Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Who's that Girl? | Hope Leslie
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
Age: 23
Sales/Makeup Specialist for Urban Decay Cosmetics
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
Hobbies:
I do a lot of reading &
researching in magazines and fashion blogs for makeup inspiration, a lot of
walking the dogs, I like discovering new places around where I live, so on days
off I do a lot of wandering.
Aspirations:
To build my career with
Urban Decay, I want to be the one at the drawing board. I’ve always wanted to
be a part of the Makeup Teams at NYFW, and I’d love to take my modeling to the
high fashion world.
Single/Taken:
Married! Our year
anniversary is just around the corner, actually; 1/18
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
Education/Study:
I started college
with the intention of becoming a Historian/Museum Curator with focus in the
Elizabethan era, and then realized I hated school, so I have an Associates’
Degree in “General Studies” whatever that means…
What was growing up like for you?
I
was the only child, raised by the hardest working single mom, and while I
learned the value of hard work at a young age, I was also left to figure out a
lot of things on my own. I was brought up with very traditional Southern Roots
(minded my manners) I was born in South Carolina, and we wound up moving to
Florida when I was seven. It was a lot of trial and error. I wasn’t the best
teenager, but looking back as an adult, I am thankful I got a lot of things out
of my system when I did. People always thought I was older than I was. I
preferred hanging out around adults rather than getting to know the other
children. Still to this day when I say I’m 23, people always have the same
reaction, and hopefully that is due to my demeanor and not my appearance!
Do you see yourself as Model?
When
did you become involved in modelling and what do you love about it? I believe
you really need to own what you aspire to be, so yes I do consider myself a
model. Still a beginner but a model nonetheless. I started modeling in a runway/fashion
show setting for a designer friend. It was at the Boston Tattoo Convention in
2012. I love the entire process of setting up and then executing a shoot. All
of the creative juices are flowing in not only yourself, but with the
photographer and the makeup artist and the hairstylist. Everyone kind of comes
together with this one final objective and then you are left to execute. It’s a
lot of pressure, but it’s also a wonderful challenge.
What would you like to do it more in
the future?
2014 is a going to be a huge push in my modeling career. I have a
few sets that are to be published early this year in some notable prints, which
I cannot wait to see – and hopefully that kind of starts a wildfire. I hope to
have accomplished countless shoots, concepts, and endeavors by the end of the
year. I’m always so ready to work.
 |
| Photo © Tiffany Ann |
What do you admire most in other women?
Versatility. When a woman whether she
is familiar or not, can look one way and then completely change her look
another with the same amount of confidence. Something about that ability to
change and adapt is so powerful, and something I try to take note of.
Who is Hope Leslie?
I’m a wife, a
daughter, and strive to be a loyal friend and confidant. I love my job and
pride myself on being a hard worker, someone who will go the extra mile. I’ve
become a little more reserved as of late, but I am embracing the change and
attributing it to growing wiser.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
As I noted before I am a huge history enthusiast, so Boston and the surrounding
areas provide a lot of aesthetic inspiration. My phone is either photos of my
dogs or screen shots of magazines, books, ads, anything I see that I think “I
will definitely want to look at this again later”. So many of those random
things develop into concepts either for makeup or for a photo-shoot.
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
How would you describe your style?
Unfortunately, here the weather dictates what is practical. I have so many
pieces I haven’t even worn since making the move from Florida to Massachusetts.
My heels and towering wedges would mean death on the frozen sidewalks outside!
The boots I do get to wear get ruined from the snow and sludge so I usually go
with either cheap or practical. This will change at least a little bit in the
few months that I don’t have to be bundled into a ball. I’m mostly a shoe and
bag girl. Everything in between is usually put together after deciding on which
shoes and which bag. I want to make it a point in 2014 to think more before I
run out of the house though, so thank you for reminding me!
 |
| Photo © Tiffany Ann |
Are you a fashion brands girl or do
you just wear what you like or whats comfortable?
It depends. I’m one of those
people that will seek out statement pieces. Those little gems that you aren’t
sure if you will ever actually wear but you know if you pass it up you are
going to kick yourself in the ass for days. So since my closet is mostly
compiled of those “where and when can I get away with wearing this?” I find
myself going to the old reliables. Most of my clothes are not high fashion
brands, but an eclectic mix of vintage and sale bins. I do like fashion brand
accessories and shoes though, just because of the quality of the product.
That’s usually where I spoil myself.
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
What are your top 5 fashion
staples you cannot live without?
Infinity scarves, wedges, high waisted
everything, knit over sized sweaters, and princess sleeves.
Favourite places to shop?
Zara
has everything I love. The variety is outstanding, the quality has never let me
down, and it doesn’t break the bank.
Who would you say is your style icon?
Daisy Lowe. She embraces her body and can literally pull everything from nude
to flannel off with such ease.
 |
| Photo © Grace Taylor |
Tales of love & lust?
The love
story of my husband and I is a cute one. We basically had been acquaintances
and later friends since I was 17. We started seeing each other on and off again
since 2011, and then became exclusive at the latter of 2012. We were in a long
distance relationship, him in Orlando, FL and myself in Boston, MA. Distance
really does create this electric kind of unwavering bond that built such a
strong foundation for us. We decided that we were done dating. We were done
looking. We wanted to get married, be with each other, end of story.
So we
didn’t tell anyone and got married the day before my birthday January 18, when
I went down to Florida for a visit almost a year ago now. I hadn’t wanted the
big show, the costly wedding, the dress, the distraction from what we were
actually doing. I just wanted it to be us. I ordered a cute dress from Pinup
Girl Clothing out of LA. I had never purchased anything from them, but luckily
it fit like a glove. It was perfect for us. People were pissed off and felt
left out, especially my mother. But once they kind of took a step back and
realized why we had done it that way it all kind of made sense. We wanted to
marry each other, not the room.
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
What is it that you love most about
being a woman?
Getting ready in the morning. People are always complimenting me
at work about my makeup and then turn around and say “But you have the time. I
would never have the time to do that! How long does it take you to get ready?”
I love waking up the extra hour to really execute the best me I can and go into
the world. I love that time I get to spend with myself, on myself
What do you find sexy?
Confidence. Knowing who you are. Nothing is sexier than speaking up for
something or someone you believe in, and fighting with words rather than
volume. Someone who thinks before they speak or act, and are calm and
calculated.
Is there anything you would change
about yourself if you could?
I feel that I am always working to better myself
as a whole. There isn’t just one individual thing or feature I would target
because if it can’t be changed it won’t be and if it can, I am probably working
toward doing that.
When no one is around what is
Hope usually doing?
Nothing. I don’t get a lot of solitude, especially with
working in such a social environment. I try not to talk, as in I won’t make or
take a lot of phone calls when I’m alone. I love embracing silence, and just
taking care of myself, rather it be taking a nice long bath or reading a book.
I try to put my mind at ease.
Is there a public and private Hope?
Not so much. I stay consistent.
 |
| Photo © Sonja Lux |
If you were stuck on a desert island
and your only shoe options were crocs or uggs what would you do?
I would take
the Uggs. Despite it was a desert Island and no one would see me, I could never
tolerate myself in Crocs.
What's your take on life and what advice would give any of your fans?
You have to live smart. You can’t react and live solely on passion. You have to
remember the people you affect, and you need to love physically as much as you
do emotionally. I truly believe that you dictate your own fate. If you want
something to happen, you never really know if it is attainable until you put in
the effort, and the work to get there. Always remember who you are, and don’t
let anyone else take you over. Our self is the only thing we really have
control of, and when you embrace who you are and who you want to be, everything
else falls into place.
You can follow Hope on Instagram : hopelesliesmith
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)