Wednesday, February 14, 2007



21 year Natalie Leona, hailing from the South Eazy ends met up with FIP for an interview on the good old MSN. Apart from being a legal secretary, a mother, and an artist manager, the illustrious Natalie is also a model.

Being a model is not easy, well not as easy as it looks. Its not just catwalks, make up artists, flashing cameras and tantrums. A model is someone who sets an example for others to follow. Don’t believe me, look it up in a dictionary.

For Natalie being a mother is sometimes like a tug-o-war, which she has just learnt to perfect... it was not easy. It’s been one of her major pressures and has pushed her career. Like all of us Nat been influenced by others in her arena. When I asked to name figures she has found an inspiration from, we ended up talking about Rachel Ritfeild. Another young woman who has accomplished a lot in a short space of time. just like our Natz.

"boiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, i think people think being a model is posing for pics and skinning out in vids and you are a model, na its more than that ".

Being the co-manager of the label she is signed to, has given Natalie the perfect perspective to analyse the game from. The game is too small, and there is not a lot of opportunity for the average model in England. We compared the music game and the modelling game, surprisingly there were striking similarities, down to the point where the two worlds collide... (Check Natalie out in Stryders new video).


Natalie remarked that the models that have been in the music videos so far could in most cases have been shown in a better light than they have. The word "skinning" came up again, (these kids and their slang, eh..). Natalie’s advice is try not skinning out in every video because it can make or break your career. But it depends how you would categorise yourself if you are going for high calibre image then being a model is a way of life, its the way you carry yourself on and off the job and being able to perform at all times. so all the "skinning" out can just carry you in one direction.

Going back full circle, we talked about how her career came about after coming out from a controlling relationship to becoming a model for Black hair and beauty and being spotted at the show. This is where it really all began for Natalie. She remembers always being told to model because she had the height for it, more recently she gets comments about her eyes... and we all know that eyes don’t lie.

“Boi! this all im always being told about my eyes, everyone use to tell me to model because of my height”.

Reading about Natalie is great, but if I didn’t tell you where to find her, I'd be teasing... you can hear Natalie’s voice on genesis radio (91.6 fm) from 2-4pm every Monday talking hot topics interviews music debates all sorts so please do lock in to the radio and also genesis radio myspace. You can see Natalie in Tinchy Stryders new video "breakaway". In addition, those of you who are serious about working with her can find her on the web at www.myspace.com/diplonats, and also at the company she co manages, www.hotgirlent.com.

Lastly but not least Natalie would like to big up all the HGE Model Management ladies Jay, Kam, Katrina, Helen, Jennifer, Nicola, Nicole, it goes on a and my partner and CEO TigerLee, oh yes and Hoodstars and her girl Marsha.


Read the full interview on the myspace.
FIP

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/FIPMAG

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