Interview: Cover Girl Cathalijne Runia (The Netherlands)

Can you tell us a little about you? Of course! I am Cathalijne, I live in Amsterdam and I model for a few years now. I also love painting and acting. I live together with my hubby and our Son, who is almost 2 now.

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

Inside or out? I used to have more insecureties than I have now. There was a time that i wanted to have fuller lips, longer hair, a smaller nose, bigger boobs, but I don’t need that anymore. Now I really like my look. For now I would only like to be a little bit taller, to be honest. It would be great for modeling, because sometimes I am just a little bit too short for some jobs. Just 3 or 4cm would be it, lol! And about the inside, I would like to be able to focus better and to imporove my concentration. I get distracted quite fast and have these ongoing thoughts that just don’t ever stop. I would mute them a little, that would be amazing :)

How did you start modelling?

I was born in a small city in the Netherlands and really thought I was going to be a journalist. I was 21 years old, almost finished my studies and was about to jump into the big world. At that time, I was asked to be a model for a webshop. The owner of this webshop was a girl from my city. I really liked working for her and after getting my bachelors in journalism, I went to Asmterdam to freelance as a journalist. I started to get more and more modeling jobs. I did shoots for several brands and webshops and totally forgot about my ambitions as a writer, haha. I still like to freelance, but I also work with modeling agencies now.

What do you think of the work as a model?

It’s fun! Every day is different. I love getting into make-up and to move and pose in front of the camera. I get to meet a lot of people and also get booked with other models (or MUA’s, or photographers) who I worked with before. I made a few friends in this business and I love to hang out with them and talk about our adventures as a model. I like the fact that modeling is almost like acting. Sometimes you really get into a character that you want to show in the pictures. Maybe it’s because I am not a catwalk, haute cauture model, but I have never experienced negative situatuations with clients or agencies who want me to look a certain way and be very skinny or so. I get booked for very different kind of jobs.

What is your beauty regime?

I have been looking for the right products for years. I think I got it now: After removing my make-up, I use korean skincare products (free of parabens, plastics, parfums, alcohol, anything). I love to do face masks and scrub my skin every week. Also I can’t live without a serum and a night cream. I did micronoodling and fractional laser in the past. The results are amazing, but a female body is complex: after my pregnancy, the results are faded away completely. I had to work on my skin to fix it again.

I have to say I am very lucky with my bodyshape. I never really worked out and I eat whatever I like. Pregnancy didn’t really change anything for me, luckely. I do try to work on my body in the gym, because I like my body to me lined and shaped a little bit.

What are your personal qualities which distinguish you from others?

I think it’s powerful to be soft. I don’t like to yell hard to prove myself. Also I really want to be kind to everyone around me. I make friends easily and am easygoing. Even though this might sounds soft and boring, I also have some fire in me. I have this perfect mix of both and I love that :) In a more professional way, I think the people I work with like my enthousiasm and my creativity. I like to think along and work as a team.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to do a lot of modeling in the future. I want to do more, bigger jobs and I hope to work abroad more. Also I want to build up my owm modeling agency further. Offset Models is growing and I would like to take it to the next level. On a more personal level, I hope to get married, be happy and live together with my family in our own house (and a lot of vacations please).

What are some of your favorite experiences so far?

I don’t think I have one favorite experience, but I really loved looking back at the time that I did a lot of different shoots. Sometimes even two or three(!) a day. I liked stepping into all these studio’s, meeting all these people and recieving all these amazing results. I still work as a model, but now I try to focus more on the bigger things, haha. I want to step it up a little bit and I can;t wait for all the amazing things that are yet to come!

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

Of course! Plan shoots with photographers to make TFP photo’s. Build up your portfolio and go search for the brand, webshop or company that you want to work with. Don’t wait for them to come to you, just message them! Also working with an agency might help to get more jobs. But please make sure you are still free, when under contract. Nothing as bad as a angency who makes it impossible for you to get your own jobs (exceptation when they get you enough jobs to pay your rent).

Always be you! In this world of TikTok filters and Instagram edits, everyone looks alike. This is not what brands want. Embrace your uniqueness and go for it!

What do you think of the magazine?

I love how Modellenland Magazine is a platform for (and by) everyone in this business. As for me, it’s nice to read about other models experiences, but also I love to get exposed to all the very talented photohraphers and make-up-artists who I didn’t know yet!

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