Presented by T1
Undoubtedly, the age of social media has heightened and emboldened the aesthetic characterizations of the cities we live in.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Los Angeles, where Old Hollywood has become the glamorous mecca of today’s social media age as well as its driving engine.
Popular, trendsetting brands harness the easy going, yet aspirational and photogenic climate to create a thriving and dynamic market. One such example in particular being the new CBD sensation set to take over LA: Yooforic.
Yooforic—a hemp-infused CBD gum—and others like it have disrupted traditional industry and pushed the modeling industry more and more towards digital, real-time media.
Never has there been such an opportune time for young talents in LA to build multi-dimensional brands that could set themselves up for stardom across numerous industries.
To take advantage, a confluence of head-turning young talents —from actors, to playboy models, to fashion icons—all chase the new and evolving opportunities of the day in unique and unconventional manners.
Their paths to success yield a rich array of diverging viewpoints and attitudes, creating a glittering mosaic of aspiration and possibility in the social media age that the rest of the world can now explore.
Here, we introduce three of today’s up-and-coming talents who are currently weaving this cultural fabric, highlighting the particular spirit and glow each imparts to the mecca of today’s digital world, and showcasing the dynamic lifestyles which lays behind their zeitgeist-defining careers.
Lorena Haliti – Fashion Model
What was your inspiration for becoming a touring fashion model?
My love for traveling and meeting new people. Each job is a different city, and I’ve learned to explore on my own afterwards.
What set of circumstances brought you to LA?
My mother agent discovered me through social media and had me do a “test trial.” I came to LA for a week and my schedule quickly became full. I ended up moving shortly afterwards.
From an aesthetic standpoint, what sticks out to you as unique about Hollywood in particular? How do you try to capture or channel that through social media to give your viewers a context for the life you live?
Hollywood is evolving and always will continue to. You don’t have to put on a perfect facade to be desired. People are following what’s real and relatable, and that is one compliment I get often. I try to stay true to myself and let my followers in on my life—the good and the bad.
How do you relax and spend your down time? Have you gotten into the whole CBD/cannabis trend that’s reverberating across LA?
Realistically speaking, I don’t get very much alone time so it’s something I really value and appreciate. In my down time I like to stay active with hot yoga or hiking, and also spend time with family.
Where do you plan to take your career and what impact do you want it to have, particularly to the community you’re from and the people who look up to you?
Looks fade and I’ve never been one to want to be known just for physical appearance. A goal of mine is to empower women, build a brand, and unapologetically continue to be myself and not try to fit into society’s standards.
Yoli Lara – Playboy Playmate
What was your inspiration for becoming a touring fashion model?
I can honestly say I find inspiration in all that surrounds us. Growing up on an island gave me a different perspective on the world, and I use that daily in my work. Helps me keep my feet planted on the ground and my imagination in the sky.
What set of circumstances brought you to LA?
LA was always in the cards for me. I knew that my education and work could grow into a much bigger spectrum in the “City of Angels.” At the end of the day, it was a no-brainer to make the decision.
From an aesthetic standpoint, what sticks out to you as unique about Hollywood in particular? How do you try to capture or channel that through social media to give your viewers a context for the life you live?
Hollywood has this feel of freedom. Anywhere you go buildings are telling a story that has been told a thousand times.
From cafes to the Santa Monica Pier, people from all over the world come to experience this feeling
just as we did. Wherever I go, I always have my little camera to capture the raw of it all that people don’t get to see when they are too busy living their lives.
How do you relax and spend your down time? Have you gotten into the whole CBD/cannabis trend that’s reverberating across LA?
I usually like to take walks and enjoy a nice Cafe at my local coffee shop, as well as exploring new museums and traveling.
Where do you plan to take your career and what impact do you want it to have, particularly to the community you’re from and the people who look up to you?
The future ahead of us is very exciting. We have New York Fashion Week next month and we are preparing all the necessary to-dos for a week full of fabulousness. In terms of this year, I’ve had the opportunity to grow even more in my career and as a person, which I value very much.
One of my goals is to help impact my home island of Puerto Rico—specially the young women—to empower their potential as remarkable women of tomorrow that can achieve anything they put their imaginations to.
Taelor Parker – Fashion Model & Activist
What was your inspiration for becoming a touring fashion model?
Since I was a little girl, my mother has always been the inspiration behind my desire to model. She modeled for Ford Robert Black modeling agency when she was my age, and looking at her photos as I was growing up always lit a spark in me. Following in my mother’s footsteps by signing with my wonderful mother agency Ford Robert Black one year ago has brought me an amazing sense of accomplishment.
What set of circumstances brought you to LA?
I’m based in Phoenix, Arizona but I get to travel to LA whenever there’s an opportunity to work or play.
From an aesthetic standpoint, what sticks out to you as unique about Hollywood in particular? How do you try to capture or channel that through social media to give your viewers a context for the life you live?
From an aesthetic standpoint, what stands out to me about Hollywood is its rich history and how iconic it continues to be today. I feel that I channel this particular energy just by presenting myself and what I do in the truest, most authentic form and always maintaining a sense of grace and style.
How heavy is your current travel and work schedule? Who curates and manages it all?
My current work schedule is always changing. Some weeks I may have more time to chill than others, and on the other hand there are some weeks that I’m traveling all over and somehow making it back to Phoenix to bartend and spend some time with friends and family on the weekends.
My amazing agents Sheree Hartwell, Jessica Spencer, and Sheena Adams with Ford Robert Black, and Suzy Schwartz, Jordan Beam, Dani Parets, and Samantha Rolph with Elite Miami manage it all for me. They’re the best!
How do you relax and spend your down time? Have you gotten into the whole CBD/cannabis trend that’s reverberating across LA? One brand in particular—Yooforic CBD Gum—has particularly become remarkably popular in LA due to the luxurious, laid-back solution it offers for anxiety. Have you had the chance to try it and are you a proponent of the holistic, forward-thinking approach to health and nutrition that it and other brands symbolize?
I’ve noticed some of my LA friends and Instagram influencers try it out and say it does wonders for them. I fully support the most holistic approach to health so I think it’s a great option for anyone looking to reduce and control their anxiety— and the best part is, it’s vegan!
Where do you plan to take your career and what impact do you want it to have, particularly to the community you’re from and the people who look up to you?
I love modeling and I will continue to build my resume and social media platform, but not just to show pretty pictures. My purpose in all of this is so much more than that. My main goal is to share a message and spread compassion to the world by being an animal rights activist and advocating for veganism.
Ultimately I would love to start my own vegan business in my own community and help show people that veganism is not some weird trend for your typical skinny hippy, and that we come in all different shapes and sizes, and from many different backgrounds with a similar goal in mind which is to achieve a healthier, more compassionate world.
