Interview: Model Flore Pensaert (Belgium)

Can you tell us a little about you?

I’m a 25 year old model from Lokeren, Belgium & I started when I was 17. I started doing photography at 14 and soon after, befriended photographers started asking me to get in front of their lens instead. I caved when I was 17 & ever since the modeling bug hasn’t left me! I mostly do boudoir, art nude & fashion shoots but I’m open to anyone with a good idea & a great portfolio!

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

My nose. Most models have quite a dainty and cute baby-nose, mine is one of the few curved noses out there. I don’t mind it & I’m glad to represent this type of nose but I do feel it may sometimes result in not getting casted for certain shoots.

How did you start modelling?

When I was 17, a befriended photographer asked me to get in front of his lens. I was extremely shy about it and took my mother with me. It was quite the experience. The pictures became very nice, and he asked me as a model on a photography workshop afterwards! By that time I had become 18 and started doing art nude shoots also. I felt very comfortable with the photographers I had known for a long time, so it didn’t feel like an invasion of privacy.

What do you think of the work as a model?

It’s a world filled with duality & you are judged one-dimensionally. Within the industry, I’m judged on my looks. My lovely personality may help on shoots itself but it won’t get me the job, my body and face will. It’s important to remember that when not being casted: I’m also very talented in poetry, filmmaking, streaming and so much more. Not being casted doesn’t take away my human value. In fact, being a multi-dimensional artist in a one-dimensional world is a positive thing: my photography skills make it easier to understand & think with the photographers during shoots. Working as a model requires lots of selfconfidence in an environment where that isn’t always built up. Especially as a freelance model, you must have a strong enough voice to speak up when photographers aren’t treating you with dignity, or acting like creeps. Unfortunately that also happens within our world.

What is your beauty regimen?

Honestly, I eat crazy unhealthy at times & I barely have any skin routines. Let’s just say my fast metabolism cleans up after me!

What are your personal qualities which distinguish you from others?

I was tested on my IQ recently and it turned out to be 130. I’d like to think my smarts have helped me from time to time within the industry. What also distinguishes me is the fact I’m highly sensitive. My empathy levels are quite out there, that’s one of my most beautiful traits and makes it easier to befriend coworkers. Looks-wise my biggest assets are definitely my cheekbones, my belly and my boobs and booty. Many fans told me they specifically love my body, and I agree! I was lucky to be born in a time where people celebrate my skinnier bodytype, but I hope all healthy bodytypes will be celebrated one day!

What are your plans for the future?

Keep shooting, keep grinding, keep Twitch streaming, keep being my creative self! I always wanted to reach 10k on Instagram but I feel like that could happen any day now. I just want to continue to create art with likeminded people. It’s fun to meet new models, new photographers, et cetera! It’s like a whole uplifting community is being formed around me & I’d love to see it. I even started a discord lately with freelance coworkers! It’s great how thankful they were to get connected since normally they depend on mouth-to-mouth advertising. My goal is to become a known model & streamer though, and make some lasting friends in the meantime, so I’ll keep working towards that!

What are some of your favorite experiences so far?

Oh, that’s a hard one. There are so many. It may not be my biggest assignment but walking for my first international modeling show in Leicester was pretty amazing! I immediately got casted to walk another show in London & it felt so great to be noticed within my talents. I felt like an absolute bombshell in the designer’s cool outfits and the classy MUA make-up, it’s a kind of selfconfidence no one can ever take away from me anymore! Getting published also is a great feeling. My work is getting into the world, that’s essentially a goal reached.

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

Yes! Don’t let jealousy of others hold you back, use it as fuel. And if you’re a freelance model and you’d like to stay safe: no nude for a first shoot or at least take someone with you! I made this mistake of going to do art nude shoots by myself and unfortunately got assaulted. Creeps ruin the fun for everyone, so make sure you take the right steps to lessen the chances of abuse! Where there’s fire, there’s often smoke: when multiple models tell you a photographer is problematic, it’s probably valid. And if you’re a photographer: a model is an expressive medium, not a piece of meat. Not a sexual object. They help YOU in your art, treat them as such.

What do you think of the magazine?

An amazing stepping stone for models & photographers to showcase their work! I’m grateful magazines are willing to reinforce our community even more and celebrate with us! Modellenland helped me find so many great creatives. It’s lovely to have a place where our creative endeavors have a voice.

https://www.instagram.com/florepensaert/

http://linktr.ee/florepensaert

Photographer: Filip van der Cruyssen