Balmain, Spring/ Summer 2016
Oscar de la Renta, Autumn/ Winter 2016
Christian Dior, Haute Couture 2014
Lanvin, Spring/ Summer 2016
I want to give others this support. We’ve gone this
route and know what’s needed at which moment.
The fashion industry is actually a very, very small
business, and there really aren’t all that many people
in it. Even if I haven’t worked with all of them, I’ve
definitely met them at castings, shows, photo shoots,
and elsewhere. We also have lots of insider informa-
tion we can share.
I presume that the scariest moments are right after
you’ve been approached on the street and after you
arrive in New York. Are those the moments when
support is most needed?
Exactly. My first agency in New York was relatively
small and did its job well. But my next agency was a
totally different story – the first thing they said was,
‘Ginta, let’s go shopping!’ We went to the store and
bought a very simple, black bag for me, black jeans,
white and black t-shirts, and little black boots – a
start-up kit for a model going to castings. Black is a
neutral colour and highlights the body well. It was
actually a very good feeling to have someone paying
attention to important details like that and support-
ing me in such a way. So, we teach the same things to
other girls, too.
64
/ airBaltic.com
Do you remember the moment when you realised
that modelling had become a serious thing for you
and that it would be your career?
At the beginning, I didn’t even do all that well at
castings. It wasn’t like, ‘Aha, Ginta – the next super-
model!’ No, at the beginning I got lots of rejections,
but I never allowed for the possibility that I might
not succeed. I felt very supported by both Nils and
the agency in New York, who really believed in me.
In addition, it was important for me to prove to my
parents, who had allowed me to travel so far away,
that I could do it. And I did.
I remember that my first goal was to earn
enough money to buy a computer. When I did that
fairly quickly, I thought ‘Wow! OK, I like this!’ I
liked that I could be independent, and that was a
fascinating feeling.
Gradually I began having more luck with jobs.
But I knew right away that I liked this work. I think
it’s very important that you truly like what you do.
And I liked it, really! But the moment when I finally
realised that I had achieved something was when I
started doing shows. My first one was for Proenza
Schouler, in the United States. It’s very important
for models to get out on the runway and take part in
fashion shows. Because that’s the best and quickest
way to get recognition.
And the next highlight was your three years of
beauty campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent!
I wouldn’t exactly say that it happened by accident,
but maybe deliberately by accident... I was flying
from New York to Paris to do a photo shoot. As soon
as the plane landed, I got a message from my agent
saying that there was an open casting for a YSL
beauty campaign. ‘If you’re not too tired, please go to
it!’ he said.
I was very tired, but I went anyway. And I don’t
know how, but I was bursting with energy! I walked
in the door and immediately met the main people in
the campaign. The conversation went very well, and
it was a really great atmosphere. They took pictures
of me right there, I showed them my book, and that
same evening my agent called me to say that I had
been accepted for the job! In a way, that also deter-
mined my entire subsequent life, not just my career.
What do you think are the things that every model
should know and keep in mind?
This business is not for shy, uncommunicative girls.
This work requires that you interact with people,
with a team. You need to understand that you’re
creating a result together. All sorts of problems
might arise – delays and shoots that are longer than
expected – but you must not show your discontent.
Cooperation is very, very important.
At castings, it’s important to smile and tell about
yourself. You can’t just give them your book, stand back,
and see what happens. No! Tell about yourself, about
your country, intrigue the people, show them that
you’re interested in your work, that you want to work.