Look Back... And Dare!

New Year's Eve is finally upon us and having been so busy and unable to blog the last couple of months I thought I'd take the opportunity to take a brief look back over the last 12 months of what I've achieved and re-vist my own personal highlights.

First and foremost I think my greatest personal achievement and accomplishment of which I'm most proud this year was the Charity Calendar I developed, project managed, cast, graphic designed and modelled for on behalf of 'Save The Children UK' in just one month! It was an almighty task of which I could not of accomplished without the kind support of everyone involved. I was truly overwhelmed and endeared by the many photographers, models, make-up artists, hair stylists, printers and assistants that came together to make it such an overwhelming success. Some campaigns never even get off the ground as they proceed to fade without a trace after being launched. I am proud to say not only did we achieve what we set out to do from the start within a very tight deadline of just 30 days from concept to completion, we delivered a quality product that got featured in the press, sold as far afield as the USA and Brazil, Been entered into 'Best Calendar Design' and 'Best Charity Calendar' categories by The UK Calendar Distrbutor '8 Days a Week' and has so far raised over £1,000 for this worthwhile cause! I am continuing to sell the last few remaining copies in order to raise proceeds further before donating them to 'Save the Children UK' in the New Year.

If you would like to help, you can still purchase a copy for yourself or friends by donating to pledge@MAprofile.com via the 'Send Money' option on PayPal.

Prices: £15 (UK Delivered) / $30 (US Delivered) / ROW £18 Delivered.

Thank you to all who have purchased a copy so far and a big THANK YOU to the following for all their help and creative contributions; Debbie and Steve Underhill of TipTop Photography, Paul Silver, Birmingham Fotography, Clare Louise, Nick Reynolds, Adam Davies of DeadGoodUndies, Safeer Ahmed, John Chapman, Chris Sinnett, Simon Montrose Taylor, Heather Stringer, Anita - Exstasy Queen - Model, Aria Davis, Terri Hope, Anita Coleman, Tetiana Darling, Tanya Mihailovic, Jackie Wood, Pascale Recher, Adele Coxon, Make-up by Danni, Chayya Udani, Gaynor Morse of 'Secondskin', Tamara Joseph, Doctor Agamemmnon When, 8 Days A Week Print and last but certainly not least the invaluable Rajeeta Rani for helping to co-ordinate it all.

My next highlight of 2012 without question was my life changing trip to the USA shortly after the calendar completed. It's unfair for me to even compare these 2 experiences as they could not be any more different if they tried and both have an equal place in my heart for very different reasons. This trip simply came about by way of a messaged recieved via 'Star Now' on the 1st August from awesome US musician Jane Train! I was contacted and asked if I would like to play the 'love interest' in her music video when she came over to the UK? Of course I would and after finding we already had a friend in common - Ginger Wildheart - and bonding further over months of Skype calls it seemed to make more sense for me to just go to the US and film the video with her in LA whilst pursuing other career  opportunities I had there too. Simply put I fell in love with the positivity and vibe of the people there and met a wealth of true friends and industry contacts in addition to getting representation by a New York acting agency and shooting for a Pennsylvania editorial. After 3 weeks there I simply did not want to leave and now plan on leaving the UK and relocating to LA next summer to pursue my acting career if all goes to plan.

The next accomplishments for which I'm most proud are a combination of my acting achievements so far which include me completing my Intensive Course at Birmingham School of Acting, featuring in the commercial for 'Billy Boy UK' and The Loyalties 'Til The Death...' music video (out next year), a featured role in Sean Forj's Indie film '17 Spleens', an upcoming role in 2013's 'Thorned Hands', plus working on Hollywood movies 'The Councillor' with Ridley Scott and Penelope Cruz and 'Fast 6' with the very friendly Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez who I was fortunate enough to talk at length with and gain some valuable advice from. I hope one day our paths cross again when I have made my name and can thank them very much and so they can see first hand the positive effect their time for me made.

On from that I again got to model at this years 'Elton John Wig Party' as a Terminator Barbie (above) which was a privilege indeed and also feature as a Bodypaint model on ITV 'This Morning' with Phillip and Holly courtesy of my awesome friend and body featured artist Sarah Attwell (video above). In addition to this I have also been fortunate to work with an array of incredible photographers throughout the year on some amazing modelling shoots of which I have gained some incredible additions to my portfolio. A particular dream come true was working with the lovely and always inspiring John Farrar who as a rule doesn't generally shoot males. A privilidge indeed.  I have also again worked with the award winning Clare Louise and Paul Silver amongst many new faces who have all produced some of my favourite images this year...

So that brings my look back at personal highlights of 2012 to a close and leaves me very excited and full of big dreams and plans for 2013. I have many amazing projects already in the pipeline which I am anxious to share with you and see where they will take me personally. I hope you all have a great New Year and will see you on the other side where I hope you'll continue to follow my exciting and unpredictable journey...

And now for something completely different...

Friday 9th March... The highly prominent day in my calendar this year! The day I had put lots of planning and forethought into! The day I got to work with a photographer who's work I've admired since first starting out in the industry. The day I found myself in a photography studio in Brighton! YES... This was the day I finally got to work with the legendary John Farrar and I was excited at the prospect! :oD Added to that and the fact John only really shoots female models, I was also highly privileged to be working with him on this project - Thank you John :)


The shoot came about when I approached him in January about a potential shoot... I was delighted when John said though he didn't really shoot males he would be happy to if we came up with some worthwhile ideas. So we set about throwing a few concepts together and finding a make-up artist/body-painter to collaborate with on the project. After much jiggery-a-do and a long story short... Enter the talented and inspirational Adam- Thomas Bane.

I threw some concepts and themes at Adam and we decided on one that was pretty conclusive, would do the project justice on the day and lent itself to a variety of interpretations after Adam had thrown his own unique input and ideas to mix. With a shopping list that consisted of a suit, ties, paint, clockwork cogs and drawing pins... This was not to be your average shoot! - Though one I finally managed to keep my clothes on for may I note! LOL Added to that... Much banter, dry humour and laughs between the 3 of us made an 11hr day with 3 concepts shot actually end far too quickly and leave us with many more ideas to explore next time.

So please enjoy and digest the fruits of our labour so far.... (More tasty photo's will be added as processed)

Thank you to both John and Adam for their time and talents on a project that stands firm in the memory. I look forward to working with you both again very soon... It was a complete pleasure and enjoyable experience with lots of fun and final images I know we will all treasure for years to come :)

A Look Back... Then Forth

With 2012 now firmly in place and requests from peeps that I start to Blog my movements in Modelling and Acting from here on in I feel it appropriate first and foremost to take a look back over the last 12 months that was 2011. Not only will this be a nostalgic and reflective look back for me it will bring everyone else up-to-speed with my awesome experiences so far and nicely surmise how I actually got here before sharing a few exciting upcoming projects and thoughts for the future with you.

The year started with another art nude shoot, this time with model Karen Whittingham and fantastic Photographers Paul Silver and Carsten Dieterich where we produced a series of beautiful and abstract images.

Shortly afterwards followed a shoot for 'Prowler' with photographer Joshua Sallon where I modelled a range of underwear including 'Armani' for instore and online promotion which was a great experience. This was followed by the 'Miss Coventry 2011' Swimwear Shoot where I got to model with all of the beautiful entrants over a period 2 days (It's a hard life!).

March saw me involved in a varied range of projects including a 'Punk' shoot for Comic Relief, an NSLVIP Fashion Show modelling a range of designers clothes, a shoot on a cold FREEEEEEEEEZING bridge in Wolves for ASOS modelling the awesome Tamara Joseph collection and a surreal shoot which consisted of 'The Crow', 'Clockwork Orange' and 'Ventriloquist's Dummy' themes with stunning model Laura Polson, the one and only MD MUA and Angelis Photography. Next came an 'Apocalyptic' style shoot in the Beautiful Ribble Valley again with (A frozen bikini clad) Laura, thanks to tailored designs by the awesome C La Rouge, talented Photographer and friend Kumar Chan, Hair Stylist Sophia Qayyum, and Make-up- artist Sadia Hussain on one of the windiest days I care to remember!

Of the April my hair was restyled and shot for Toni & Guy's promotions and Easter saw my involvement in the Shaka Zulu Fashion Show (London) – which was the brainchild of the fabulous Nichola Gigli – with choreography by Reuben P Joseph and collections by C La Rouge and Danish Wakeel, and an array of beautiful and striking models far too plentiful to list here. Shortly after I was privileged to work with extroadinary body artist Secondskin MUA and my 4th outing with the wonderful Paul Silver and Carsten Dieterich on photography duties. We produced an Alien/Animal hybrid character with unique and stunning results.

Next I was asked to Model in and Choreograph the 'Baddesley Academy' Fashion Show, hosted by Mr England 2010 Vaughn Bailey which was a great experience and fun to be involved with as was being approached at the BodyPower Expo and signed up by Model Agency Homme-age after being placed 4th in the 'Face of BodyPower' contest by Jordan's ex Alex Reid. I also modelled Ben Ramsden's 'Pant's to Poverty' in Saima Aiwan's 2nd Couture Conscience Fashion show in London and at the Capital's Gay Pride which was an eye opening a pant-dropping experience to say the least! 

Then came modelling at the Versace Mansion for their annual high profile event, followed by 'The Fall of Rome' ball (London) which called upon me to be a real life Greek Statue for the night and resulted in me appearing in 'OK Magazine of the August. Ben & Jerry's festival (Manchester) and Camp Bestival (Dorset) followed, with 'Pants To Poverty' where I was again modelling the brands range of colourful Pants to the masses! Meeting comedian Marcus Brigstocke at the latter event was a personal highlight for me being a long standing fan! 

The annual Elton John 'Wig Party' saw me as one of 4 faces fronting the 2011 campaign for the event in London courtesy of Circle Creatif's Iain Burton-Legge and photographer Scott Harrision-Jones. The end of August saw me on location in Wales with art nude model Leila Alexandra for our second shoot together, which captured some beautifully erotic imagery courtesy of Photographer David Morley and Hair Stylist and MUA Jean Rhema. Then I was back in London once again for Reuben Jospeh's 'Warriors & Princesses' at the Notting Hill Carnival with some wonderful models including the fabulous Norith La Torre.

September saw me involved in a Zombie shoot promoting Dudley Canal's Halloween tour, Modelling at Liverpool Fashion Week and shooting a 'Cancer Research UK' charity Calendar, supported by Gok Wan. October 1st came the 'Wig Party' extroadenaire which I modelled at as the character of Hades. The month followed with a HotSnapz/Simon Barnes shoot for a range of publications and a part in Sky Living's 'Battle of The Brides' as a 'Gondolier Model'.

Next came the highlight of my year to date... Working at Pinewood Studio's on the new Universal Pictures film 'Snow White and the Huntsman' over a duration of almost 3 months. I had to temporarily dye my hair brown to play 2 background characters in the film amongst a cast that boasted Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Charlize Theron (Monster), Nick Frost (Shaun of The Dead), Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Toby Jones, Bob Hoskins, Eddie Marsan and Dave Legano! I can say little about my time there other than it was one of the most happy, insightful and life changing experiences of my life and where I was fortunate to meet fellow actor, top bloke and all round amazing friend Darren Kent.

During this period I was also flattered to be one of 5 approached for the role as James Bond's body double in the new film Skyfall. Sadly I was pipped to the post after being narrowed down to the final few but have the unrivalled pleasure of knowing how close I came and the consolation of keeping my long blonde locks which I am admittedly happy about! Shortly afterwards I was even chosen for another 'blonde' double role in Bond 23, this time with long hair but unfortunately had to decline the offer as it clashed with my last few days on Snow White which I could not be released from and for which my hair was still brown sadly.

After also being a part of the successful 'Pants To Poverty' Guinness World Records attempt in November and filming at Pinewood wrapping in December, 2011 was finally bought to a close with my 2nd shoot with photographer Adam Speedie, who I was eager to work with again since the infamous 'powder' shot we produced in 2010. This time beautiful model Laetitia Malingo joined us to create a variety of tribal looking images using only hand prints and our imaginations. It was an inspirational shoot and a great note to end the year on with promise of future beautiful creations in our minds for 2012.

So what does 2012 hold? Firstly it is my intention to pursue acting roles and develop my experience further as an actor as this is an industry I am completely in my element with. The environment feels like home and I am passionately inspired and more in touch with myself than I have ever felt before, when I am on set. I know my future starts here, this is where I am meant to be and will be at my happiest going forward. 

Modelling wise my year ahead is beginning to read like a wish list I am fulfilling as I will be working with models, photographers and creatives I truly admire and have wanted to work with since very first starting out in this industry. My first shoot is with the awesome Claire Louise on a series of high profile pieces throughout the coming months which I can't say too much about at this stage. Then in February, I shall be working with the legendary John Farrar on a set of themes I am beyond excited about. On from that I am looking forward to modelling for Gary Holmes and HotSnapz again, finally shooting with John Davis Body Artist and teaming up with the incredible Madame Bink for boudoir and art nude work. Studio days are in the pipeline, can't wait to share images with you!

So an eventful 12 months on from my humble beginnings in the industry in 2010 and a future I am positively ecstatic about! I am looking forward to sharing my exciting journey with you all...