interview

Name:
Ella Hope Merryweather

Agency:
Elite New York City ()
TESS Management (London)
Silent (Paris)
Freedom Models (Los Angeles)
Uno Models (Barcelona)
Priscilla’s Model Management (Sydney)
Le Management (Copenhagen)
Stockholmsgruppen ()
LOUISA MODELS (Munich)

Age:
21

Height:
176cm / 5’9.5

Instagram:
@ellahopem

Place of Origin:
Born in Buckinghamshire, UK & grew up in Cornwall, UK

Ethnic Origin:
As far as I’m aware my heritage is fully British with a little Scottish!

Birthsign:
Leo

How discovered:
I was scouted at a music & surf festival called Boardmasters in Cornwall when I was 15

What was your first modeling job?
My first job was a lookbook and yes I was super nervous!! I always hated to be in front of the camera originally, I was the friend who always offered to take the photo or just hid in the back but now it feels quite natural as I just learnt to get into the flow and it’s like becoming someone else!

Favorite things:
My favourite things have to be hanging with my friends or being anywhere near the sea and travelling around, sometimes if I’m in the same place too long I get so antsy!! I’ve just got the travel bug.

What are you listening to at the moment?
I’d have to say I have an eclectic music taste, so if I check my last played on Spotify now it’s filled with The Internet, Matt Corby, Miles Davis, Claude Debussy… even Cardi B (Lemon is an absolute banger) and so on.

Favorite movie, tv show:
Okay so I LOVE my film binges, my all time favourites are Pretty Woman, Match Point & My Best Friend’s Wedding. TV series wise, I’ve just finished watching the Crown, but I always have friends & The Office on repeat.

Favorite designer, fragrance or beauty product:
My favourite designers each season are Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein & Fendi. I love their shapes & colours & all around style. I always wearing my Calvin Klein Euphoria. My biggest feature is probably my lips and I’m always having to pamper them so every morning I scrub them with Kiko’s face scrub!

What were you doing before modeling?
Before modelling I was studying and had two part-time jobs! I worked at a pub on evenings & at a coffee shop on weekends, my life was so different and I am forever grateful for the opportunities modelling has given me that I didn’t have before.

What would you be doing if you weren’t modeling?
I was always undecided as to what I’d actually do, I had dreams like becoming a singer or a photographer and I’m trying to keep that up on the side. As the years have gone on I’ve always dreamed of opening up my own coffee & wine bar so I think that’s something I’ll definitely do down the line!

What’s something uncool that you love anyway?
I used to have an obsession with the game Age of Empires but now I definitely think my other love of Xbox is slightly accepted, haha

Favorite modeling experience so far?
My first big cover for Tatler UK was definitely memorable with the absolute babe Sophie Pera who made the mood come alive for me! My shows for Dolce & Gabbana where they welcomed me into the family & this season’s Phillip Plein AW18 show where the production was insane with robots & spaceships, it was an insane experience.

What’s the best thing about your hometown/country?
Where I grew up in Cornwall it’s very remote, but it was an amazing experience being by the sea & countryside every day being able to go for a surf after school and during school and driving tractors. I miss the sea every day, I feel at home wherever the sea is!

Which brand would you really love to model for?
I have always dreamed of working for Calvin Klein & being in their campaign or walking for them! My absolute dream would be to shoot with Peter Lindbergh or Mario Sorrenti, I have always loved their work.

Place you would love to visit:
I have always wanted to explore India, and experience their culture, land & animals. I would love to be there for the colour festivals.

Currently you’re obsessed with/about:
Lately, I’ve kind of been obsessed with fashion actually! More so the design side, I adore how the 80s/90s style is coming back, it has always been there but now even more so. I love how artists are hugely involving their illustrations into designer’s lines as well. It’s been making me feel so creative!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My mum also always been so wise and has given me so many mottos to live by that I truly believe in, ‘treat others the way you want to be treated’ is a huge one as I feel like it has also taught me about respect other than the standard meaning. And my main philosophy is ‘attitude of gratitude’ because it is so important to think and express the appreciation of how everything big and small in your life has helped you in some way and can help you attract the positive even more so.