Briy Gilgeous stands 6’2″, advocating for model rights, not allowing the ‘hype’ of New York City to detour her focus and intentions.
My challenges as a model have been weight/measurements. I recently just came out of being on appetite suppressants and a pretty extreme workout routine which sucked the life out of me.
– Briy Gilgeous
Briy Gilgeous Interview
Agency, if any: 208mgmt in Baltimore MD, Famous Talent Management in NYC
Age: 28
Height: 6’2″
Instagram: @BriyGilgeous
Where were you born? Rockville, MD
Ethnicity: Afro-Guyanese, Black, and MiqMaq First Nations
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Favorite things: Hibiscus Tea, my ember mug, and my opal ring.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of French pop from the 60s-80s, a few tracks from the Great Gatsby Soundtrack, and Kendrick Lamar.
You are a huge advocate for model rights. Why is this important to you?
Briy Gilgeous: I am an advocate for model rights because it has never made sense to me that so many brands/designers etc. will need a body/muse/entity to embody their product and/or line, only for those same people to say what other models and I do are “talentless.”
If a model is wearing a garment, you’re selling for $12,000.00 retail, how come you’re paying the model only up to $200.00 or nothing for the sake of “exposure”?
And despite the current trend, a 3-D avatar as a model can only go so far because it isn’t a person. To get that walking avatar, you had to have a model IRL (in real life) to help developers create that now so many extra steps in order not to pay a living person.
In a perfect world, models would be paid a minimum day rate and would have eligibility for health insurance, and if not that, then discounts on services we use regularly (gym, hair, nails, etc.)
What do you love about living in New York?
Briy Gilgeous: The people, specifically the diversity of personal style here. I could sit on a bench/or stoop somewhere and watch all the people and their outfits walk by me and rarely see two of the same look.
What do you dislike about living in New York?
Briy Gilgeous: People who over-romanticize the city or don’t travel above 14th St. I think many people believe NYC will welcome them with open arms and be this safe haven for their hopes and dreams. Not everyone realizes there is hustle and work attached to that. I find it very naive when people come here and think it’s gonna be like an episode of Sex and the City or Friends when they arrive here. Please stop it!
Favorite movie and tv show:
Briy Gilgeous: My pick for a TV show is Insecure. I love how Black that show was and how relatable it is. 10/10 as far as I am concerned. A favorite movie is a more complicated question to answer, but I think it’s tied between Mahogany and Bohemian Rhapsody. I can watch either one of those movies repeatedly and not get tired.
Favorite designer, fragrance, and beauty/grooming products?
Briy Gilgeous: My favorite fragrance is tied between Mugler Alien and Alien Goddess. As for beauty products, I love the Embryolisse moisturizers but specifically the Lait Crème Concentré; it keeps my skin hydrated all over my face & neck.
What would you be doing if you weren’t modeling?
Briy Gilgeous: I would most likely be a nutritionist and/or entertainment paralegal if I wasn’t modeling. Nutritionist so I can help people eat healthily & achieve their goals with minimal compromise, and paralegal so I can help entertainers (models, actors, musicians, etc.) get the best legal advice when reviewing contracts. And I probably would be using my free time to make custom clothing/accessories for myself.
What’s something uncool that you love anyway?
Peeps. My mom and I used to torch them on the stove before eating them. I tell non-believers all the time they’re marshmallows coated in sugar. It’s a portable crème brûlée!
What’s the best thing about your hometown/country?
Crabs. Unlike the bread-heavy ‘ crab cakes ‘ here in NYC, Maryland will always give you a FULL meat crab cake.
Place you would love to visit:
Versailles. I’ve been to France so many times, but I always seem to miss that specific place when I’m there.
Which brand(s) would you love to model?
Mugler, Brandon Maxwell, Jeffrey Campbell, NYX, MAC Cosmetics, The Blonds, Christopher John Rogers, Hanifa, and Bloomingdales.
Favorite modeling experience thus far?
Briy Gilgeous: My favorite modeling experience thus far has been working showroom for DurDoux this past February. DurDoux is a brand that has been tied to my modeling journey for a very long time. I’ve been very fortunate to grow alongside them, and getting to be their showroom model at Spring Studios for the Black in Fashion Council was such an amazing experience.
What are some of your challenges as a model?
My challenges as a model have been weight/measurements. I recently just came out of being on appetite suppressants and a pretty extreme workout routine which sucked the life out of me.
And now I’m a bit bigger; however, I’m healthier, and I don’t feel like a husk. Finding the balance between honoring my 6’2″ frame and shape as a fashion model is tough, but it’s part of the job.
My main goal is to work out healthily, but it doesn’t rob me of the joy I get from good food and having a life outside of the gym.
Your favorite feature on your body? Why?
My neck into my chest/arms. When I was younger, I hated that I had a clavicle bone that stuck out and how ‘bony’ I looked in that area. But at some point, I started training my upper body with weights, and it filled it out in the nicest way. Plus, there’s so much length that I can pull off many different things like one shoulder or strapless lines.
Currently, you’re obsessed with or about?
I am currently obsessed with French Press TikTok. Mainly because I was looking up how to clean coffee out of the french press, I just bought and found out you can make loose leaf tea in a French press, so I’m excited to try that soon.
Three words that best describe you as a person?
- Bold
- Persistent
- Intuitive
Any shoutouts? Shoutout to my chosen fam, Onyeka Deborah, Cyrene Renee, David Hand, Dani Davis, B. Hawk Snipes, Timur Sadyq, and Daria Dee.
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