Jaimee, please tell us a little about yourself.
J: I started modeling when I was a teen when my sister took up photography. It wasn’t until 4 years ago that a local photographer, Stan Novotny, reached out and asked me to shoot and it took off from there.
How did you develop an interest in modeling, and expressing your sexuality through the camera lens?
J: Expressing sexuality was something that happened immediately and naturally for me. I think the female body is a gorgeous and magical thing, and I have always been comfortable sharing that. I absolutely love seeing woman confidently share their boudoir photos, making them feel beautiful and powerful.
When looking for a photographer to work with, what do you look for that seals the deal and makes for the best work relationship?
J: When choosing to work with a photographer I like to look over their portfolio to see if their style is something that I am drawn to. Obviously, I go for a darker, more edgy style. If they have a flare of creativity that I haven’t really seen before then that gives them a leg up.
Being part of an industry, whose only emphasis is on the outside characteristics of a person, how have you stayed grounded?
J: I haven’t found the need to stay grounded in this industry up until this point. It’s great being in magazines and having people recognize me for that sometimes but on the inside, I fully identify with the odd goth girl from a small town that I am, and I don’t think that will ever change.
Tell us about your tattoos. Do they all have meaning or are important to you personally in any way?
J: Not all my tattoos have meaning per se, but they are all important to me in their own way. They display a reminder to who I was at the time I got them, or what I was going through or what I found beautiful. It’s not always a meaning that you can really explain to an outside party, but more of a feeling of that reminder when you look at them yourself.
What do you like to do in your downtime?
J: In my down time I tend to be introverted. I like to stay home and watch movies or paint. I have an unbelievably awesome friend group though that I do a lot with. We love music, dancing, games, camping and boating, so I do spend my extroverted energy doing things like that.
Do you think there is a lack of honest conversations around sexuality in our society? If everyone is having sex, why is it such a sin to talk about it?
J: I absolutely think there is a lack of conversations surrounding sexuality. This is a huge topic, but in short, I believe that the stigmatization of / taboo surrounding sex is archaic. The legalization of sex work needs to happen immediately, so that the women and men in the field can have the rights they deserve and the protection that they need. Sex workers are not second-class citizens, and in the same way that addicts deserve support and protection, so do sex workers. It’s not uncommon for North Americans to still believe that these categories of people are less than an unworthy of the same treatment as those that do not engage is these types of activities. But I think people would be shocked to know how many people that they know and love are participating in these things without their knowledge. Let’s open the dialog and move past this stage in society.
If someone wanted to seduce you, what would they need to do right?
J: If someone wanted to seduce me, they would need to have a lot of confidence, but not so much as to come across arrogant. I am a submissive person, so I am drawn towards dominant partners. But there is so much variation to those roles. If the person was communicative about what they want and need and willing to listen to my wants needs and boundaries, you can’t really go wrong.
If your best friend could tell us a funny story about you, what would it be?
J: My best friends have an embarrassing number of funny stories about me. We probably make a new one almost every time I see them. I’m quiet socially but when I am around the people that I love and trust, my wild side comes out. Laughing is my favorite thing to do in the world so in those situations I am always doing or saying something outrageous to make everyone laugh.
What are your aspirations for your modeling career?
J: My aspersions for modelling would be to get bigger jobs where I get to travel the world. Maybe get signed into a gothic clothing brand or something like that. But if I get to continue being creative and having fun with it, I am happy.
Would you consider yourself a creative individual?
J: Yes, I would consider myself a creative individual. I have always been artistic and had a unique sense of style. Painting has been something that has been a natural talent for me, and I hope to one day have more time to focus on that.
What would you consider to be your greatest asset?
J: My greatest asset would be my work ethic. I have a lot of pride in the things I do, so when it comes to modelling, I think photographers can see right away that my heart is truly in it, and I am going to do everything I can to make their vision come to life.
What brands do you aspire to work with in the future?
J: I would love to shoot for Inked Magazine in the future. And there are tons of amazing gothic clothing brands out there that I would love to work with.
