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21 Oct 2024/ Beauty

Kyla Spykerman | Postcard from LA

We caught up with our beautiful Kyla Spykerman after her incredible shoot with photographer Mhamed Ace Amir Meraou, to get her outtakes from her first 2 months on stay in Los Angeles, with prestigious model agency The Industry. "Q: Tell us about your time in Los Angeles so far? • My experience moving to LA was a bit overwhelming due to its size and the competitive nature of the entertainment/modelling industry. After a few weeks of settling in, the city starts to reveal its charm and inspiration. Driving past iconic places like Universal Studios can stir that inner sense of wonder and excitement, making LA feel like a place where dreams really do come true. The city also pushes you to constantly strive for excellence because of the ambitious atmosphere and the many people chasing similar goals. It’s a place that can be tough but also deeply inspiring. My biggest thing in life is if it doesn’t scare you or push you out of you’re comfort zone you’re doing something wrong and I knew coming to LA would be that place for me, because this is the stepping stone in the industry where all the big clients are and for you to be seen and achieve the highest of the high in the industry. Q: Has this been a dream of yours to travel to LA? • My 18 year old self would be so proud , I’ve dreamed about coming to the states since I was 18 years old and I'm happy to say i turned my teenage dreams into a reality. I wrote in my diary each year about going to LA /NY to pursue modelling and being here finally has made me feel so proud that the determination and vision that I had as young girl has turned into a reality. It took me some time to get here, but looking back I am so proud of my determination and ambition to have come so far in my journey. I'm still on a long path to reaching all my goals, but ticking them off one by one is a testament to the hard work and dedication all over the years of ups and downs . I tell myself when it gets tough to keep going—you’re making that young girl proud every day! Q: How have you adapted to the modelling industry there versus South Africa and Europe? • South Africa and LA I feel are alike regarding this California beach girl effect which I did a lot of back in SA, you basically live in a bikini which I'm would never complain about. The difference is LA is just huge and you need a car or uber to travel and get to castings and jobs, which can feel super overwhelming as LA is very spread out .LA is also very hustle and grind to achieve you’re goals and I feel like no one is slacking which is a good motivation to not slack. What I do miss about Europe and the biggest difference I can see between LA and Europe is the easy public transport and the European culture of elegance and tradition. LA is very fast paced so everyone is doing their own thing. Same with South Africa and working there, there is always tradition and culture that comes through while being on set and working with international clients. All over the world, I feel people love South African culture and humour. Q: What is your dream client to work with in America? • Aghhhh everyone who knows me and my ICE family in SA can back me on this , but my dream client list is quite huge as the longer you are in the industry the more that list grows. But one client that has been on the list from the beginning is to work with Victoria's Secret and walk in the fashion show. When I watched the show on Youtube many years ago and the story of South African born Candice Swanepoel - how hard she worked to achieve her success and really showed her determination to achieve the highest level - I was hooked and that's where my interest in the modelling industry really started. Q: Tell us three things you do to keep motivated, humble and prepared while you are on stay in LA? My 3 things to stay motivated are: • Keep your eye on the prize, remember why you started! • Motivation won't always be there so you have to have discipline • One thing I always remember when I feel demotivated or I slack is that there is someone else that wants exactly what you want so be the hardest worker and the kindest person in the room. • Also something I go by as well is I don’t think that the model is the most important person on a shoot. A successful model career is based on a few elements like your agents who believe in you and how you treat people on set, your work ethic on and off set. Every single person on set is needed to create a successful campaign/commercial. From the photographer all the way through to the person holding the light scrim and leaf blower!!!! (pro's will know the importance of that leave blower). I'm extremely determined and once I have something in my mind I need to achieve it even if it takes me my whole life to achieve it." Thanks for speaking from the heart Kyla, we are so proud of you! Photographer: @spadestudios2 Styling: @brendnalexander H&M: @hairbymarkima

We caught up with our beautiful Kyla Spykerman after her incredible shoot with photographer Mhamed Ace Amir Meraou, to get her outtakes from her first 2 months on stay in Los Angeles, with prestigious model agency The Industry.

"Q: Tell us about your time in Los Angeles so far? 

My experience moving to LA was a bit  overwhelming due to its size and the competitive nature of the entertainment/modelling  industry. After a few weeks of settling in, the city starts to reveal its charm and inspiration.  Driving past iconic places like Universal Studios can stir that inner sense of wonder and excitement, making LA feel like a place where dreams really do come true. 
The city also pushes you to constantly strive for excellence because of the ambitious atmosphere and the many people chasing similar goals. It’s a place that can be tough but also deeply inspiring.
My biggest thing in life is if it doesn’t scare you or push you out of you’re comfort zone you’re doing something wrong and I knew coming to LA would be that place for me, because this is the stepping stone in the industry where all the big clients are and for you to be seen and achieve the highest of the high in the industry. 


Q: Has this been a dream of yours to travel to LA?

My 18 year old self would be so proud , I’ve dreamed about coming to the states since I was 18 years old and I'm happy to say i turned my teenage dreams into a reality. I wrote in my diary each year about going to LA /NY to pursue modelling and being here finally has made me feel so proud that the determination and vision that I had as young girl has turned into a reality. It took me some time to get here, but looking back I am so proud of my determination and ambition to have come so far in my journey. I'm still on a long path to reaching all my goals, but ticking them off one by one is a testament to the hard work and dedication all over the years of ups and downs . I tell myself when it gets tough to keep going—you’re making that young girl proud every day! 


 Q: How have you adapted to the modelling industry there versus South Africa and Europe? 

South Africa and LA I feel are alike regarding this California beach girl effect which I did a lot of back in SA, you basically live in a bikini which I'm would never complain about. The difference is LA is just huge and you need a car or uber to travel and get to castings and jobs, which can feel super overwhelming as LA is very spread out .LA is also very hustle and grind to achieve you’re goals and I feel like no one is slacking which is a good motivation to not slack. What I do miss about Europe and the biggest difference I can see between LA and Europe is the easy public transport and the European culture of elegance and tradition. 
LA is very fast paced so everyone is doing their own thing.  Same with South Africa and working there, there is always tradition and culture that comes through while being on set and working with international clients. All over the world, I feel people love South African culture and humour. 


Q: What is your dream client to work with in America?

Aghhhh everyone who knows me and my ICE family in SA can back me on this , but my dream client list is quite huge as the longer you are in the industry the more that list grows. 
But one client that has been on the list from the beginning is to work with Victoria's Secret and walk in the fashion show.  When I watched the show on Youtube many years ago and the story of South African born Candice Swanepoel - how hard she worked to achieve her success and really showed her determination to achieve the highest level -  I was hooked and that's where my interest in the modelling industry really started.


 Q: Tell us three things you do to keep motivated, humble and prepared while you are on stay in LA?

My 3 things to stay motivated are:
Keep your eye on the prize, remember why you started! 
Motivation won't always be there so you have to have discipline 
One thing I always remember when I feel demotivated or I slack is that there is someone else that wants exactly what you want so be the hardest worker and the  kindest person in the room.
Also something I go by as well is I don’t think that the model is the most important person on a shoot. A successful model career is based on a few elements like your agents who believe in you and how you treat people on set, your work ethic on and off set.
        Every single person on set is needed to create a successful campaign/commercial. From the photographer all the way through to the person holding the light scrim and leaf blower!!!! (pro's will know the importance of that leave blower).
        I'm extremely determined and once I have something in my mind I need to achieve it even if it takes me my whole life to achieve it."

Thanks for speaking from the heart Kyla, we are so proud of you!

Photographer: @spadestudios2  
Styling: @brendnalexander
H&M: @hairbymarkima

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Kyla Spykerman