ALEXANDRA OLA TALKS MODELING

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

With an international career that began at just fifteen, how do you look back on that early start in modeling now?

It actually started a little earlier than fifteen. My older sister was passionate about photography and used to take pictures of me, which she would then post online. That was when photographers began reaching out to me and my mom, and by the age of thirteen, I had already signed my first modeling contract. Looking back, I realize just how young I really was. I traveled abroad for my first international contract at an age when I didn’t even speak English. It was a completely new world for me, but I was fortunate to work with very professional agencies throughout my career. I always felt that there were people around me who knew how to look after their models and who I could rely on when things became difficult. My teenage years were quite different from those of most people my age. I spent almost all of my summer and winter holidays working, traveling, going to castings and stepping into completely new environments. At the time, it simply felt like my life, but now I understand how much it taught me. I wouldn’t change it. Modeling gave me an incredible education in independence, discipline and responsibility. It taught me how to adapt, how to communicate with people from completely different cultures, and most importantly, how to be comfortable on my own. The industry has changed quite a lot since I started, and girls generally begin their careers a little later now. I think that is probably a healthier balance, but for me, starting young became an important part of who I am today.

Did it always feel natural to put your green eyes towards the camera or was that confidence something that developed with more time and experience?

I think it always felt quite natural to me. Even before modeling, I loved being photographed by my family and enjoyed playing with different expressions and poses. But what really made me fall in love with modeling was everything surrounding it. I was genuinely fascinated by fashion. I watched runway shows, knew the names of top models and designers, and loved understanding the stories behind collections and images. It was never simply about being in front of a camera for me. I was fascinated by the entire creative world. Of course, confidence develops with experience. When you are very young, you are still discovering who you are, and modeling puts you in situations where people constantly have opinions about your appearance. Over the years, I learned not to take those opinions too personally and to understand that there is no single definition of beauty or femininity. Today, I feel much more comfortable in front of the camera because I know myself better. I think that kind of confidence comes less from appearance and much more from experience.

Since then you've worked across many prestigious campaigns, categories and brands. What stands out to most in everything in your portfolio so far, whether for the people, locations, creative direction or wardrobe?

There are so many jobs I remember fondly, but one of the most unique experiences was my collaboration with Shiseido during my contract in China. I worked with their beauty team and, approximately every two weeks, we traveled to a different Chinese city for presentations of their newest products and beauty trends. The makeup artists would use the products on me while presenting the techniques and new trends to an audience. It was an incredible experience because I was not only working, but also traveling through places I probably would never have had the opportunity to visit otherwise. In Europe, one of the collaborations that stands out the most is definitely Guess. I worked with them for several years, walking in their shows, appearing in sportswear and accessories lookbooks, and taking part in campaigns. Being trusted by such an internationally recognized brand over such a long period was a huge honour for me. Eventually, that collaboration came to an end for a very practical reason. The company wanted me to gain quite a significant amount of weight because they had a very specific image in mind for their models. At that stage of my career, I couldn’t do that without potentially affecting other clients and losing opportunities elsewhere. It was an interesting lesson in how personal, and sometimes complicated, the modeling industry can be. You learn that not every opportunity is meant to last forever, and sometimes you have to make decisions based on what is right for you and your career as a whole.

Being represented by agencies around the world, what do you think is important when choosing someone to represent you. What makes an agency the right fit?

For any young model choosing an agency, I would say, pay attention to the people first. An agency is not just a name or a logo. You are going to communicate with your agents several times a week, sometimes every single day, and they will be the people supporting you when something goes wrong. You want people who genuinely care about having a good relationship with you and who will be there when you need them. The modeling industry can be unpredictable. Maybe you miss a flight because you were working overtime, arrive late to a casting, accidentally go to the wrong address and end up on the other side of the city. These things happen. You need an agency that knows how to handle difficult situations calmly and professionally. Your agents are also the people negotiating your rates and opportunities with brands, so you need to trust their judgment and know that they understand your value. I would always encourage a young model to find people who believe in her, who see what makes her unique and who want to build a long-term career rather than simply book the next job. The right agency should make you feel supported, not replaceable.

As we move past summer and into early autumn, which fashion-season is most your vibe?

I'm definitely a summer person. I love warmth, long days, and being outside as much as possible. I also do a lot of sport, so the weather has a huge effect on my mood and how I feel physically. I naturally feel more energetic when I can spend time outdoors. There is one funny downside to summer when you work in fashion, though. I live in Italy, and August is almost like a collective pause in the modeling industry. Agencies close, productions slow down, photographers and creative teams take their holidays, and everyone is preparing for the very intense autumn season. So while I love summer personally, professionally I always know that September is when everything suddenly starts moving again. And there is something exciting about that energy. New campaigns, new collections, new ideas and a completely new season ahead.

Outside of modeling, what are some things about you that people wouldn’t necessarily pick up just from seeing you pose?

I am a very creative person, and I think that is something people might not immediately see from a photograph. I genuinely love being involved in the creative process. When I work on a shoot, I often have ideas about locations, poses, styling or the overall atmosphere. I enjoy understanding the vision behind an image rather than simply being the person standing in front of the camera. Over the past few years, I have also found another creative path that has become very important to me, organizing weddings in Italy. It gives me a completely different kind of satisfaction. I love creating beautiful experiences, working with couples, bringing together all the little details and seeing everything come to life. There is also something very rewarding about seeing the happiness on people’s faces when everything comes together. Modeling can be unpredictable. One season can be incredibly successful and the next can be much quieter. With weddings, I can plan much further ahead, build relationships with people over time and know that I'm contributing to one of the most important days of their lives. I think that combination of creativity, organization and human connection is something that really suits me. It has also made me realize that I don’t have to choose just one identity or one career. I can continue evolving and creating new chapters for myself.

There’s a lot of emphasis on appearance in modeling, naturally. What does taking care of not just your body, but also your mind and soul, look like?

For me, the most important thing is the people I surround myself with. Having people around me who genuinely support me, believe in me and allow me to grow is incredibly important. I also try not to compare myself to other women. Every person has something different to offer, and I genuinely enjoy seeing other women succeed. Someone else’s success doesn’t take anything away from mine. Of course, I also take care of my body through movement. I run, go to the gym, cycle in the mountains and generally try to stay active. This year I am taking part in two half marathons and HYROX. So sport has become a big part of my life. For me, exercise is almost a form of meditation. When I am running or cycling, I have time to clear my head and step away from everything else. It is about feeling strong, capable and comfortable in my own body. As I’ve gotten older, I have realized that taking care of yourself is much bigger than looking good. It is about having people around you who make you feel good, giving yourself space to grow, and building a life that feels fulfilling.

What feels most important to you in this next chapter of your life and modeling career?

I actually feel very grateful and happy with where I am in my modeling career today. I have achieved much more than I ever imagined when I was thirteen and first started. I have travelled, worked in different countries and cultures, collaborated with incredible brands and met so many inspiring people along the way. At this stage, I don’t feel the need to chase achievements simply for the sake of having more of them. I am much more interested in choosing projects that feel meaningful and exciting to me. I also feel that I am entering a new chapter of my life. Modeling will always be an important part of my story, but it no longer needs to be the only thing that defines me. I want to continue developing creatively, growing my work outside of modeling and exploring new challenges. And perhaps most importantly, I want to create more space for the people I love and spend more time with my family. When I started modeling, I was a teenager and everything was about the next job, the next country, the next casting. Now I appreciate the idea of building a life alongside my career, rather than putting my life on hold for my career. I am proud of everything I have accomplished so far, but I am even more excited about the things I haven’t done yet. I think the most interesting part of life is realizing that one chapter can be incredibly successful, without having to be the final one.