Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of ‘Have You Met This Glorious Human?’ Take a seat, pour yourself a drink and nestle further down into the butt groove of your favourite chair. Today we’re shining the spotlight on New Zealand model Becky and she is 100000% worth your undivided attention and time.
Becky recently made the hop, skip and a jump over to London where she continues to live life to the fullest. Despite moving to the other hemisphere, she still considers herself to be a kiwi through and through, crediting a childhood spent in a beautiful beach community for this lingering relaxed, sunny outlook on life. “I was that typical Kiwi kid who spent her days running around in the sand and grass,” she says. “I was never afraid of getting dirty and never worried about germs or bugs (aside from spiders—ew). I think this forced me to be down-to-earth and to really appreciate nature. I care more about people, nature and experiences rather than material items.”
See? Don’t you want to know everything about her from that tiny snippet of convo alone? Well, if it isn’t your lucky day. After dressing Becky up in some fresh and fruity outfits, we headed off in search of an adventure, asking her a whole host of questions about life—in London and in general—along the way. After you’re done eyeballing our fab day out in London in the gallery above, get to know her better below…
How have you found the move to London so far?
I’m nearly three months in and, man, I can’t believe how fast it has gone. I feel like I adjusted super fast, although it also feels like I’ve been here for years. I’m absolutely loving it!
What sparked your decision to move?
I have been traveling on and off alone since I was 17, which naturally forced me to be independent. My heart will always be in New Zealand, but it was time for me to leave the nest. I wanted to keep exploring and expanding, and felt like London was a great place to start.
What was your first impression of London? How has that changed in the past few months?
My first impression was Heathrow airport and needless to say it’s crazy. I spent my first few days with a good friend in Kingston, so that was a nice, slow introduction into busy London life. I have lived in big cities like Tokyo and Paris before, but there’s this energy about London that took me by surprise. At first it didn’t make much sense to me, but now that I have settled in, I get it. It’s a mish mash and confusing at times, but that’s the beauty of it.
Where are your favourite places to eat, shop, drink and chill in London?
I’ve become accustomed to pub food paired with a pint. Eek! When it comes to shopping, I hands down will always say charity stores. Almost every piece of clothing I own is from a charity store. Hello, sustainability and one of a kind pieces! When it comes to chilling, my go-to is one of their beautiful parks. London does green spaces so, so well.
How did you get into modelling? Can you tell us the story of how you came to be signed to your agency?
I was told as a kid that I should get into modeling constantly (I’ve always been super long and lanky). In my first year of high school, when I was 14, I expressed an interest in modelling to my older sister, so she gave me the names of a few New Zealand agencies. I started following Clyne on Instagram out of curiosity and then a few days later received a direct message from them asking if I would come in for a meeting.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? And the most challenging?
This job has opened so many doors for me that I will forever be grateful for. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to travel at such a young age if it wasn’t for this job. I have also met so many amazing creatives that I draw inspiration from. The most challenging thing about this work is the unknown. There’s no structure or routine, so you have to learn to adapt to new people and places all the time.
Do you consider yourself a spiritual person?
I think that the word ‘spiritual’ can be interpreted in so many different ways. To me spirituality is being in touch with yourself, your surroundings and other people, and truly listening to your body and gut feeling. I also believe that there is more than the eye can see; something wonderful and magical.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
It sounds so cheesy, but growing up, my mum always told me to be myself and not to care about what other people think. Everybody is one of a kind, so do your thing, boo. Take leaps and say f*k it. Step outside of your comfort zone and give something new a try.
What would happen if you had to give up social media for a week?
Every now and then I delete Instagram and other social media apps to clear my head. I find moving to new cities can get overwhelming. For me, it’s so helpful to eliminate anything that distracts me from really taking it all in.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
If I’m honest, the first thing I do is check my phone. I’m really trying to get out of that habit. For a while, the first thing I would do is write down all my dreams the second I woke up then do a sun salutation (yoga).
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is seriously hard as I’m a huge foodie and get so much enjoyment from trying new stuff. Anyone that knows me, knows that I will eat almost anything and everything. I think at the moment I would say salads. They are so versatile and wholesome! A salad could also be pasta, for instance!
What’s the coolest or most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
My wise friend in London recently told me that if you ever lose something, check the last place you left it.
What are you most looking forward to for the rest of 2019?
Meeting new people! That’s the most exciting thing about moving. I’m still the new kid on the block (a.k.a in London). Also, having my first full British Christmas. I’ve never really had a big Christmas spirit, but I will definitely be hitting up all the Christmas markets!
What books are you reading at the moment?
I’m currently reading the classic ‘1984’ by George Orwell. I’ve only just started it, so don’t have a lot to say, except that he is a great writer and he can really paint a picture.
Favourite song?
This is so, so hard! I listen to so many different genres depending on my mood. At the moment I’m going to have to say ‘Sliced Tomatoes’ by the Just Brothers. A bit of a classic that just makes me want to dance!
Are there any cultural shifts you hope will happen in the next 10 years?
Ideally, I would love every living human to be aware of their carbon footprint. If everyone could change at least one aspect of their day-to-day life that is more considerate and kind to Mother Earth, it would help a lot. We only have one home, let’s not f*k it up.
What’s most important to you in life?
There are many things that are important to me in life. One of them is being surrounded by people that are constantly teaching and inspiring me to be the best version of myself. Also, doing things that bring joy to myself and others around me is also very important.
Why do you think friendships are so important?
Good friends are like family. It’s like unconditional love and you only wish the best for them. The cool thing about friends is that they can turn your day around in seconds.
What does ‘cool’ mean to you?
‘Cool’ is effortlessly being yourself and saying f*k it! Being weird and wonderful. Stepping out of your comfort zone and just loving life!
Feature: Madeleine Woon Photos: Daphne Nguyen Fashion: Chloe Hill Beauty: Corinna Wilmshurst
Becky is represented by:
Est Models LONDON
Clyne NEW ZEALAND
Shot on location in Paddington, London
