Interviewing Psychodollfie
I contacted Camilla in order to make a meaningful informative post on egl_portugal and both of us were pleased with the result. I think you guys would like to read this too so i'm posting it here as well. I have a very big respect for her career and determination. Enjoy.
Name: Camilla
Nickname: On internet Psychodollfie, but usually it’s just Camilla.
Age: 20
Birthdate: 9/30
Birthplace: Sweden, outside stockholm in the deep forest.
Hair color: Blonde
Eye color: Green
Weight: 50kg
Height: 170cm
Occupation: Model and japanese language student
Agency: Raquel Felipe
• How long have you been into the style and for how many years have you worn it?
Oh, the time is running away from me and I’m loosing the time perspective, but I think I discovered it around 4 years ago and but started to wear it very actively 3 years ago.
• What is your favorite Lolita style and what is your least favorite?
Nowadays I never wear too cute stuff. I do prefer the more grown up styles and mix it with more high fashion. I like ero, gothic, victorian etc all mixed with a little bit of own personality.
• You’re from Sweden, right? How hard was it to walk around in your town and how did people react to you?
Well I think pretty many people thought I was weird, while other thought it was cute and pretty. And of course people stared and made comments, but I was quite unaware of it. I tend to walk around in my own world and not really notice the reaction of other people.
• I’ve heard you say that gothic Lolita fashion is the meaning of your life. I know that was said before you went to Japan and became a model. Do you now think you might have exaggerated or do you still feel this with the same intensity?
Of course it’s exaggerated and my view has changed, but I still see the similarities. In tv interviews like that, they cut out half of what you say to make it sound interesting for the listeners. But at that time, it actually was a huge part of my life. Between finishing high school and moving to japan, I had one year were I didn’t much, except making lolita clothes with Anna (gravelfower) and going to parties. So at that point it sort of was the meaning, it made me moving on, and I had a great time. But still, I have always been wanting more than that, and I definitely don’t live for the fashion, because I want the fashion to live for me.
• How did you get from a normal student in Japan to being a model for such important brands? How did it all happen?
It happened quite naturally. Before I went to japan,I told myself that I was going to become a model and among others model for gothic & lolita bible. And when I have a dream I make sure that it comes true. Of course I have a lot of dreams, and it takes time to make them come true, and many obstacles are always in the way, but I keep fighting. About the modeling part I bumped into some important people one after another. The first thing I did here was a BPN ad in Kera Maniax, they just found me on the street. Then I’ve been meeting a lot of people that has come to affect my life. I’m very grateful to everyone.
• What brands have you represented and what is the brand you dream of representing as a model?
There is a lot I would love to do... I’m dreaming of going to the top, work with the best, and there is a lot of people I would love to work with, but I’m not going to do a namedrop, because I’d like to keep a few dreams as secrets until I fulfilled them.
• Have you ever been given clothes from a shoot or after a shoot?
I’ve been given underwear, and some smaller stuff. I sometimes get discounts if I want to buy something. I guess the big presents will come when I get bigger ;)
• What was the weirdest thing you were asked to do in a one?
It depends what you count as weird... Getting naked with a bag in front of your boobs WITHOUT asking or even inform me about it before the shoot (lucky I’m not that sensitive), Standing in a really dirty river with a nice dress, playing retarded sqirrel, playing dead among insects, getting me drunk or even go fishing in a tiny pound in the middle of Tokyo... I don’t really know what’s weird or not, all shoots are diffrent and it’s fun most of the time.
• As most people know you are a very talented seamstress. Knowing this I have to ask: do you think Japanese brand name clothes are over-rated?
Some clothes are, but most of them are not! If I ever should sell my own produced clothes they wouldn’t be cheap. Cheap clothes are for mass production, made by big chains who uses poor children in a country far away... No but seriously, think about the time it takes to make a design, from an idea to the actual pattern. Then you think about all the material, what that would cost. And then to produce the clothes, the time it takes, all the effort put behind. And now remember that these clothes are made by people and this is suppose to make their living. They are putting their souls in this, isn’t that worth something? If these clothes are too expensive for you, then don’t buy them.
• Do you think it is possible for a foreign brand to succeed in Japan’s Gothic and Lolita market?
Of course, I believe that everything is possible. It might be hard, but who said life’s supposed to be easy?
• In your opinion how is the gothic Lolita scene in Japan different from the one in the west?
Hmmm...Dificult question... But I think it’s more united in the west actually, mostly because it’s smaller. When I lived in Sweden I went to everything lolita related around there, I was also more active on the internet updating myself about what was happening in the rest of the lolita world. Now days I don’t, and I don’t think the japanese lolitas care so much for the lolita world in the west, but of course there are exceptions. And here I don’t think it’s possible to go to all the lolita related events, that would be to much.
• As a model, do have any beauty secrets or hints you would like to share with us?
Try not to compare yourself too much with others, instead focus on yourself. What are your good sides? Try to make the best of what you’ve got. Some people might like you, while others wont. The important thing is that you like yourself, then you will shine more.
• A lot of girls would like to be in your shoes, you are aware of that, right? How do you cope with this recent fandom? Have you ever been recognized on the streets?
I’m on a ladder, climbing myself up. There is a lot of people above me, I’m not at the top yet. The road to the top is very, very long. With fandom, I don’t know. Do I have fans? I don’t feel like I have gotten so far yet. In one way I might have, because I am happy and grateful to every step on the way. But when you put it in the big picture of what I want to achieve, this is just the beginning. So I don’t think I’m really cooping with anything here. And with the street thing it’s impossible to know. Because I’m a blonde girl living in japan. A lot of people IS coming up, giggling, asking for drinks, or just saying “kawaii”. But I think that’s just the experience of any gaijin.
• What are your plans for the future?
I have one more year left in school, after that I’ll be doing modeling full time. I’m also very interested in acting and I want to take that up when I get the chance. My fashion design plans are now very far in the future, I really want to do it some day but now is not the right time. When I finish school I might go around a bit, working in other countries but japan will be my base because it’s my home!
• Could you leave a word of encouragement for your fellow western lolitas (especially the ones that are new to the fashion)?
If you have a dream, follow it. Go out and do something, if you just sit at home masturbating to the thought of doing something you might get stuck there forever. But if you go out chasing your dream, you’ll probably catch it sooner or later. Good Luck!
Name: Camilla
Nickname: On internet Psychodollfie, but usually it’s just Camilla.
Age: 20
Birthdate: 9/30
Birthplace: Sweden, outside stockholm in the deep forest.
Hair color: Blonde
Eye color: Green
Weight: 50kg
Height: 170cm
Occupation: Model and japanese language student
Agency: Raquel Felipe
• How long have you been into the style and for how many years have you worn it?
Oh, the time is running away from me and I’m loosing the time perspective, but I think I discovered it around 4 years ago and but started to wear it very actively 3 years ago.
• What is your favorite Lolita style and what is your least favorite?
Nowadays I never wear too cute stuff. I do prefer the more grown up styles and mix it with more high fashion. I like ero, gothic, victorian etc all mixed with a little bit of own personality.
• You’re from Sweden, right? How hard was it to walk around in your town and how did people react to you?
Well I think pretty many people thought I was weird, while other thought it was cute and pretty. And of course people stared and made comments, but I was quite unaware of it. I tend to walk around in my own world and not really notice the reaction of other people.
• I’ve heard you say that gothic Lolita fashion is the meaning of your life. I know that was said before you went to Japan and became a model. Do you now think you might have exaggerated or do you still feel this with the same intensity?
Of course it’s exaggerated and my view has changed, but I still see the similarities. In tv interviews like that, they cut out half of what you say to make it sound interesting for the listeners. But at that time, it actually was a huge part of my life. Between finishing high school and moving to japan, I had one year were I didn’t much, except making lolita clothes with Anna (gravelfower) and going to parties. So at that point it sort of was the meaning, it made me moving on, and I had a great time. But still, I have always been wanting more than that, and I definitely don’t live for the fashion, because I want the fashion to live for me.
• How did you get from a normal student in Japan to being a model for such important brands? How did it all happen?
It happened quite naturally. Before I went to japan,I told myself that I was going to become a model and among others model for gothic & lolita bible. And when I have a dream I make sure that it comes true. Of course I have a lot of dreams, and it takes time to make them come true, and many obstacles are always in the way, but I keep fighting. About the modeling part I bumped into some important people one after another. The first thing I did here was a BPN ad in Kera Maniax, they just found me on the street. Then I’ve been meeting a lot of people that has come to affect my life. I’m very grateful to everyone.
• What brands have you represented and what is the brand you dream of representing as a model?
There is a lot I would love to do... I’m dreaming of going to the top, work with the best, and there is a lot of people I would love to work with, but I’m not going to do a namedrop, because I’d like to keep a few dreams as secrets until I fulfilled them.
• Have you ever been given clothes from a shoot or after a shoot?
I’ve been given underwear, and some smaller stuff. I sometimes get discounts if I want to buy something. I guess the big presents will come when I get bigger ;)
• What was the weirdest thing you were asked to do in a one?
It depends what you count as weird... Getting naked with a bag in front of your boobs WITHOUT asking or even inform me about it before the shoot (lucky I’m not that sensitive), Standing in a really dirty river with a nice dress, playing retarded sqirrel, playing dead among insects, getting me drunk or even go fishing in a tiny pound in the middle of Tokyo... I don’t really know what’s weird or not, all shoots are diffrent and it’s fun most of the time.
• As most people know you are a very talented seamstress. Knowing this I have to ask: do you think Japanese brand name clothes are over-rated?
Some clothes are, but most of them are not! If I ever should sell my own produced clothes they wouldn’t be cheap. Cheap clothes are for mass production, made by big chains who uses poor children in a country far away... No but seriously, think about the time it takes to make a design, from an idea to the actual pattern. Then you think about all the material, what that would cost. And then to produce the clothes, the time it takes, all the effort put behind. And now remember that these clothes are made by people and this is suppose to make their living. They are putting their souls in this, isn’t that worth something? If these clothes are too expensive for you, then don’t buy them.
• Do you think it is possible for a foreign brand to succeed in Japan’s Gothic and Lolita market?
Of course, I believe that everything is possible. It might be hard, but who said life’s supposed to be easy?
• In your opinion how is the gothic Lolita scene in Japan different from the one in the west?
Hmmm...Dificult question... But I think it’s more united in the west actually, mostly because it’s smaller. When I lived in Sweden I went to everything lolita related around there, I was also more active on the internet updating myself about what was happening in the rest of the lolita world. Now days I don’t, and I don’t think the japanese lolitas care so much for the lolita world in the west, but of course there are exceptions. And here I don’t think it’s possible to go to all the lolita related events, that would be to much.
• As a model, do have any beauty secrets or hints you would like to share with us?
Try not to compare yourself too much with others, instead focus on yourself. What are your good sides? Try to make the best of what you’ve got. Some people might like you, while others wont. The important thing is that you like yourself, then you will shine more.
• A lot of girls would like to be in your shoes, you are aware of that, right? How do you cope with this recent fandom? Have you ever been recognized on the streets?
I’m on a ladder, climbing myself up. There is a lot of people above me, I’m not at the top yet. The road to the top is very, very long. With fandom, I don’t know. Do I have fans? I don’t feel like I have gotten so far yet. In one way I might have, because I am happy and grateful to every step on the way. But when you put it in the big picture of what I want to achieve, this is just the beginning. So I don’t think I’m really cooping with anything here. And with the street thing it’s impossible to know. Because I’m a blonde girl living in japan. A lot of people IS coming up, giggling, asking for drinks, or just saying “kawaii”. But I think that’s just the experience of any gaijin.
• What are your plans for the future?
I have one more year left in school, after that I’ll be doing modeling full time. I’m also very interested in acting and I want to take that up when I get the chance. My fashion design plans are now very far in the future, I really want to do it some day but now is not the right time. When I finish school I might go around a bit, working in other countries but japan will be my base because it’s my home!
• Could you leave a word of encouragement for your fellow western lolitas (especially the ones that are new to the fashion)?
If you have a dream, follow it. Go out and do something, if you just sit at home masturbating to the thought of doing something you might get stuck there forever. But if you go out chasing your dream, you’ll probably catch it sooner or later. Good Luck!