Exclusive interview

Chelsea Hunt - known as Chelsaiya Maria Jager in the fashion world - first started her modelling career on posters advertising a new burlesque show. With her typical showgirl look going on to attract the attention of Tunnel Vision Photography, what started off as doing shoots for fun, soon escalated into a lot more.

Since then, Chelsaiya has gone on to model for the clothing brand Death Kitty, a more unusual and ‘punk-esc’ style of clothing. 

So Chelsaiya, how did you get originally get involved with Death Kitty clothing?

After several shoots with Tunnel Vision we decided to do a spot of networking and generally send our pictures to clothes store after clothes store. Emailing countless people every day. Death Kitty took notice, and said they’d like me to be modeling their clothes.  We didn’t especially go for mainstream as the nature of our shoots are deviated from the usual image of ‘modeling’ so we contacted the alternative clothes companies. Death Kitty agreed.

What is it that you like about DK clothes?

I’m a bit of a rocker at heart and they’d be the kind of clothes I’d like to wear on a daily basis. They have the right mix of Pin-Up and Grunge in their garments, which work really well. I am allowed to keep the clothes, and am endlessly letting friends borrow items.

Despite being one of the faces of Death Kitty, Chelsaiya hasn’t always been mad about fashion.  

Its strange I couldn’t get further away from it as a little girl. It was only after I hit my teenage years I started to take notice of what looked good one me, and bother about my appearance. In school its generally tougher to fit in with your peers, so I always made a fuss of what to wear to fit in.

How would you describe your style?

Free. I love anything from mainstream styles to street, club, alternative and gypsy. As long as it flatters your body shape I think you can wear many styles of clothes, I don’t wanna just be known as ‘that gothic girl’ I love all looks if done correctly.

Describing herself as "Romantic, Impulsive and Grateful", Chelsaiya tells us where inspiration comes from when putting together a look. 

I trawl the internet looking for ideas that interest me and elaborate on them so it doesn’t look like I’m copying. But then again I’ve often had photography students copying my ideas I’ve noticed as they comment on my pictures. But I take it as flattery. So if people think  I have used their ideas take it as a compliment. Imitation is the best form of flattery.  Other than that, I have a very vivid imaginations. I use a lot of songs to create an image in my mind of how I’d like a shoot to come across. Usually from a band called The Waterboys. They create such visuals with their songs, it has to come out in a form so I try to create that form. 

I am also currently in love with the American shoe brand Bordello. Their shoes are gorgeous platforms for every girl, whether it’s finishing off a fancy dress costume, or evening wear or just for fun. They are branching out and doing a lot of burlesque wear, which I think is gorgeous. I also love Mori Lee who designs gorgeous ball gowns, of which I have two.

Some of your photo shoots go against the ‘norm’ of what we see in fashion magazines - is this something you try and do on purpose?

Yes definitely, I think its good to have variety in what you do. I really do not want photo-shoots I do to look too similar. Doing crazy things and looks is more likely to make people remember you. It’s a lot more fun to do; also, the more fun you have the better the photos come out.  I think its good to show also that you don’t have to look a certain way to be in fashion magazines, we hope to achieve this soon.

As a model, do you worry about the pressures to be stick thin?

Unfortunately yes.  I’ve had an on off relationship with food and my weight for a few years, especially during high school. Keeping calorie diaries, I used to get through boxes of Lipobind, which I dread to think about now. I’d feel accomplished if I made it through a day with one meal. Now I’m happy with my body shape, what ever it is. As long as you feel good in yourself that’s all that matters. I eat what I want, and exercise I gain from my circus training which is fun so I don’t see it as a chore.  If I could turn back to my 14 year old self, I’d definitely say eat as many kebabs as you want, rejoice what shape you are. Once I stopped obsessing and put weight on (after being told I was TOO skinny to model clothes) I felt happier, healthier, sexier and definitely more feminine and comfortable.

Chelsaiya first took an interest in circus performing when she was a child, and after meeting the ringmaster from The Circus Of Horrors, and seeing his show, they soon became friends. She taught herself a hula act within two years, and was slowly coached on contortion, until it got to the point she was beginning to step in for shows and festivals.  

I love being a performer or a model, because for the moment in time when I’m in front of a camera or an audience.  I’m not me, I become someone else. It’s a great feeling, escapism from my normal life. I think it’s important to have a barrier between both sides of you. At home with friends and my partner I goof around and have fun act like a prat, but when I put the costume or stage makeup on…I turn into someone else, it’s a great contrast. 

Do you have any projects lined up for the near future?

Yes, we soon have a photo shoot with The Circus Of Horrors where I shall be climbing in to their 2ft by 18 inch glass bottle.  I have been practicing contortion for a little while so this should look really good.  I’m really looking forward to this one! Also a girls-on-film shoot where I shall be wearing nude underwear, covered in pictures from previous shoots. I think that will be a good look. We also hope to be experimenting with body paint and have an animal print shoot.  Also an online portfolio is currently being made by Celeste in London and I’m going to be working with a few more clothing ranges!

Where would you ultimately like to end up career wise? 

If the modelling takes off, which seems to be happening in a bit of a snowball rolling type way now…then I’d be thrilled. If not of course I shall enjoy it for how long it lasts. If that isn’t how my life is going to pan out, then I’d like to be a Hypnotherapist and reflexologist. I like helping people and these are subjects that really fascinate me.


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