Supermodel Coco Rocha opens up about life as a devout Jehovah's Witness - and how she still preaches door-to-door



Supermodel Coco Rocha has opened up about life as a devout Jehovah's Witness.

The 24-year-old, who grew up Richmond, British Columbia, revealed during an interview with DuJour magazine that her 'faith is everything' and despite her fame, she still preaches door-to-door.

'The whole purpose is to inform people. Some people think we’re a pushy religion, but if you’re not interested, just say so,' she explained.

Strong beliefs: Supermodel Coco Rocha has opened up about being a devout Jehovah's witness and she says that despite her fame she still goes knocking door-to-door with her congregation

Ms Rocha, who is set to make her television debut on Naomi Campbell's new reality TV show The Face next month, started practicing as a Witness when she was a youngster.

At the age of 21 she decided to get baptized to show her commitment.

Because of her religious believes Ms Rocha says there are things that she refuses to do on modelling jobs, such as posing nude or semi-nude in lingerie or swimwear.

'My boobs aren't out, I don't have a cigarette in my hand, and I'm not making out with a guy'

She explained: 'It’s just my boobs aren’t out. And I don’t have a cigarette in my hand, and I’m not making out with a guy.

'And it’s all fine if you want to do that. I don’t judge. My besties do Victoria’s Secret. I just don’t do it.'

'In the beginning, the clients would say, ''This is too much,'' but over time, the ones I liked kept working with me.'

Sticking to the rules: Ms Rocha previously explained that she's 'a Christian first and a model second' and on modelling jobs she refuses to pose nude or semi-nude in lingerie or swimwear



To ensure that each job complies with her religious beliefs she has created a thorough checklist.

'No religious artifacts, no government artifacts. If I’m shooting with a male model, what is he exactly doing with me?

'What is he wearing? If I’m working with other models, what are they wearing? Are they playing something that I don’t want?,' she described.

'It's a big position for a model to take in an industry that is dominated by the idea of ''sex sells''

When she first entered the fashion industry aged 15, she admitted that there were times when she was forced to compromise.

'Early on in my career, people were forcing me to do stuff. I was young and vulnerable. Those people should have had the courage to say, ''Hey, let’s not do that,'' she recalled.



'They’d never ask their kid to do [what they’d ask me to do], but they forget that models are just children. I also should have had the voice to say no. I didn’t do it, so I can’t blame anyone but myself. That’s why I’m so vocal about things today.

'There was a point where I just wanted to be done with the industry. I was overtired and overworked, but a big part of it was that no one was listening.'

Television debut: Ms Rocha (pictured far right) is set to star on the upcoming model reality show The Face along with (from left) Karolina Kurkova, Naomi Campbell and Nigel Barker

But Ms Rocha stuck with the industry and today her career is partly managed by her interior designer husband of two years, James Cronan, and various agencies.



Photographer Nigel Barker, who has been working with Ms Rocha on The Face as the show's host, described her principals as 'a very powerful statement for fashion' adding that it’s a 'big position for a model to take in an industry that is dominated by the idea of ‘sex sells.’



Ms Rocha previously told Fashion magazine: ‘When I started modelling, people said to me, ''You’re going to have to throw away your beliefs in order to be a successful model.'' But I didn’t... I’m a Christian first and a model second.’