Lola, please tell us who you are?
L: This question always leaves me stunned and asking, “well, what do you want to know?!” Hi there! I am Lola. Lola wasn’t given to me at birth however it was a name I walked into and later, turning it into an acronym I now live by. Lola stands for, “Living Openly, Loving Always.” I began coining this mantra during a period where I was unlearning & relearning many things about myself. What today is now considering a ‘spiritual awakening.’
I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, left when I was 16 and now, I am currently residing in Sunny California. I aim to do a little bit of everything. I am a licensed massage therapist, Reiki master, freelance model, writer…an overall creative entrepreneur. I was never the type to fixate on only one thing and it has been a quality that has blessed me in many ways.
How did you develop an interest in modeling, fashion, and expressing your sexuality through the camera lens?
L: I remember loving the camera since I was little girl. My mom was one to create and keep photo albums. I remember always looking through them and being mesmerized by the idea of a moment frozen in time.
I was in middle school when MySpace was a thing and I believe that was the beginning of it all…the modeling, the love for camera, whether that was being behind it or in front of it, the knack for creativity. My mom had a canon point & shoot, which I should say was mine because of how many times I would hijack it to take photos. Eventually, I was given my own camera, that was short lived due to my recklessness of hitting things, haha. From there it was history. From MySpace to Facebook to Instagram. Point & shoots to Blackberries to iPhones. Selfies to Photoshoots.
When it comes to expressing myself sexually, it has been a developing skill, especially when posing in front of others. I always felt comfortable posing sexually or sensually when I was taking my own photos however, I had to build up a confidence when working with others. Over the years, what has happened me become confident in front of the camera, is removing any hyper-fixations on the perception of what others may or may not think…especially while on camera! I’ve always been comfortable with my body, so being nude in front of others was not a huge hurdle to get over. I have been blessed to collaborate with other creators that make me feel safe and comfortable enough to do my thing, whether it’s body painting, modeling, or reciting poetry. My first nude photoshoot was with Frank Martinez, @xplr_est82, I mention him below. The first we ever worked together, ya girl was topless! His professional demeanor, along with his down to earth personality and humor, made the experience pleasant. Now, here I am, getting nude left and right, feeling good as hell doing it!
When looking for a photographer to work with, what do you look for that seals the deal and makes for the best work relationship?
L: Honestly, the photographers didn’t make their way to me! I’ve been fortunate to have connected and work with talented yet respectable photographers. I’m selective with everything I do, so if the vibe feels off, it is very likely I will remove myself from the person/place/circumstance.
What seals the deal for me, is the photographers or whoever I am working with is down to earth. The best work comes from creative processes that don’t feel like work. One of my favorite photographers to work with is Frank Martinez, @xplr_est82 on IG. Aside from him being ridiculously talented with a camera, he is hilarious and such a chill person, making creating an unruffled process…all we do is laugh and crack jokes! It is the best. I feel every model should experience a high level of ease and comfortability on every set.
Being part of an industry, whose only emphasis is on the outside characteristics of a person, how have you stayed grounded?
L: This is a good question! I am a firm believer in beauty lies within. I remind myself external beauty holds no weight if the internal is horrid.
I was raised to respect others, to give when I can and to be compassionate because you never know what someone is going through.
The outside characteristics are minor in all reality. The true value. the true beauty lies in how you project your energy into this world.
Also, like I mentioned in the previous questions, releasing the idea of what I think/assume what others may say/think about me and the work I create plays a major role in keeping my grounded. It’s easy to get fixated on perceptions, especially in this industry. Having check-ins with Self are essential to staying grounded!
What do you like to do in your downtime?
L: On my downtime, I like to chill. I’m usually on the go, so the days I can either spend at the park, alone or with my partner, or listening to music at home are my favorite days.
Do you think there is a lack of honest conversations around sexuality in our society?
L: It is not as bad as it used to be, however I do think there is a lack of conversations around sexuality in our society. I believe it is mostly due to fear of being judged and misunderstood. Sexuality is still such a taboo topic for many people, making it difficult for those of us who embody the intricacy of sexuality, to have those conversations. There are many powerful innovators having these conversations now, we must be conscious enough to hold space for them without being overly critical. Sexuality is a part of being human. If we continue to deny this aspect of ourselves, we give rise to a society feeling disconnected from themselves.
If your best friend could tell us a funny story about you, what would it be?
L: There are plentiful ones, however, I feel like she would tell the story when I jumped on a classmate’s book bag, for the sake of being a little asshole. In between giggles, she’ll tell you how I fell right on my butt, while wearing white pants. I remember falling, but I don’t remember wearing white pants, haha. We still go back and forth about that 15 years later.
Three words to describe your philosophy on life:
L: Who. Fucking. Cares. (Live your life)
How important is living a healthy lifestyle to you?
L: Living a healthy lifestyle is extremely important to me and, is honestly has been my biggest challenge to fully abide to due to my perfectionist tendencies. As a certified HHP and LMT, there is a particular way, I choose to tend to my body and if am unable to do so, due to circumstances, I’ll hinder the process. That sounds ridiculous, I know! I’m active due to my physically demanding profession and walking as transportation of choice however a healthy lifestyle is more than just physical. Health is mental, emotional, spiritual, and diet. Creating routines & practices that tend to all those aspects are essential! What has been helping me maintain those practices is observing the elderly of today and making note of what I don’t want to experience during my golden years. Sounds fucked up, yet it is effective!
They say you are what you eat, what are you?
L: A nice, hot, cup of espresso w/ 3 sugars and very light cream. And a whole avocado 🙂
Who or what inspires you? Why?
L: Nature inspires me. Love inspires me. Humanity inspires me. A good story inspires me. To bear witness the complexity of this world, especially the complexity of what it is to be human and all the emotions that come with it, it’s astounding to me. I love that most people you come across view the world with lens that differ from yours. This is how new forms of thought/perspective are created and there is an awful number of beauty & inspirations rooted in that.
Lastly, tell us about your dream collaboration (brand), who it is and why?
L: My dream collaboration is to work with the one and only Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Ugh, I love her!! She is an enormous inspiration to me because she managed to build her empire founded on her authenticity, her passions, and her creativity! I am in complete awe of that woman. Everything from her voice, her sense of style to her unapologetic attitude. She inspires me to continue showing up for myself, as I am and WOORRRKKKKKK honey!!
