I recently had the opportunity to interview model, Laneya Arvizu.  She is extremely beautiful  inside as well as outside.  However, Laneya has added a newer dimension to her modeling career — that of the model who has incorporated tattoos, rather than hiding them, making her appearance stand out.

Although tattoos are no longer the “forbidden fruit” they were just 10-20 years ago, it is still uncommon to see a model displaying them in professional photos.  Laneya, clearly a woman who thinks for herself, defied the norm and shares her intricate sleeve of tattoos with the world, enabling the public to appreciate the artistic additions to her natural beauty.

CarolynTopolTalk:  When did you get your first tattoo and what inspired you to do so?

Laneya Arvizu:   I was 19 or 20.  I went with my older sister and we got our first tattoos together.  She got a butterfly on the top of her right foot and I got butterfly wings around the Chinese symbol for “good luck” on the front of my right ankle.  At least that is what I was told, it could mean “donkey” for all I know–hahaha!

CTT:  Did you intend, right from the start, to develop a “sleeve”?  If not, when did that concept come to mind?

LA:  I did not.  My sleeve is a collection based on people who have had great significance in my life over the past 6 years.  I really just kept adding these amazing people and the sleeve just developed.

CTT:  Were you concerned that the tattoos might limit your modeling opportunities or did you know the direction you intended to take?

LA:  No, I feel like all the ink I have is easily covered if needed.  Tattoos are not taboo anymore, if anything I have gotten more work.

CTT:  Does each new artistic addition have an individual meaning or does the sleeve, as a whole, represent a complete story?

LA:  Yes to both.  Each flower, insect, and owl represents a special person to me.  so, I guess I would call my sleeve my hearts story.

CTT:  Can you share the meaning/inspiration of a few of your tattoos and how you chose to represent artistically?

LA:  For a short time in my life I had a job at a flower shop.  I enjoyed it very much and the owners of the shop started to teach me how to become a florist.  I fell in love immediately.  It is so calming and you can be as creative as you want.  This has inspired a lot of my tattoos.  In my sleeve the flowers represent important people in my life.

CTT:  When did you decide to become a model?  Did you initially intend for modeling to be your career?

LA:  No, I never intended on becoming a model.  When I was a child I wanted to become a scientist or librarian.  I made modeling a career in my twenties.

CTT:  You tend to tweet a number of inspirational quotes on a regular basis.  How has this helped you?

LA:   I believe in the law of attraction.  You are what you think of most.  In fact that is how my boyfriend, Christopher [Christopher Sean–actor, Days of Our Lives & Hawaii Five-0],  and I really connected, over the same beliefs.  I practice mudra meditation everyday and focus on what I want for the day, not what I do not want.  That is always happiness, success, and love.  So, doing the positive motivational tweets helps me give happiness, success and love to whomever wants it, and in return I stay in that positive mindset myself.

CTT:  As a model, what is a typical day like for you?  Does your career, and its associated goals, ever get in the way of your personal life’s goals?

LA:   I don’t have shoots or gigs everyday.  The busiest day I have had was a live modeling event for a comic convention.  After all the prep and pictures with people all day then getting cleaned up to go home — it was like an 18 hour day.  I feel like there is always going to be sacrifice when you have a career, no matter if you are a doctor, actor, teacher, lawyer, or model.  If you love what you do, you find a balance in your life.

CTT:  In addition to modeling, do you have any interest in expanding to other areas in the arts–perhaps acting?

LA:  Hahaha!  I get this question often.  The answer is no.  I get stage fright; I leave the acting to my incredibly talented boyfriend.

Thank you to Laneya for being so generous and candid with her answers.  Her photos, several pictured above, speak volumes about her modeling talent.  It was a privilege to be able to share a small piece of Laneya Arvizu’s story!

[Photo Credits: Allan Sturm; Oak Giant (Brandon Tyler Williams) IG @oak_giant; Eric Cacioppo IG @filmpunk]