Catching up with Matilda Rodgers

June 22, 2018

A couple of years ago, we interviewed model and artist, Matilda Rodgers. We thought it was time we checked in with her to see what she’s been up to:

Hi Matilda. It’s been a while since we interviewed you. How have you been?
I’ve been great! I changed my university degree and started studying Event Management which I am really enjoying, have been keeping myself busy with work, and I’ve been given some pretty cool opportunities with modelling, which is awesome!

Where in the world are you at the moment and what is it that’s brought you there?
I’m currently in Milan for modelling! At the end of last year a representative from my now agency, Independent Models Milan, came to Brisbane to scout girls, and in January they reached out to see if I would like to come over for the Summer season! At first I was a bit apprehensive; I was preparing to head back to uni and was not expecting to be asked overseas for modelling! I was also a bit concerned that I wouldn’t get any work here, but so far I have been working pretty well and getting a lot of experience which was the goal of the trip. In Australia is is very valuable to have international modelling experience, as clients in Australia will see you as a more professional model. So I’m super happy with how everything has gone so far, and hopefully the next five weeks here are just as amazing.

How long are you overseas for? Where have you been so far and where else will you be heading?
I will be overseas for 12 weeks total, which is the longest I’ve ever been somewhere completely on my own! I’m definitely proud of myself for doing this. I was in The Netherlands for the first week of my trip to visit my Mum’s family (as she is originally from there), and for the rest of the trip I will be based in Milan. I’m unable to do much travelling as I have to be available for bookings in Milan, however I am visiting Rome for a few days soon, and also plan to make some day trips to Como and Genoa when I can.

What are you missing most about Australia and what are you enjoying most about being in Europe?
Vegemite! Half joking, half serious. I definitely will be having vegemite on toast for breakfast when I return! I’m mostly missing my family, friends, boyfriend and my dog of course, but also the freedom I have in Australia to drive myself around. Although I definitely wouldn’t be able to navigate these streets and crazy drivers! But relying on the public transport system is always a bit annoying. You also don’t appreciate the open space in the suburbs of Brisbane; almost everywhere in Milan is very condensed and crowded with small streets and big buildings. And there aren’t a lot of parks or green spaces like we have in Australia! So it’ll be nice when I return, to go down to the park near my house and walk my dog, breathing in the fresh air.

The thing I am enjoying most is meeting people from all over the world. In my apartment we have girls from Ireland, Montenegro, Poland, China and Belgium, and I have met people from even more places at my castings! It’s really been interesting to find out how life for the girls is different where they live compare to Australia. And teach the girls some Australian slang! My Irish roommate found ‘Fair Dinkum’ to be one of the funnier things she’s every heard. I’m also enjoying how busy I am. There’s castings every day so I’m always running around exploring the city. You get to see a lot of Milan as a model, and find amazing places you might never have gone as a tourist!

What music are you listening to at the moment?
I am loving Harry Styles at the moment! I was a big One Direction fan as a young teen, so when Harry’s album came out I was super excited. I actually went to his concert the day before I left for Europe! The agency in Milan wanted me to come earlier, but I wouldn’t give up going to the Harry Styles concert for anything. He was just as amazing live as he is on record, and it was a great thing to do in Australia before I jetted off!

Tell us about your YouTube channel…
I’ve always wanted to do YouTube as I have always loved watching the videos from various creators. I actually learnt how to do makeup from watching YouTube tutorials, and always have loved editing videos so it seemed like a natural fit for me. I love doing makeup but most days I don’t get the opportunity to do any super out-there looks, so I see my channel as a creative outlet for me. I do makeup tutorials, more educational videos on makeup tips and tricks, fashion videos, challenges, and I’ve also started vlogging my travels recently which has been really fun! I will definitely try to keep vlogging when I come back to Australia, although the vlogs probably won’t be as interesting! I don’t really mind if my YouTube doesn’t take off; I love the creative process of planning, filming and editing my videos, so if no one watches them that’s okay! It’s just a fun extra hobby for me to do. If it could be a full-time job one day that would be amazing as I really enjoy it, but I’m not putting any expectations on it right now. I just want to try and create the best content possible!

As well a being a model and a Youtuber, you are of course an artist. Can you bring us up to date with what projects you’ve been working on?
Unfortunately with everything else going on I haven’t had much time for my art! Every year I do a piece for a local school which is auctioned off for charity. This year I was actually able to go and watch the auction, which was nerve-wracking but great to be able to see! This past year I was able to raise $18,000 for the school, selling the original artwork and 23 prints. It’s always amazing to help out a great cause, and I love doing the artworks so I definitely will be doing it again for next year. I would really love to create a series of work and possibly have an exhibition, but that has been put on the back burner for now. I also find it really hard to narrow down my ideas for a series, but when I do want to be serious about it I know I will be able to get something together that I’m really proud of.

You are clearly a person of many talents, with your art, modelling, YouTubing etc. Do you find it easy to balance your time between them all? Can you envisage a time when you would focus solely on one of these things? Do you have a career path planned, or will you just keep on being creative in all of these different disciplines and see where they take you?
It’s really tough! There are definitely too many things I’m interested in, and with studying my Event Management degree which I am trying to get done as well, it’s really hard to find time to do everything. If I HAD to choose, I love my art the most, but I don’t think I’ll be focussing solely on that until maybe I am a stay at home mother and can do my art at home (that is, if I’m lucky enough to not need to have a full-time job!). The great thing with art and YouTube is that you can do those things from anywhere in your free time. But I have too many other things happening to focus on either solely right now. I think considering the way modelling works, where you don’t have a guaranteed career or income, while I’m still doing that everything else I do will have to be a bit up in the air. I’m a big planner and unfortunately with my career I can’t really have a plan! I have to be very flexible, which is hard for me but I’m learning to accept it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My Mum always tells me to take a step back and breathe. I am a chronic overthinker and stresser, and a bit of a pessimist, so whenever anything goes wrong or MIGHT go wrong, I freak out. She said before you freak out just take a second to calm down and chill out. And usually when I do that I realise it isn’t that bad at all. That’s been super valuable for me especially whilst I’m overseas for modelling. And so far everything has been okay.

What are you going to do now that you’ve finished this interview?
I’m currently waiting to go into a casting (I’m very early as per usual!) and once this one is done I have to race to another one! Modelling in Milan is very touch and go, you need to be good at navigating the public transport system! And once I’m done that I’m going to head home and do a work out (we’ll see about that one, I’ve been a bit lazy lately, shh).