Interview: Model/Singer Donna Zed (Switzerland)

Can you tell us a little about you?

I’m a young swiss artist, still living in Switzerland in the French part. But I would love to move to a bigger city soon! My days are never the same, I switch between being a model, singer, teacher, photographer and other stuff everyday!

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

If I could change something, I would like to be a little bit less hard on myself. I sometimes push myself way too hard to the point I become physically sick.

How did you start modeling?

I actually started modelling by accident almost. I bleached my hair to platinum blond, I naturally have very dark brown asian hair, and a photographer, Maria Grazia Grasso, approached me in the street because she wanted to do a photoshoot with me. It all started with her.

What do you think of the work as a model?

Working as a model is pretty fun, I really like it. It is almost a revenge on what people used to tell me when I was younger. Kids are cruel, they use to call me names, really racist sometimes, it was all about my looks and I never felt confident about myself because I thought my self worth was in the hands of the people judging me. Until the day I woke up and did not care anymore for their comments and just stayed my weird self. And my true self is what people like about me as a model.

What is your beauty regimen?

I eat healthy, a whole foods plant-based diet, 95% of the time and always remove my makeup before going to sleep and apply coconut oil in a thin layer on my face + moisturiser pretty often on the entire body. Nothing really special.

What are your personal qualities which distinguish you from others?

I’m also a photographer/artistic director, which helps me while I model to actually communicate with the photographers more easily. I’m also a singer-songwriter-pianist so most of the times people like the fact I do not only do one thing.

What are your plans for the future?

I would love to walk / perform with my band at a fashion week! But as a real plan, I’m focusing on my next EP with my band and gaining more and more experience in the art world. As a model I’m planning to work more frequently as well.

Do you have any advice for those who want to start modeling?

Just do it, for anything in life: better regret trying it than regret not even trying!

What are some of your favorite experiences so far?

One my favourite experiences must be when I went to London for the Alternative Hair show at the Royal Albert Hall! I had the chance to go there to model for a swiss hairstylist and it was so much fun meeting people from around the world.

When did you start singing?

I started singing in a choir at the Lausanne Conservatory and I had the chance to be part of several opera productions while with them, I had to do auditions obviously but I was lucky to be abnle to even be chosen do to the auditions as a kid. So I stayed for a couple of years with them until I got fed up of singing only classical songs with classical technique. I wanted to do more, learn more. So I just stopped taking classes and took a year of private jazz lessons to help me transition and change singing techniques. I then continued on my own!

What do you think of the magazine?

It's a great platform you created so thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to present myself.

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