Each Individual Is Unique and Beautiful in Their Own Way

After my first fashion show, the newspaper, the following day rightly said “ A new Dawn on the horizon .” This was a new beginning for me.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I was born in Dubai, after a few years I shifted to India. . I was brought up in Goa, I’m a big animal lover, and saying I was brought up with lots of animals and nature would be an understatement. I studied Western Classical Music from a young age, Piano as well as Opera.

By 13 I played my first solo concert abroad. I was a qualified music teacher and thought music at the Don Bosco High School. It was always my dream to be a performer And I loved the stage.

Unfortunately or fortunately I should say God had other plans for me, due to a motorcycle accident I had to discontinue Music as a profession. I’m still very passionate about music.

2. How did you become a model and reach this stage?

Within the years I spent in recovery I got scouted by an agent who said let’s give it a shot,15 years later and .....we’ll you know. After my first fashion show, the newspaper, the following day rightly said “ A new Dawn on the horizon .” This was a new beginning for me.

Well, when one door closes another one opens. I left home at 17 and I started modeling in Goa, eventually venturing further out for work, I also trained and groomed upcoming models and added Show Direction to my bio for which my background as a musician really came in handy.

Hard work and dedication has taken me to a lot of places around the world. I love my job I work with amazingly talented people and visit breathtaking places. Yes, it has endless hours and sometimes sleepless nights, but it always has the element of surprise!

After 14’ years of having Goa as my base, I now live in Bombay as I pursued acting as well, I have cats you see, and leaving them on a weekly basis for shooting for days was too heartbreaking for me. So here I am kitties in tow! Loving my life and working hard to better myself every day.

3. What is your opinion of body image created by the media and how hard is it to put up with it?

To be very frank, I’m lucky that my mother installed some great values and words of advice while I was growing up, one of them being “Opinions are like assholes everybody has one“. It’s sad that people get influenced so easily by what they see other people doing be it right or wrong.

I strongly feel each individual is unique and beautiful in their own way, no matter what size or color you are you should concentrate on being happy and make a positive impact in everything you do.

In my profession, I constantly get rejected for being too fat to think too dark or too fair. I do not get discouraged or depressed with this criticism this is part of life. I have made a healthy lifestyle choice I workout by doing yoga and Muay Thai.

4. How important is social media validation in your profession?

Nowadays a blue tick and multiple followers seem to be all the fad! A very important person had only 12 followers but we still worship him today !.

I prefer using it as an online portfolio and to showcase my work. So yes In that case it is important to maintain professionalism as you do get scouted for various projects and are able to network with people from all around the world.

5. How can one take care of their mental health in this high-pressure glamorous field?

Yes, it is very stressful at times just like any job. I personally do yoga and meditation on a daily basis. This keeps me grounded and calm especially in this pandemic. I also feel you should never be ashamed to seek help from a professional at any point.

I refrain from giving advice that is beyond my knowledge and profession, from experience I have realized that what might work for you might not work for someone else, I have a love of knives but that does not make me a surgeon !!

If I did I’d be writing a completely differently bio haha.... jokes aside, It takes years of dedication and precision so I prefer leaving it to the professionals ! . What is within my control is spreading awareness that help is available. Help is always available.

6. What are some of your upcoming projects?

Although I can’t disclose the movies and web series that I’m doing, I can say I’m privileged to be opening “W T F “ Water Theme Fashion “For Designer Felix Bendish On a digital platform for Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week Delhi SS/21 October 14-18.

Instagram ID - @dawn_c.j_mortimer