We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ayumu Hinata a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ayumu thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Published photo vogue was one of my big achievements

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello everyone! My name is Ayumu I am originally from Japan. I’ve never had modeling experience in my country. Our culture is more conservative and like to be blended.

I started model 2018 after challenged bodybuilding competitions.
I was shy, more introverted back in a days but I wanted to change, especially how I looks, how I feel about myself.

I was over weight when I was kid, lost weight and gained back after had my baby. Just couldn’t get out weight gain spiral. I decided to ultimately challenge to bodybuilding and I did.
I felt confident and proud of myself so wanted to capture my hard work.

That’s how I started modeling.
I shoot fashion, editorial, beauty shoot, bikinis, boudoir and fine art.
I also wanted to challenge runway show and I did 13 runway shows, over 30 publications of magazines and 2 publications of photo vogue.

I absolutely love being a model and love to challenge myself.

I am not cookie cutter model.
I am unique
I am original
I am the one of kind
That is my motto!!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

When I grow up school has uniforms with very restrictive dress code. Skinny is beautiful is most Asian countries.
But I was always felt uncomfortable.
Many people were judgmental for looks.
But we created original fashions in Japan but that’s not enough for me.

When I started model it was my best shape in entire my like as my vision. Not from others of course. But I felt confident and feel beautiful.
Started fashion shoot with many of photographers. Because I don’t know what I was doing.
I practice posing, smile, and start getting decent pictures. But still yet I was aspiring model I still don’t know what type of shoot I want or good at it.

Like a color. Your favorite color is not necessary to be best color on you.
I wanted to know and I wanted to be better at it. I push my boundaries to challenge step out my comfort zone boudoir. Shoot.

Those type of shoot you gets a lot of criticism, judgement or in appropriate compliment. If you want to be better at it just be professional and take it 50 %as advice, 50% go through.

I cried a lot when I see mean comments or disrespectful comments for my work. Because I took too personal.
I asked advice to veterans models that just known in the social media but they are very nice and very supportive to gave me many advice. I get over 1 big wall.

I published couple time before Covid shut down but after shutdown I was changed a lot.
I have lost my family, lost my hope, lost motivation and lost confidence.
But photographers that knows me as “model Ayumu” they doesn’t care! They accept my change and gradually bring me back to front of camera.
And i express more front of camera.

Also I started submitting magazines, website and vogue.
I made it vogue 2 times!! I am proud myself!!
If you want see your progress you do your work! Don’t wait other people do for you!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a woman we have body images, shapes , aging, many kind of the way discourage and be insecure.

But I found the way make me feel better, make me happy and make myself more confident.We human everyday can’t be a happy, life happens. But this is my way to be make myself happy, make myself better person to be.

I never forget photographers told me that “ I’ve been watching your growth, Your dedication, and I am glad finally working with you”

This is it!!

People who in this industry noticed my work is gets better and better !!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mjscorpion
• Facebook: Ayumu Hinata
• Twitter: @ayumuhinata1

Image Credits
Rodolfo A Lopez Bracy photos New lens photography Rakimism photography JC Stark Mono Joseph El-Evans Photography Carter focus