Finding your Very Good Light means so many things to many people. While some find it’s all about a dewy, supple, beautiful complexion, others find that it’s about finding that inner confidence from deep within. While #YourVGL started on our Instagram, sometimes we bring it on shine a light on our community.
“I wise philosopher once said ‘you’re born naked and the rest is drag,” – that philosopher was RuPaul,” says Cameron, a model based out of Los Angeles.
The racially ambiguous model – who works part time at a bridal store – says he got into the industry by chance. “I want to say I started taking modeling seriously last year in 2017 when some photos that my photographer friend Camilla took blew up for us,” he tells us. “Me and Camilla were just playing around it became a hit for both of us people really like the photos and I was getting asked by other photographers via social media to model for them.”
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Below, he talks to us about makeup, racial ambiguity and his favorite beauty must-haves.
Very Good Light: What do you do? Occupation? Hobbies? Secret talents?
Cameron: I am a model, commercial actor and I work part time at a bridal store. Some of my hobbies include illustration, character design, video games, listening to Japanese and Korean pop music, and toy collecting. My secret talent is that I can do the splits but only on my right side. So strange right?
VGL: What are your top five skincare/hair/beauty products and why?
C: 1. Belif’s the true cream aqua bomb– This really helps hydrate my whole face. I apply it to my face and neck and I use it every other day.
2. Belif’s moisturizing eye bomb– I take a small amount and gently massage at around my eye area with my ring finger until it absorbs into my skin. Really helps when I am feeling dry and want my eyes to stay moisturized.
3. Pure Smile Face Masks– I love these Japanese face masks. They’re cheap and I really feel they work for me. Are usually put them on before I shoot or before going somewhere important to my skin looks the best. My favorite is the Pearl Essence mask!
4. My Beauty Diary dark circles intensive care Eye mask– I believe can be found any Japanese cosmetic store. these are mini facemasks for just your under eyes, and come with five pairs. I don’t use these a lot but I did like them.
5. Cocoa butter Hand + body lotion– it’s just a really good lotion. This item is a standard in my home and I feel like most of my family uses it.
VGL: How did you start modeling? What do you like most about it?
C: I want to say I started taking modeling seriously last year in 2017 when some photos that my photographer friend Camilla took blew up for us. Me and Camilla were just playing around it became a hit for both of us people really like the photos and I was getting asked by other photographers via social media to model for them. I’ve always done commercial acting but never too much modeling, I’ve always been told I could but I brushed it off. I loved watching America’s next top model and that is really what got me into loving fashion as a kid.
Now I plan to do my best with it and become a success. My modeling goals include to maybe do a catwalk and to go to other countries to work as a model. What I love most about modeling is that I can help further art. I love being creative and for me doing creative things is a pleasure. Honestly, if I could be at a shoot all day I would do that in a heartbeat. I really can’t describe the feeling I get but it’s something I’ve come to completely enjoy and want to do more of. Now I have a mother agent in New York and that’s something I never thought would happen. So I really have to thank Camilla, my commercial and mother agency, social media, and my friends/family who are supporting me in my dreams.
VGL: What are you thoughts on gender bending fashion and beauty?
C: A wise philosopher once said “you’re born naked and the rest is drag.” That philosopher was RuPaul. Speaking from personal experience, I have worn dresses and what some people might think is traditionally feminine clothing on shoots and I really have no problem with it. I feel like you should be able to wear any kind of close no matter what the label says who it supposed to be for. I’ve also worn full face makeup and I think the trend now that beauty boys are doing is proving that makeup is not just a “girls thing.” Plenty of men on television wear make up. No matter what you identify as you should be able to do and wear whatever you feel fits you the best.
VGL: Growing up, did you have any insecurities? How did you overcome them? Can you tell me about your experiences as a racially ambiguous model?
C: Growing up I definitely had a lot of insecurities. I think it started specifically in middle school. I was really still trying to find myself and I will get picked on a lot. Questions like “why do you talk like a girl” “why do you act like a girl?” “You gay fool?”
I would get teased for just being me. Because of that, I felt like I was a little withdrawn. All I would do is draw in my notebook and not bother anyone. But eventually I came to realize that I can’t be anyone else but myself and you’re either going to like me or not. Even though I got teased, I had a lot of good friends that always stood up for me. Going into theater class and being on stage also helped. Everyone is always going to still have some insecurities feel about themselves, but finally accepting who I am and with a great support system you can do anything.
VGL Can you tell me about your experiences as a racially ambiguous model?
C: My experience of being a racially ambiguous model though have been nothing but positive. I haven’t gotten any negative connotation about being racially ambiguous other than the question of what are you? To which I usually answer back “it’s up to your interpretation.”
I also used to get teased on my freckles and skin color. Other people would praise me for it while the jealous people would try to tear me down. One example was when I had a commercial audition and they wanted African-American boys for a son role. So when I went there, I was the only one who was clearly mixed. I felt a little weird about it because I wasn’t your standard television-looking African-American boy. I feel like if I wasn’t mixed I wouldn’t have some of the features that has helped me in modeling like my freckles. I think the world is becoming more racially ambiguous these days. Especially with me growing up in LA, I never felt like a true outcast in terms of being mixed looking.
