Welcome to this model's world of unique beauty and original creations... an impressive display of imagination and color.
1) Can you share with us a bit about your background?
Ethnically, I am a quarter Philipino and essentially three quarters Caucasian.
2) How did you become fascinated with alternative photography?
I wouldn't limit my interests to exclusively alternative. I'm an artist. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a walking work of art. As such, it's my intention to bring art to Life through whatever means possible. I've consequently become sort of a master of the performing arts, or a 'jack of many trades' if you will. I'm so much more than just an alternative model or fashion designer. My work is a physical incarnation of my personal sense of beauty. It's something that's just inherit within me.
3) When and why did you come up with the model name "Lovely Agony"?
It's actually pretty uninteresting. I used to refer to my model persona as "Bellum Vitae", which is Latin for "Life's Battle". When I was younger, I was constantly battling through inner turmoil and I felt this name was appropriate and beautiful given how I felt. Unfortunately, your average person couldn't neither pronounce it nor remember the name. So, for the sake of the general population and my future as a model and performer, I changed it to Agony. I felt this was easy to remember, descriptive of my mental state at the time, and fun. I only say 'fun' because then people can say dirty things like, "Yeah, I'd love to be in Agony." Little puns like that make me smile. The addition of 'Lovely' came about when I opened my Model Mayhem profile and I discovered that someone had already created a profile under 'Agony'. I still feel I need a final change to my name to make it easier on Google searches. You won't find me unless you include specifics, like 'model' or 'fetish' or 'technosluts'.
4) Going through your portfolio, you seem to be a character in an elaborate alternative dimension? how carefully do you control that image?
My image as loosely defined. I kind of do whatever I want. I'm lucky in that most people enjoy my concoctions. Sometimes people ask for certain looks for a photoshoot and I'll appease them in my own way. However, everything needs to have my personal touch. It's why I don't like having wardrobe stylists much or make-up artists or hair stylists. I typically do everything by myself and with few exceptions, but I do always give credit where credit is due.
5) What is your input in the creation of your costumes, make-up, etc.? What are you able to actually create yourself?
I guess I kind of answered this in the last question. With few exceptions, I do my own hair, make-up, and costuming. I make hair pieces, and costumes. DefenzMechanizm is really the only person thus far I allow to design outfits and hair pieces for me. Occasionally she'll do my make-up. But for the most part, I'm pretty handy on my own.
6) Is there something that frustrates you regarding the general public?s view on alternative models?
I find it really unnerving when people just jump to conclusions based on any single interest of mine they pick up on. The response always feels condescending. "Oh, you must be one of those gothic types," and then they go on to guess my other interests based on this one assumption. Sometimes if I'm dressed up at a club, men often assume that since I look 'freaky' or 'alternative', I'm probably willing to do anything. So they'll get drunk and ask me to do ball torture or fuck them in the ass or whatever kinky sex act is on the menu for the day. I realize that a few (or perhaps many?) slutty apples have ruined it for the rest of us who just enjoy the fashion.
I'm a well educated, drug free individual with three college degrees and an equally challenging career. I'm not a confused victim of sexual assault willing to suck your dick for coke nor am I some dominatrix here to make your kinkiest dreams come true. I just have a different sense of what's beautiful, and people are always trying to attribute it to something more than what it is. It's art. It's beauty. It's not a rebellion.
7) When you?re invited to perform at an event, what kind of performance can we expect from you?
I'm usually invited under a more successful or famous performance artist. Someday I'll do my own show. But when you see me on a flyer for a stage performance you can expect any or all of the following: special effects, promiscuity, decadent costuming, humor, irony, grace, dance... Honestly, I'd probably come up with something both clever in plot and visually stimulating.
8) What is your degree of comfort working with other models? Is there anyone out there that you can?t wait to work with?
I can be very 'handsy' when modeling. I feel multi person images look best when the persons involved are interacting in some way. I usually ask before touching the person I'm working with. I'm often too mentally involved with creating the perfect image to be nervous next to my fellow model. It does, however, help accelerate the process if I already know the person and am familiar with how they work and what their boundaries are. I can't really think of another model I'm dying to work with. A model is more of an instrument. Without the right photographer, wardrobe, make-up, and hair, a model is just an ordinary person.
9) Is there a comic book heroine that you would like to portray for a photo assignment in the future?
I'm not very big into comic books. But I've been itching to do a realistic creation of the Goddess Kali. Naturally we'd have to carefully photoshop in the extra arms. I wouldn't make fake arms--too cheesy.
10) Will there be an official website, at some point?
Maybe. Maybe not. If my fans want it, or if I feel my career as a performance artist could merit from its creation.
11) What could have been your most challenging photo shoot, to date? Is there a line that you won?t cross?
After college I did a photoshoot for RubberDoll. She had two scenes set up for me in her house, and her boyfriend was the photographer. The fun part was wearing RubberDoll's clothes and being her Barbie doll for the day. The difficult part was flashing the camera. I'm a classy girl at heart. I find that kind of modeling very difficult and incredibly uncomfortable.