Modeling itself is a métier that, save for physical ability and looks, does not have obvious prerequisites. But it can be said that full potential is manifested in pursuits beyond the shoot: charity, academia, creativity or specifically in Estella Boersma‘s case–Manga, the Japanese style of illustration. Her art has begun to mold her calling as a model. Her feminine and feline signature looks got the Dutch teenager noticed by Ashley Brokaw, which in turned landed her a career-making, single girl Miu Miu campaign at the age of 16. Barely a year later, and secure on our Top 50 list, find out how this talented student of manga pairs the pursuit of her passions and loving every bit along the way.
Photographer – Steven Yatsko for Models.com
Model – Estella Boersma
Stylist – Irene Ojo-Felix
Hair – Sirsa Ponciano
Makeup – Grace Ahn
Text and Interview – Steven Yatsko
Miu Miu was the first thing you did basically? And at the time did you know that was a big deal?
I didn’t know what Miu Miu was. It was a solo girl campaign. They were like, “You did a Miu Miu campaign!” I asked, “The cat?” Then after that, my second show after Paris was in Japan. My dream come true was to go to Japan. I was wanting to go since I was eight. It was my first international show. I was in Japan in Tokyo and I was on this huge billboard outside. It was crazy because I had been wanting to go my entire life…and I was there.
Were you into the idea of modeling?
At the start I wasn’t really into the idea at all. I always was more into animating and drawing comics. When it started I just loved it. I have no stage fright because I did all these acting and dancing classes. I had been dancing for eight years and acting for six years. It was a side school that I did. I wanted to do that first. And then I wanted to draw my comics and I changed my mind. I still love acting and dancing, but it’s not my main goal.
It affected you character though?
It’s definitely convenient when modeling. When you shoot video you know your self and features. If they start filming I’m like, “Yes, let’s do this!” I really try to make this person on camera a character–not just me. If it’s just me, it’s just a model who is modeling. If you play with your facial expression and your body gestures all together it’s so interesting to look at.
Would you take any classes now?
I would love to actually but I don’t have the time because I love drawing too much to give it up. I spend my free time time at home on my tablet practicing my drawing skills.
When you were young you said you were into all of that already–how did you get into it?
I always really liked things like “Pokémon” and “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and all the typical Japanese anime kids would watch. My dad bought me this “How to Draw Manga” book and he said, “Just try drawing like that.” I started drawing the series and drawing the pictures I saw. I totally got into manga and reading manga and watching my first anime series. I got totally obsessed with Japan.
What was your first?
“Bleach”. It’s like a 367 episode series and the manga only just ended. I’ve almost finished reading it, as well. I’m still obsessed.
Do people ever tell you that you kind of look like an anime character?
Actually I’ve never heard someone tell me I look like an anime character, I wish. I haven’t.
Describe the first time you first went to Japan when you were young.
Oh my god. I had just turned sixteen, which was last year actually…I was completely over-excited, because I had always wanted to live there. I even was trying to learn the language, but it’s quite hard if you have never been somewhere before. I got there and the only thing I could think was this was real. I’m finally here. I had wanted to go for fifteen years.
Fifteen years?!
[laughs] It felt like that. Like I had wanted to go my entire life. I didn’t sleep on the plane. I had so much energy. If I had two hours free I would go to any district and experience it. I was with one chaperone, but I was like the guide: Let’s go here, to the right, to the left! I had no internet, but I still knew it because I was doing research. I felt at home, being in Japan. When I go there I feel in my place. It’s so good. I would love to live in Tokyo.
Between modeling and drawing…
It’s not really a contest because I love modeling as much as I love being backstage drawing. So it’s equal. But on the other hand I would love to be a full-time manga artist at some point in my life. I want to be that forty-five year old who is sitting at her desk with all these assistants and I make my manga and my own animated movie with this huge team. I would love to have my own company that makes major movies and comics.
Have you started making manga of your own?
I’m trying to make short page comics right now. I want to do comics that are only five pages and that are about modeling, but fantasy combining reality at the same time. Just very subtle. It’s not really about telling one big story. It’s just about the small things. For example: you can doze off while shooting, but you have to stay focused. Moments like that. Just images, without text.
Like a visual diary from your own experience?
Yeah kind of, but not completely personal because I want to distance it from myself at a certain point. It’s kind of scary to show exactly how you feel.
What will you do when it’s done?
I want to at least print it, but I want to make it accessible to everyone. I want it to be part of my portfolio so people know what I can do, so, for example, I can do more jobs. I feel like I haven’t done any real projects that are my own to show what my work looks like. I want to do an internship at a big company–that would be amazing to do.
Has modeling influenced your passion for all these other things?
It definitely has influenced it. I feel like since I’ve been modeling I’m even more passionate because I have not just one goal but several. Of course I want to be the best at modeling, I want to work as hard as I can, but in the meantime I want to be the best in drawing, as well. They just help each other. If I make a drawing which is also about modeling and involves the fashion industry it really stimulates my jobs. For example, I did illustrations for Love Magazine. It just combines really well and gives me more jobs for drawing and more jobs for modeling–which is amazing!
How did that come about with Love?
That was crazy. I got a direct call from New York from my agency. They were like, “Katie Grand asked you to do drawings for Love Magazine.” I was like, “You’re kidding?” They said, “No, can you start right now?” I was like, “I would love to but I was in the middle of finals for high school.” So I did the illustrations while being in my finals. The last week of finals also was the deadline for my illustrations. I was drawing at home 24/7. It was so scary, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. It was sixty-one illustrations. I stood up and heard my back [makes cracking sound]. After all the shoots and finals and drawings I was so tired. Then the next day they sent me to New York.
What’s your favorite animation–one you can watch over and over?
Do you know “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki. It’s the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen. The animations are so simple, the special effects don’t look like special effects and the concept is so spiritual, but so realistic. It’s so traditionally Japanese and it’s the first real anime movie I saw. My dad showed it to me when I was like twelve. Oh my god, you know which one is the best right now? I saw the “Red Turtle”, “La Tortue Rouge”, by Michaël Dudok de Wit. He’s a Dutch animator but he worked with Studio Ghibli. It’s beautiful, I cried so much.
In your eyes, what is your defining feature? Firstly, about your looks…
It’s definitely my eyes, I’m just really certain. I do think my eyes are shaped in a really pretty way like an almond. Then there’s this little mole here that accentuates their shape. Even when I draw eyes, I like that shape a lot. I feel like I always add something of myself.
Okay, so your defining physical feature is your eyes, but what about your personality?
I try to be as positive as possible at all times. I really like that because I just enjoy everything.
Something that secretly frustrates you?
Oh what really frustrates me is sometimes my pencil lines come out terrible!
…Oh back to drawing
If you’re really really tired and it’s hard to concentrate then it is just myself that frustrates me. I’m not really bothered by others, I would never blame someone else for my own frustrations.
What do your favorite shoots share in common?
When everyone is in a good vibe, or when I get along with the photographer. At some shoots you just lose the sense of time, you don’t literally lose your consciousness, but…
[a puppy interrupts Estella]
Do you feel like you’re contributing to the shoots creatively now that you are more experienced?
Yeah, I feel like I’m part of one big artwork and everyone is contributing one part of the shoot. Everyone is taking part and all these pieces make one big artwork, which is the photo or video or sometimes the show.
Do you have your go to pose?
No never. I can though put on my model face. [does model face]
Oh wow.
I’m just joking. I like pictures where I’m smiling though. I look happy and it makes me very content to model. I am very very happy person, but when I see it back on a picture it reminds me. I’m really happy with this job and this opportunity and everything. I feel like that just shows when I have a lot of expression in one picture.
The last question: Is modeling a luxury?
It’s a very rhetorical question with no answer.
Do people get to model by chance?
Of course, but it’s not like I don’t have to work for it. Of course it’s a very big luxury because it can be a luxurious life, but on the other hand you have to work very hard and it’s not a luxury at all. You have to work just as hard as people who work in the office–in a different way. It’s not comparable to any other job. But it’s neither fancy or bad at all. I think it’s very luxurious once you enjoy and appreciate it. For me, I just love it so much.
So it is a luxury because you enjoy it.
I do.
What are your ambitions for the next year?
One of them is definitely to work as hard as I can to get the best jobs and to stay in the high fashion industry as long as possible. I want to keep doing this as long as I can. I love the people. It’s just LOVE. I have an affection for modeling. The industry–it’s like a family member. Definitely another goal is I want one big drawing project done by this year–like something huge–I don’t know what it’s going to be yet exactly, but I want it done by 2017. I think I can make something special that everyone will remember from me this year, “This is what Estella did. She did this and this campaign, but she also did this amazing project.” If it’s a comic or just an illustration project, I want to finish it. I don’t want to do it half ass. I can’t be like, “Oh, I like this project, but not anymore.” I have to finish it. I have to. Otherwise it’s going to frustrate me for the next few months. “I don’t have time, I do have time, but I can also sleep or watch something.”
…It’s good I don’t have a playstation or something…
