One of the things that I like about doing interviews is the ability to meet people and ask them questions that normally don’t come up in casual conversations. It is a fascinating thing to learn the stories of other people’s lives, their goals and their motivations. Such was the conversation with Cody Saintgnue, the star of MTV series “Teen Wolf”, a model, an actor, and a humanitarian. Cody flew to Dallas to receive the Community Achievement Award at the Equanimity Gala, and agreed to meet with me for a one-on-one interview for Fashion Scoop. Cody Saintgnue

TM: Cody, you are obviously very young. At what age did you start modeling and acting? Was it something you personally wanted or did someone suggest it? How did it all start?

CS: Actually, it all started with a childhood crush. I really liked a girl, who paid no attention to me. I thought that if I become an Abercrombie model, she would like me. Well, I never became an Abercrombie model, but it all started from there. I ended up winning a Model and Talent Expo competition here in Dallas, and was featured on the competition magazine cover. That gave me the confidence to really pursue this career. I didn’t have inclinations toward academic achievements, or sports for that matter, but I always had great social skills. So, I thought of entertainment work as something that I would really like to do. Cody Saintgnue

TM: You moved to LA with your mother at fourteen. She must have had real confidence in you – it was a big step for both of you.

CS: I had to really prove myself to her before she agreed to move. She told me that I had to show that it is not just a whim on my part. I had to take dance classes, voice classes, and participate in theater. I was very introverted, if you could believe it, and I had to get over that. Just getting out in front of people was a big accomplishment for me. Then, after winning the model competition, I was able to convince her to make this leap of faith and move to LA, so I could continue my education. Cody Saintgnue

TM: I am sure it was a big adjustment to move from Ohio to California, to Los Angeles. What was the most difficult for you in that experience?

CS: The change of environment wasn’t that challenging for me. It wasn’t even important. Until my mom adopted me, I was in foster care. I was used to moving a lot. You may say it was a norm, and it wasn’t always a move towards something better. So, THAT wasn’t an issue. The issue was the pressure to succeed that I put on myself. I felt I was given this once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I really wanted to make sure I didn’t lose it. I was haunted by the constant feeling of fear of not being good enough. Failure wasn’t an option for me. Getting over this pressure, just being able to relax and live my life – that was the biggest adjustment I had to go through. The rest was easy. Cody Saintgnue

TM: A lot of your modeling photos present you in a “bad boy” image. Is it a real side of you, or is it just play-acting?

CS: I suppose anyone with a history like mine, coming from rough beginnings, would have an edge to himself. It is inevitable. Your upbringing leaves a mark on you, on your personality for the rest of your lives. However, with every hard exterior, there is definitely softness inside. It is just an outer shell of sorts. It’s not the shape and mark that determines a car, but the amount of miles it has driven.

TM: You’ve done both modeling and acting now. Do you see there is a connection between the two, or are they entirely different professions?

CS: A great artist in any creative field must know himself. Both modeling and acting may require costumes, funky looks, and projecting an image that is not your own. However, if you are uncomfortable in that image, if you don’t have confidence in what you do – it really shows. You can’t just pretend to be somebody; people sense when it is a fake. It has to come from within, you have to be genuine. This rule applies both to acting and to modeling, of course.

TM: You have done work in films and on TV. Is there a difference? And if there is, then what do you prefer and why?

CS: The process of film-making is looser, there is more time to experiment and explore. True artistry comes out in film, especially when there is a great relationship and trust between a director and the actors. TV puts a lot more pressure on you. There are formulas that