GISELE ANDREA: PICTORIAL POWERHOUSE IN PIXELS- JOSH (THOMAS1 BELLIC), REPORTING

I was at the barber shop the other day and I saw the magazine rack, a required fixture in ALL Barbershops.  Flipping past "Popular Pixels", "Better Linden Homes and Gardens" and a dog-eared copy of a "Victoria Pixels" catalogue, I selected an issue of HUSH magazine.  Of the models featured, I found the model, Gisele, to be particularly eye-catching.  Imagine my surprise when I looked at another magazine and saw Gisele there also, as the WHISKEY GIRL of the Month. Further surprise hit me when I picked up yet another magazine and found a statuesque pose of Gisele, gracing the pages of SLUST Magazine. Finally, I learned from another patron that the lovely Gisele was also featured in PROVOCATEUR magazine.   I was stunned, Who was this supermodel, and how did she come to grace the pages of FOUR separate magazines?

I approached my Editor and told her that I was sure the SLE Readers would enjoy learning about this Pictorial Powerhouse, and I promised I would do my absolute best to bring this story to the pages of our publication.  After she stopped smirking, she gave me the go-ahead.  What follows is the result of my tireless research, pouring over thousands of photos in order to bring you the best of the best.  It’s a tough job, but SOMEBODY has to do it, right?

I tracked her down as she was preparing for another photoshoot, and she graciously consented to an interview.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):      Hello Gisele.  Thanks so much for agreeing to chat with me today. Tell me, please. How long have you been modeling, and when was your first break into the world of Pictorial Modeling?

Gisele Andrea (giselea) (GA):     I have been modeling now 5-6 years...before that I didn't take a lot of interest in SL.  But Covid locked us down and I had time.  One day the owner of the old Tag Dance offered me to be Tagette of the Week if I would agree to pose nude for him to paint me and put the work on a wall in the club.  I agreed.  To be honest I was really scared and disrobing in front of him was very anxiety-ridden.  Then as I lay on the divan...I felt this warm erotic feeling as he painted.  Well, when the painting was hung up, I began to get other offers. 

JB:     So, what first got you interested in a career as a Pictorial Model?

GA:     The offers I received were primarily for Lingerie, Fashion, bikini, and nude.  I loved each but felt drawn to the sensuality and erotic power of nude modeling.  I had a Flickr page with a few old photos and I decided to begin posting there mostly topless or carefully posed nudes that didn't show full frontal.  Well, one day a man named Gaelen Able took an unsolicited photo of me in a bikini that was excellent, and I agreed to do a session with him. He produced some wonderful bikini and nude photos and that really propelled me forward. Then I got requests from a blogger to work with him.  He promotes a pose company and I began a wonderful relationship that still exists - Keyzer Nikolaidis, a wonderfully creative artist  He doesn't publish nudes but he would make alternates of me topless or nude for my page.  About a year later the magazines began recruiting me off Flickr, and then I reached out to others and I ended up in 5 of them, turning one down.

JB:     Is this an expensive profession, what with all the clothing and accessories you need to have?

GA:   That depends on who you are working with and what their requirements are.  Obviously, the fashion side is the most expensive but there are many tools: face lights, shiny skin enhancers, and other props as well.  Often a generous photographer - especially one I have a relationship with - will pay for those.  You rarely make any money as a model.  The market is flooded with us, so it's how much personal enjoyment and pleasure one gets from doing it that counts.

JB:     Do you do other types of modeling as well. Fashion, or advertising perhaps?

GA:     I love to model so yes.  I sometimes get a fashion gig, or model bikinis, or the bloggers.  They are a great and talented group that can get a model in some really great environments like my friend Keyzer did for me.

JB:     What part of doing this do you find the most rewarding?

GA:   It's hard to separate.  I think the rewards are 1.  the experience of each photo session, how it makes me feel, the really great collaboration, offering suggestions about a detail and so forth.  The interaction too.  Modeling nude for a man I might or might not know well can create sensual feelings that can conflict with both of our professionalism.  They are pleasant but must be managed.  Then there is the finished product and response from those who see it, whether in Flickr or print.  I'm very proud of the number of people who follow me and how they respond to me.  

JB:     What is the biggest challenge to working in this industry?

GA:     Time and scheduling.  Everyone has their own time zones and RL commitments, etc.    Getting on someone's schedule can be difficult.

JB:     Some of your photos are really quite well done.  Who are some of your favorite photographers in SL?

GA:     Keyzer Nikolaidis, Kadon Doge, Martin LeGrand (I just did my third session with him), Cesare Drucker (he says I was his first great model and helped make his career), Billy Darkthief, we do some interracial poses, Cain Grosesnore751, Theadore Themis who taught me Chiaroscuro lighting, Alex Star, a guy named Pau who disappeared, Valerie Muircastle who did the Whiskey Girl Pictorial and we collaborated so effortlessly, and Mitch Silverfang, who has done a few of my most popular Flickr photos.

JB:     Everyone talks about the fake photographers who lure beautiful women to their studios for non-photographic reasons.  Do you meet many of them in this line of work, and how do you handle those?

GA:     Simple.  They are easy to spot.  I can filter out 90% before even agreeing to a session. The other 10%...I call on professionalism and usually cut it short.  The bigger difficulty is when one or both parties feel themselves slipping past professional protocol, in which case it's like any other office romance.  It can't affect the product and certain boundaries need to be maintained

JB:     Do you have a social media following?  And where might our readers go to see more of your work?

GA:     My Flickr of course:   https://www.flickr.com/people/191375085@N08/

JB:     How would you advise other women looking to start a modeling career?

GA:     I don't know because I fell into mine by accident. Really.  From that simple offer at Tag to all the other lucky breaks, I find myself in a whole different spot than I ever dreamed. I guess I would say hard work like anything else, have a creative side, understand your brand (we are all brands in this business), your messaging through your art, and network, network, network.

JB:     Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

GA:     Only that I would like to thank all the people that helped me, all the photographers that were patient with me, and the magazines that gave me a chance: Hush, Whiskey Girls, Provocateur, Luscious Beauties, and SLUST.  Most Importantly all my 5000+ followers on flicker, all the flickr group moderators and the other individuals who enjoy my photos.  You are the best!

So there you have it folks.  Straight from the expert's mouth. As one of the grid's most successful models and gorgeous Pin-Up Girls, Gisele is clearly one woman who has "Been there. Done that. Got the tee-shirt".  Now I need to explain to my boss why, in addition to all the other expenses of running a business, we need to add five more magazine subscriptions to the expense ledger - just in case Gisele does a re-shoot. 

For anyone wishing to collaborate with her, feel free to reach out - GiseleA: giselea resident (key nr. 0a3ac4f2-eaaf-4cba-9eac-e18711fc8f05).

And if you are out and about sometime, and you happen to see Gisele between sheets...uhhh between SHOOTS, be sure and say "Hi" for me.

You'll be glad you did. 

Aloha!

JB