Model To Know: Benjamin Aston
You did Elite Model Look in 2015. Tell us about it.
It was such a fantastic experience. We did a bootcamp for two weeks where we had some catwalk and social media training, and did photoshoots. It was a great opportunity to make friends - I had never done anything like it before but it was the same for everyone! There were people from so many countries, it was insane. It made me realise how important it is to speak different languages as a model.
What did you learn?
Without bootcamp, I wouldn’t know how to walk a runway, I mean, where would you learn this otherwise? It is always nice to run into these friends I made at the World Final at castings. We hang out after the castings, or meet for a coffee. Elite Model Look definitely made the first steps in this industry much easier.
How did you apply?
I modelled for a friend of mine at home in Switzerland and she sent the pictures to an agency. They put me forward for Elite Model Look - and I won!
How have the last two years since Elite Model Look been for you?
First of all, I can’t believe it’s already been two years! And it has been great. The Top 15 got to do a photoshoot for Vogue Italia. A day later I was back home and on the way to school! It was surreal. I remember thinking I would love to finish school soon and work as a model. Well, now I actually have graduated and can go full time. It feels like it’s been two weeks, not two years!
Do you keep in touch with the Elite Model Look models you met?
Yes, I do! But once you really start working, everyone is in different places at different times, which makes it much harder to hang out. But every now and then, you meet at a casting and spend some time together. We try to stay in contact and visit each other when we can. Social media really helps!
Do you have a bucket list?
I do have one! Working at fashion week in Paris, Milan and London is top of my list. And travelling. I have already been to Costa Rica and did a bungee jump there. It was incredible! I jumped 80 meters blind because I couldn’t see a thing, it was so foggy! Modelling made it possible for me to travel so much more and even stay in Milan for two months. It was incredible. I’m in London right now, and it is really cool, I love England.
What do you do during your time off?
I am really into sport, especially football. I played handball and tennis for a while too, but football stuck with me. Then something really unfortunate happened - I damaged my meniscus! So I had to dial it back a little bit and be more careful. I had to take a break from surfing. I snowboard in the winter, but as I’m travelling right now, that is on hold too.
What is your advice for people applying to Elite Model Look?
It might sound cheesy but stay true to yourself! Before I left for the World Final, I Googled it and realised how big it actually was! I thought, I can never do that! But then once you are there and know all the people, it is really fun. There was no need to be intimidated whatsoever. So I would say just be yourself, be open to everything and do your best.
