Issue23 (part1) May 2017

Model Thalissa Tilemans
(Belgium)
Can you tell us a little about you?
Sure! My name is Thalissa Tilemans, I’m 26 years old and I live in a small village in
Belgium called Herenthout. I work as a crisis counsellor for children between the
ages of 12 and 18. Apart from this full-time job and my modelling work I like to
stay in shape in the local gym.
If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
My height. I’m about 1m67cm and I would’ve liked to be a couples of inches taller
to increase my chances in the modelling world. Being a finalist in the ‘Top Model
Belgium’-contest, for instance, I need to partake in the ‘Model’-category because
I’m too small for the main ‘Mannequin’-category. But that’s the least of my
worries in what is otherwise an amazing experience and exciting challenge.
How did you start modeling?
Gosh, I agreed to the occasional photo-shoot during my college years, but things
really took off when I went to a ‘Models on Stage’-casting in Antwerp in 2016. I
was a bit nervous considering I’ve never stood on a catwalk before, but they told
me I wasn’t bad at all. That gave me the confidence to enlist for the ‘Top Model
Belgium 2018’-contest. I screamed when I got accepted, never even remotely
considering the possibility of making it all the way to the finals! (laughs) So now
I’m really expanding my portfolio by doing these photo-shoots with wonderful
and talented photographers, giving me the experience I need for the big show of
the finals in Paris next year.
What do you think of the work as a model?
I think it’s great! Honestly, it’s fun to do. You meet all these nice and interesting
people who do your hair for you, put your make-up on, dress you in these
amazing designer clothes, take care of you and coach you during the shoots, …
But functioning and learning to navigate in this new world is definitely a
wonderful way to get to know yourself even better too! And don’t even get me
started on the results of these wonderful collaborations… I’m taking good care of
these pictures so I can proudly look back at them with my little family in a couple
of years’ time (smiles).
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