We were lucky to catch up with Mila Moon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mila, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Since I was in middle school, I couldn’t imagine myself going to college. I, in fact, couldn’t imagine myself even turning 20. I am now 20 years old, looking back at 12 year old me thinking that she would be proud of 20 year old Mila. I grew up a tomboy in middle school, I broke every dress code I possibly could in highschool. I would do anything to be different. Fitting in was something that never appealed to me. Which lead me to finding alternative ways of not only dressing, but thinking, living, making a career. I started my career in modeling when I was 16 years old, first posting to Instagram and building a following. I got my first big brand deal right before I turned 17, and from then on I knew my art meant something, and that I could pursue a job in modeling. When highschool was coming to an end, I never applied to any colleges despite being a high marking student. If my life is really mine, then I will create my own way, with my own passions, never confirming to what the rest of the world thinks people should. I love living in an alternative way, I love being unconventional, and I love being an artist.
Mila, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Mila Moon, I’m 20 years old and I’m from Western New York. I’m an 80s inspired model with a passion for everything Hair Metal. My love for Hair Metal began with my father stepping into my room one night with the ‘Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey’ soundtrack on CD in his hand. I popped it into my 1996 secondhand boombox and my life was changed forever. I was Introduced to bands such as Winger, Slaughter, Faith No More and others, which lead me to learning more and more about the genre, listening to more and more bands until Hair Metal consumed my playlist. I was 13 when I first began my journey, when I turned 16 is when I began to share my love for everything 80s and Hair Metal with the internet. When I began dressing 80s and posting on Instagram and TikTok, I had no idea there was an entire community on there filled with people just like me who lived in another decade. With the support of all my dear friends and mutuals, I was able to create a name for myself in the community. I quickly began to be scouted for album covers such as WANTED’s “Late Attraction” and Foxy Venus’ “Thirsty For Love”. As my image grew, I was hired to be in Void’s “Return Of The Phantom” music video where I ended up meeting my boyfriend of over a year. I’m very thankful for all the support I’ve gotten through the years and everyone who has believed in me and wanted me to succeed. I’ve got to experience amazing things and live my life how I’ve always dreamed I would.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Not too long ago, I had a few brands use my photos that I took of myself, and used AI to edit their product onto my body to promote their brand. As a model who is literally hired for this type of thing, it really bothered me that someone would use me like that, without my permission, without paying me. It opened my eyes to the dangers of the internet. The way everything is so anonymous. Anyone can be doing anything with my content, and I’ll never know. As someone who’s whole life is available for everyone to see on the internet, I’ve made sure that I remember that. There was another time someone used my photos, personality, relationships with people, and life to catfish someone on a friend finding website. I only found out when the person who was catfished reached out to me after the imitator couldn’t keep up the act anymore. No one really realizes the danger of being a personality to on the internet, people think that just because you have a big following, that you’re not a real person anymore. That they could just say anything they want about you and do whatever they want with your hard work. That is something I’ve learned very quickly.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding thing about being a personality on the internet is the amount of young girls who look up to me. Girls who take inspiration from me, who have found themselves through me. I’ve been told by many people that I’ve inspired them to dress the way that they want, that I’ve given people confidence to go in public expressing themselves without any boundaries or societal limitations. That is something that I wish I had in my youth, an influence that was bigger than me, that paved that could pave the way for me to express myself so freely. But I am also very grateful that I got to do all of that myself. To be the real unapologetic me and take the risk of going out in public, or at school, or on the internet and expressing my love for everything 80s and Hair Metal. Just being so unconventional in every way. But hearing that I have some sort of influence, and I’m a source of inspiration for younger girls who remind me of me when I was their age is just so rewarding in so many ways
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milaa.mp3?igsh=MWJrNjNsOW1sY2s4cA==
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mila.mp3?_r=1&_t=ZP-95517o219G3
