Photography by Astrid Mannekoski Photography[/caption]Natte is an alternative model and all around colourful person from Finland. She’s more than just shaking things up with her alt style and hair we’d die for - she’s shaking up the alternative community in Finland. Get to know all the gossip below!Tell us about your career as model. How did you get started?Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved being the center of attention. I think it was in 2012 that I stepped in front of the camera for the first time. I had been watching my friend Mortianna Graves model and tagged along to one of her shoots with Janne Koivuniemi, and that was sort of it for me.Did you always want to be a model or did you have other career aspirations when you were growing up?I’d love to turn this into something more than a hobby, but right now that’s enough. I don’t feel like I look like the alternative “norm” so I don’t know though. Right now, I’m trying to make a living working in customer service. I’ve wanted to do something creative since I was a child, that’s my dream.Do you love any one genre of modeling more than another?It really depends on the seasons; in the fall I tend to go for a darker goth-type set while rock is my thing in the summer. I like to try new things however, to push myself and be diverse.What was your first shoot as a model like? Tell us a little about it!As I earlier mentioned, I tagged along to one of Mortianna’s shoots with Janne Koivuniemi. It was easier to jump in front of the camera with the support of a friend so we packed the car with my trusty assistant and then four month-old puppy Nemi and a bunch of clothes and off we went! Our plan was to just have fun, and that we most certainly did. We started with a pin-up theme and because I like to do things to the fullest extent, we ended up shooting some nudes too, and I don’t regret it for a minute.What has your experience in the Finnish Alternative model community been like? Is it an easy scene to break into?The alternative scene in Finland is very torn right now. We only have one large ”united” group and it only works on Facebook. But sadly it seems that the only way to get your foot in the door is by kissing certain people’s backsides. The admins let personal issues go before the good of the group, playing favorites. In my opinion all publicity is important, and I’m very happy you brought this up by asking this very important question. I co-admin a Facebook-group for Finnish models. The group’s function is to support models, no matter what genre they work in. Right now, there’s NOT ONE Finnish group that supports alternative models without an agenda. I’m curiously waiting to see if the future will bring changes, if this interview will shake the scene. We have a lot of active female models, but I personally wish we had more male alternative models.We love your hair colour! How long have you been rocking the bright blue?Why thank you! Blue is my favorite color, it has been since I was a little kid. You can definitely tell that if you see my home, so I figure why not on my hair too. I think the first time I dyed my hair blue I might have been 13, back when hairdye was very different from what it is today and would turn gray in a wash or two. I’ve gone through a rainbow of colors, but I always come back to blue. Right now, my hair is neon green and turquoise.We’ve heard it’s a difficult colour to maintain, what are your secrets to keeping it look super fresh?It’s not so difficult today as it was before. It does require dome strength from your hair, but as long a you bleach it before-hand it stays pretty well. The bleach opens the hair up so it absorbs the color better. I’ve tried A LOT of different colors. Nowadays, most colors really stay well in my hair. The colors dyes have come a long way.I always dye my hair before a shoot, I’d never go without doing it. I also do touch-ups by mixing conditioner with dye. With the blues, I use a toning shampoo that doesn’t turn my hair brassy. I only wash my hair once a week, and that really helps too.You rock everything from classic Punk rock looks to pinup styles, which is your favourite alternative look to rock?Whatever makes me feel the most confident and sexy right then! Privately, I don’t think you could categorize me or my style because I like to play around with different looks. It looks better in front of the camera too!
Photography by Astrid Mannerkoski Photography[/caption]What do you do when you aren’t modelling?I work out, and I try to see my friends as much as possible. I spend a lot of time with my boyfriend and my pets; Mauri the hedgehog, my lizard Piikki and my dog Nemi. This year my very good friend Sadie Scissors and I have been planning an event for Finnish models that’s taken up a lot of my time. We’re organizing a modelling workshop, Malliverkko goes Helsinki 2015. It’s a two-day event with 12 different photographers, make-up artist, you name it. About 25 different models have signed up. The purpose of this event is to meet new people, make contacts and befriend each other and make the community stronger and to HAVE FUN together and learn from each other.What do you consider your biggest career highlights so far?I’ve taken part in two modeling competitions, Pin-Up Finland 2012 and Miss Rock 2014 where I was in the top 10! It was great, and I met a bunch of great people and made lots of friends. One of the biggest things is shooting with Qumma today, because I’ve been dreaming of working with him for the past 10 years or so. I also hope Sadie’s and my event will be one of the highlights.How much have you changed since you first started modeling?I haven’t really changed that much. I lost a lot of weight after my split from my ex but some of the weight has come back. My hair is much shorter, but on the outside I’m pretty much the same. Modeling has raised my self-asteem and I’ve learned to forgive myself for my mistakes and learned to understand how my body works and to use it in photos. I try to enjoy it, myself, and you can see that.Are you looking forward to anything in the future? (New shoots, events, etc)I’m looking forward to a lot of things! I’m ALWAYS anticipating new shoots and I hope to have many this year. I also would like to get to do some modeling work outside of Finland, Britain, Sweden or Germany for good example. I have very high hopes for Sadie’s and my event also, we have a lot of very good photographer and some of the Finnish alt-model “elite”.Lastly, do you have any tips for new models that find you inspiring?TRY IT!! If you’re thinking about it even for a split second, try it. Ask for advice, bring a friend along. If you don’t know how or what to do, ask for help! I bet you know someone who can do your make-up and/or do your hair. Make yourself look like a million bucks. Dye your hair, do your nails. :D Often, you’ll see the photos and get a boost and the best part is that you relive that boost with each new experience. Get yourself out there, you have nothing to lose. GO FOR IT!If you’re dying to find out more about Natte, be sure to like her on Facebook for new and upcoming shoots. Before you go, check out some of her quirky images below. Let us know in a comment which is your favorite!
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