Michael Marson

April 3, 2021

last, Portrait

FIGHTING A WAY THROUGH LIFE

Michael Marson

April 3, 2021

last, Portrait

‘Strong’ is a literal and figurative way to describe Miguel Baeza, a professional fighter who’s wrestling his way through life in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

For this reason, you might wonder whether he has already achieved his largest goal in life at the age of 28.

A Q&A with potentially one of the most vigorous men on the planet.

What made you want to become a fighter?

I’ve always loved fighting. My uncle was an amateur boxer in Puerto Rico and growing up, he showed me how to box. Me, my brother and my cousin would do drills with him. Sometimes he would even put on gloves and spar with us.

What do you find the most interesting about training: the building of physical strength, technique…?

I believe the most interesting thing about training is the techniques you learn. It’s amazing how the smallest detail can change the outcome of the technique you’re applying, whether it’s going to work or not. Anyone can be strong, but being able to handle another person with little effort because you made the right movement or placed yourself in the right position is incredible to me.

Do you have a large team of trainers or do you work with just a few close people?

I have a few sets of trainers. I have my main trainers, like my guys at MMA Masters. There is my first coach, who I’ve been with since I started. But I work with a few specialists as well, who teach me specific arts and disciplines: I have a boxing coach, a wrestling coach, a Muay Thai coach… There is someone for whatever skills I feel the need to improve. All the people I work with are all equally important to my success.

Who are your personal heroes?

I’m not sure if I have heroes, but if I were to pick someone I admired growing up in the sport, it was probably Randy Couture. He always seemed to be the underdog, but every time he defied the odds and came out on top. I always liked his competitive spirit and toughness: he always found a way to win. I really respect his will.

What’s your ultimate goal in life? Have you achieved it yet?

My ultimate goal is to be a world champion. I haven’t gotten there yet, but god willing, hopefully I do one day. I plan to keep working as hard as I can until I get there. I know there are a lot of tough guys on their way to that goal, which won’t make it easier, but nothing worth having ever is.

What comes after your career as a fighter? Do you have other dreams?

I’m not sure what comes after fighting. I’ve been focused on this for so long, I didn’t put too much thought into it. Maybe being a commentator or analyst for the UFC or ESPN? We’ll see what the future holds. Actually, my only other dream outside of fighting is to be able to take care and support my family and enjoy life to the fullest, however that comes.

How did you experience 2020 (and 2021 so far)?

2020 was great for me career wise. I fought and beat a legend in Matt Brown, I continued my undefeated streak and won two performance bonuses. Personally, it was a little rougher though; I lost my cousin early in 2020, which was really hard for my family to go through. It was so quick and unexpected. He was very important to us, he was loved by everyone and he was my biggest fan, which only made me push harder to get the win for him.

What’s on your planning for the (near) future?

My plans for 2021 are to keep my undefeated streak going and embrace any opportunity as it comes.

Interview by Laura Bonne

Photography by Cesar Buitrago

Miguel Baeza is represented by IMG

Michael Marson

February 7, 2021

last, Portrait

WISHING UPON A LONE STAR

Michael Marson

February 7, 2021

last, Portrait

Ever since he first discovered the thrill of the stage in his junior year of high school (thank you, unnamed guidance counselor who encouraged him to try!), Ronen Rubinstein has been lighting up the characters he portrays with a cocktail of passion, enthusiasm, and humility. Oh, and the smoldering good looks don’t hurt, either, especially in his role as T.K. Strand in 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Los Angeles, February 2021

Captured by Alex La Cruz

Ronen Rubinstein_BTBOnline_Behind The Blinds Magazine_AlexLaCruz.jpg

Behind the Blinds catches up with TV’s hottest firefighter (sorry Rob Lowe) between shifts for a chat.

If your house was on fire, what’s the one thing you’d grab? All living creatures big and small being safe, of course.

What would I grab… Oh my god. That’s something I’ve never been asked before!

Seriously? You’re on a show about firemen!

No, really, you’re the first one. Ok, but not to sound like a hero or anything, but I’d just make sure the living creatures were out. Everything else is replaceable. But I would really hope I had insurance!

Ronen Rubinstein_BTBOnline_Behind The Blinds Magazine_AlexLaCruz7.jpg

What are you up to on your day off, other than talking to strangers on the phone?

You know, I’m used to it at this point. Whenever I get a day off, I take it easy to recover because our jobs are demanding physically. I try to take care of myself – sleep if I can, drink lots of water, eat something good for me. And then just focusing on not doing much, just laying out in the back yard or watching [movies].

Ronen Rubinstein_BTBOnline_Behind The Blinds Magazine_AlexLaCruz3.jpg

Isn’t that the hardest task you’ve ever had?

It is! I have a hard time sitting around, so I really have to focus on just doing nothing. But I know I need to do it.

What’s it like being T.K. Strand? Was it one of those roles that you have to think about picking up?

How could I not accept the role? It’s like winning the lottery, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a TV show that is so gigantic, so epic. You’re almost guaranteed a massive audience, thanks to who is making the show and the network it’s on. One of the beautiful sides of T.K. is the family aspect. He's a very relatable character, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, loves his job, and puts his family before anything. So, a lot of people have connected to him as a family member – a brother, a son or even (chuckles.) a prospective boyfriend – because he’s a really good kid.

Ronen Rubinstein_BTBOnline_Behind The Blinds Magazine_AlexLaCruz2.jpg

Does the TV format factor in this connection?

Being allowed into the living room of our viewers creates this very intimate relationship, where you go through the experiences [that T.K. is living] together. That’s what special about TV. With movies, you go to a movie theatre with strangers and then you leave. For a series, you get cozy and you let these characters enter your life. So how can you say no to someone like T.K.?

So who are you letting into your living room?

There’s “The Little Things” on HBO with Denzel Washington. And then catching up with all the Oscar-nominated movies of this year. Music-wise, it’ll be cycling through old favorites, like Kings of Leon and Frank Ocean.

Ronen Rubinstein_BTBOnline_Behind The Blinds Magazine_AlexLaCruz5 2.jpg

Which one will it be today?

It’s really sunny so it’s a Frank Ocean kind of day, where I’ll probably lay by the pool and relax.

Sunny day, lucky you! It’s a miserable rainy evening here in Paris.

Well, I’d gladly trade places with you. I would love to see [a place] outside of American right now. You know what, it’s funny because I’ve been invited to a convention in Paris in June. I’m really hoping it happens because it’ll be my first trip there as an adult. The one time I went, I was about 6 years old. We went to Disneyland Paris and the Eiffel Tower, but beyond that, it’s very minimal flashes of memories. What I do know is that it’s a magical place and I think I’d lose myself there for sure.

Ronen Rubinstein_BTBOnline_Behind The Blinds Magazine_AlexLaCruz4 2.jpg

Anywhere else?

Portofino! Por. To. Fi. No. (Wistful sigh.)

How very Alexei-the-Russian-oligarch of you, Ronen.

(Laughs.) More like Roman Emperor. I’m obsessed with Europe. Italy, France and Portugal are my favorite places in the world right now. But when I visited Portofino a few years ago… Have you ever had that feeling where you feel at home in a place you’d never been to before? In my mind and body, Portofino felt very right. It might be because it’s by the sea and I’m a big ocean person. But there’s also the culture and history. So I’m putting it out there as much as I can, so that it may happen one day: I’d love a little house where I can look at the ocean, drink my coffee and then walk down to the stores. Maybe learn some Italian. Just a beautiful, simple life.

…

Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Production & cast by IMAGEMACHINE CS

All clothes Erl

Michael Marson

September 11, 2020

last, Portrait

THE BOY

Michael Marson

September 11, 2020

last, Portrait

Jack Quaid on superheroes and scary times

Ever since Jack Quaid made his debut as a boy we loved to hate in The Hunger Games, his tousled curls have cropped up in unexpected places. Point in case, he's on the wall of the metro as I go home for the Zoom call scheduled with the 28-year-old actor.

Jacket and sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO, denim pants LEVI’S & hat NICK FOUQUET

Lily Templeton: Sorry about the Blair Witch lighting but I don't want you to have my lamp in your face. But it matches the mood of your recent work. That opening sequence in The Boys, season 2? Just when I thought you couldn't top the hand-holding scene of episode 1 [where Hughie's love Robin dies].

Jack Quaid: Yeah, we waste no time in showing you how gruesome our show is.

LT: We all love horror flicks, though. So this is the perfect superhero caper that caters to that.

JQ: You're totally right. I never thought about it that way, but those who are horror movie nerds will definitely get a kick out of The Boys, for sure. Just wait till you see the rest of the show. I don't know how we top ourselves, but somehow we definitely do.

Left Tank top, jacket, hat and boots GIVENCHY, denim pants LEVI’SRight Vest and coat DIOR & hat NICK FOUQUET — Left Tank top, jacket, hat and boots GIVENCHY, denim pants LEVI’S
Right Vest and coat DIOR & hat NICK FOUQUET

“Horror movies are a way of exploring our fears in a safe environment.”

LT: Have we just become an ultraviolent society?

JQ: That's not necessarily true. Horror movies are a way of exploring our fears in a safe environment. People make that argument about video games, too. I don't think it's necessarily people indulging in violence. But if you have that tendency towards violence, wouldn't you want a space where you can get that out of you [through gameplay] so you don't put it out into the real world?

LT: Wait… Why are you wearing a Coffee For Sasquatch cap and where’s he hiding? Because his Comedy Club’s been awfully quiet recently.

JQ: Oh my god, I'm so happy you even know about Sasquatch! He really loves iced lattes, so I couldn't resist getting the hat from this coffee place in Los Angeles called Coffee For Sasquatch. You’re right. We have been pretty quiet lately. At least online. While we haven’t shot a sketch in quite a while, we were doing live comedy shows in LA right up until the pandemic, at the Comedy Central stage every couple of months. We just kind of fell into this groove of live comedy and we stuck to it. We all come from a performance background so that was always very, very rewarding for us. I’m sure we’ll get back to doing something together again once this is all over.

Vest, jacket and pants LANVIN & boots GIVENCHY

LT: Why the Sasquatch as your comedic spirit animal? Can't fool you, I'm obsessed.

JQ: I love that you're obsessed with the mythological beast of Sasquatch. I've always been obsessed with like UFO’s, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and just the paranormal. I've always just had kind of an eye... Well, maybe not an eye. Let's say an interest in that. And yeah, it's kind of radiated into all different aspects of my life.

LT: From the paranormal to the barely believable year we're living. It's like a series we'd like to see the end of, no?

JQ: The bar is so low that “I’m guess we’re alive” is the feeling. The world is just absolutely insane right now. I don't know what's coming, it seems like the pressure is just going to keep getting ratcheted. The American election is like the season finale.

Left Jacket DRIES VAN NOTEN Right Jacket and sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO — Left Jacket DRIES VAN NOTEN
Right Jacket and sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO

LT: “Those dirty supes are gonna get what’s coming to them sooner or later,” you told me earlier. Given the circumstances we're in, lots of people are looking for a magic bullet of sorts to end this. Do you think superpowers are what's needed, or is it really up to regular Joes and Janes to feel their way out as best they can?

JQ: I'd never thought about it that way. Our show's very timely and we talk about a lot of real issues. And the feeling, at least in my community in America, is that those who were supposed to be our champions and our leaders have failed us in a lot of ways –– not very altruistic, they don't seem to have our best interests at heart. This is the first time where my generation has seen an injustice that we could do something about. So we do have to pick up the slack a little bit, as regular citizens. But it's an opportunity for everyone to be a better person. When times are tough like these, I try my best to learn as much as I can about other people's perspectives and experiences; about things that are outside my purview as a straight white man in America.

Jacket and sweater SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO & denim pants LEVI’S

“This is the first time where my generation has seen an injustice that we could do something about.”

LT: If you could have an actual superpower, what would it be?

JQ: Flight. I know that’s the boring answer. And I feel like anyone else who says anything different is lying a little bit. I mean, I would love that. And talking to animals. That's like my unique one. Because I just think we can learn a lot from them. At the same time, it could get kind of annoying because the animals would either be very smart and have discourse with you or just be like "food, food, food, food". Flying just seems like so much fun.

Tank top, jacket, hat and boots GIVENCHY, denim pants LEVI’S

LT: C'mon, flight's just because you want to cut those TSA lines...

JQ: I do. I really do. I hate air travel as it is now so anything that can help mitigate. Although teleportation could also be great. In an instant, you're somewhere else. But yeah, I would definitely want to cut the TSA line.

LT: So as an actor, you spend a lot of time answering questions. Turning the tables around, what's one question you always want to ask your interviewers?

JQ: What got you into journalism in the first place?

Vest, coat, pants DIOR & hat NICK FOUQUET

LT: Okay, you got me there. Well, I would say probably that, like actors, I'm all for a good story and for character. And having actual conversations, rather than following a script of questions.

JQ: Yeah, sometimes the questions I get — and it's fine, that's the dance — are a bit ‘generic’. I love when people point to a specific thing in my life. The more specific the question, the more I jump out because I always love that so much.

LT: What are you up to these days? Are you back filming or are you just being Zoomed to death by us journos? Or should I say… “Are you alone in the house, Jack?”

JQ: I'm about to start a movie, which is crazy, a bit like I was going to the moon. I didn't think that would happen now or any time soon. And yes, it’s the next Scream movie, so I've been watching every one there ever was in preparation.

LT: Aha! So you ARE a horror movie nerd.

JQ: I'm becoming that way. You know, actually no, I'm gonna say yes, I am. I'm a huge fan of modern horror that's been coming out like The Babadook. It's an amazing resurgence.

Jacket and shirt DRIES VAN NOTEN, tank top ALL SAINTS, denim pants LEVI’S, belt LANVIN & boots GIVENCHY

LT: If I were Ghostface, I’d ask “Sidney, what makes you scared?”.

JQ: I think my niche is sci-fi horror. I watched the director's cut of Alien when I was nine. Bad move. I was so scared. Growing up, there was this old movie called Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein, about them encountering Dracula, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein's monster, and it was scary enough for a kid. You could laugh a little but there were all the little elements of horror seeping into you. I do remember having very visceral memories of Halloween where I was scared while trick or treating. There was this one year where I was very scared from ghost faces... the year Scream came out. So it's weirdly coming full circle.

LT: How does Scream hold up in the scare scale?

JQ: It made a horror movie cool. It’s a brilliant movie: full of references and Easter eggs that true horror cinephiles would love, but never too meta or too far up its own whatever. So genuinely scary and frightening in its own right, with satirical elements but also characters that you connect to. Sidney, Gale and Dewey are just genuinely great characters. The fact that I'm going to be joining this universe is incredible. I feel great but it also is terrifying because I know it's something that fans really, really care about.

…

JACK QUAID, Los Angeles, September 2020

interviewed by Lily Templeton

Photography by Shane McCauley

Fashion by Sharon Chitrit

Grooming by Candice Birns

using Eminence skin care r&co haircare

Michael Marson

May 17, 2016

Portrait

SPEED ITW with JAMIE WISE

Michael Marson

May 17, 2016

Portrait

/ Music & destiny in L.A /

When were your born?

Was born in a tiny little town in the English Countryside called Somerbee.

Do you feel alive?

Sometimes, depends what part of the day it is ;-p

At what time did you wake up today?

6am - early bird catches the worm.

Do you believe in destiny?

To an extent. I believe we all can write our own destiny.

What will you do after answering these questions?

Probably smoke a jay and play my guitar.

Do you prefer green circles or blue squares?

I'm a fan of anything blue, although I prefer the shape of a circle.

In math, do you prefer to add or multiply?

Multiply! Make. Numbers. Big.

If Marry Poppins was a fruit, what would she be?

She'd definitely be a good ol' sweet English plum.

Do you believe in life after death?

I don't know enough of anything to make a choice in what I believe after death. I'd definitely like to believe that a part of us continues on.

How much do you love LA?

Love the place, the setting, the nature, sometimes the people kinda ruin it.

Are you into coffee?

That's when I feel alive. Haha. Just kiddin, though I do enjoy a brew.

What accent do you have?

A pretty generic English accent.

You look like Chris Isaak. Do you listen to his songs?

I have done in my time on this planet. I love it, dramatic and big gets a thumbs up.

If you had to listen to one last song…?

Time makes two by Robert Cray - what a song.

Have you kissed someone today?

No, what a shame huh?

When were you last time in Europe?

Last year I was in England for a few months.

Do you write songs?

Yes I write a lot of songs - soundcloud.com/jjwisemusic

Do you sing under the shower?

Every single day.

Are you into musicals?

Yes, love them. Les Mis is one of my favourite things in existence.

Does Barbra Streisand mean something to you?

Not so much, more from South Park ripping her.

How about Prince?

Talented man who did what the fuck he wanted. Didn't care what people think. Wasn't a bellend. RIP Prince!

How would you describe your voice and your body?

My voice can be many things but when I sing and play guitar it's just Raw. My body is like a wonderland.

Do you ski?

Nope, but I want to this year.

Do you surf?

A little bit, but not a regular surfer dude.

Are you in love?

What is love? Baby don't hurt me.

You have the same name as Robert Wise who directed one of the most glorious movies ever, ‘The Sound of Music’, are you two connected?

I wish!! I'd revamp it and make a new musical movie and reignite the world’s love of classical music/singing! I'm ambitious.

Has summer started in LA?

Apparently, although the weather has been slightly schizophrenic this year.

How cold was it this winter?

Not too bad in LA, although I still wrapped up like an Eskimo. I'm allergic to the cold, makes me hibernate and become a grouchy bear.

Do you miss rain?

I love the rain, it's one of the most beautiful types of weather. If the sun shines while it rains, it transforms the world into a fairy tale.

When was the last time you went crazy, why?

Last weekend. Needed a big blow out and to dance for 12 hours - managed to do just that :)

Do you listen to King Crimson or Pink Floyd?

Pink Floyd ;-)

If you were a woman who would you chose to be?

Hilary Clinton because I'd just be on the cusp of becoming the first women president of the United States. Although my own political beliefs would align more closely with Bernie Sanders.

Did you smile during this interview?

Yes, several times. Especially when writing some cheeky answers.

...

...

/ more about Jamie /

/ ITW by REMY RUSSOTTO & photo by OLIVIER DESARTE /

/ production by MICHAEL MARSON & VISUAL ART SERVICES /

Michael Marson

April 25, 2016

Portrait

MOTION ITW with TAYTE HANSON

Michael Marson

April 25, 2016

Portrait

Tayte Hanson moves. He runs and stops.

Where are you now and what are you wearing?

I am at my house wearing adidas 3 stripe sweatpants and a shirt I made from scraps.

Motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time.What's you favorite position in sex?

Missionary. I like it basic.

Do you run fast?

I prefer not to.

Do you fall in love slowly?

No. I fall fast in and out of love.

Do you drive a car?

No.

Have you had sex in a car recently?

No, no cars really besides cabs here.

How often do you fly?

Weekly.

Have you fallen in love in a plane?

Yes. I talk about it in my new book!

Do you dream about being a professional surfer?

Never.

Would you rather fuck a surfer or a GI?

Surfer. I have always had a thing for a man with grungy, long hair and a no-fucks attitude.

Have you flown in a helicopter?

Yes, many times.

Do you find helicopters sexy?

No. I find them loud.

Would you rather drown in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean?

Both.

Do you prefer walking or running?

Walking. I want to witness the beauty around me.

Have you ever run after your lover?

No. If you let them go and they are truly lovers they will come back.

Do you know how many times you swam in the Pacific Ocean?

About a dozen.

Do you like motorcycles?

Yes, I owned one for many years. I am looking to buy one currently.

Do bikers make you horny?

No.

If you had to come in a moving object, would that be a car, plane or train?

Plane, always. I love to fly.

Do you find tunnels sexual?

I have had sex in tunnels twice; however, I usually find tunnels just dirty.

Have you ever played ping-pong table?

Yes, not a fan.

What will you do now?

Yoga for two hours, finish the final draft of my book, juice what’s in my fridge, and watch “Room”.

Motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time. Did you change position during this interview?

Apart from moving my fingers along a keyboard, no.

...

/ more about Tayte /

/ ITW by REMY RUSSOTTO & photo by RUBEN TOMAS /

/ production by MICHAEL MARSON /

Michael Marson

March 11, 2016

Portrait

ITW with PAUL HAMELINE

Michael Marson

March 11, 2016

Portrait

He's a fashion slayer. He cuts it. Down the middle and up.

The image drips and we smile.

I read you like George Bataille. Isn’t ‘Histoire de l’oeil’ the best story ever (it reads like a children’ story)?

Indeed, George Bataille is one of my main source of inspiration. I really enjoyed reading ‘Histoire de l’oeil’. But for my part, my all time favorite is ‘Ma Mère’.

Do you read comics?

I don’t find anything stimulating in comics unfortunately for me, it’s never too late though.

How tall are you?

186cm.

Do you do drugs?

You’re not a cop from what I know.

Do you prefer yellow circles or blue squares?

I would go for black rectangles.

Where did you lose your virginity?

Au septième ciel.

Will you watch the new Twin Peaks episodes?

I’m not THAT excited about it, even though I’m a big fan of Twin Peaks and David Lynch in general. I guess I’ll watch it for the sake of it.

Do you believe in life after death?

I don’t think about it, it’s not the time yet.

When did you shave last?

The question you should be asking is ‘where’ rather than ‘when’ ?

Why did you cry last?

While peeling onions.

Do you eat meat?

I couldn’t imagine living without it.

Your collages are beautiful. Is Kurt Schwitters a reference for you?

I never heard of him, thank you. I’ll go check his work once done with this. First things first.

Any interest in ‘Hunger Games’ as the grand narrative of our times?

Categorical no.

Have you ever touched a rat?

One of my first girlfriend used to have one. To be honest I would spend more time with it than with her.

Have you been with both a girl & a boy – simultaneously?

I’ll leave it to your imagination.

Have you been to Montenegro?

I heard it was nice.

Coffee: black, milk or sugar?

Black as the darkest sin.

How was your childhood, happy, boring or not important today?

Not really of your concern.

Have you read any Jean Baudrillard? His famous text on terrorism (I find his ‘L’esprit du terrorisme’ still mind-blowing).

As soon as I’ll be finished with Genet’s ‘Le Balcon’, I will look it up. Cheers.

Egon Schiele or Abramovic?

Balthus.

Do you drink milk?

NEVER.

How fast can you run?

It depends after who.

How do you NOT lose your mind, and remain focused?

This helps : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_fDidYDQcs.

Your favorite time of the day?

I always get quite excited at dawn, before going out.

Did you enjoy this interview?

It was entertaining.

Collages by Paul Hameline.

...

/ ITW by REMY RUSSOTTO & illustration by SEAN RYAN /

/ production by MICHAEL MARSON /

Michael Marson

November 4, 2015

Portrait

SLICED ITW with FINNLAY DAVIS

Michael Marson

November 4, 2015

Portrait

/ THE UNUSUAL IRISH MODEL /

Melon or banana?

Banana

Bruce Lee or Prince?

Bruce Lee

Salty fries or chocolate cake?

Chocolate Cake

Would you rather be a spy or a downhill ski champion?

Spy

What color suits you best?

Black/Blue

How fast can you run?

Fast enough to get away

What scares you most, “Jaws’” or “Aliens”?

Jaws

If Marry Poppins was a fruit, what would she be?

Kiwi

How tall are you?

189cm

When was your first catwalk, how old were you?

Turning 16

Have you been to Iceland?

No but I would like to

Any songs you know by heart and sing from time to time?

I know a lot of song by heart

Would you rather be Roger Federer or Miley Cyrus?

Miley Cyrus

Are you in love?

Nope

Where will you be tomorrow?

By the time you read this who knows …

Isn’t English black tea with milk completely over-rated (I read it was extremely unhealthy as well)?

No you must have read wrong ?

Are you shy?

Little bit

Who's your hero?

My father

When is your birthday?

26th February

...

/ ITW by REMY RUSSOTTO & photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS CARLY /

/ production by MICHAEL MARSON /

Michael Marson

October 12, 2015

Portrait

// LADY HARI //

Michael Marson

October 12, 2015

Portrait

HARI NEF /BY/ BEHIND THE BLINDS

EXCLUSIVE ITW by KIM PEERS & PORTRAIT by CHARLIE DE KEERSMAECKER

I know your birthday is 20 October 1992. Are there important moments when you felt reborn?

It's October 21st, actually! I've never felt reborn. I think of my life as a progression, and have never felt comfortable drawing hard lines between the present and the past.

At which stage in your life are you now?

I'm at the stage where the work begins.

What are your future projects? Do you have a certain goal?

Right now I'm focused on acting and modelling. I don't know what's next. My goals tend to change with what becomes available to me, so I try to keep an open mind.

What’s your perception of transgender?

"Transgender" is a word that represents so much more than any word should. It's an easy word that attempts to simplify the complex. There are as many ways to be "transgender" as there are transgender people. It's one word in one language. Cisgender is easy, because cisgender is male or female. Transgender is everything else!

What was your favourite moment so far?

I don't dwell.

Where would you take me on an evening? Or for a brunch?

We'd be in Manhattan, my favourite place on Earth. I'd probably take you to one of those little French restaurants down near Bowery for good wine and fresh food. For the evening, we'd go dancing after. For brunch, we'd walk in the park.

Who are your idols/hero’s? Who inspires you?

Women inspire me: Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Zackary Drucker, Jenny Boylan, Connie Fleming, Candis Cayne, Andreja Pejic, Kate Bornstein, Alexandra Billings, Trace Lysette, Gogo Graham, and Tschan Andrews.

As you are a writer I guess you like to read books. Do you prefer a certain writer? Style?

I do not consider myself as a writer. Maybe I just write. My favourite author is Virginia Woolf, but my favorite style is Greek drama-- or any Greek poetry.

Any advice you would like to give to young transgenders?

There's actually no such thing as "a transgender”, only transgender people (transgender is an adjective). The advice I would give to trans kids is to chill out. Relax. Your thoughts and feelings are valid, and they will manifest in their own time. If you rush to the finish line, it will be harder to learn from the process - and the process is long and difficult. Take your time and space.

What’s your motto?

Why not?

What defines your identity? What do you think of labels?

I define my identity for myself. Labels are convenient tools for living in the world. I have chosen to be woman: that's a label I embrace because that label allows me to feel safe, understood, and embodied. Does that label tell the full story of who I am? No.

What makes you happy?

Progress, beauty, and abandon.

Who are your favorite fashion designers?

Hedi Slimane, Jonathan Anderson, Mike Eckhaus, Zoe Latta, Shayne Oliver, Marc Jacobs, Nicolas Ghesquiére, Demna Gvesalia, Dries van Noten, Matthew Williams, Tyler Rose, Miuccia Prada, Chitose Abe, Karl Lagerfeld, Vejas Kruszewski, Helmut Lang, Martin Margiela, Alessandro Michele, Raf Simons, and Christophe Lemaire.

What kind of music/bands do you like?

Lately, I've been listening to La Femme, Carly Rae Jepsen, Cat Power, Hole, Young Thug, Jamie XX, Miley Cyrus, Kendrick Lamar, Frankie Knuckles, Nico, Nicki Minaj, and Sérgio Mendes.

Who is/are the most important person(s) in your life?

My Mom, Robin Neff Clebnik is the most important! My agents Ivan Bart, Mina White, and Aaron Newbill at IMG are like parents, brothers, and sisters to me. Jill Soloway, the creator of Transparent, essentially gave me my acting career. These people have been important during the past few months; everyone and everything else seems to change so quickly. I'm working on building a relationship with myself. I'm just getting to know her.

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