Inside the Life of Model Andrea Escajadillo: A One on One Interview
- Charmaine Swasey
- Apr 28
- 9 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
By Charmaine Swasey
Following her recent collaboration with Visual Braid Artist and Designer Karyne Tinord’s Cornrows and Couture Fashion Show, Peruvian model and Content Creator, Andrea Escajadillo, speaks one-on-one with Thjngs Mag’s contributing writer, Charmaine Swasey, on her modeling journey and her fashion influences!
CS: What inspired you to pursue modelling?
Andrea E.: “I will say that it's something that I was born with. I’ve always liked it, even when I was a kid, I used to wear my Mom’s heels. So I would also say a big inspiration is from my Mom. She used to be a model when she was younger, and she had me when she was 19 years old, so she kinda always encouraged me. She always put me in the back of her mind being that I’m her only daughter, so she kinda always pushed me to follow her path.”
CS: What was your first modelling job, and how did it shape your career?
Andrea E.:
“I think my first modeling job was actually with my mom’s friend. I was very young, probably around 14 years old, and at the beginning, I was very shy. I’m not normally shy but when I'm with a stranger, especially around older people I would. But I liked it, so I think that was when I wanted to pursue this career. I also was clear that I wanted a university degree too, just to make my dad happy.”
CS: Nice! So what is one professional goal you have for yourself?
Andrea E.:
“Well, I don’t know if this is a goal, or more a dream, but I would love to be able to work with a brand like Victoria’s Secret, I know its like super hard but I have seen their shows and followed all the models, so that is my top favorite and it would be amazing just to be able to work with them, even more so now that they are being very inclusive.”
CS: So, besides Victoria’s Secret, are there any other brands you would like to model for?
Andrea E.: “Oh yes! I have so many brands. I would like to work with makeup lines that empower women and fashion brands like Dior and other brands that I consume and love.”
CS: Do you have a favorite designer or model that you look up to?
Andrea E.:
“Yea I have a model that I look up to. It's Bella Hadid because I really- well of course she is an amazing model, but I feel like she just gave me that energy that is born peaceful and nice, and I feel like she treats everybody with respect which I feel is really important in this industry. Like, you can be really famous but you always have to raise your head high and, you know, remember where you come from and be humble. And so, she gives me that vibe so that's why I love her. Also, I decided that I would love to model for Roberto Cavalli, I have always loved their runway shows. And in general, I would like to be able to participate in fashion week. I never had the opportunity, hopefully next year -so that would be one of my closer goals.”
CS: Would you be open to working for any clothing brand?
Andrea E.:
“I mean New York City has a lot of talented people and there is inspiration everywhere. And to be honest, as I met you, if I see a brand I like I always DM them or try to contact them directly and most of the time the collaborations go through. I will say that Karyne was one of my coolest friends that I have ever worked with -and you were at the fashion show, she’s so talented and I would love to collaborate with her again. Like all her handmaids are so close, and I feel like it's because she's so inspiring, and I can feel the culture and empowerment she shows as I wore her clothes.”
CS: What characteristics do you have that makes you stand out from other models?
Andrea E.:
“One could be my ethnicity. I’m an international model, I’m Peruvian, so it's not that easy to find a lot of Peruvians in the industry. In general, I’m usually the only Latin or one of a few of them. So I will say that everybody has their own special traits, like I’m a little more curvier than other models and I feel like that made me so insecure a few years ago. But now, living in New York City, I understand that that’s what most people or brands want from me. So that's what actually gets me booked, so that's something I have learned to love about myself.”
CS: So is New York the only place you would like to model in, or do you also see yourself traveling for modeling positions in other countries also?
Andrea E.:
“I definitely see myself living in New York City for this career, but I also am like half-half in Florida, like my family is in Florida so I go there often. But I would love to try markets in Milan and Paris, and I would also like to explore more of Latin America because I felt like I came very young and I didn’t have the opportunity to develop my career so much there so I will definitely like to go back just to learn more of the industry there.
CS: How do you prepare for your photo shoots? Meaning what steps do you take beforehand?
Andrea E.:
“So that depends, I usually ask the brand if they need me to take anything in particular. Some brands have all the outfits for you and some others need special shoes or underwear. But definitely if you are starting modeling you need to have a seamless underwear or the correct bra, so I try to prepare that one day before. And also of course, I feel like being clean to present yourself and respect the designer’s clothes. And depending on what the designer wants by seeing their design board and seeing what their style is. And depending on that, I would do my own makeup, or if somebody’s going to do my makeup, I try to do a good skincare routine and a good night of sleep.”
CS: And how do you manage your facial expressions when you model? Is that a challenge for you?
Andrea E.:
“Well sometimes it is, but I honestly love it. I feel like everytime I am shooting, I just feel so secure, which I struggle sometimes with security, but when I’m taking pictures I feel secure, which is so so crazy. I always use this trick that is saying the letters ‘A,B,C’ or whatever letter you have in your mind and that way you change your lips so you are not doing the same face all the time. So basically, if you tilt your head like this all the time, you say ‘E’ then ‘D’ so your face changes and the shot can have different angles of you and different faces. Also, I try to vibe with the photographer and the brand to try to see what they are looking for, and to have fun to be honest. Because if you are uncomfortable, everybody is going to be uncomfortable and then the shoot will be uncomfortable, saying by experience. So the best thing to do is just make yourself comfortable.”
CS: So following facial expressions, if you can have any pose for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Andrea E.:
“Only one pose? Ooh, I will just say my smile because I feel like I transmit more when I smile and something natural that transmits who I am, but I also like to be serious, so that would be a very tough question. But, I will say natural smiling picture pose because it better defines myself.
CS: Does social media play an important factor in building your professional presence?
Andrea E.:
“Definitely, yeah. I started on social media when I was very young, and it opens so many doors for you. For me, I had to find a lot of jobs in New York City from social media, even though I have agencies. Sometimes on social media I just get proposals which are very interesting, and I think that it's a good way to present yourself. Like if a brand wants to work with you, they can just go to your Instagram and kind of see your look and your personality, and yeah, social media is a great way to manage your career. And I feel like any career that you want to pursue is important to go through social media nowadays.”
CS: So how do you handle feedback?
Andrea E.:
“At the beginning in New York City, it was a bit tough because New Yorkers are very straightforward, which in my culture is very different. So that was a little tough, but if I want to keep being a model in New York, I have to learn to handle it, so now I handle it so much better. I feel like feedback is so important because you always need to be open to improving yourself, no matter how good you think you are. There is always a space for improvement. So nowadays, in modeling it can be a little hard because it can hurt your feelings like, especially if it’s something about your look or your physique, but you gotta take it as it is because it is our job and modeling is about those two things. So now I take it better and that is something I wanted to improve in my career and, you know, get more jobs and form better relationships with the agencies I work with.”
CS: What is your greatest weakness and how do you work to overcome it?
Andrea E.:
“I will say insecurities. Uh, to be transparent with you, girl, everybody may have insecurities in this industry because it can be difficult to work in and because you see so many beautiful girls so you compare yourself a lot. But, I would say that you have to journal and sometimes meditate. And I believe in God, which gives me faith, and sometimes breathing helps me to clear my mind and understand why I am where I am. And just be glad of what I have and not just look and want ‘this or that,’ or wish that I was like her or look like more of her because everybody is different and that's what makes you special.”
CS: And do you have other ways to help you reconnect with yourself?”
Andrea E.:
“Yeah sure! I will say that I love to exercise. I love running and I do boxing too so sometimes when I’m really stressed I just go to a boxing class and feel so much better afterwards. Running also gives me more peace of mind than any other exercise. I feel like it's a mental exercise also because I may think ‘Oh I cannot run anymore, but it’s just a setback in the mind. So yeah that helps too. And sometimes just Facetiming with my family, like my dad and mom, and my grandmother which always gives me a peace of mind too because they remind me of where I come from. For the most part it will definitely be running and boxing, for example in boxing like, you literally have to scream when you hit the bag and that just gives so much energy and in the end you feel so much better, I promise.”
CS: Ah ok! Now what advice would you give to those who are thinking of or are already starting out their modeling career?
Andrea E.:
“I will say never give up, fight for your dreams, and don’t be scared to knock on doors because every job is about knocking on doors. And, the only incorrect thing to do is not try, so always try and feel comfortable with yourself and whatever you are doing, because if you’re uncomfortable, it's gonna transmit that. So yeah, just do jobs that you feel inspired by and take feedback in a good way and make sure to work for it because it's a lot of practice. But if you want to, please don’t give up.”
CS: And so, my final question to you is, what other projects are you working on so far?
