Bite Autumn 2012

CORRINE MCCONNACHIE SPEAKS TO ELLIOT MACKIE ABOUT HIS With just two years of experience, Elliot’s success in the competitive and demanding modelling industry is incredible.To make an impact on the male modelling industry, which has less of a following than the female industry, is truly remarkable. Alongside these challenges, Elliot faced difficulty at the beginning of his career due to his height. Professionals were sceptical about working with a shorter model, making Elliot’s job even more challenging. Sitting up confidently Elliot grinned and said,“I like a challenge. I have worked very hard at promoting myself and building up a network of contacts. It has certainly paid off; I was recently featured in Cielo Magazine, which reaches a global audience. I was so happy because they chose my pictures from 300 editorials. I got an email from the Elliot Mackie EXPERIENCES AS A MALE MODEL IN SCOTLAND ANDABROAD. taste of modelling when a friend and make-up artist asked him to model on a photo-shoot. Having found something he was passionate about, Elliot decided to pursue modelling and began to work with various photographers from around Scotland. It was not long before his hard work was noticed and Elliot was snapped up by Scottish agency Superior Model Management in 2010.“I caught the attention of Superior after working on a shoot with Anna Olszewska and Trisha Ward.” Modelling is something that came naturally to Elliot;looking back on his first photo-shoot, Elliot said, “I wasn’t even scared. It felt really good, I remember being really happy with it.” Isla Rafferty, owner of Superior Model Management, said, “Elliot has such an effortless and quirky look that suits editorial campaigns. Previously most male models had to fit the commercial Calvin Klein look. Most photographers find him easy to work with.” Now, Elliot works internationally between Scotland and Italy after being signed to Icon Models in Rome in October 2011.With eyes almost closed, Elliot relived the experience, “I was so happy to have even got the opportunity to work abroad. I was invited to Rome to work with photographer Kevin Pineda, which was amazing. Since I was there I decided to go to Zoe Models and ICON Models. Both agencies wanted to sign me but I went with ICON because I thought they suited me better.”

bite model behaviour

T he glass ceiling has never existed in the forward thinking fashion industry. When asked about the fashion greats many may think of Coco Chanel, Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell or Kate Moss. In the history of fashion, feminism has always been celebrated; however it was not until the early 1990s that a true male presence was felt with the introduction of Marcus Schenkenberg, the first ever male supermodel. Famed for his Calvin Klein advertisements Marcus set the tone for years to come. Now, modelling is a dream career for many young boys throughout the world with icons like Gabriel Aubry, David Gandy and MarkVanderloo. So far this year, London hosted its first ever Men’s Fashion Week and David Beckham became the first male model to feature on the cover of Elle magazine. Despite the recent change, male models are often still not considered to be on the same level as their female counterparts. In an industry which is slowly changing, how do male models plan to stand out and push the barriers to achieve full equality? The Bite speaks to up and coming Scottish model, Elliot Mackie about his experience working between the UK and Italy and the challenges he has faced in his career so far. At just 5 ft. 8, 19 year old Elliot Mackie has exceeded all expectations and, in less than a year, the young model has been signed to Icon Models in Rome, featured in internationally renowned fashion magazine, Cielo, modelled for Toni and Guy and worked with high profile photographers such as Erica Fava. With a modest smile Elliot said, “ I am really happy with my recent work. I feel like everything I achieve is always more significant because I am a little bit shorter.” Elliot got his first

Black & white images courtesy: Photography: Erica Fava & Martina Scorucchi