We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meika Chevalier a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Meika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
I very often feel misunderstood not only because I am a neurodivergent person, but also my work varies from being a skilled bartender to using an aerials hoop on a stage infront of an audience. People don’t see sustainability in my work. They say often say “oh you’ll get old and tired one day and then what will you have?”. They think I dont invest my money or time back into my craft, that my looks are the only part of the job I use, and that its in some people’s eyes immoral. To break that down, I’d have to start with sustainability. No job or career path is stable. My career is mostly freelance. Yes some days I may not get work, but I used those days to get things done I haven’t gotten around to. If you go into work tomorrow and your boss fires you, you need a new job that same day. I wouldn’t. Thats just as unstable as not finding work everyday. I’d even argue its more unstable because not only could you lose that job at any moment but then you have to scramble to find another before your bills are due. We all grind in our own ways. We all need to eat. Judging someone not by their character but their job is just wrong. I’ve worked hard and long hours to get where I am today. I am very proud of myself, my parents are proud, and my husband is proud. If I listened to all those people who tried to shame me or were jealous of me doing what makes me happy and making a living, I would probably be down on my luck and not being my true self today. I’d say I’ve done well for myself. I’ve lived more than most 28 year olds. I’ve also invested a lot into myself, my art, my dancing, my modeling, bartending, and my acting. I have built something with skills I’ve not only learned but have a passion for. The best thing I took from this is no matter what someone will always have an issue with your choices, even if they don’t know you. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t, so just do. Be happy. At the end of the day the only person who you have to make happy is yourself. Live your best life, you only get one.
Meika, 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?
The way I got into my industry was an unfortunate one. I was in a very abusive situation with this person who groomed me. I finally turned 18 and was able to start dancing. I started out gogo dancing, then I found this hole in the wall bikini bar and learned to do pole dancing, then the club I worked in also got an aerial hoop. I was only there for maybe a year and a half. I was making phenomenal money there and I fell in love with performing. I also incorporated gymnastics, interpreted dance, and gogo dancing into my acts. 10 years ago I turned the situation I was stuck in, into something beautiful. I also worked on my art, I got into bartending and just have such a passion for it. I love creating new cocktails and bar tricks. I love the crowd, the stimulating conversations, and just learning everyone’s journey. Everyone has their own unique story. I personally like to paint my stories on canvas and sometimes tell them over a drink. While I was learning these new found passions between 18-20 I also got into modeling. At first it was a hobby, but then I got published and the whole game changed. People wanted to shoot with me all the time, in many other cities and countries. I was shocked and needed to learn about the industry. Another local model brought me with her on trips for a couple years after that being my “mentor”. Unfortunately she held me back more than helped. She put me down, played on my medical conditions, lied to photographers about me and a bunch of other things. She also never really showed me how to work in the industry, but she did give me a lesson on how other models can be. Its a fierce and cut throat industry. There are some models that are genuine and great people and want to help you out. But theres some that just want to keep you down so they can speed past you and take all your work from under you. She didn’t stop me though. She didn’t ruin me or take from me. I’m still doing great and others are seeing who she is as a person. Shes lost a lot of work since then and that goes to show your attitude and how you talk about people will go a long way. Always respect the craft, your peers, and of course the photographers. Working freelance is great but having an agent can be great as well. Freelance has always worked better for me. I developed my skills to model, to create, to dance, and to entertain. I am my brand. My image is my brand. My marketing skills and sales skills are apart of my brand. My drive, my ambition ,my passion, and my intellect are all my brand. I’m proud of everything I’ve done. I have made huge changes in my life. I have a career path I love and plan to add more in the future. I strive to go to school soon for Java development as well and get more into the creative side of IT and tech. Maybe even get into graphic design. But let’s move on from here.
Another big part of my career paths is vetting people. There are legitimate producers and photographers out there who take their craft seriously. Some others are what we can GWC(guy with a camera), they are not real photographers and just want explicit videos and pictures of models( all genders are at risk here). They can also be involved with some shady people. If you plan to get into modeling or have a client who wants to hire you for any kind of private event, whether its bartending/catering, performing, or just consulting for future business, please make sure you do your research on them. Look up their name, phone number, ask for references from previous models or staff they have worked with, ask more details about what they would like to hire you for, make sure you get deposits for these events etc. Always cover your bases. Make sure who you are working with is safe. Another thing is always give the photographer/ client / audience a great first impression. Always smile. Be 15 minutes early because that is on time and on time is late. Always be welcoming and open to new ideas. Make a list of the needs that need to be met for the shoot or art piece or show or event for the evening. Thats just some of the ways you can be helpful to everyone, including yourself, and make a great first impression. I’m always available for hire and always willing to travel to work! I try to travel a week at a time once or twice a month. You gotta have a good work, life balance in this industry.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The work itself. I love the process from start to finish. With modeling, I love the lights, the camera, the art we create from start to finish, its just so much fun and it makes me feel great about myself. When selling paintings, and someone gets that twinkle in their eye from my work and just fall in love with it. I love that look, cause in that moment I know they see the beauty I see in my own work. Or when I’m on stage and the crowd is going wild and has the most impressed look on their faces from my performances, its always a pleasure to see them smile and enjoy themselves. I guess I’d have to say looking good, feeling good, and making those around me feel happy is the most rewarding part. Getting paid is great too lol!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
I think they’re absolutely awful for a multitude of reasons. Are they stupid? Yes. Is the concept working? Also yes. Is the creator stupid? No. Someone managed to basically make a jpeg look extremely valuable and sold it to rich people. You can just save any NFT to your computer without purchasing it. Its genius really. A short con but they did it. It’s just astonishing someone is rich right now off a jpeg that someone could have simply saved to their laptop/computer without purchasing but did anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allmylinks.com/montana-rojo
- Instagram: @Rojomontana_
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/my.marzipan.
massacre - Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/montana_rojo
- Other: https://sessiongirls.com/rojo-montana/ | https://www.modelmayhem.com/MaliceMarzipan
Image Credits
@Ridiculouzvisualz @sirkoby_s_photography @jezebelsfascination @5.boro.photography.nyc