Traveling and Runways: A Model’s Journey with Ugne Kiosyte

At Beautymute, we believe in providing insights into the lives and journeys of various artists, models, and creatives. Today, we delve into the world of model Ugne Kiosyte as she shares her remarkable path and unwavering passion for the industry. Join us as we explore her captivating story and discover the driving forces behind her successful modeling career. In this interview, Ugne opens up about the invaluable lessons she has learned through working with international agencies. Her encounters with professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds have not only influenced her perspective on diversity and cultural exchange within the industry but have also deepened her appreciation for the beauty of different traditions and perspectives.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started in the modeling industry?

Hello, my name is Ugne Kiosyte and I come from Lithuania. I’m 25 years old, my mother agency is Baltic Model Management (that sounds exactly like my introduction video).

Last year, I graduated from university and got my bachelor’s degree of veterinary sciences and became a veterinary assistant. During my studies, I pursued modelling part-time, mostly through direct bookings. Currently, I’m a full-time model.

My modelling career started 8 years ago when my sister took me to a casting. It’s a funny story just because I had never considered becoming a model before that and I was focused on being a basketball player. But my persistent sister had other plans for me – she would occasionally mention that she saw potential in me and that I should try modeling.

After a couple of years, I finally agreed and told her, ‘Okay, I will do the casting, but then please let me play basketball.’ Little did I know that everything is going to happen so quickly – the moment my booker saw me at the casting, she told me that she wants me to join the agency and I got offered a contract. I spent my time learning modeling terminology, catwalk, had a few test shoots where I understood that I love being in front of the camera. After 6 months, a girl from a small city called Palanga, who had never stepped a foot on a plane before, went to Milan with one of the best agencies.

How has your experience working with international agencies influenced your perspective on diversity and cultural exchange within the modeling industry?

As travelling to different countries and even continents, I have got to meet a lot individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. As someone who has always been an open-minded person wanting to learn as much as I could, this experience broadened my horizons. Through knowing professionals from various backgrounds, not only an awareness of trends, beauty standards and work ethics emerge, but I also got a deeper understanding of each culture as a whole, not just its surface, gaining a greater appreciation for their unique traditions and perspectives. I realised that modelling industry is not just about aesthetics, but also about appreciation and celebration of diverse cultures. It has taught me that embracing and valuing our differences is the true beauty.

Ugne Kiosyte by Veronika Plet

What do you enjoy most about being a model? What aspects of the industry do you find most fulfilling?

Modeling opens so many doors, offers numerous opportunities letting models to discover a lot about themselves, you get the chance to travel, meet interesting people, explore different cultures – everything that adds to personal growth is fulfilling. This is modeling. Modeling is a fulfilling experience. The self-development I got is enormous.

Being alone in a foreign country made me step out of my comfort zone, I became self-driven and resilient, learned about my strengths and weaknesses and it led to increased self-confidence. It’s also a form of self-expression. You show yourself through the way you dress, pose, walk. Models get to experience a wide range of moods and styles by one day getting a bohemian shoot and the next, edgy editorial. It’s challenging and exciting.

” Exploring different cultures, sharing experiences, understanding what makes everybody unique and beautiful is important. “

As a model, you get to travel a lot. This gives you the opportunity to see places that you might never visit otherwise.  As I mentioned before, I had never been on a plane before I started. Modelling allowed me to see the Great Wall of China! Also, meeting people from around the world is also one of the most thrilling parts of modelling. Exploring different cultures, sharing experiences, understanding what makes everybody unique and beautiful is important. I also met my dearest friends while being on contracts and I’m so grateful for every each of them (sending greetings to Germany).

What have been some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned about collaboration and teamwork when working with professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds?

Modeling is all about team work. It’s a cooperation between agencies, clients, the team – model, photographer, stylist, makeup and hair stylist. Everyone has their own visions and expectations, it’s important to be on the same page. That’s why active communication, open-mindedness and the ability to adapt is important.

Team work is built on communication. When working with a team from different cultural backgrounds, you need to pay attention to communication styles and also language barriers. Most of the time English may not be the first language for everyone involved and that can cause misunderstandings. Being patient, open and listen well helps to overcome these challenges. During a job I often get asked about my country, culture, traditions.

I appreciate these conversations as they let the whole team understand each other’s backgrounds more and builds cultural awareness. This also helps to build a strong relationship based on respect. Every team has different approaches and expects different results, especially when working in foreign countries where models come from different backgrounds. That means that the ability to adapt plays a significant role. Models who are flexible can easily integrate into the team and achieve great results.

Ugne Kiosyte by Roman Bischoff

How do you prepare for photo shoots or runway shows? Do you have any rituals or routines that help you feel confident and ready?

I really love this question because I believe that preparation is one of the most important aspects in order to achieve great results in any job. Every time I get job details, I study the brand or client. If it’s a shooting, I check their website: what is the mood, pieces, poses, what does the client expect from me. When it comes to editorial shoots, it’s important to analyse the mood board and seek for inspiration online.

Before a runway show I practice my catwalk, watch previous shows by the brand. It is crucial to get a good night’s sleep and wake up early to be sure that you have time to fully wake up and avoid being late for the job. In my opinion, confidence stems from being well-prepared. However, if I still have some doubts or feel stressed before the job, I listen to music, it has a calming effect on me.

Can you share any tips or advice for aspiring models who are just starting their careers?

Be open, don’t be afraid to try something new, different. During a photoshoot, I always encourage letting go and pushing boundaries. While it may not always come out the expected way, when it does, the results can be really rewarding. Trust your agencies, especially your mother agency, build a good relationship with them. Communicate your concerns and share your experiences with other models. Talking with other models helped me overcome a lot of my fears. This industry is full of rejections, so that brings me to the most important one – be confident, strive to be your best and believe in yourself every step of the way.

What qualities or skills do you think are important for a successful model to have?

In order to be a successful model, having confidence is the foundation. From there you can do everything you set your mind to. Fashion industry is challenging, it’s important to know how to stay calm in uncomfortable or stressful situations. Respecting the industry, fellow models, agencies, team members, clients also plays a significant role. A successful model is versatile, understands how to showcase a diverse range of garments and products. Continuous learning, openness to advice and constructive criticism and applying knowledge are essential for further development not only as a model, but also as an individual. Reliability, punctuality, dedication and a positive attitude are qualities that makes a successful model.

How do you stay in shape and maintain your physical well-being as a model?

Honestly, I’m a model who loves food and I was always like that. At first, it was difficult to maintain my weight and I did not accept my body. I would often overeat and then resort to fasting for a couple of days, overexercise, limit myself as much as I could. Over time, I have learned what works for my body and when I feel the happiest and most confident.

I’ve realised that extreme diets are not beneficial for me. I think that moderation is the key. I practise intermittent fasting, which involves eating withing 8-hour window and fasting for 16 hours. Yes, I still have a problem with snacking, I love chips and chocolate, trying to minimize that. I go to the gym at least 3 times per week, combining cardio with strength training and I also try to walk everywhere and leave my car at home whenever possible.

I want to address the issue of body image struggles that many individuals, not just models, can relate to. What I understood is that every individual possesses inner confidence and strength, we just need to start listening to our bodies. Our bodies will tell everything they need. Its significant to be patient with yourself and every morning, day, evening remind yourself that you are the best!

Ugne Kiosyte by Patrick Glocker

Have you worked with any influential or inspiring figures in the fashion industry? How have these experiences impacted your career?

Each person that I worked with has left an impact on me. Every individual has their own style and approach, which I implemented into my career in order to become a better model. Working with a lot of different professionals has helped me get even more jobs or contacts, as they often share their experiences with others, which has helped me gain more visibility. Also, I always ask for feedback on my skills after each job. This has allowed me to perfect my posing, catwalk and other skills.

What is your approach to fashion and personal style? How do you express yourself through the clothes you wear?

Fashion and personal style are subjective and vary from person to person. I believe that fashion and style is a form of self-expression. It’s a way to show your creativity as well as personality. I used to wear skinny jeans and simple tops, was never expressing myself through fashion. However, everything changed when I started watching TV series ‘Friends’. I got inspired by the 90s aesthetics and started my own research. This led me to discover the world of second-hand fashion and thrifting, which became my passion. The idea of sustainability and the uniqueness fascinated me.

I love oversized pieces like jeans, pants, shirts, blazers and anything made of leather. Basically, everything that’s oversized talks to me. I enjoy mixing and matching different pieces, colours, sometimes in unusual ways. One might say it’s become my signature style. If I had to choose one outfit that represents me, it would be a massive black blazer, a red tube top, high-waisted flare leather pants, Adidas Superstar sneakers, hoop earrings and cat-eye sunglasses. Through fashion, I can express my unique personality and embrace individuality.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for your modeling career? Are there any specific projects or collaborations you hope to pursue?

Since I started working full-time again last year, I want to go where I have never been before. While I still have a few contracts in Asia, I feel most comfortable in Europe and want to expand my opportunities there. Exploring the markets of Spain and Greece, which I have never visited before, is also on my list. By the time I decide to stop modeling, I don’t want to have any regrets, I want to be proud of myself and also to make my family proud.

When it comes to projects and collaborations, I love sports and dynamic shoots. There is a particular brand for a long time already that I would love to work with, and that is Adidas. I believe in their values and find them important, especially the commitment to sustainability and emphasis on individuality. The celebration of uniqueness and self-confidence resonates strongly with me. Working with Adidas would not only be a professionally fulfilling but also personally meaningful.

Check the Instagram Account of Ugne Kiosyte here…

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