We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hunter Hanna Yox a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hunter, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I wish I could be a model as my full time job! Who doesn’t wish they were as creative full time? But unfortunately, that’s not very realistic to a lot of creatives. Maybe if I lived in one place and didn’t have to move every few years, I could have signed with an agency. However, that’s not my reality. I’m an army spouse, which means I move every 3 years to a new location. But that doesn’t stop me from creating art!
Every new town I move to, I find the creatives, the ones who, like me, cannot make art their full time job. We come together and collaborate on different projects, thinking outside the box depending on what skills we bring to the table.
I don’t regret not signing to a label or an agency, although I do dream about what my life would have been if I did. But being freelance has taught me more than I feel I would have been taught singing to an agency. I’ve met so many amazing fellow creatives, and I’ve done amazing photoshoots and projects that are definitely comparable to what you’ll see in vogue. If my modeling never makes it past 200 likes on Instagram, I’ll be okay with that because the quality of work I create, I know is worth a million even if a million don’t get to see it.
Hunter, 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 first got into modeling when I was 20 years old I think. So I’ve been modeling for almost 9 years now. I’ve always wanted to be a model but figured it would never happen. But one day, a mutual friend of mine asked me to pose for some photos (he was an up and coming photographer in the area) and it’s been history since!
My main area of modeling is avant-garde meets fashion. I really love to do glamour satire as well. I create most of my own outfits, props, accessories, sets. I thrift and upcycle most of what I model.
I love the creative process. I’m one of those people who can see an item, like snail boots. Boots that look like snails. I can see that, envision a nude colored bodycon dress that looks wet, slicked back hair, clear slime covering my body. Poses to include: Vogue, very limp poses but elegant. Very similar to when I shot with honey poured over my head! Haha.
I think the biggest thing for me and for a lot of creatives is getting discouraged. “I’m not famous”, “I only got 30 likes on Instagram”. I’ve been there. Seriously, I’ve been there. I like to think, at the end of the day, I may not be world wide but at least I’m famous in my group of creatives, as well as them, they are also famous in our group. Success looks different to everyone, if your success is being world wide, then stop at nothing to obtain that goal.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn as a model is: models don’t have to fit in a certain box. I’ve met so many locally success models who had wheelchairs, who weren’t 91lbs, who were 54 years old. With the right passion, the right talent and the right attitude, anyone can be a model.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect for me is when a follower of mine will meet me in person, and tell me how amazing my art is. I may only get 30 likes on my work, but the fact that an actual person said that to me really just makes what I do worth it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kisses_and_lace
- Other: TikTok: @kisses_and_lace
Image Credits
The credits are on my Instagram page, I’m sorry, I can’t remember all the photographer I’ve worked with.