Interview | STYLE


The model and influencer Jess Megan


Curvaceous model and body confidence activist Jess Megan says no two weeks are ever the same


By Amy Shephard Pictures Gary Wal l is F


rom modelling jobs, to campaigning, attending launch events and shooting instagram pictures for her role as a brand ambassador,


Jess is always on the go.


Getting up early for a run is key to help clear her mind, as well as switching off social media and listening to think pieces when travelling.


Jess plays a valuable role in The Body Confidence Revolution and campaigns as part of the body acceptance movement, largely through her social media presence. She receives lots of messages from women of all ages who say they are starting to see their bodies as extensions of themselves, rather than a separate object that needs to be enhanced and improved. "When I began working as an activist in this movement, all I ever wanted was to be a part of a movement of women who say "no more" to feeling like they have to be young, thin and blemish free to be worthy of value," says Jess.


Any woman who is striving to create a kinder, better and safer world for women is Jess's muse: "Tarana Burke, Malala Yousafzai, Madonna, Ellen Degeneres, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lady Gaga, my mum," says Jess. "Women


are incredible and I'm so proud to be one."


Jess tells us a little about a typical modelling gig: "It's always a different location, usually a warehouse studio, hotel or bar and I'm in makeup for a maximum of two hours, then we start shooting for anything between four and eight hours. Afterwards I'll usually attend an event in the city, there's always something going on, like a brand or product launch. I'll see fellow content creators and models there and have a couple of drinks before I


“Women are


incredible and I’m so proud to be one.”


head back to Portsmouth. It's a long day usually!


"I also spend about two days of the week creating content for Instagram. This is the part of my job people can't understand so much. Social media is a new age of marketing, so for about two days I'll create content for all kinds of brands from Boohoo to Daniel Wellington. I get up early, do my own hair and makeup and spend the day shooting myself wearing the


products so they can be uploaded to instagram. Having a large following is helpful for this, as brands are guaranteed a large audience of a particular demographic that follow me. It's the same as an advert on television or a billboard.


"When I drive to shoots, I listen to podcasts so I can hear the latest conversations that are happening," says Jess. "I listen to all sorts, from astrophysics to national topics of conversation. If I get the coach or train, I read and catch up on admin. I had to try and ditch my social media for long haul travel otherwise my brain is totally dormant all the time."


"Even now I get days where I'm not really sure what I want to do for a living, there's so many choices and so many great jobs, it's no wonder we get confused. I see women out in Rwanda studying gorillas and I'm absolutely captivated by the thought of being surrounded by animals. It's really hard to know, I decided that the best place to start is with something I'm at least a little bit interested in and go from there.


"My work with Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Pit Bull-type dogs is something I'm very proud of. I have worked hard to fight the bad press


January and February 2019 21


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