Jasmeena Azzo: Modeling became a form of self-expression the moment I allowed myself to step into it

Your journey began with beauty pageants at a young age and later expanded into modeling, acting, and creative direction. How did those early experiences on stage shape the confidence and presence you bring to your work today?The early experiences were great, because I had an early introduction to the industry and how it runs. Although I didn't understand it as a kid, it does help me now as an adult and gives me confidence with the fact that I am very familiar with everything.

Growing up in the Metro Detroit area, what aspects of the local culture or creative environment influenced your interest in modeling and performance?I have friends in the area that own businesses. They like my energy and my look, so I was scouted out a lot and asked to model. I used to actually turn a lot of them down and say I wasn't a model. In the summer of 2025, I finally decided to take my friends up on their offers. Now I have a new interest toward it as a way of self-expression, and I indulge in it.

After stepping away from pageants to focus on school, you stayed involved in choir and theater. How did those artistic outlets help develop your passion for performance and storytelling?The theater and choir community is very friendly and family-like—they motivate and are kind to each other, even if someone is doing the simplest task in stage crew. This allowed me to be myself and be confident. The teachers we had were also amazing and very animated. In choir, you get graded on being expressive with the piece—if it's joy or sorrow, it must be conveyed. So with this, I have been taught to be expressive at all times.

Your connection with the car community eventually opened the door to modeling for automotive brands. How did that unique intersection between cars and fashion influence your modeling career?Actually, what has been funny is being in the car community opened the door for me to model with guns first, before cars. My first ever modeling job was for a local business that made custom gun accessories, and I hope to work with them again soon. I really try to keep my modeling career and car interest separated, especially due to the fact that being into cars is a male-dominated field, and I wish to be respected and taken seriously as a female. So far, it has been going very well, and I even have some offers to work with automotive brands, but nothing has come of it yet.

You often act as the creative director for your own modeling projects. What does your creative process look like when you are planning and developing a concept for a shoot?My creative process mostly includes sitting and listening to music. I naturally am very creative, and I get a lot of my ideas from visuals I imagine while listening to music. After I get a good idea, I start sketching some stances, references, and writing down props I may want to get. I even look in the mirror and pose to get more ideas on how I want to compose myself, so I am ready when I get to my shoot.

Being both the model and creative director can bring a very personal vision to a project. How do you balance expressing your own ideas while collaborating with photographers and other creatives?I like to ask the photographers up front if they want to shoot their own ideas or mine. From there, I ask if they are looking for more of a natural or a creative shoot. Then we coordinate a solid idea together.

You are now signed with an international agency in California. How has working with a global agency changed your opportunities and perspective within the industry?I am signed with two agencies—one international and one in California, sorry for the confusion. So far, it's been lovely for helping with reach when looking for jobs. Especially when agencies are well known, they get better clients to work with and bigger brands too.

Modeling and acting both require a strong sense of character and expression. Do you approach these two disciplines differently, or do they complement each other in your creative work?I feel like they both coincide with each other. Especially if you are a model interested in creative shoots, it is basically acting—but knowing there will be no sound, words, or movement. You have to act and capture only a moment. I enjoy trying to create moments to capture with my ideas, and I hope in the future I can be known and respected for my creativity.

The automotive world, fashion, and performance all carry strong visual identities. What inspires the aesthetic direction you bring to your projects?Most of my inspiration for fashion and style comes from the music I listen to, a lot from growing up with Bratz, and my mother is also quite fashionable. I borrow and take a lot of her things.

What has been one of the most memorable or meaningful moments in your modeling journey so far?So far, for modeling specifically, it has still been my very first shoot. That shoot inspired my interest in pursuing it more as a career and also as a creative outlet. Although I always used to draw and take creative photos before, I never used to show my face until now.

As someone who manages both the creative and performance side of projects, what advice would you give to emerging models who want to take more creative control of their work?For those who are working freelance, it has been very helpful to keep physical notebooks and agendas. You are more likely to remember things that you have physically written down, plus it keeps you very organized. Not everything has to be digital—I still keep my checklists on an app on my device.

Looking ahead, what goals or creative directions are you most excited to explore in your modeling and acting career?I am excited to be more expressive and create original, out-of-the-box content. I am also interested in exploring self-portraits so I can have full creative freedom when composing original pieces.

Photographer: Akhil Sesh @khilsesh

Model: Jasmeena Azzo @jasmeenaazzo