Sofia Holguin: Model & Designer
his sexy grasshoppers i’m back! :p I cheated on you guys with school 😔 my apologies! On today’s entry we are getting to know a little grasshopper named Sofia, an artsy silly girl, Sofia is a model and clothing brand owner but before we get into her talents let’s get to know her a little better🤭.
Sofia is 22 years old, she was born in Miami and was raised by her single mother along with her two older brothers.
She started animating drawings on an app called Flipnote Studio when she was 12 years old, on her Nintendo DS ( so slay ), she started uploading the animations and started gaining followers as well as connecting with other animators, which motivated her to continue pursuing it. She also shared that her brother was a source of inspiration for her since he is an artist himself. Sofia mentioned how throughout the years drawing has helped her express herself whenever it was hard for her to do so verbally. She later on started her interest for fashion during high school and how you can also express yourself through clothes, from there she continued to combine both things and as she was growing so was her art.
Now, that we know a little more about Sofia’s background let’s started with the silly questions 🤭.
Q&A
What’s the story on how you started modeling and Kippuo?
A/”I started modeling when I was about 16 or 17, nothing serious, just people wanting me to model for their fashion brands or a campaign or something of that nature. I never personally was interested in modeling until people started telling me that I should and would ask for photoshoots so for the fun of it, I just did them and I ended up really enjoying it, like, I could play a different character every time I was in front of a camera, that’s what modeling is about right? well, at least for me, that’s the most interesting part of it. When I was about 18, I started to go to events for photographers and models to network and take photos. From there I met a whole lot of photographers with each of them wanting to take photoshoots and I readily accepted all of them. Gathering more photographers and people knowing me to be a “model”, that basically jump started my career in modeling and it’s been like that ever since. I still talk to some of the photographers I’ve met those couple of years ago and work with them sometimes. KIPPUO started when I was out of high school during the 2020 pandemic, I was bored and wanted to make something more of my art that I already had. So, I had a little collection of characters’ faces that I’d drawn up and decided, “hmmm, what if these were sweaters?” So, I just slapped them onto the back of different colored hoodies with the signature on the front, showed them to people and they liked it. The moment I heard: “Yeah, this is cool I’d wear this.” I was like yup, I gotta keep doing this. The more I created these hoodies / clothing the more I got into it because I loved being able to mix my own art and expressions onto a piece of clothing. Art and fashion go hand in hand so seamlessly I needed to just combine these two passions together. The name “KIPPUO” is actually an old username I used to use for one of my art accounts back when I was about 15, I thought it stood out to me and knew this had to be the name.”
How do you think having your own brand has impacted your modeling?
A/ “KIPPUO has impacted me largely in my modeling since I know a good amount of photographers, they would help me out in taking photos of the pieces I’d make and also just having a normal photoshoot, it was kinda like a trade, I get product pictures and they get stuff to put in their portfolio. I definitely took advantage of that. I didn’t want to be known just as a model, I wanted to be a fashion designer that is also conveniently a model. Modeling and fashion go hand in hand as well, obviously, with being a model it’s helped because I know a ton of other models that I’ve grown acquainted with and are always willing to help if I need models for KIPPUO and I know I have people that will be on the runway once I get to that point. Both modeling and KIPPUO work together and I’m just in the middle overviewing both of them growing side by side.”
What’s the inspo behind your Kippuo designs?
A/ “ I take a lot of inspiration from the shows that I watch or music that I listen to, I watch a good amount of anime and my favorite one is Jojos Bizarre Adventure, mainly because of how cool all of their character designs are and how I want people in real life to look like Jojo characters. They’re all so weirdly stylish, I love weird styles and things that just don’t make sense, lots of inspiration comes from art pieces that I see or films that I watch, like, “Oh, this color palette is nice, I wonder how I can make a garment that captures these colors.” or “I like how this song or film makes me feel, let me make a piece that feels like that.” I sort of see things and my mind automatically pictures something to make out of it.”
How did you came up with concept for Kippuo?
A/ “ I really just wanted people to wear actual art on their bodies not just wearing art, but becoming the art itself. I love expressing myself through clothing and for others to do that as well, it honestly was just a concept that I went forward with and continued doing unknowing where it would take me to.”
Has the modeling industry affected how you view yourself?
A/ “ Yes, I feel as if I’m more confident in myself, I feel like if I was in an agency or something that controls how you’re supposed to look at times, I wouldn’t be looking at myself so confidently, I think that’s why I’ve never stayed long in any management I’ve been in. I want to have full control over myself and my body even if they don’t have strict rules to upkeep yourself. Knowing me, I’d be too worried about my physique and appearance if I was, but, I’m confident now in myself and body and piercings or tattoos I can get, because I know that’s uniquely me and people even with that STILL want to take photos of me, because I am just ME. I view myself as important and that I have my own presence.”
What are some struggles you have experience on your modeling journey?
A/ “Most of the struggles comes from people that want to take photos of you just to mainly take advantage of you. Lots of weirdos that claim to be photographers that use that excuse to have a half naked lady in your room by yourself unfortunately. Trust me, I know from experience. Luckily nothing too crazy has happened to me but I know a lot of models that have dealt with worse. It’s hard being a model because you’re always on the lookout for that, especially for the ladies that are signed with agencies, sometimes they have to work with people they don’t want to because they don’t have a choice or it’ll “ruin a good chance for their career.” I refuse to work with a photographer that I don’t personally know first or that their whole portfolio is full of naked ladies, like, I understand the art of it and I’ve done shoots like that as well, butI need to know you’re in it for the art and not the pleasure.”
Are you a self taught designer?
A/ “I’ve taught myself everything that I need to know about designing and marketing and there’s still a whole lot of things that I need to learn. A quick google search, youtube search, discord servers help a lot. Talking and connecting with other designers and how they do things has helped me out as well. I’ve never gone to school for fashion design but it is in my mind for when I have nothing else to teach myself, I think that’s part of the fun.”
TIPSY TIPS
What advice would you give to someone who is starting their own brand?
A/”I’d say to join or find groups of people that are working towards the same thing. I joined and still am in a discord server with people that are starting their own brands or have an already successful fashion brand. You can learn a lot from others and their experiences, and when meeting similar like-minded people always make sure to get their connect and ask them questions and their process of their brand. Knowledge is key, so always google or watch videos as well, everything I know is not because of school but because I just searched and learned it on my own. Though, if you want to go to school, you can do that as well, there’s always a time where you’ve learned so much that to unlock more you’re probably going to need to do some sort of course, it doesn’t have to be school, just any type of thing that you’re wanting to learn, find a way to learn it. Financially, a brand is going to take a good amount of money, so make sure that you're aware of that and everything that you do is an investment into it.”
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting modeling?
A/”Don’t just jump into everything that comes your way when it comes to an agency or a job. Be comfortable and have your own morals to your work, don’t feel pressured into anything even if it'll serve you good, if you’re just not comfortable doing a photoshoot, reason with them or just don’t do it, you shouldn't feel pressured into doing anything in your life period. Same thing as well when it comes to the fashion brand, network with a lot of people and attend events where you know there will be photographers looking for new models, because that’ll open up the amount of people that know you and would possibly want a photoshoot or even scout you for a photoshoot for someone else. Networking really does wonders. Get your digitals taken as well.”
How do you deal with the days you feel not so confident in a modeling gig?
A/”There’s a lot of times where I didn’t feel comfortable in a gig and it sucks because it’s hard to put on a happy or comfortable face, but for me I usually work well with music, since modeling to me is playing a character, I’ll put on some music that matches the energy of the photoshoot and feel the music as I model. It’s also important to take some breaks as well if I’m overwhelmed I’ll step to the side and do some sort of breathing exercises. I do suffer with anxiety so for me it helps get me in the right mindset as well and not to overthink.”
What are your go to apps for designing?
A/ “As of right now, I use Procreate on my iPad to design all of my pieces and then go into Photoshop to tweak some things up. I mainly use photoshop when I take product photos and I need to adjust the lighting or dimensions. But the main app that I use, since I’m also an artist, is Procreate. I do wish to upgrade to an actual software for designing like Clo3D in the future.”
FUNSY
What has been your worst experience in the modeling industry so far
A/”When I first started, I signed to some scam of an agency that didn’t help me at all. It wasn’t an agency but more of a management and being new, I thought that all these things that I had to pay was just part of the industry but now I’ve learned my lesson with that. It’s embarrassing to admit but, it’s a mistake that I feel like a lot of people do without researching what they’re signing into. Luckily, I haven’t had anything worse than that.”
What’s your kippuo go to piece?
A/ “A fan favorite and my own favorite as well was the KIPPUO Sunset Knit that I made for my winter collection. I was honestly in my bag when I made that and I do have a lot of better unreleased designs that I’ve made but that one was honestly the start of my true creative potential. I don’t wear it a whole lot because it’s honestly for special occasions.”
What’s your dream modeling collab?
A/ “One day, I would absolutely love to be a runway model for Louis Vuitton. Especially, now with Pharell as their creative director, all the pieces are beautiful and I’d wear every single one of them. I really love their aesthetic and how beautiful all the runways are set up. It would be a dream one day to be able to walk their runways.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A/ “I see myself living somewhere in Europe, designing my own clothes in a studio with people all around me to help me bring my vision to life. I’d even be my own model on my own runway shows as well. I’d be not working only in fashion and modeling, but being an overall creative director to loads of things. What I just want to achieve in the end is to help and make visions come to life, like my mind has to be part of something big, whether that’s being part of designing a building of any type to taking part in a movie's visuals, anything creative, I want to do and be a part of. 5 years might be a short time for all that, but I’d like to at least have my foot in the door by then.”
Unpopular opinion about the modeling industry
A/”I feel like this might not be as unpopular anymore but there needs to be inclusivity in the industry and shows. Times have changed and I feel like there needs to be different models on the runway including all shapes and sizes. There’s definitely a lot more now, but still not enough in my opinion, I know that pieces for shows are all made to be the same size and for specific measurements to fit in them, but if ya’ll got the money to be doing these shows…why don’t you have the money to have larger pieces for larger or shorter models? I don’t care if it doesn’t look “pleasing”, it’s real life. Not everyone is tall and slender. It’s more interesting to see a show that has everyone included in it and relatable.”
SNEAK PEAK
here are some pictures that Sofia sent of some unreleased pieces for Kippuo!
That’s a wrap!! I hope you guys liked this entry and got to know this modelll and entrepreneur on the riseeee. Also, thank you so much to Sofi for agreeing to do this silly entry :p, she’s so talented and down to earth! <3, we better see her on that runway soon and we’ll also be waiting for the next KIPPUO drop because she literally ate!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Sofia
IG: @sofholguin
IG: @kippuo
Me:
IG: @mariahcareysblog
