Lauren Gold

Zero tolerance

t5m — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:38:38 +0000

Lauren spoke to t5m about one of the more controversial aspects of the modelling industry: size zero. Lauren tells us that she finds the “size zero debate terrifying and worrying”, and that she believes that it is up to the designers to be the pinnacle of positive change in the modelling industry. “These girls are clearly not well, and when designers put a girl like that on the runway and in magazines, they are endorsing this illness. These women can have fertility problems…”, Lauren explains.

Lauren tells us that she worries that young girls look up to these models. She once caught her seven-year old niece singing to thePussycat dolls, and dancing around in hot pants, and Lauren explains that she is concerned that young girls’ innocence is being taken away. She believes that girls need a positive role model to look up to, someone that can make a difference.

A model at play

t5m — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Lauren always volunteers during Christmas, where she helps out the less fortunate. This inspired Lauren to put on a play which she had produced (showing in December), written and acted by homeless people. They have daily workshops and trust games, where they can discover new skills. These workshops have a profound impact, as it brings the actors alive. Just by giving them a haircut, a change of clothes, and a trip down to the dentist, it can make such a difference.

When Lauren began this project, she was told by many people that it was far too big and she would never be able to finish it. However, she believes that once you start something, big or small, you should always complete it. The rewards you get are outstanding.

Pretty Personality

t5m — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:24:53 +0000

Lauren says that you have to have a personality; you can’t just be a pretty girl because there are plenty of pretty girls out there. The relationship between a photographer and a model is very intimate and the only way you can achieve great results is by having a great personality. Her best pictures are when she is caught off guard, and letting her personality shine through.

People say models are stupid because you don’t need it when you’re standing in front of the camera, but you do because modelling is a business. A lot of opportunities come your way, and you have to learn to play the game, be professional, and in some cases, you have to make sacrifices. You need a brain, and you have to be tough skinned.

From the classroom to the runway

t5m — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:21:47 +0000

Lauren felt nothing but happiness when all these wonderful things began happening to her and at such a young age as well! It was all a bit overwhelming, one day she would be at school and another she would be whizzing off to Paris. Luckily, she had a supportive family and good friends who would fax Lauren her homework.

She went to an all girls school, and so the obvious repercussion to being a model was sheer bitchiness. She was finally given an ultimatum from her school, she had to keep her grades up or she wouldn’t be able to take the time off to model. Her school were very understanding and gave her plenty of time off, but she had to work hard.

She didn’t want to conform to the stereotype of being a stupid model; she wanted to prove everybody wrong. However, she reminds herself that you don’t have to prove anything to anyone as long as you know who are. She got flak for wanting to be an actress, but these sort of negative comments have to disregarded, she told t5m.

A Rocking Model

t5m — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:12:45 +0000

Lauren hadn’t been in the industry that long before she got the chance to do a Roxette video, which she thought was ‘pretty cool at the time’, and we are pleased to say she still does today! This kickstarted her music video career, as she also appeared in MJ Cole’s ‘Crazy Love’ and the infamous ‘Rock DJ’ by Robbie Williams. Lauren describes this an “amazing experience, she is sure to pass on the stories to her kids and her grandkids”.

The ‘Rock DJ’ video sees Lauren playing the DJ, with Robbie Williams trying hard to get her attention, but failing miserably. While he has many girls fawning and falling all over him, he only wants the DJ’s attention, and he will do anything to get it. He begins by taking off his clothes, then eventually his skin (we all remember that!) and once he is in full skeletal form, he eventually wins her over!

Who could resist?

Struck Gold

t5m — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:25 +0000

Lauren’s mother was a top model in the 1960’s, and pictures of her were dotted around the house. Lauren could do nothing but be in awe of her mother, and by the time she was two years old, she was obsessed with dressing up and posing in front of the camera.

At 13, her mother sent pictures of Lauren and her siblings to modelling agencies, but Lauren was the only one who was truly interested. She began featuring in pop videos, and adverts for M&S and Next. By 14, she joined Now Models, who she modelled for in her school holidays.

Lauren appeared in a lot teenage magazines where she met ‘a lot of nice people’, and where her wholesome image was far from sexy. On her first job, the photographer took her aside, and taught her how to pose from showing off the zip of a dress or the pocket on a pair of jeans - vital modelling attributes. And Lauren was no doubt a model subject who was ‘ready to experiment’.