The Diversity Project - The Full Interviews

An idea born with the purpose of bringing people together, we present to you The Diversity Project.

With the start of Scouted Magazine, our journey began by issuing an open call to individuals throughout the city of Sydney, irrespective of their prior experience. Meticulously searching for models who could embody the essence of diverse perspectives and life experiences, we discovered an ensemble of articulate and passionate voices who were eager to share their unique stories.

Traditionally, models have been given the role of mere "clothes hangers," celebrated solely for their physical appearance and aesthetic appeal. However, in this campaign, we aimed to transcend these stereotypes. Beyond outward beauty, we sought individuals who could serve as inspirational role models and vocal advocates for others, harnessing the power of their influence to amplify important messages.

Read the full interviews below…

Creative direction & production by Maddy Seit
Interview by Seth Jayalath
Video by Hayden Wong
Photography by Lachlan Connors
Styled by Teagan Lattey
H&MU by Eliza Sensi, Ruby Richards, Elly
Produced by Scouted Magazine

Hannah Avellino

SETH: I’d like to start with a reference you made in your application video – you mentioned in school you were scared and terrified of getting changed in front of everyone because of the way you looked – in a moment like that, how much did that affect your self-confidence?

HANNAH: It affected a lot. It was through my whole high school life. That moment that I talked about was probably around when I was like 16 or 17. But it honestly happened through my whole life. Even like high school parties. I'll never forget my first school party in year seven. I put on my bikini and the girl said to me, wow, I wish I could have the confidence to do that.

And I was like, that was a bit underhanded. And ever since then, like, I couldn't wear any tight dresses. I'd feel so insecure with just my stomach, everything like that. So, yeah, it majorly affected my self-confidence.

SETH: At the time, who were your inspiration to you look up to and who flipped the perspective of self-love and appreciation?

HANNAH: Acceptance? Definitely. My family. My parents. 100%. They supported me and loved me and everything that I've done. And they've raised me to be confident like I am now. And luckily that's gone down onto my little sister as well.

It's always scary, like personally struggling with self-confidence and watching someone you love, like “Oh no are they going to have to go through it as well,” it's like, it's awful.

But I've had my parents flip that perspective for me. And just like people that I love around me, even friends as well, I've had a lot of support in that.

SETH: What are some of the things that they've said that have helped you succeed in your own happiness as well as in the modelling stage?

HANNAH: Well, just the constant encouragement and just being told constantly that I'm made like this for a reason with a purpose, even if I don't look like some of the other girls when I was younger, it doesn't mean that I'm less worthy. Just constant encouragement and things like that.

SETH: When did modelling become a passion and motivation for you and why was that?

HANNAH: Definitely after I graduated high school, I think I needed to leave school to kind of get my own confidence and things like that. So, it really became a passion for me once I was confident.

Ever since I was probably when I was 18, and all my friends were like “Oh you’re so photogenic” and I was like yeah ok.

So then one time I went and got shots done and I just submitted them to agencies, and I've been doing it on and off since then.

SETH: What was the first shoot like? What was that experience like?

HANNAH: Very exciting. I felt like I was, like, so famous. I felt like a supermodel. Like I could have never pictured doing it. It was amazing and so good. I loved it.

SETH: Can you recall a time when you were turned away or denied a model opportunity or even just a hardship in life because of who you are? How did you bounce back from that setback?

HANNAH: Yeah, well, I mean, the industry is full of setbacks, and knockbacks that’s just the way it is. So, you have to have tough skin.

But I have to say, at the first agency that I was with, I definitely felt like a curve girl we weren't allowed as many opportunities as other people would. I was on freelance platforms at the same time and saw all these curve ads coming up that I know my agent would be getting as well, but then not submitting me for it.

And I was never sure why, and I felt really gross about it. And I felt like an outer for it and I just felt like I wasn't getting as many opportunities. But I bounced back by changing agencies, definitely going off freelance and finding places that really love and appreciate diversity and inclusivity.

SETH: Being from a Maltese background, has that culture influenced your personality and how does that separate you from everyone else?

HANNAH: I would definitely say it's a very passionate, loud and fun environment. I'm sure a lot of people know that Mediterraneans are always very loud, very, very sort of noisy and things like that. But I'm proud of it. And it's fun in my family.

Like I've got such a big supportive family. Like I still see my second cousins, third cousins, everything like that. And food obviously is a massive part of that, too.

Because I’m so family-orientated, I have this kind of maternal factor about me. I've been told it for years, and I feel like I take that into my work as well, where obviously being on set and photoshoots can be a really stressful and pressuring environment. I feel like I just add that sense of like love and just comfort as well.

SETH: How important have family connections and friends been in supporting your growth as a model and as a person?

HANNAH: I honestly probably couldn't do any of it without them, to be honest. My dad drove me to my first shoot, so he's definitely a girl’s girl. But yeah, I couldn't do it without them. They're constantly hyping me up. Even the smallest wins.

Like I'm just getting so much love and support from them. And that just gives me confidence. Even in setbacks, they're just always optimistic about it and things like that. So, I honestly probably don't think I could have got this far without them.

I quit my full-time job in January to do modelling and I had so much encouragement from them to do it because obviously, it's a big step. So yeah, I probably wouldn't be here without them.

SETH: If you were to say one thing, to girls who are trying to get into the modelling industry and are in that curvy section as well, what would you say to encourage them?

HANNAH: Just do it. You honestly, are made the way you are for a reason. There's a purpose with how you’re built and the way that you think and the way that you feel.

If you get into this industry, you're going to influence other people to feel confident and loved. Like I never had that growing up and like, I just love to be that person, for someone else. So seriously, if you're passionate about something and passionate about modelling, just do it like it is the best environment and it's so much fun and you feel so good all the time.

Everyone hypes you up. I would just say go for it. It's amazing and it's come a long way. And on the curvy side of things, there is still a long way to go but I promise you, it's so worth it.

Rifah Ahmed

SETH: You mentioned in your application that you would love to inspire people by shedding light on your story – what is, your story?

RIFAH: So my name’s Rifah, I’m a Bangladeshi-Australian woman and I’m someone who’s really proud of where I come from. I’ve always loved my religion as well, so I’ve tried to balance my culture and my religion in who I am. And that’s what I carry on with me and I’m so excited to be a part of this campaign.

SETH: I am from Sri Lanka, and yourself from Bangladesh, so there are some similarities in culture and upbringing – how has your upbringing influenced your perspective on what it means to be a model and a face of representation?

RIFA: Well, the modeling industry is not really something that’s encouraged in the South-Asian community I think there’s a lot of push to go towards being a doctor, or engineer, and studies is really the focus so, modeling just has been something I’ve been interested in and I’m so fortunate that my family is really supportive of that.

They see that it’s something I’m passionate about and they’ve never been too focused on like, you’ve got to follow what the niche paths are so I’ve always had the freedom to experiment and do whatever it is I feel like doing and live life on my own terms.

SETH: When you were bringing up the idea of modeling as well was that sort of a discussion you had or was it a sort of now, like an easier conversation to have? 

RIFAH: It was quite easy, like my mum herself, she loves fashion and dressing up so, our love for clothes is what kind of inspired us, we love watching movies together, um so, it wasn’t too hard of a conversation to have with my family actually.  

SETH: How did your experience having an Equity Student Leader at the University of Sydney Business School propel your desire to inspire people and make a difference in the world?

RIFAH: Yeah, the thing that I love the most is meeting people so all the roles that I have done have been customer focused or like working with individuals. So in the equity space since USYD is predominantly private school kids, people from wealthier families, working with equity students is like people who are a bit more disadvantaged, come from nuanced backgrounds, and have different experiences, so that’s really helped me see different stories and working with them. It has made me understand how important it is to have representation and really just have your voice heard.

SETH: Can you recall a time when you have been turned away from a modeling opportunity or even a moment of denial because of who you are? – how did you bounce back from this setback?

RIFAH: So, I haven’t had much exposure to the modeling industry, but for me, it was more getting accepted because I wear the scarf, so it was kind of like the opposite situation, where it’s like they would want you because of a tokenistic idea but it wasn’t really getting to know you. I’ve had quite a different experience where I was accepted because I wear the scarf or because I look a certain way and it was just like ‘ok stand here, you're placed here,’ um ‘we’re meeting our quota’ but I think it needs to be more important than that like actually trying to make their stories heard.

SETH: Did you think about only being accepted because of that at the time or was it more just, ‘ok I’m here now’ and that was the reality of the situation?

RIFAH: Yes, on email everything sounds great but once you’re there, the experience feels like they're trying to control you or like they're trying to control your narrative, so that’s why I loved being a part of this campaign. Just to share my side of the story and bring myself here, instead of who I am, based on what I look like from the outside, just bring my personality here as well.

SETH: In your opinion, why is there a lack of representation of South Asian people in the industry? How is Scouted Mag re-shaping this narrative?

RIFAH: Yeah, that’s for sure, there are very limited faces, and even if they are, they’re not covered as much in the media, so just having a diverse range of people and trying to get their stories across is what Scouted Mag is doing. It’s not really focused on just having the face there and that’s what I love most about Maddy’s work so I’m super excited.  

SETH: How important have family connections and friends been in supporting your growth as a model and as a person?

RIFAH: Yeah, I’ve always been made to feel confident in my skin, that’s one thing that’s been pushed by my family from when I was young, just being comfortable in our skin. I’ve never felt alien for how I look and that’s probably been shaped by the environment I’ve grown up in and that was my friends.

I’m really confident in my skin and I guess that’s what I’m trying to put out there, I know that a lot of people in my community feel a bit insignificant and try to ‘fit in.’ And it's just about like being yourself, being authentic and that’s the story I’m trying to push out.

Vanessa You

SETH: In your application video you mentioned that you were a part of a modelling set where the team provided were not equipped to handle people of different backgrounds or features – how did this impact your thoughts on the modelling industry?

VANESSA: Well, my experience very early on in the modelling industry was one where, say, a particular makeup artist wasn't able to do makeup on someone like myself with a monolid. It didn't really push me down too hard. But early on in my career, it kind of instilled a thought in me that maybe the modelling industry or the modelling industry isn't geared so much to people of an Asian background just yet. It felt like I didn't fit the stereotypical box of the Caucasian girl with double eyelids. So I just thought that I had to find areas of the modelling industry in which I would fit in, but they were quite small.

SETH: But seeing how the modelling issues have evolved, we’re beginning to see more of open diversity ranges and seeing what you have there and that experience are you happy to see that change moving forward?

VANESSA: Definitely, yeah. I've been so happy to see the change going through the years. Felt a lot more comfortable and it felt like I had a place in the industry as well.

SETH: Were you born in Hong Kong or Australia? 

VANESSA: I was born in Australia. I was born in Perth but lived there for a year before I moved to Hong Kong and then I lived in Hong Kong for eight years before moving to Thailand and Cambodia. And then I moved to Sydney in 2011. 

SETH: Can you name a moment growing up when you felt outside of the norm? How does something like this affect a growing child?

VANESSA: Oh gosh, all the time. There wasn't there's not really a particular moment that I can think of because it's happened all throughout my and I guess growing up.

I've always received the comment, oh yeah, you're pretty good for an Asian or you’re a pretty girl for an Asian and I think that it made me feel like, yes, I can do so much, but I would never be as good as someone who is not Asian. Does that make sense? I could nail in everything, but that's still not good enough just because of my background.

And that's something I can't change. And I guess growing up, how that impacted me is I've, I guess, never felt happy because I've never received like, Oh, yeah, you're an amazing person. I've always had, like, being Asian tied to me. And I spent a lot of time trying to run away from that because of these comments.

SETH: Can you recall a time when you felt you've been turned away or denied an opportunity in life because of who you are? How did you bounce back from this setback? 

VANESSA: It happens a lot. And especially in this industry, I guess how I've dealt with rejection is to just understand that sometimes you just don't fit the brief, and that's okay. There are some things you can't change. I can't change my height. I can't change where I'm from. You've just got to accept it, get over it and find work somewhere else.

SETH: You mentioned just earlier that there was a time of you tried to sort of run away from being at that comment like you're good enough for an Asian. When did you think to yourself, “Forget that I am who I am, and I am proud to be Asian.” And that was the message you were trying to bring forward.

VANESSA: I think that realization came as I got older. I finished high school, and I was in university, and I found people like me. I found a group of friends that were able to kind of like embrace all the niches of my culture in the same way that I have been. And I realized that you can kind of glow from there.

And from there on, I felt like I had the confidence and I had people like my family, friends, and agents. I've had agents who have been so supportive in pushing me to love myself and be comfortable in myself and not have to chase that stereotypical look.

SETH: Do you think that creating more diversity in the modelling industry, can create a domino effect in other industries to follow suit, and if so, which industries do you think need more representation?

VANESSA: Oh, 100%. There will be a flow-on domino effect if there were more representation in the modelling industry. Just because with the modelling industry we are, I guess, at the forefront of media and from there on companies, whether that be CEOs or health care or whatever. Everyone kind of absorbs or consumes media in some way.

So, I'd love to be able to see that flow in effect go into, say, women stepping into science and women stepping into CEO positions, things that aren't stereotypically moulded into that small niche group of people.  

SETH: How has your upbringing and cultural influence from Hong Kong helped you in your modelling?

VANESSA: I did spend a lot of time doing school in Hong Kong and Thailand and Cambodia. And in that culture, we were very academic. And that has gone into my life so much. I've become a very organized person and I'm quite like Type A, I'm a very high-strung person and I think I've got that to be the reason why it's really helped me in my life. It’s helped me stay on top of things. I've been able to be a very organized person and it's really helped me in that way.

SETH: How important have family connections and friends been in supporting your growth as a model and as a person?

VANESSA: So important it takes a village. As I mentioned before, they've given me the confidence I need. And since finding my support network, I haven't had those doubts come back ever because I've had these people trust me and push me to do what I want to do rather than hold me back.

Tristen Ngyuen

SETH: In your application video, you were very enthusiastic of the idea that if you were running the campaign, you would encourage the models to sit down, be real and tell their stories – in a world of constant change and drama, why do people struggle to be their true self?

TRISTEN: The main issue I find today is social media and the societal expectations that come with that. Social media, the pressure of social media leaves such big pressure to conform, to look a certain way to have certain opinions and if you don’t, you become prey to the fearful ‘cancel culture’ you know if you’re not ‘fitting’ the new like ‘fashion trends’ your just not it and you’re not accepted in the community.

I think that’s a big reason why people, struggle to be their authentic selves and struggle to be true to who they are. Mainly because of social media and its pressures.

SETH: You are also a lover of dance – what does the power of representation and diversity show in the world of dance?  

TRISTEN: So, in dance, so specifically I have a background in ballet, in the ballet industry, views are very traditional, especially in roles, in allocating roles in performances, they’re very traditional they stick with the traditional gender roles.

I have a background in ballet, so I am well-rounded in the ballet world and the ballet industry. I find that in that industry a lot of ballet masters, professors, ballet mistresses, and dancers, and often struggle with breaking away from traditional gender roles. So, in a lot of performances and traditional ballets, they will very much stick to feminine females and masculine males and it’s really hard to break away from that diversity – break away into diversity – and introduce diversity into the ballet industry.

But there are dancers that are breaking away from that now, one of them I look up to, is Misty Copeland, a very famous dancer in America and she is breaking away from the traditional feminine looks, so she’s got a very traditional masculine build.

SETH: What does the quote “I am my own Muse” by Frida Kahlo mean to you?

TRISTEN: I am my own muse means to me that you take inspiration from yourself. And it means to me to be true to yourself, authentic to yourself. And you're the most powerful you when you are true to who you are.

SETH: Can you recall a time when you felt turned away from a modeling opportunity or even a lifetime opportunity or even a moment of denial because of who you are as a person? How did you bounce back from this setback?

TRISTEN: In the modeling industry, I am very lucky to have not been rejected away from opportunities because of who I am. I did have a recent experience when I was viewed as a trend, and the words that came out of this producer’s mouth were:

“you're trending, your ethnic background is a new trend in the fashion industry”.

And that broke me a little bit. I was treated like a commodity. I wasn't looked at as a person. I was just treated like another number, another checkbox that needed to be filled, and said they didn't want me for who I am, but for what I looked like.

SETH: How did you feel at that moment in time? Was there a moment of self-doubt? How do you bounce back from that situation?

TRISTEN: First, it took me by shock, by surprise. I didn't know what to do, and I let that sit with me for maybe a week. And it really took a toll on me because I didn't see myself as who I was for a little bit.

I learned that you know, I'm not going to listen to what they say. I'm going to be who I am and I'm going to be proud of that because I'm not going to change me for anyone else. And that's the way I’m going.  

SETH: How much has your Vietnamese background and culture influenced you as a person? What lessons have you learned from it to guide you to where you are today?

TRISTEN: Growing up I had a lack of Vietnamese influence on my life, mainly because of where I grew up and the kind of schooling I went to. I wasn't surrounded by a lot of people who are like me or look like me. And so, I kind of struggled to know who I was, growing up and where to fit in.

I didn't know whether I was white enough to be in one group or if I was Asian enough to be in another. And now what I've learned from that is just to be who I am. Don't force yourself to fit in one group. You will find many groups along the way, and you'll have an influence or a little bit of influence in all of those groups. So, I don't have to stick to one. I can be in all.

SETH: Do you wish you had that kind of message when you were growing up? Because I feel like a lot of kids from ethnic backgrounds, you don't get that message a lot.  

TRISTEN: No, absolutely. I wish there was someone like a future me who would tell me, hey, you know, who cares? 

Like, just be friends with whoever you want to be with, be in groups that you want to be a part of. You don't have to just stick to one family.

SETH: And lastly, how important have your family connections and friends been in supporting your growth as a model and as a person in general?

TRISTEN: Family has been very supportive. My inner circle of my friends has all been very supportive, they were surprised. They never thought that I'd go into the modeling industry, but they love it.

They love that I'm trying something new, taking on a little bit of a challenge, and they're supporting me every step of the way. And I love that.

Sharon Chamboko

SETH: In your application video, you mentioned that you felt a lot of self-doubt about the way you looked because you stood out from everyone else at school – what were some of the hardships that came with this experience?

SHARON: I just felt very alienated throughout my schooling from literally primary school until I finished high school last year.

I was never surrounded by people who look like me, and I was like, you know, at the forefront of a lot of judgment, whether it be direct or indirect. And a lot of like that came towards my hair.

When I was younger, my hair was chemically straightened for like ten years. So, I didn't even understand my hair like curly hair and afro hair, and then let alone everyone else didn't understand.

And they asked me all these questions and I was like girl, I don’t know either, or I was trying to figure it out. So that was like a big thing for me.

SETH: You also mentioned that it was your sister and people in the media who looked like you that flipped that perspective of self-doubt. Who are these people in the media?

SHARON: One person who specifically stands out to me and who, like I look up to her name is Duckie Thot, she is a Sudanese Australian model. Like just her going from the Australian landscape and now she's like killing it in New York. I was like, wow, we can really do those things, you can do big things too. Doesn't matter how you look.

SETH: Were you shown her (Duckie) by your sister, or did you come across her yourself?

SHARON: No, I stumbled across her on Instagram.

SETH: What was that moment of acceptance like?

SHARON: It was a profound moment I reckon of like reflection. It was like a switch flipped and I was like, okay, I can do these things. I can do these big things as well.

Like looking at these other models who came from Australia, all African models. It made me realize that there is no limit. You can do whatever.

SETH: You said you do modelling for your younger self as well in your application video. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

SHARON: Oh 100% to not try and fit in with everyone else. Like obviously you don't look like everyone else and that's okay. Like we’re all meant to be unique and different. So, break the mould. Don't try and fit into it because there's no point in it.

SETH: How would that message help a lot of kids these days? A lot of kids do not get that message.

SHARON: I feel like it would help them embrace their uniqueness and kind of step out of these boxes that everyone's like, try to put everyone in.

Like, you don't need to be in one box. You can have them all together and like be different. 

SETH: Can you recall a time when you've been turned away from a lot of modelling opportunities or life opportunities because of who you are and how do you bounce back from the setback?

SHARON: Well, one thing that stands out to me was the first time that I met with a modelling agency like ever and I was 15. And I walk in and like, the whole modelling board is just like all the white models. They're all beautiful. But then I realized I'm just here as a token. Like, they don't actually see me as, like, an individual. I'm just here for the diversity sprinkled in the mix.

It's just tokenism. And then I realized, Yeah, this is not for me. I need to find people who celebrate me genuinely, not just so they get good PR.

SETH: Was there a moment of self-doubt in the waiting room seeing all those models?

SHARON: Oh yeah, I was like, oh, there's no way, like I have zero chance right now. This is what I have to compete with?

Then I realized it's not about competing with them. It's about embracing myself.

SETH: Being from Zimbabwe, what is one part of your culture that has influenced you the most in your personality and the way you conduct yourself? 

SHARON: I'd say, my personality, the music. Like I feel like Afrobeat’s is on top at the moment. So, yeah, the music from Zimbabwe. Like we have good talent. I really like a lot of things. My friends and everyone enjoy that.

And then the way that I conduct myself, maybe like the language because, you know, I sometimes think in like two different languages.  

I embrace my culture in my day-to-day life.

SETH: Were you taught anything from your parents that have influenced that appreciation of self-love today and that self-confidence?

SHARON: Yeah, I wasn't born in Zimbabwe I've only been three times my whole life. But by them enforcing the culture in me and making sure I learned the language like that was a big thing and a big part of my identity.

If I didn't have that, I'd feel a little bit lost. So, I'm glad they pushed me to learn.

SETH: How important have your family connections and your friends been in supporting your growth not only as a model but as a person?

SHARON: Oh yeah. My family's like, my pillars, especially my siblings. They’re like my second parents to me because they’re like ten years older than me. They pushed me from when I didn't even think I could do this. And now I'm in this space and that's definitely like props to them for, like, making sure that I didn't give up when things didn't go the way that I wanted them to.

SETH: Would you say they've been your number one role model throughout this time?

SHARON: Yeah, 100%.

SETH: If you could say one thing to them now what would it be? 

SHARON: Thank you for pushing me and like, not letting me give up. Like, that's a really big thing.