Celebrity Hairstylist extraordinaire TED GIBSON spoke with our Moroccan and French muse SOPHIA BOUNOU about our cover shoot, modeling, fashion week, Provence, self-care, hair and more.

Ted and Sophia also chatted about their shared love and passion for fashion, the arts and brands like Margiela, Miu Miu Jacquemus and LaQuan Smith. Read on and enjoy our cover shoot featuring Sophia for A BOOK OF and BLOWING LA.

PHOTOGRAPHY: IRVIN RIVERA

FASHION STYLING: MARK PAUL BARRO

HAIR: TED GIBSON AND JASON BACKE

MAKEUP: RENEE LOIZ

NAILS: FOOTNANNY CELEBRITY PEDICURIST

HAIR ASST: ROBIN CEMONE

PHOTO ASST: JESSE ZAPATERO

Tell us how you got into modeling?

I think I was fourteen turning fifteen at that time, you know, a typical kid, with acne, my hair was pretty dead, I don’t know how to take care of myself, I was just eating whatever- I was basically super skinny at the time too, and people were like, omg you should model, so went to research models.com and looked at modeling agencies. I had my sister took digitals of me in our apartment, and sent out my photos to modeling agencies. I eventually got a mother agency in Minneapolis and fast forward, I got signed in New York, Greece Dubai and LA.  

Describe to us how you feel about modeling. Because people have this perception of what modeling is and you know it firsthand.

It’s not that glamorous. It’s not trips to fashion week, wine, glitz and glamour. It’s not just that.

A lot of people think modeling is what you see in TikTok, Reels and Snapchat videos. It has its upsides, for sure but if you choose to be a model, it has to be something deeper than money and fame. A lot of models don’t make a lot of money and a lot of models don’t become famous.

You have to do it if you love fashion- if you love art and if you’re a creative person. You have to have a very strong head in your shoulders because it’s a lot of work. It requires a lot of dedication and your entire life becomes modeling, essentially. If you have to eat a certain way for your skin, you have to constantly eat that way. You have to work out you have to have your regimen, you have to be ready to move your life to an entirely new city for your career, if needed, so it’s a lot and it’s not what a lot of people expect. It’s not what I expected when I started out but I am happy that I did and I’m happy that this is my career. I absolutely love it. I love the people that I meet. I love the things that I do and the outcome in the end is so worth it.

What inspiring words would you give to a new person that lives in a suburb that’s not close to a big city like NY or LA. What kind of things would you advise them to do?

I would tell them to keep their head up. It’s not an overnight dream. Though for some people it is. I think the story for each person is so different- that everyone’s dream through modeling or success or fame is so different and so unique. You just have to keep pushing forward because eventually something will happen. Eventually something will break through. Eventually you’ll walk, eventually you’ll get a magazine. Something will happen. Don’t give up. Keep putting yourself out there. Keep applying. Keep persevering.

When you shot the Cover of A BOOK OF, how long have you been in Hollywood at that moment?

I’ve only been in LA for a week.

I got in a contract before. I was like, I really wanna go to LA. I have so many friends there. I wanna try it. People say good things about LA- the jobs you can get there and the consistency of them. So I’m like let me just try it. So I had a meeting with ONE Management, and immediately, they were like, Omg you’re so good, we love you. And I was also signed with ONE in Chicago.

Then I bought a ticket to LA on a whim, I stayed in a model apartment, and it was Andy’s first booking at ONE. Andy is my superstar agent. I love him. He’s a sweetheart and an angel.

Aren’t you an artist?

Yes. I am an artist. I’ve been painting since forever. I didn’t have any other extra-curricular activities so I started painting as a little kid and that’s everything that I did. And I just found it to be my main path.

I applied to the Art Institute of Chicago and I got a scholarship. It’s really one of my passions. I’ve sold paintings in Dubai, LA, Chicago, New York. I love doing it.

I love that!

Do you have any favorite moment when are modeling?

I shot my first magazine when I was in Dubai. I think this was a year ago. And this was probably after four years in modeling. I shot my first magazine editorial in Dubai and they shot me in all Bottega Veneta. It was a magazine editorial for Bottega. Whenever they put me in nice clothing, especially when I was doing it in a shoot with you, I feel like I am where I’m meant to be. It’s so good. It just felt right. It just felt like everything was where I’m meant to be. I don’t know. Just being surrounded by creative people who get to create and experiment with me, and I get to pose – it just felt really right. Every time that I am with a really good creative team, I’m like, I love this! This is really great! That’s definitely a notable moment.

Was there something in particular as a model that you want to aspire to? Because I think a lot of people may think that modeling is not a career. So, do you have ideas of what your career in modeling to be?

I really love modeling. But I wanna have my have my own business, my own ventures molded into my modeling career. Obviously as a model you have to have your networks, you have to have your own personality; you are your own boss, essentially. I want to see how far modeling can take me. I want to see how many connections I can make and how much business opportunities I can make through that but one day I want to be a designer or an artist.

I always tell my mom, I really wanna have a gallery when I’m older, or just wear designer clothes or just create art for them. I just want it all to be melded together- me doing art, fashion and business altogether.

I think all three of those work all well together- they’re not from each other at all.

You have great skin. Tell us a bit about your skin routine and how you take care of your skin.

I avoid dairy, gluten and soy. And those made the biggest changes that I noticed. When I was a teenager I had really bad cystic acne. I still struggle with it. Hormones change, your skin breaks out. But right now, I am currently using Dr Barbara Sturm serum that my friends gave me. Love those. So good. I do facials at med spas. (hydrofacials, peels, etc) Also, sunscreen everyday! I also take a lot of supplements.

Tell us a little bit about your hair care routine

My hair care routine is always changing.  I love Kevin Murphy products, those are great. I do deep cleanse my hair only once a week. I like braids a lot. When I’m not modeling I do 2 braids on my hair and tuck them on the back.

What kind of movies do you like?

No scary movies. I don’t care who I’m with or what. I hate scary movies. I love rom-com. I love teenage coming of age movies. I am such a sucker for a good rom-com. I just wanna cry and feel lovey dovey.

What do you say your style of fashion is?

My mom, she buys Maison Margiela. There’s so many brands that I wanna work for. Miu Miu does so many cool things, Jacquemus, I love the fashion. The shows are great. Also, LaQuan Smith. I went to one of the shows, omg it’s so sexy! They  just embody sexy. It was so beautiful, Ted.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

Ooh. That’s a hard question. I dunno. I think I would be a non-fiction book. I feel like I’m filled with random facts. A lot of my friends say I just know a lot of random stuff. It’s true. I don’t know where I get all those information from. But I just do know a lot of random facts.