Ailin
Agencies
Mother Agency (MA): Citizen Agency
Answers to Q&A
What INSPIRED you to become a model?
I always dreamed of becoming a model when I was a child, but as I grew up, I forgot about it and became busy with other things in life. Then, in my late teens, around 19 or 20, something interesting started to happen. Wherever I went, people would see me and say, “You’re so beautiful, you should do modeling!” I would just hear it, but never really paid much attention.
One day, I decided to create a public Instagram page where I posted photos I took with my phone, sometimes of myself, sometimes of little things in my daily life that caught my attention. I also began following photographers to get inspired by their work and their vision.
That’s when a photographer named Behnam Khoramshahi came across my page, because I had followed him, and sent me a message asking if I’d like to do a photoshoot together. At that time, I had no idea about modeling or photography, but I simply said “Sure!” and went to his studio. We ended up shooting for two days.
But it wasn’t just a simple photoshoot…
Behnam was incredibly kind and supportive, and in those two high-quality days, I truly learned what modeling really means. He showed me the right way to connect with the camera. At one point, he played a scene from The Legend of 1900, and this was back in 2021. He asked me, “What feeling does this rhythm give you? How does it change your gaze as a model? Feel it. Understand it.”
As I started listening and moving with the rhythm, he took photos of me. Later, he posted them on his page, and I did the same. One by one, brands began messaging me, wanting to collaborate. Step by step, I found myself drawn deeper into this world, and it became more exciting for me. I decided to continue, and now, I’m aiming for even bigger opportunities, with full belief in myself.
What are you most excited about when it comes to modeling?
If I’m being honest, I’ve never had one specific person as a role model or a direct source of inspiration for becoming a model. Of course, I follow and admire famous models, but what has always truly excited me in this journey are the personal challenges I’ve faced during projects.
It’s the connection with new people, seeing new designs, and the unique situations I’ve been placed in. Each one has been a different experience, teaching me more about myself, about how Ailin reacted in that moment, what I learned, and how I grew.
These experiences themselves became my inspiration for future projects, helping me become a better, more experienced, and more confident version of myself. The more I understood who I am, the more comfortable and self-assured I became, both with myself and with others.
Can you share with us some advice you have for models wanting to get into the industry?
No matter how long you’ve been working, whether it’s been one year or five years, there will always be some level of stress before every new project. It doesn’t matter if you’re working with people who speak your own language in your own country, or abroad with people from different languages, cultures, and backgrounds.
You can never say, “Don’t be stressed, everything is fine.” That’s not realistic. But… what you can do is be comfortable and kind to yourself alongside that stress. This is so important, the more gentle and at ease you are with yourself, the more open and warm you’ll be with the space and the people around you. Your mind will be more ready to experience, to learn, and to grow.
So, believe in yourself. Be kind to yourself. Create a sense of comfort for yourself, but always step into every project with the mindset that “Today is my day” and carry yourself like a professional model who is ready to shine.
share a fun fact about yourself!
Honestly, I’ve always enjoyed the meals we share together during projects even more than the project itself. I’m totally fine with extending a photoshoot until midnight, but don’t touch my mealtime!