Whenever I really get serious about something, I pull my hair back into a tight ponytail. If you see me with that, you know I mean business.
— Coco Rocha
Be current. Know and comment on current trends and news. Don't be the last one entering a conversation.
The funny thing is that, for some reason, people think when you're pregnant, you have to start wearing maternity wear and wear flats and look Mom-ish. I don't know exactly what people expect of people who are pregnant, but there's definitely a lot of moms out there that look super fabulous all the time, and I guess that's my inspiration.
It's hard sometimes because people don't take a model seriously in any sense. Unless she's taking a photo, that's as good as she is.
You can definitely notice a girl who has confidence versus one who's thinking, 'How are they judging me?'
Moms or soon-to-be-moms put a lot of pressure on themselves.
Whatever you do, never do the duck face - that's the worst look for any girl out there. Some girls think that pushing out their lips looks fabulous, but it doesn't.
When I started, I knew nothing about fashion. I remember, my first day going to my agency, I was wearing these huge bell-bottoms - they were patchwork corduroy and denim, which, at the time, I thought were amazing. My agent told me, 'You have a casting with Prada - you have to burn those jeans.'
When I started modeling, I didn't feel like I had a big sister to tell me how this industry works.
My mom's half-Irish, and my dad's half-Irish. We don't know much about my mom's side, but my dad's mom came from Belfast and married my grandfather, who was from Wales.
I'm obsessed with historical English royalty.
I find it funny to look at people who are people-watching, and, don't get me wrong, I like to people-watch, too. But it's an interesting thing when people on the street just stop and ask you, 'Are you Coco? Can I take a photo of you?'
I love Africa, especially Botswana. I could see myself retiring to a little tree house there one day.
I was once dressed as a mermaid for a Jean Paul Gaultier show. My legs were bound into a fish tail, so I had to come down the runway on crutches. Halfway down, I was supposed to unzip the fish tail to reveal my legs, but the zipper broke, so I ended up stabbing my fake nail through the fabric of the zipper and ripping my way out.
Oftentimes, my career as a model is based around glamour or creating a fantasy world. That in itself is not a bad thing, as I think art and inspiration has its place in society.
When someone tells me that I'm not real, I say to them, 'Well, what about me isn't real?' I have not changed my figure. This is who I am.
I will definitely hook up my daughter if she decides to be a model.
Braveness, for me, is running into my basement with no socks on. There are huge spiders down there!
If you're posting pictures to platforms like Instagram or Twitter, be selective about the one you post. If I'm capturing a sunset, I'll take at least 10 pictures. I'll then filter them using other apps, enhance them. Then, I really pick the best image of perhaps 30.
I don't think it's fair for people to put fellow beings down just because they're only known for their looks.
One of my favorite poses was when working with Steven Meisel. It was one of my first photo shoots with him, and we were trying to get the cover of Italian 'Vogue.' Then, I literally took my Balenciaga hat, pulled it down, and gave a rolling-eye, 'ugh' face, crossed legs on the floor. And lo and behold, that was the cover of Italian 'Vogue.'
A lot of people might think the job of a model isn't necessary anymore, but just like an actor, singer - how they make you feel a certain way - how watching a dancer gives you emotion, models can do the exact same thing to many different people.
I think, as long as you're secure with yourself and happy with yourself, it really doesn't matter what the world around you thinks.
You can teach a girl how to model, how to take a pretty picture, and how to walk, but you can't teach personality.
When you wear something different, you have to be confident that not everyone may get it at first.
Models can be people, too. But the only way to do that is to kind of step up and keep doing new things that no one has thought of, from new websites to new blogs, a newscast, doing speeches, talking to kids. It kind of opens a new headline every time: 'Oh, a model hasn't done this before; a model hasn't done that before.'
If it weren't for my Irish dancing, I wouldn't be modeling.
I remember working with Agyness Deyn. At the time, she was the only one who had short hair as a model. I remember being so envious of her because we would all be getting our hair pulled for two hours backstage, and she was getting a new haircut almost every other show.
Don't get me wrong: 'America's Next Top Model' is fantastic. They've done 20 seasons, so they've obviously done something right. But I think what ensures that the winner of 'The Face' will become a working model is the prize - a year-long contract with a cosmetics company is huge.
My wedding dress is a piece of art that I'll treasure forever. It was designed and created by Zac Posen. I gave him only the tiniest bit of direction when he started, and the end product was more beautiful than anything I could have imagined.
I think balancing work and family takes constant adjustment. Its not something you can say you've accomplished and move on.
I think being true to yourself is ultimately the best way of living.
When I was asked to be a part of 'The Face,' I was like, 'This is exactly what I do without cameras.' I didn't find it any different than what I usually do for young girls - giving runway tips or just explaining how the whole industry works - but now you have, like, 19 cameras on you, documenting you while you scratch your nose.
We get all excited about collaborations. You get excited to hear that Rihanna has something, because Rihanna is a singer, and she has amazing fashion. You want to see what she would create. I don't get upset and think, 'Someone else is going to do better than me.' You're like, 'Oh, good for her.'
Personally, even though I have a great PR team, no one except my husband and I touch any of my 10 social media accounts. It's a lot of work, but I know that my brand, my image, and my voice are authentic to me.
Don't have just anyone run your social media. I think it's insane when brands or celebrities relegate their social media to an intern or someone who does not know them well.
I hate when people say models don't have personalities; what does that even mean? Everyone has a personality.
As a model, we come in the room, and we are casted just on our looks. I think I'm funny; I think I'm clever. But in the end, they're picking me for my cheekbones or if I'm tall enough.
As a woman, sometimes we stress on always being of the moment, and that is a lot of pressure, especially for young girls.
So many girls second-think their pose or what they're doing. And, in turn, the photos will come out really unnatural. I say to really give the camera a performance - that, and make sure you're comfortable with how you look, and give it a good smile and a filter.
When I first started modeling, I had the chance to walk the runway with Naomi passing by me, but I didn't know anything about supermodels. But when I saw her backstage, she complimented me on my walk, and I thought she was so nice - everyone was freaking out that I didn't know who she was.
I was always excited by the idea of having my own company, but models are rarely serious when they venture off into something else, be it acting, singing, or starting their own business.
I didn't know anything about fashion. You would see me in the biggest sweater with jeans or the tightest elastic pants. Not nice clothes. My mom took me a lot to consignment stores when I was younger, and I never really got to go to fancy high-class stores, so... vintage was like a step up.
I would have loved to meet David Bowie.
It's especially important to make sure all clients are happy. You don't want to get stuck into a corner and for people to think you now only have one look.
Everyone always remembers my dancing.
Jean Paul Gaultier is not only immensely talented but also a genuinely sweet and kind person.
For me, anytime I see a mother truly loving her child, famous or not, it brings a smile to my face. I think most people would agree.
You always wonder when you get pregnant what projects and opportunities will come in or come knocking.
My faith is everything.
