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Meet Mina Mendes, a model and gamer who has made a name for herself in both industries. Through modeling, Mina has overcome shyness and grown into a confident woman with the courage to create an alternative but unforgettable image. And through her love for gaming, she’s building not only a successful career but new meaningful connections with people from different cultures and backgrounds from all around the world.
Mina, let’s talk about your modeling career – what are you most proud of?
I think I am most proud of coming out of my shell since I started modeling (I used to be very shy) and have now grown to become confident and really happy with who I am today.
Without modeling pushing me to go out there and apply for jobs and meet new people I would have never come this far!
«My past success comes from a constant reality check of where I am and where I want to go!»
What brands do you like to work with and why? Tell us about the most challenging and interesting shoots of your career.
I think my favorite and most fun brands to work with are swimwear brands, we mostly shoot in warm places for that too – I love being in warm countries and on the beach so it’s a perfect match. Every time I see the results after my shoot, the pictures of my body remind me of all the hard work I put in and all the training and healthy eating that came alongside that. Again, seeing my tattoos reminds me of my journey, where I have come from, and what I am all about – not just fitting into society like everyone else but making a statement and standing for something greater!
«I started to find my passion for tattoos and decided to make my look more niche and edgy which took my modeling journey into a whole new dimension»
Your tattoos draw attention with their subtlety and, at the same time, show off your individuality. Tell us about your personal history.
I started my commercial journey without tattoos and in many ways looked like many other female models I came across. Once having my first tattoo, which I did as an expression of my creativity and as a piece of art, I started to find my passion for tattoos and decided to make my look more niche and edgy which took my modeling journey into a whole new dimension working with super cool brands I would have never been able to work with before. Every time I add another tattoo to my body it tells a further story of who I am, my journey as well as precious memories of my life, and ultimately what I stand for in life. That aside, it’s hard to miss me or confuse me with someone else so that’s a good thing I guess! 😉
«Every time I see the results after my shoot, the pictures of my body remind me of all the hard work I put in and all the training and healthy eating that came alongside that»
Let’s talk about the gaming community. What attracts you to this activity and are you satisfied with your success in it?
One of my favorite aspects of being a part of this huge gaming community is that I get to build new friendships and constantly meet new people from all around the world, from different cultures, beliefs, backgrounds, and ethnicities, which makes the gaming experience even more so exciting. That being said, I started gaming at a very young age, having my first console when I was 7 and often used gaming as a way of having downtime for myself, relaxing, and getting away from my crazy school, and then work. I found it balanced me and still does today.
Looking back at my gaming career I can definitely say I have done a lot of great things within this industry which, however, also makes me realize how much more I want to achieve and the places I still want to go! My past success comes from a constant reality check of where I am and where I want to go!
@mina_mendes