(Caribbean/West Indies) St. Lucian born Mala Bryan
Ethnicity: African descent
As the Hollywood success story goes, “I was shopping at a store in St. Martin in October of 2000. Unbeknown to me, the store had just opened and there was a casting session for potential models to represent the island at a competition in Paris. The moment I walked in, I was pushed to the table to sign up, and before I knew it, measuring tapes were all over me and I am being asked questions about being available to fly to Paris and all that. It all happened so quickly, before I knew it, it was December and I was in Paris strutting my stuff down a runway at the Moulin Rouge, for the first time in my life; I couldn’t believe it. My natural given talent kicked in and helped me secure second place, which resulted in me being awarded a three-year contract with Karin Models, and the rest as they say is history. Who knew that a skinny little girl, who spent most of her childhood between rural counties would grow up to fill the pages of magazines all over the world and strut the runway worldwide clothed in wears by some of the world’s top designers.”
Saint Lucia is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean with 2 distinctive mountains, the Pitons, on its west coast.
It’s known for its beaches and reef-diving sites, as well as its rainforested interior with waterfalls such as at Toraille. It’s home to quiet volcanic beaches and fishing villages as well as luxurious resorts, and the capital, Castries, is a regular cruise ship stop.
Population: 182,273 (2013) World Bank
Runway: Fendi, La Perla, Just Cavalli, Tommy Hilfiger. Saks 5th Ave, Serena Williams, Nike, etc…
Catalog: Macy’s West, Macy’s Richies, Macy’s Burdines, Sears, Hechts, Filenes
Editorials: Source, Yes! (Holland), Loaded (London), German Max(Germany) Suede, Essence, Esquire, Tropical (St.Barths)
Quote: Modeling helps me in achieving that goal as I get to travel which provides me with the opportunities to learn different cultures and be exposed to different walks of life.
As far as your model career is concern what won’t you do???
Full nudity and tobacco ads. Topless maybe, if it is tastefully done. Playboy once offered $25,000 for the pictures and $100,000 for the year of publicity but I had to say no. That easily is the greatest offer I have ever received, but I have a little sister who really looks up to me, so I have to pick and choose my jobs well.
What do you find sexy about a man or woman?
Let me look at my fiancée and see, on a man, his eyes. I love long eyelashes and he’s got that, my sister too, tall and well built but not too muscular, and juicy lips nice and pink [laughs]. On a woman I like a well shaped butt, firm legs, and a nice stomach not necessarily flat but no tires. And I like women that take good care of their hair, no matter how ugly people think you are once your hair looks good, it helps. Oh yeah and I like boobs, not A cups though, B through DD, and real ones too!
How is it that you are saying that you are shy when your profession requires you to be the exact opposite – bold, extraverted, confident?
I know, I still really can’t cope too well, but it is a challenge and I love challenges. It still works against me, sometimes it takes me a while to get comfortable for the photographer, but once I get used to whatever situation I am in, I get loose and nothing can stop me. I try to think of all the haters and say this is for them! [laughs]
Is there anyone who made you feel bad or discourages you that you would like to say, “Hey look at me now!”
All the haters know themselves, I just want to let them know they are the ones giving me the courage to go on.
Quote:
Feeling the pressure to be even thinner all around. Going to the castings and see all the castings directors admiring the extremely thin. I look around and observe. Is she smaller than me? I wonder what diet she’s on. But I don’t think I really want my bones sticking out like that. Is that really what it takes? I look down and my boobs are staring me in the face, I love them but right now I have lots of doubt. Then I start to hate myself for thinking that way. I go home and I’m starving, so many castings I had no time to stop and eat. Maybe that was the trick, but now I am done with my day I can think of nothing else but food. Should I? I don’t think so, I hop on the scale and I think I gained a pound, hmmm… maybe not. I guess I should go to bed since I’m so exhausted and weigh myself again in the morning.
First thing in the morning I try my best to drink 4 glasses of water, I read somewhere that it is the best thing to do when you wake up (helps cleanse your colon), then I use the bathroom and head over to the scale, much better it was just waste. I go to my room and measure myself, nothing changed but I feel better. Then back for another round of castings, I observe. Is there a reason why so many of them look like young boys? Maybe it’s the new thing, oh well I’ll try to push my butt forward so I don’t look like I have anything back there. Here we go again, stop it; you’re beautiful I say but I’m not convinced. Oh my, do you see how thin she is?? Is that really what I want to look like? Everyone tells me how skinny I got but I don’t see it, I don’t see how I can be since I eat like a pig. But I guess I do see it sometimes.
So then why do I still think I need to go down some more? But then I realize, I’m the tallest one there maybe that has something to do with it. Walking to my next casting and I think I felt my thighs rub against each other. I look down but it does not seem possible, I am out of my mind now. Oh my, will God punish me for now appreciating the body that he’s blessed me with? Why do I feel like it needs to be accepted by everyone? I don’t know. I’ve got curves, so what? Still a size 2, which should be something special right? I’ll go home, look myself in the mirror and smile for a few minutes. Tell myself how much I love me. But I’m afraid, what would happen if I couldn’t say I love you back. I’m here sitting on a train writing this, on the verge of tears. Maybe it’s all part of the game. But I love doing shows, when I’m out there I feel like I’m in a world that was meant for me. But I just can’t be an anorexic. Can’t always have it all now can we???
