Dominican Fashion Models

This interview was translated from spanish to english. It was made by a Dominican magazine called Estilo. It is a very humble and sincere interview where we get to learn more about the history of Rose. Enjoy!!

Interview with Rose Cordero
International Model

PH: Shameer Khan

Do you believe in Destiny? That we are born for something determined?
The “Black Rose” as she is called to differentiate her from another model with the same name from her mother agency. She was born to be in front of the cameras but not just any camera. If this isn’t destiny how do you justify that 15 years old from Pelave, Manoguayabo RD, and daughter of a maid and sanitation technician is now modeling in the fashion capitals of New York, Milan and Paris? And highlighted as one of the best newcomers
This is the story of Rose Cordero.

How did you start modeling? Did this ever cross your mind?
Rose: I was playing Volleyball at the Olympic Center this one time when this man came out of his car and approached me, I got so scared that I ran away thinking that he was a robber or a crazy man. He insisted that he wanted to talk to me because I had potential to become a model and I told him that I wasn’t interested. He insisted in giving me his business card and told me to tell my family to call him because I was only 13 years old at the time.
(This man Rose is talking about is Sandro Guzman founder of Ossygeno Model Management and the scout with the most Dominican models signed in the International market. She didn’t decide to call him until a year later when her aunt saw him on a television show and asked her if this was the guy that once asked her if she wanted to be a model.)

Did you ever dream about becoming a model?
Rose: No, my dream was to become a volleyball player, and travel all over the world playing this sport. When I got to New York it was very very cold, once we stepped out of the airport I told Sandro “ you better take me home” two days after I had a photoshoot with Teen Vogue and I loved it and made me totally forget about the cold.

(The Teen Vogue people chose her after being captivated by a picture of her they saw on facebook, while she was still in the Dominican Republic. She ended up doing her very first editorial a 12-page story)

What do you like the most about New York City?
Rose: The people are very happy it matches my personality. I love the park and the energy of the city… its like I belong here.

How do you feel about these people embracing your beauty?
Rose: Its like !wow! these people see something in me that people didn’t see around my neighborhood. I was teased a lot for being very skinny, they called me skeleton or flamingo all kinds of things. My self-esteem was very low and now these people appraise me for my looks.

Lets talk about your first experience on the runway outside of your country. The scenery was Milan walking for the English brand Burberry Prorsum. How did you feel?
Rose: I was very nervous, sweating and I told myself “ oh my God! What am I doing here? My booker was trying to calm me down; once it was time for me to come out into the runway I told myself “look Rose this is your family’s future, and if all these girls can do it so can you”.

Have you thought that this all came to you really fast and that it can also end as fast?
Rose: I never though about that, I only know that when times are good you have to enjoy and if bad times come it is all in God’s hands. I don’t have any complaints; I’m not a negative person.

What is the hardest thing about modeling in New York? What is the hardest thing that people don’t know?
Rose: In my case I wake up really early to take English classes, then I go to the agency they give me an agenda and I travel all over the city with my map to get to castings. Then photoshoots, then at night I get to my apartment go to sleep and start all over again the next day. Always giving it the best I can give.

Talk to me about your family, I know that you used to help raise your brothers and sisters because you are the oldest of the four and you are very close to them specially your father. How did you feel the day that you had to say good-bye?
Rose: It was very hard; I didn’t want to leave them but I told myself “ this could be a great future for my family and I, if God wants it to be”. I had second thoughts about modeling, but look how I was discovered so I think God had this saved for me.

You arrived to Paris confirmed for the fall/winter 2009 Louis Vuitton show. How did you feel?
Rose: It was something I will never forget. I called Sandro from Paris and told him I was fitted for this show called Louis Vuitton. When I got there I met the stylist and she told me this is what you are going to wear. They introduced me to Marc Jacobs who was really nice to me even though I didn’t speak any English. The next day was the show and as soon as I saw this gigantic runway I got goose bumps, I had so much energy that at the end of the runway I cried. I was alone in this city where I didn’t know the language, was very cold and I had to learn to be independent. That was very hard but I survived!!.

What do you do when you are sad and nostalgic?
Rose: When it is very cold I start thinking about my family and the beach (she pauses and cries)….. It is not easy, that’s when I call my mom and she tells me that everything is going to be allright and I believe her. I call the other Dominican models that live here like Roza Gough, Austria Alcantara and Yaris Cedaño, I invite them over and cook for them.

Oh really? What do you cook for them?
Rose: Everything. Last time they were here I cooked some rice with green beans, coconut and fish. Remember that I used to cook for my brothers and sisters everyday.

Did they all eat?
Rose: Of course, we all eat.

Tell us about how you feel being part of the “splash” that Dominican models are making in the international modeling world right now?
Rose: We have Arlenis Sosa who is doing great things and all the other girls too. When I arrive at the castings and photoshoots they tell me “ you are Dominican right? We love your people’s mixture”.

You have walked for Max Mara, Angelo Marani, done photoshoots for American and French Vogue, W and V magazine with models like Jourdan Dunn. What are you going to do so you don’t lose your origin and humility?
Rose: I will never forget my origin, when I used to wake up at 4:00 in the morning to go fishing with my dad in the Haina River to then sell the fish and go to school straight after that. I will always be thankful to Sandro Guzman who put all the efforts into bringing me here, because I never believed it. He is a great scout and a wonderful person. This is my job, my passion.

Diariolibre.com