Cover Girl: Mona Matsuoka, the rebel in fashion
Uncertainty might lead you astray, but our May 2017 issue cover girl Mona Matsuoka (@mona__offi) will testify, it can also make things exciting.
The fresh-looking 19-year-old half-Japanese, half-American beauty confessed that she is fascinated by the part of the fashion industry which makes no promises and is as unpredictable as it gets.
Case in point: when Matsuoka met the age requirement of 16, she wasted no time in sending shock waves across the fashion fraternity with her debut on the A/W 2014 international runways for brands such as Kenzo, Chanel and Miu Miu to name a few.
Her career is noticeably gaining momentum. This year, she has already walked in more than a dozen shows, not to mention gracing the pages of numerous prominent publications.
Here, we talked to her about what it really means to be a model – and well, Mona Matsuoka.
You started modelling at a very young age. Have you always wanted to do what you do now?
Not really. My mother sent out my profile and got me into modelling when I was 10 years old, which I eventually grew to love.
What is the most common misleading conception about modelling?
That models make money quickly and easily but what they don’t see is the hard work we put in and the things we deal with that people wouldn’t normally have to.
What is fashionable?
It means the ability to show o your character and personality with a touch of creativity.
Who is your favourite fashion designer?
Adam Selman – a good friend of mine. He never fails to inspire me every season. Sacai is a nice brand too.
If you were not a model, you would be...
Maybe a dancer, or an art director.
What is your best quality, and what is your flaw?
Outgoing, thoughtful, crazy... I don’t really know. It’s hard for me to describe myself. (laughs)
Your biggest dream is...
For people to be inspired by me.
What’s on your music playlist?
There are too many; maybe 5,000 songs. (laughs) I listen to everything from The Smiths to Metronomy to The Cure to Bauhaus to Future.
Photography: Stefan Khoo
Styling: Monica Mong
Makeup: Nobuko Maekawa
Hair: Satomi Suzuki
Photography Assistant: Can Suzuki
Styling Assistant: Kou Kai / Robin International Inc.
Producer: Yu Peng
Model: Mona Matsuoka / Image Tokyo
To read more about Mona Matsuoka and see her full fashion shoot, get your latest copy of L'Officiel Malaysia at the nearest newsstands and bookstores.
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