Discovered at the age of 18 by the agent of a model friend, Elyse Taylor has gone on to become one of Australia's most successful model exports. Walking for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger and Victoria's Secret, Taylor's latest gig sees her returning to home soil as the face of Nude by Nature.
While in Australia, BD made the most of the opportunity to talk to Taylor, grilling her on working with Nude by Nature, the impact of social media on her career, and the biggest social media faux pas for a model.
What attracted you to working with Nude by Nature?
I love the brand and I also appreciate that Nude by Nature don’t use any nasty chemicals such as parabens, silicone, talc and bismuth in their products. Many of these chemicals can irritate and age the skin. I also love that it is an Australian company!
How do you choose which brands to work with?
I like to work with brands that I know and trust. In regards to this alignment, I have been using Nude by Nature products since they launched. I’m all about a natural even-toned complexion, so this brand resonates with me and that’s why it has been a go-to of mine for years.
Is it important for you to align yourself with Australian brands?
Of course, I am honoured to represent and work with Australian brands. Being Australian is such an important part of my heritage and I love that coming home to work also allows me the opportunity to bring my daughter back to spend time with my family.
You've been a model from before the time of social media influencers. How has the rise of bloggers and Instagram stars impacted your modelling?
I first joined social media and more specifically Instagram to keep in touch and up to date with all of my friends. It’s a wonderful visual medium to keep in contact with them and to document your own experiences. I don’t believe it has impacted my work at all, I think if anything it helps support it. It’s a wonderful means for connecting with people from all over the world and communicating with them.
How has social media changed the nature of how you work? For example, has it led you to become more collaborative with the brands you work for?
Absolutely – all of the imagery I capture to post on social media is from my perspective and my point of view. I don’t necessarily post straight campaigns, I like to post behind-the-scenes shots and provide more insight into the campaign that you otherwise wouldn’t see.
Are you required to post on social media as part of the jobs you get hired for?
Each job is very different. Sometimes they don’t like you promoting too early (even if you want to) as it will spoil the launch of a campaign. But social media is playing a bigger and bigger role as it enables the client to reach so many more people and it also ignites more conversation.
Does social media play an important part for you in getting modelling jobs?
This depends, a lot of brands like to book models who have a high social media currency, however saying that, at the end of the day you still have to be the right look and feel to book the job. I personally don’t believe you will ever just be booked because of how many followers you have.
What's the biggest social media faux pas a model can make?
To be promoting one brand on social media but not supporting and wearing it in everyday life. For me it needs to be authentic.
What's been your most liked image and why do you think it resonated with people?
A behind-the-scenes image of me at a shoot. I think people love to have that kind of access.
Image: Instagram.com/ElyseTaylor
