your side//
Interview by: Olivia Jordan
Photography: Nilly / styling: carla candela
producer/ make up artist: maira candela / hair: caroline nasser
photographer assistance: arman saturday
models: jordan alexander + shane homan
On the left: Trousers by Dion Lee, heels by YSL, gloves are stylist's own, earrings by Steff Eleoff.
On the right: Jumpsuit by Rui, earrings are stylist's own, rings by Steff Eleoff.
On the left: Top is stylist's own, skirt by Dion Lee, boots by Dolce & Gabbana, earrings, rings, and bracelet by Biko.
On the right : Top by Dion Lee, earrings and rings by Steff Eleoff.
On the left: Blazer by Smythe, earrings and necklace by Biko, middle finger ring is stylist's own, right ring by Steff Eleoff.
On the right: Blazers by Smythe, knee-high boots by Staud, earrings and necklace by Biko, blouse by Danielle Guizio, trousers by Marc Jacobs, boots are model's own, ring by Steff Eleoff.
On the left: earrings by Biko
on the right: earrings by Steff Eleoff
On the left: Top by Dion Lee, earrings and rings by Steff Eleoff, (Jordan) Top is stylist's own, earrings, rings, and bracelet by Biko.
On the right: Top is stylist's own, boots by Dolce & Gabbana, earrings and bracelet by Biko.
On the right: Top by Dion Lee, trousers by Bianca Nygard, earrings and rings by Steff Eleoff.
On the right: top by Dion Lee, trousers by Bianca Nygard, shoes by Bottega Veneta, rings by Steff Eleoff.
WITH JORDAN//
O. How has 2020/2021 been for you? What were some of your favourite quarantine activities?
J. Lucky enough to have this time be pretty okay. I loved watching movies with my sister, a self-proclaimed cinephile, and making things on Garage Band.
O. How do you balance music and acting?
J. It's all about scheduling and just being very aware of when I have free time from shooting Gossip Girl. I'm always writing music but getting into the studio and producing a body of work will definitely be more challenging due to my schedule being busier than usual.
O. What is your song writing process?
J. Sit down and write a song or be extremely moved by a situation or thought that I need to make a song about it to explore it. When I make things on Garage Band, I start putting 3-4 loops together to get the general vibe and then when it feels ready, I write lyrics and melody over it.
O. What Queer characters on television or in movies did you resonate with the most growing up?
J. Well, I don't know that I saw any growing up, but I love Jonathan Van Ness from queer eye.
O. What has the experience been like working with Karena Evans?
J. Soooo good. Knowing Karena Evans has been sooo good. She's masterful and such a source of pure talent. Loved it.
O. Did you grow up watching GG? If so, what character did you relate to in real life and what original character do you think Julien relates to the most?
J. I did grow up watching GG, I don't think I really related to any of them. Maybe Dorota because I was a maid for a long time. Hmmmmm Julien is completely an entity of her own. Julien is a powerful influencer, with a super-rich Grammy winning Father. She lives on the upper east side and is a Junior at Constance Billard.
O. What was your first reaction to being casted in Gossip Girl?
J. My heart was beating very fast and I was just so excited, like is this real? I worked with Emily Alyn Lind on Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones, she had actually recommended that I go out for Gossip Girl. It was a very long audition process. I auditioned in February and didn’t hear back till August. I was sending audition self-tapes to the US. When it all started to happen, it was a matter of weeks, but I had been in the process of auditioning for months. My agents all called in a group call and told me I got it; it was really special. I was in my friend’s bathroom so I could have privacy to take the call. My little sister was freaking out. She had figured out that I got it because people from the show had started to follow me on Instagram and she checks on my followers lol. The first people I told were my best friend Aly and my partner Shane, I was in their bathroom taking the call.
O. Has your personal style changed since filming the show?
J. No not really. I've been gifted some beautiful things that I would have never had otherwise! But I think I blend them into my same style. I would wear pants a lot and Julien almost never wears pants lol. She is also definitely a lot fancier than I am. Since filming the show I’ve discovered brands line Christopher John Rogers, and Valentino.
O. I heard you are a big fan of thrifting. What were some of your best thrift finds?
J. I found this silver chunky link chain and it's my proudest find. Recently I found this Wednesday Adams-esk dress and it fits like a glove, proud of that also. I love value village, I used to go like every Sunday for hours and just dig around in there. In New York there are a lot of independent thrift shops in New York, so there’s more variety.
O. Tell us about the empowerment you feel as an openly Queer actress?
J. I feel empowered knowing I'm lucky enough to be able to live my authentic truth and self. I feel like once I really got right with myself everything is easier.
O. What can we expect from you in the near future?
J. How about a movie? and an album? :) That's what I'm expecting.
O. What was you experience MODELLING for Fashion Art Toronto?
S. Modelling for FAT has been really fun. More so meeting a lot of creatives and talented people.
O. Tell our readers about your music and where they can listen to you.
S. I have been on-and-off with music and I listen to all kinds, just whatever sounds good to my ears.
O. How did you stay creative during quarantine?
S. Nothing creative pretty much just took the time to myself.
WITH SHANe//
O. How did you and Jordan meet?
S. Me and Jordan met through tinder in 2018.
O. How did you begin your career MODELLING?
S. I started my career in modelling in the Philippines in 2012.
O. Do you think Gender will continue to play an important role in fashion?
S. I don’t think it will. For me it never played a big part. I’ve always been neutral with fashion and I love being able to pull off both and I’ve been seeing more and more people embracing their ability to do so.
