Kate Christofano (Maryland) |
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Shot by: @emmajfurniss
"I want to show the world that models ARE NOT STUPID!!
Even though I am short and not the traditional size and shape of a model, I am determined to change the fashion industry.My goal is to inspire others and show everyone who sees my photos that they are beautiful. I try to bring sunshine and positivity to people and show them that anything is possible; they are here for a reason and have so many gifts to bring to the world!!" |
Name: Kate Christofano
Location: Baltimore, Maryland Age: 19 Height: 5’3 Tattoos/Piercings (yes or no): No Kate is a sophomore honors finance and marketing major with a fashion management minor at the University of Delaware. She has been modeling (print and runway) and styling since age 14. Kate went to a magnet high school for acting and has been performing for "literally [her] entire life." She was the speaker at her class graduation and graduated at the top 5% of my class. Christofano was also the development director for a theatre company and planned a record-breaking fundraising gala, making the most money for the company in their history. As of right now, Kate is a brand ambassador for Elite Sports, MakeUp Eraser, Rebel Soul Collective, Ivory Ella, XO Mandy Sue, Match Made, and many more. 
Shot by: Jesse Sandler
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Interview by Kyle Sobieski
Shot by: @galacticgrizzly
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We noticed you train and fight MMA which is absolutely amazing. Tell us about what that's like, being a woman in MMA, why you got into it, how it has helped you in life overall.
My boyfriend has been doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and kick boxing for years and had been begging me to do it for the longest time. It was extremely important to me to learn self-defense before I went off to college, so I decided to try it. After one Jiu Jitsu class, I was hooked! It’s such an amazing sport. I’ve been doing it for about a year now and I’ve gained so much confidence. It really makes you feel stronger and more powerful; knowing I’m able to defend myself makes me feel so much more in control in everyday life. Training has also given me the best family I could’ve ever asked for. I drive about an hour to and from my gym because I love it so much. I train at Practical MMA in Sparrows Point, MD. They’re the best around and it just feels like home there. Being a woman in MMA isn’t much different until you think about it. Sometimes I will be the only girl in class on a given day, but I’ve never been treated any differently than the guys at my gym. I’m taught the same, spar the same, practice the same, train with guys, held to the same standard. Maybe the only difference is I rock an awesome hot pink gi! |
What steps or habits to do you personally keep to stay positive yourself? We understand everybody's self-care practices are different, so what are yours?
These days it’s easy to get lost in the toxicity of social media; people only post the best parts of their day and it’s not unusual to feel like everyone else’s lives are perfect except for yours, which is completely untrue. We all struggle with something; even the most confident celebrities are insecure sometimes. I like to fill my social media feed with positive, real people such as Iskra Lawrence, Ashley Graham, and Karina Irby.
They remind me that I can’t trust everything I see on social media to be real and inspire me to love myself every day. The fashion industry is beginning to move in the right direction, but being a non-traditionally shaped model trying to change beauty standards can be extraordinarily difficult.
Surrounding myself with supportive friends is crucial. When I feel discouraged, I try to remind myself of all I have already accomplished and the things I have left to do. I believe God has a purpose for everyone; We are all here for a reason and have been blessed with amazing talents that make us each unique. Remembering all the great things about yourself and making sure you know them is the purest form of self-care. It is never selfish to love and be compassionate to yourself; to me, it is actually one of the most important things in the world. That type of mindset can make a drastic difference in your everyday life. For example, working out is one way I show my body love; I want to take the best possible care of it and be healthy. It is much different from a mindset in which those same actions are a form of punishing your body. Staying positive is never simple and the road to self-love is a long journey that is never complete. All that matters is that you find things that work for you and stick to it.
Another thing that helps is to give love! Instead of being jealous or feeling as if you aren’t great because someone else is better, support them. I am such a firm believer in women supporting women. I love to give out compliments and encourage other girls to follow their dreams and do what they love.
By sticking together, we’re stronger and can accomplish so much more. Getting rid of the mindset that everyone is in competition with each other, I’ve made so many lifelong friends. When you’re down, lifting up others will feel so much better than trying to tear others down too. If we could all remember just to be a little bit more kind, the world would be a better place. I try to bring a little sunshine to everyone I encounter.
These days it’s easy to get lost in the toxicity of social media; people only post the best parts of their day and it’s not unusual to feel like everyone else’s lives are perfect except for yours, which is completely untrue. We all struggle with something; even the most confident celebrities are insecure sometimes. I like to fill my social media feed with positive, real people such as Iskra Lawrence, Ashley Graham, and Karina Irby.
They remind me that I can’t trust everything I see on social media to be real and inspire me to love myself every day. The fashion industry is beginning to move in the right direction, but being a non-traditionally shaped model trying to change beauty standards can be extraordinarily difficult.
Surrounding myself with supportive friends is crucial. When I feel discouraged, I try to remind myself of all I have already accomplished and the things I have left to do. I believe God has a purpose for everyone; We are all here for a reason and have been blessed with amazing talents that make us each unique. Remembering all the great things about yourself and making sure you know them is the purest form of self-care. It is never selfish to love and be compassionate to yourself; to me, it is actually one of the most important things in the world. That type of mindset can make a drastic difference in your everyday life. For example, working out is one way I show my body love; I want to take the best possible care of it and be healthy. It is much different from a mindset in which those same actions are a form of punishing your body. Staying positive is never simple and the road to self-love is a long journey that is never complete. All that matters is that you find things that work for you and stick to it.
Another thing that helps is to give love! Instead of being jealous or feeling as if you aren’t great because someone else is better, support them. I am such a firm believer in women supporting women. I love to give out compliments and encourage other girls to follow their dreams and do what they love.
By sticking together, we’re stronger and can accomplish so much more. Getting rid of the mindset that everyone is in competition with each other, I’ve made so many lifelong friends. When you’re down, lifting up others will feel so much better than trying to tear others down too. If we could all remember just to be a little bit more kind, the world would be a better place. I try to bring a little sunshine to everyone I encounter.
Shot by: Jesse Sandler
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Being a freelance model, what steps would you suggest for someone to take who wants to be a model themselves?
Practice practice practice!!!! It’s the only way to get better. Modeling is a whole lot of trial and error. It takes a long time to know what your best angles are, what poses work for your body, how to switch up your face, etc. It’s different for everybody! Modeling is truly a lot harder than people think. It is so much more than just “standing there and looking pretty” as I’ve been told countless times before. Building your portfolio with professional people you can trust is crucial. Do your research! Always check out those you plan to work with before working with them; talk to others who have worked with them before too. It’s unfortunate, but there are a great deal of scams and scary people in the industry that you have to watch out for. As a young ambitious woman, there are so many people who will try and take advantage of your eagerness. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t be afraid to trust your gut. Although it is extremely difficult to make it in this industry, do not give up!! Rejection is just part of the deal; you have to keep trying and continue to put yourself out there. |
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If you could take any one in the world in the ring, fighter or not, who would you square up with and why?
I think it would be so much fun to square up with Ashley Graham! She is such a beast in the gym and absolutely inspires me to train harder every day. Just the chance to meet her at all would be amazing, better yet sparing with her! My ultimate dream would be to one day get to train and/or model with her. She has such a positive energy and I aspire to be as great as she is. Being a stylist, do you let anyone else style you, or do you do it all yourself?
I started out in the industry as a stylist who did modeling on the side, and eventually modeling took priority. For smaller shoots, it is necessary to have skills, such as styling and being able to do your own make up. Styling skills always come in handy, especially since it is always important to have things that make you stand out from others trying to get the same job. If there is a stylist on a bigger shoot, I definitely let them take the reins and do their job. Usually stylists do ask for the model’s input anyways, so it usually ends up being a collaborative effort, even when I style for others as well. |
Shot by: @katee.02
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Having modeled for Voler out of Washington, D.C., are there any other east coast brands you have worked with or have your eye on to work with?
While I love working with larger brands such as Tobi, I find it super important to support local business. Living in Baltimore, there is an endless number of talented designers, boutiques, stylists, and more.
My favorite part of my job is meeting and collaborating with locals; it’s the best way to give back! I’ve worked with tons of local boutiques such as Match Made, Brightside Boutique, A Day N June, MAREwear, and photographers/bloggers such as Eliza Romero of Aesthetic Distance (who is also my mentor) and Ian Jared Bell.
I’d love to work with more local photographers and stores such as Cloud 9, Double Dutch Boutique, South Moon Under, Milk and Ice Vintage, and so many more! If you are looking to book me, feel free to contact me. I am always looking to meet new people.
While I love working with larger brands such as Tobi, I find it super important to support local business. Living in Baltimore, there is an endless number of talented designers, boutiques, stylists, and more.
My favorite part of my job is meeting and collaborating with locals; it’s the best way to give back! I’ve worked with tons of local boutiques such as Match Made, Brightside Boutique, A Day N June, MAREwear, and photographers/bloggers such as Eliza Romero of Aesthetic Distance (who is also my mentor) and Ian Jared Bell.
I’d love to work with more local photographers and stores such as Cloud 9, Double Dutch Boutique, South Moon Under, Milk and Ice Vintage, and so many more! If you are looking to book me, feel free to contact me. I am always looking to meet new people.
Shot by: @rachellcooperr
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How long have you and Jesse Sandler been working together? It seems you two are constantly working on new projects and shoots. Have you always been friends with Jesse or did photography spark a new friendship?
Jesse followed me on Instagram one day over winter break and I saw we both went to University of Delaware. Her photography is so amazing and was super close to my own style. I reached out to her to see if she would like to collaborate when we went back for second semester, and the rest is history! Since then we’ve worked on a ton of things. The friendship developed along the way because she is just so much fun to shoot with. We bounce ideas off of each other and come up with some unique concepts. Some of my favorite shots in the past year have been photographed by her. Stay tuned for more projects in the future once the summer is over, and keep up with her as well. This girl is going places! Check out Jesse's portfolio by clicking here... |
As of right now, do you have a favorite line of clothing, and or a favorite line of makeup products?
I tend to shop at about a million different places and love to thrift as well, so my favorite stores are constantly changing. As far as make up goes, I work at Ulta Beauty when I’m home for winter and summer breaks, so I get to try a lot of different products.
However, one company I have loved for a long time is Aerie. The message they spread is exactly what I’m trying to portray as well. They didn’t hop on the Body Positivity trend to make money and move on once it died down, they truly have kept with AerieReal campaign for years now. They’ve continually been making waves in the lingerie industry by using models of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, as well as never retouching their models. They showcase rolls, stretch marks, cellulite, freckles, and many more normal things that other companies edit out of photos.
They’ve expanded this to their American Eagle clothing as well, paving the way for numerous other stores. I think what they’re doing is particularly important because representation and retouching in the fashion industry are huge issues; plenty of girls (and boys) grow up with unrealistic body standards due to the fact that too many models are edited beyond recognition with physiques that are humanly impossible to attain, as well as there not being representation of body types.
Growing up never seeing any models with your body type instills in children’s minds feelings that their bodies are flawed from a very young age. I feel great when I shop at Aerie and American Eagle stores because I know my money is going to a great company whose mission I support.
I tend to shop at about a million different places and love to thrift as well, so my favorite stores are constantly changing. As far as make up goes, I work at Ulta Beauty when I’m home for winter and summer breaks, so I get to try a lot of different products.
However, one company I have loved for a long time is Aerie. The message they spread is exactly what I’m trying to portray as well. They didn’t hop on the Body Positivity trend to make money and move on once it died down, they truly have kept with AerieReal campaign for years now. They’ve continually been making waves in the lingerie industry by using models of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, as well as never retouching their models. They showcase rolls, stretch marks, cellulite, freckles, and many more normal things that other companies edit out of photos.
They’ve expanded this to their American Eagle clothing as well, paving the way for numerous other stores. I think what they’re doing is particularly important because representation and retouching in the fashion industry are huge issues; plenty of girls (and boys) grow up with unrealistic body standards due to the fact that too many models are edited beyond recognition with physiques that are humanly impossible to attain, as well as there not being representation of body types.
Growing up never seeing any models with your body type instills in children’s minds feelings that their bodies are flawed from a very young age. I feel great when I shop at Aerie and American Eagle stores because I know my money is going to a great company whose mission I support.
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