was VERY happy with my cover, it’s very strong and I loved the leather jumpsuit I was wearing! The shoot was very quick and easy, and I shot with Thierry Le Goues the day before for an editorial, so I felt comfortable. I was the only one shooting at the time, so I didn’t meet any of the other cover models.
Moschino Cheap & Chic SS09
PONY RYDER: You are in the Moschino Cheap & Chic S/S 09 ad alongside Emma Maclaren. How did you like working with Emma?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I love Emma! We were both new faces last year during the Spring Summer 2009 show season and we booked a lot of the same shows and that’s how we met. It was nice to shoot the campaign with a familiar face 🙂
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CLICK FOR THE INTERVIEW WITH EMMA MACLAREN
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CLICK FOR THE INTERVIEW WITH KENDRA SPEARS
PONY RYDER: You shared an apartment with Kendra Spears! Are you two still friends?
NIKA LAURAITIS: Yeah! We still keep in contact, but we see a lot less of each other now that she’s back in Seattle.
PONY RYDER: And did you ever have to live with an unpleasant person in a model apartment?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I’ve had my fair share of ‘unpleasant’ models but there have not been any cat fights…yet 😛
Ph. Arthur Elgort for Teen Vogue via TFS mariemaud
NIKA LAURAITIS: It was awesome working with Teen Vogue, everyone that works there is so nice, and shooting is always fun because everyone has a good energy.
PONY RYDER: That editorial was cheerful. Would you be able to portray happiness even if you don’t feel happy at all?
NIKA LAURAITIS: It is more difficult to fake happiness when your not, but you just think of something that makes you laugh no matter what, I try to think of funny moments with my sisters, that always works.
PONY RYDER: Is fashion fun?
NIKA LAURAITIS: Fashion can be fun, I think it’s a creative and personal way to express yourself, but people can take it too seriously.
Ph. Dirk Seiden Schwann for Amica
NIKA LAURAITIS: My book is never perfect, I will always be building it, as I keep developing as a model my book needs to reflect that as well.
PONY RYDER: What is your favorite picture of yourself?
NIKA LAURAITIS: It always changes, I usually get sick of pictures after a while, but right now my favorite is my French cover.
PONY RYDER: While starting out, many girls are doing low paid or non paid jobs. Could a non paying job give you great exposure?
NIKA LAURAITIS: OF COURSE! Some of the best editorial work is don pro bono!
Christopher Kane SS09 via TFS (ediewarhol&cw)
PONY RYDER: Christopher Kane is known for its originality. How did you like walking for him?
NIKA LAURAITIS: The show had a really cool vibe, and I didn’t know much about Christopher Kane until I went to London, but last year I did looks for him and I got to try on most of the collection. He’s a really sweet guy and I found out more about him and his love for circles!
showcards via models.com
PONY RYDER: When you moved to NY City, was it your first visit there? How did you manage yourself in such a big city?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I came to New York for the first time with my mom for a month during the summer to do some test shoots and meet some clients. I would have been very lost without her, but I seemed to pick up on everything quickly. I used to get lost when the streets turned from numbers to names, but now I feel comfortable without a map 🙂
Ph. Dirk Seiden Schwann for Amica
NIKA LAURAITIS: The hardest place to get around by far is Athens...The public transportation is horrible, there are only 3 lines and they don’t go far out.. you have to go everywhere by bus which is extremely difficult with the Greek alphabet.
Ford Models
NIKA LAURAITIS: Wash my face and brush my teeth 🙂
NIKA LAURAITIS: Bangs was the first change I’ve done to my hair, and I recently got highlights:)
PONY RYDER: How do you maintain yours skin?
Elite Paris
PONY RYDER: What make-up do you always wear?
NIKA LAURAITIS: I use rosebud lip balm which I’m addicted to.
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READ “THE BODY TALK” INTERVIEW WITH NIKA: HERE
PONY RYDER: The best advice that make up artist gave you is…
NIKA LAURAITIS: Good makeup is when you can hardly tell you have anything on.
PONY RYDER: The best beauty advice you know…?
NIKA LAURAITIS: The best thing is a good nights sleep 🙂
Ph. Dirk Seiden Schwann for Amica
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Interview with fashion model Nika Lauraitis is original work by Pony Ryder.
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