VICTORIA POUSADA

You’ve walked runways worldwide, including London Fashion Week for Renee Cafaro. How does it feel to represent inclusivity on such prestigious platforms?

It feels amazing! It is such a great honor, but I also consider it to be a personal duty of mine as well. I also feel like I am a part of a great community.

Your work with The Model Alliance and the Fashion Workers Act showcases your dedication to advocacy. What motivated you to get involved in this important cause?

I had admired The Model Alliance and their work for quite some time before getting involved, especially when I was starting out, as I was truly seeking guidance in this crazy fashion industry. There were many times when I didn’t know where to turn when seeking legal advice or help navigating my agencies and their policies. The model alliance quickly became a refuge for me as well as many other models I know. They are the closest thing we have in this country to a union. So I was ecstatic to be invited to join them at one of their rallies for the first time. It’s been history ever since.

Through your blog and social media, you educate and empower models. What is the most important piece of advice you share with aspiring models?

Get your finances in order before pursuing this career. It is rare to make a substantial amount of money. Especially in your early years. Most start with taking on modeling and acting as a part time job.

As an actress, you’ve appeared in projects like Streets & Avenues and Moments in Horror. How do you approach preparing for such diverse roles?

Thankfully, my acting teachers trained me to deal with such diverse auditions. I just follow the steps. I do research on the project and the character. Then I find myself within the character and the world of the production. Then I learn my lines. And the rest is history.

Your recent project, #Stressed, is now streaming on Bronxnet TV. Can you tell us about your role and what drew you to this series?

I have a small role as one of the influencers speaking on the protagonist. Funny enough though, since I got my footage, I’ve been auditioning for many an influencer acting role. What drew me to the series was the company’s dedication to telling African stories in America through a lens that it is not readily focused on. It’s a perspective I wanted to be a part of sharing.

You’ve participated in several charity runway shows and initiatives like Habitat for Humanity. How do these experiences shape your perspective on the fashion and entertainment industries?

It made me realize that even though there is a large portion of this industry that is self-centered, there is also a large portion that is not. For every person focused on their own gain in this industry, there’s another one focused on elevating others and other cultures and other disenfranchised, individuals and groups through fashion.

As a multilingual Rutgers University graduate and self-proclaimed Anime and Manga fan, how do your diverse interests influence your creative work?

I take so much inspiration from them! I often look at costume designers sketches and will try and model their poses. The same goes for anime and manga characters as well. I also I have read many a manga and seen many an anime about acting in fashion industries, so there’s a plethora of inspiration there as well.

With hobbies like archery, horseback riding, and painting, what role does creativity play in your life outside of modeling and acting?

They feed my soul and keep me in a state of joy. They also helped the job remain fun. Because if your job is something you love to do, you never really have to work a day in your life. It takes the monotony out of the work and makes it no longer a chore.

You’ve worked with major brands like Universal Standard, CeraVe, and Shein. How do you choose projects that align with your personal values?

Now that I have more experience and an agency in my career, I’ll be able to take on more projects that align with my personal beliefs and values. In the beginning, it’s harder to do because you’re just starting out and baby models and baby actors often feel they need to – and are pressured to – forsake their values in order to procure jobs. But I’m in this for the long run and look forward to working with more brands and designers and productions that align with my personal beliefs.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals as a model, actress, and advocate, and how do you hope to continue breaking barriers in the industry?

I plan to return to runway after a bit of a mental break from it, and to walk in various cities, including my favorite, London. And I’ll also just continue to be on my grind and submit for roles and positions here in The United States, but I also plan to expand my influence overseas.