Johannie Valdes – Model

WD) You are stunning, its no wonder you are a model. What attracted you to the modeling industry?

JV) I was always looking in the mirror waiting for a change. Growing up I was the chubby ugly duckling with thick rimmed glasses and braces. It wasn’t until Sophomore year of High School when I realized I was “sort of” pretty and extremely camera friendly. After high school, I started playing around with a digital camera, setting the timer and taking photos of myself for my MySpace page. I was comfortable enough with my body to “bare all”. It was like second nature for me. I wish I still had some of the photos! In 2008, I submitted a few of them to SucideGirls and they got back to me immediately to set up a shoot with their then staff photographer, Steve Prue. I had only modeled for friends and maybe one or two photographers off of craigslist before working with Steve. I hated the way the set came out. I looked like a dear in the headlights. It was just awful. The set obviously wasn’t accepted but it was a good thing that it wasn’t because shortly after I decided I didn’t want to put a label on whatever it was I was trying to do. Being part of a community of “models” who don’t really set themselves apart from one another wasn’t appealing to me. I wanted to stand out. I worked many dead end retail jobs, dropped out of college and eventually went to beauty school in NYC. Modeling was always just a passionate hobby of mine and never thought I could manage doing it as a primary source of income. It wasn’t until 2010 when I started getting paid gigs here and there and a year later I made the decision to make modeling a full time career. I quit my job and started touring the country booking 2-3 shoots a day under “Johannie LLC”. I was working overdrive but it all paid off. I have been featured in multiple print publications, online zines, books, music videos and even had the opportunity to be a part of reality television. I am constantly trying to evolve and improve my work everyday. I was grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented individuals in the industry and want to continue traveling and working on new projects.

WD) Wow, that’s great! We can see you love tattoos! When did you first start getting tattoo’d and where do you get your work done?

JV) I do love the way body art looks on me. I wish I would have made wiser decisions on selecting tattoo artists when I first started getting work done but for me, it’s a learning experience and each of my tattoos reflects a particular time of my life. I can look at them and remember what was going on in my life at that particular time. It’s very nostalgic. I’ve had many artists work on me – Jason Clay Dunn, Matthew Lukesh, Geoff Horn, Keith Kosky, Omar Ortiz, Flavio Vilchez, Jamison Staggard, Kevin Garetz, Mark Helstrom, Luis Gualterros, Chi Chi Gunz, and Pietro Sedda. I was about 19 when I got my first tattoo and I think I’ll get more done just smaller pieces because there are particular areas I am not interested in getting covered like my chest, sternum, hands, feet, butt and back of my legs.

WD) We know you travel a lot to model. What is your favorite city to visit and why?

JV) For work, Paris was a dream. I wish I had planned out my trip a little better to make it more productive but it was definitely an interesting experience and I would love to go again. I also enjoy Texas and Chicago for work and Miami for vacation.

WD) What do you do to stay in such great shape?

JV) I am never in the kind of shape I wish I was in. I look back at photos of me when I was 19 and a size 0. I have definitely become a lot “curvier” since then but I fill it out nicely. Most of my shape is genetic but I try to eat at home and healthy when I am not on the road. To eliminate over eating or snacking, I like to drink tea in between meals.I have my exercise routines when I hit the gym (mostly cardio and light body weight exercises) and just recently I started doing a little bit of Yoga to elongate my body.



WD) Well, it’s working! What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

JV) “If you’re going to do something, do it right. If not, don’t do it” – “My dad” (I wish I would listen to him, lol) Whenever he tells me this quote (he’s 87, and each time he says it, I strongly believe he thinks he’s never told me it before), I always respond with, “Do whatever you want. It’s healthy for you” and he laughs.

WD) Sounds like solid advice. What are some of your favorite places to go out in Boston?

JV) I actually live in Providence,RI and am a Jersey girl at heart. I moved to the New England area in October of 2013 and I like it here. I go up to Boston often for photo shoots, mostly. Never get to stay around much for enjoyment but I really like the harbor in the summertime.I try to take a weekend to myself to go out on a boat around the harbor. It’s gorgeous. I’d like to get to know the city better once the weather gets warmer but it’s difficult with all of the constant traveling that I am doing. Anyone want to be my tour guide?

WD) What are some of your favorite activities or interests when you are not working?

JV) I will admit that I am a little bit of a neurotic workaholic. Because I am a freelance contractor, I have to be persistent in booking a certain amount of jobs each month. It’s almost like being in sales and trying to reach a quota except you always have someone on your ass pushing you to do it. in my case, I have to push myself and it can be very challenging at times. I try to relax when I’m not working and take breaks each day from networking on the computer. I’ll go to the gym for an hour, read a few chapters of a book or cook myself a nice lunch. Fashion and music are two huge parts of my life. I love to go shopping and discovering cute little thrift stores I can exchange my clothing in. Performance nights and live music are a close second. Vacations on the beach are my favorite (wish I had more time for them).

WD) Since you mentioned music, who is your all time favorite musician?

I listened to a lot of metal and punk rock in middle school and high school. I have transitioned out of that phase slowly through the years. It’s always nice to get a little nostalgic and listen to songs that hit close to home. Currently I listen to a lot of new school R&B, 80s electronic and indie rock. I never really had any particular favorite artists but always had an admiration for Maynard Keenen’s hypnotizing voice. If I had to choose my favorite guilty pleasure, it would (hands down) be John Mayer. I’m sure many women would agree with me on this one. 🙂

WD) What, if anything, would you warn your younger self if you had the chance to speak to her?

JV) Don’t seek out self acceptance through the affection others give you.

WD) What does a guy need to do to win you over?

JV) My list of credentials is ever expanding, haha. The complete package for me consists of many things. I could sit here and bore you with lists of do’s and don’ts but what it ultimately boils down to is that there has to be a solid connection or it just doesn’t matter what he is or isn’t doing. With all of the dating I have done and all of the relationships I have been in, I’ve learned to be extremely patient. Mr. Wonderful is out there… I just haven’t met him yet.

WD) What is your definition of a Well Done Man?

JV) Established, confident, assertive, educated, well groomed and stylish. Plain and simple.

Thanks Johannie,

You can find Johannie @:

www.facebook.com/johannie.v

www.msjohannie.tumblr.com

www.twitter.com/johannie_v

www.instagram.com/einnahoj