CANADIAN ICON
jordan gooden
P HOTOGRA PH BY I'M HERE WI TH
IMH: How do you choose who you are going to
work with usually? How does that come to light? Do
they come to you or do you come to them?
Jordan: It just comes down to the other person. Are
they ready for the depth that might create a
process goes to sometimes. My portfolio, every
shoot is completely different from the lighting to
the style to the mood and the emotion. Resinating
together is a part of all of that and of course energy.
I’m a strong believer that if you don’t resonate with
something there is no way you are going to make
somebody else resonate with it as well. So for me as
an artist, I take on more than just the model, I’m
taking on the energy and the resonance that’s
required to visually translate it to the masses.
IHW: What are some of the things and topics that
you want to share the youth in your community
about becoming somebody like you that is an
influencer to powerful people and that is creating
art that matters and is changing a way to feel. If
they want to do that what is your advice to them?
Jordan: First things first you need to be yourself.
You need to have endurance, integrity, and strength
and you have to know yourself. So take the time
first to know yourself and then throw it out to the
world, guarantee you will find great success that
way than trying to hone in on the character of
somebody else. Someone else’s journey, you will
never understand because you weren’t them. Just
like I don’t know your journey and even if we talked
about it for months and years I’ll still not know. I will
only have a perception you’ve allowed me to see. It’s
not that is not from your eyes because only you can
see that. Strength, courage, integrity, authenticity,
vulnerability, transparency. The ability to Transcend
negative experience to positive ones and to be of
service of others with good intent.
IHW: You have worked with some of the biggest stars in the world ranging from Bret Hart, the wrestler to Riza Santos to dancer Olga
Sokolova. Working with big stars what is the difference would you say working with them compared to someone who is just starting.
Jordan: In my opinion what makes us stars isn’t necessarily what you do or how you do it is who you resonate. We as artists, artistic stars have
the ability to understand emotion in ourselves in a way that can be intimidating for most but it also shows our strength. I’ve always said this
that within vulnerability, there is strength and in fact, if you are at your most authentic and vulnerable state you will be the strongest you will
ever be and naturally become a leader because people follow strength.
IHW: What do you feel about I’m here with coining you Canada’s Icon that is inspiring the new stars of tomorrow. What does that mean to you?
Jordan: I believe it validates one thing that my journey and every decision that I’ve ever made has led me to this moment, validates my ability
and believing in myself and creating my reality to the point that I’m able to share it with everyone else. It’s an honor, I feel that I’m now at a
point in my life that I’m ready to share a deeper piece of myself with the world and I’m humbled and I’m filled with all the gratitude in the world.
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