Interview: Talulah-Eve of "Britain's Next Top Model"

Model Talulah-Eve, now branching out into the model-slash-actress world with her new Into the Mirror role, found her power using a name predicted by a psychic. Yes, really! And that isn’t all. As someone called Britain’s first trans supermodel, she raises awareness of trans issues as a public ambassador of a successful trans woman in entertainment who doesn’t believe in stereotypes.

As someone who is in the public eye granting interviews as many trans people fear physical abuse or being fired from their jobs, what issues facing the trans community would you like to speak about on behalf of trans people who don’t have the strength to speak out about discrimination?

Issues such as mental health. I feel that mental health plays such a main factor in a trans persons life and that it’s so different having mental health as a trans person because most people don’t understand our mentality and mind set. I’ve suffered with anxiety for most of my life. In the past I would have panic attacks when speaking in public because I was so scared about my voice sounding deep and manly. My depression had me spend days on end locked in my bedroom without opening the curtains and facing daylight. Becoming who you truly feel you are is a journey. Remaining content with who you are after that is a battle. 

You get called Britain’s first trans supermodel. As the definition of supermodel changes, what is yours? I once read Naomi Campbell said to be one, you must be within the pages of magazines around the world within the same month. Of course, that is changing because we now have the web, social media, and brands that didn’t exist overtaking old school fashion houses.

My definition of a supermodel is a model that is consistently booked for work by the most renowned brands - the big ones! Someone who’s face you instantly recognise on the billboards and magazines.

Which campaigns and types of employment do you want to have as a model?

Well currently I’m venturing into acting, dancing and DJIng. The purpose of being a model is to be the vision for the creator. A blank canvas so to speak. So it’s not quite the job role when you’re trans because the industry is a lot more interested in your story more than your look. To which there’s no problem with that but I feel from my experience it became my job role/purpose to be a role model rather than just a model. I feel I’ve told my story a lot, I’ve inspired a lot of people and  in that sense I feel I’ve served my purpose however now I want to focus on manifesting my talents.

Do you have other career goals within entertainment or becoming an entrepreneur?

I’m crafting my talent as a burlesque dancer currently! I’ve always wanted to perform in some kind of way. So this and acting is my main forte at the moment as well as the modelling campaigns obviously.

The other day, YouTuber Nikkie de Jager of NikkieTutorials was being blackmailed by someone threatening to reveal she was a trans woman. Personally, I have seen her videos due to me researching film makeup ideas as a geek, and it never once occurred to me that she was trans. I don’t know how the blackmailer might have figured it out. She wound up beating the person to it by outing herself as a trans woman. What do you think about this PR strategy? Has anyone ever blackmailed you?

I personally think everyone she be able to reveal their identity when and if they want to. Being blackmailed is something I’ve experienced on many occasions especially in my younger days before transgender had more awareness and exposure in the mainstream. I’ve had boyfriends in the past where I’ve not told them I’m trans (because I’m post-op) and people who have found out have blackmailed me- threatening to tell them. I think in regards to the media and this PR strategy, this wasn’t necessarily such a bad time for her to reveal her transition. There’s becoming more and more support and awareness for our community now and so for her this will have only elevated her success.

Over the years, trans women are critical of Hollywood films’ fascination with trans characters’ body parts rather than the story. What else could be improved with portrayals of trans characters? Are there any films or TV shows that do it right?

The television and film industry is such a power platform in order to influence, inspire and change the world we live in! This being said the industry do not do enough- not only do we need to see the reality of our lives played out in film but we need to see our future played out on the big screen too. they need to normalise our lives and not alienate our characters. The more we see trans people doing normal things and acting out the same roles that cis people do, the rest of society will follow suite. That’s the power of TV and Film.

Currently, there’s an AMAZING series on Netflix called Pose which I absolutely lovely. It shows the lives and movement of the LGBT in New York back in the 80’s, it’s so theatrical and very well done. Authentically using trans actors as well! We need to see more like this. 

Also there’s a film I starred in recently called Into The Mirror which is about a young boy that lost his mum and is being bullied in the workplace but later goes onto discover his true self at an underground cirque vibe club.

You became Talulah-Eve remembering a physic told you about a powerful woman named Talulah in your life. Are you a spiritual person? One of my theories, and I worry people will think I’m crazy but I don’t care, is that trans people have all had past lives as who they were, and they were reborn in new genders that did not match their past selves. What are your theories on life?

Wow, that’s a very interesting theory, I like that! Yes I’m very spiritual. I’ve always been drawn to the Indian side of spirituality like Buddhism and Hare Krishna because it just seems to really fit well with me. I recently went to a Hare Krishna temple in Ireland at a time where my head was a little jumbled and it really helped me centre myself again. So currently I’m trying to practice the Hare Krishna faith more and I love it.

I would say a lot of people are born with the gift when it comes to psychics. My talents have definitely matured as I’ve got older so I do get a lot of signs about things. I believe that a women like me that have fully transitioned have give the highest sacrifice to god and therefore we’re given blessings.

I believe that life is all about energy. And the way you treat people, as long as you’re a good person in life and don’t harm others that’s all that matters. It shouldn’t matter what you do to be happy as long as you’re happy and content and not harming anyone else.

If Top Model hadn’t worked out, what might you be doing right now to further your career?

If I hadn’t have done Top Model, I’d have probably focused more on my dancing and acting!

we always end with the person describing fav hobbies and food. What are yours?

My favourite hobbies are dancing and meditation. I also love shopping as a hobby and visiting new places. My favourite food is seafood and in particular I love Thai red curry!