John Scott describes Mimi Elashiry as “the first Social Media Supermodel.”
“It’s ironic because Mimi was rejected by modelling companies here in Australia who said she was too short,” he says. “She didn’t let that put her off and has forged ahead in spite of that.”
The reason everyone is so keen to know more about this Sydney born model is that within a few short years she has grown her devoted instagram followers to an incredible 1.1 million.
She posted a shot of her driving the uber cool new Mini and it received 25,000 likes in the first day. Such is the engagement of this dark haired beauty. Not bad for a fresh out of high-school girl. Here, we talk to Mimi about how she got started and why she refused to be put off by earlier rejections. Read on for our chat with Mimi…
Here, Aussie model Mimi Elashiry – dubbed the first Social Media Supermodel tells us about her amazing career.
How did you earn the title the world’s first social media supermodel?
I used to be on the Panadol ads when I was a kid (in the lion suit) so I’ve been in this space since I was really little. But when I was about age 13 I was told by modelling agencies that I wasn’t tall enough and I was too old for the younger market and so I stopped doing it. Instead, I focused more on my dancing and sort of forgot about modelling for a few years.
Then, I got back into modelling towards my final years of school. I just did stuff for friends’ labels, and then I started to network a little bit and I met the guys behind Life Without Andy. They started to do some photographic shoots with me and I guess my name got out there. Suddenly, I started to be booked for jobs like General Pants. My social media presence started to grow organically and this was a massive help.
Was that the only set-back… that you were too short?
As far as I was concerned! I was so busy dancing that modelling was just put on the side. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I was still so young and studying at school, but I thought I could bring something different to the table. It was an organic flow and it just happened.
Your Instagram numbers are huge and engagement is incredible, too. What’s the secret behind growing your social media so quickly?
I don’t have a secret or key to growing it. The way my following has grown has just happened by being myself the whole time. My best advice is if you want to be a social media influencer, you need to inspire people with your lifestyle, not the items you’re being sent. Essentially people want to buy into a lifestyle and be able to connect to a personality and be able to relate to someone. That’s the most important thing.
What are your favourite campaigns or shoots to date and why?
I recently did a really fun shoot for the new range for Hansel & Gretel. My friend Ainsley, who is the designer of the label, is really talented and I love working with her. When it was over, I was like, “what? It’s over?”
What brands would you love to model for, and why?
There’s a brand in America called Mamadoux and it’s really strange. Their shoots are always ridiculously crazy and colourful and they make all these weird leotard things. I’ve been following them for a very long time but I’ve never worked with them or anything.
You’re meeting Calvin Klein and Victoria’s Secret later this year – would this be a dream to work for them too?
That would be pretty awesome too. I don’t necessarily think big things. I guess I don’t think very big maybe? But being a Victoria’s Secret or Calvin Klein model would be awesome and I’d be stoked. But I guess I don’t dwell on things like that just in case it doesn’t happen.
What’s your advice for people who want to get into modelling?
I’m a big believer in going with the flow and things come when you stop looking for them. Obviously you still need to work really hard…you can’t think everyday “I want to be a model” or “how do I become a model?” You just have to work on it day by day.
What’s the best thing about your career – is it the clothes, the travel, or the experience?
The travelling and the experience for sure. I wear the same clothes every day. It’s always double denim and a vintage t-shirt but let’s be honest… I wear the same Levi’s jeans every day. I get to call it work and can meet such inspiring people in the industry like designers and photographers. I have multiple agencies like Next in America and Platform Me in Australia – it means I can keep travelling and work wherever I go. But obviously the followers and the social media profile that I have is a huge drawcard. It’s a big thank you to them and my social media audience.
What’s your best travel tip?
When you pack a suitcase, lay everything flat. Don’t roll anything. Lay everything completely flat and don’t even fold it. Then put socks and shoes and stuff around the side. It’s a good trick.
What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?
My two favourite places are Byron Bay and New York because they’re crazy polar opposites and I just love them. There’s just something about both places that draws me to them. I think the lifestyle of a place is so important. I’d never stay in a hotel. I’d rather sleep on my friend’s couch or things like that. I love island places like Fiji and Bali but I wouldn’t want to spend lots and lots of time there.
How do you spend your spare time?
My spare time changes wherever I am. Right now I wake up, jump into the ocean or go for a run on the beach, make a smoothie, and do housework like paint the walls. Tomorrow we’re going to start painting the outside of the house green, drive around and find recycled wood to build all the shelves in. We’re right on the edge of bushland and we’re going to get some plants and put them inside the house and things like that. My boyfriend bought me a ballet bar for the bedroom so this morning I did ballet in the bedroom!
What car are you driving at the moment?
I’ve got a Mini Cooper for a story with you on The Carousel and it’s just like a spaceship. It sounds like my name, and my friends always say “Mimi in the Mini!”. It’s fun to drive and I feel so safe in it. That’s the important thing – I didn’t do much driving prior to that. I learned to drive in a big van and an old station wagon – so getting into a new car was a bit like ‘wow’. It has a nice sound system and I love the little circle lights, and I always put the navigation screen on and then zoom all the way out so it’s just a picture of the world when I’m driving.
Who is your favourite Australian fashion designer, and why?
I don’t have one favourite… I have about three. But I love Alice McCall is so crazy and quirky and the latest range she just brought out was inspired by vintage shapes. I just love vintage clothing. I went through that range and I just felt like I’d seen all those shapes before. She’s not afraid to do some crazy stuff, and it’s always so flattering. More dressy stuff though.
What are some beauty products you just can’t live without?
I use all natural products, and I don’t really have a face wash – I just use some goat’s soap. It’s got some essential oil in it, which is really good for your skin, and contains vitamin A. I use hemp oil as moisturiser and I have lots of little perfumes and sprays from Perfect Potion in Sydney and Melbourne… I love that shop. The author of ‘Hippies in the City’ by Rita Balshaw used to be the manager of that store so I spent a lot of time with her and she taught me all about aromatherapy.
Do you have a life motto or goal?
This was actually taught to me by Rita Balshaw. I always tell everyone this… All you have is here and now, so surrender and just be. I think the most important thing is to live in the moment and not be distracted by the past or the future because that’s when you start to stress out.
