Q&A: Dorith Mous

“Watch. Observe. Get lost.
Notice, Stop, Catch.
Repeat.”

These are the words that photographer and model Dorith Mous chose to welcome visitors to her site. The Dutch-born, New York-based face of many well-known fashion houses is truly a visual creature at heart, whether on camera or behind it.

And from her own bold look to her first photography exhibition “IamYOU”, Mous challenges common misconceptions about appearances.

Get to know more about Mous in this Q&A with Laura Logan about being “unphotogenic”, shaving her head, her enchantment with dancers’ bodies and more.

 

1. You were first scouted by an agency in Europe when you were only a teenager – what was modeling like when you first got started? What were your biggest challenges?

It was the craziest thing for me since I had always been very unphotogenic. My insecurity and lack of confidence were always in the way of looking good in a shot.

Becoming a model was polar opposite to what I ever thought I could be. Overcoming my fear of the camera and starting to see it as my tool to speak to the world was both a challenge and an amazing discovery for personal growth.

 

2. How did you end up in New York City?

NYC is kind of THE place you wanna end up when it comes to my job. Paris is the epicentre of fashion when it comes to haute couture and high-end fashion magazines, but I am not that type of model.

My mother agent reached out to agencies in NY and soon I was on a plane to do a three month ‘try-out-period’. After that, I got my visa for permanent residency and the rest is history.

 

3. Take us through a day on the job with DIESEL.

DIESEL was fun for me since it was very real and human. It was shot by Inez & Vinoodt (who are both Dutch, like me) and amazing people. The models were from all walks of life.

DIESEL cast real people, not just perfect people in an aesthetically obvious sense. Height, weight and skin color became one big grey area. They had a girl in a wheelchair as well, I really appreciated that since I think people in wheelchairs are one of many ‘forgotten’ discrimination targets.

 

4. You have a very unique, cutting-edge style – where does it come from?

I was always different, only I so badly wanted to fit in earlier in life that I didn’t develop who I really was straight away. About a year ago I gave in to the desire to be who I felt I was, hair-wise, and shaved my head. It made all the difference in how I felt about myself and that rubs off I guess. People appreciate me more with this look, but I needed the other years too, for other purposes. Life is one big lesson with paragraphs for each stage.

My style was always like this though, I guess it just needed the hair to match to make it noticeable.

 

5. What was your favorite photo shoot (as a model) of all time? Most ridiculous?

There are many shoots I will always remember and some I keep close to my heart. But if I had to name one I gotta say, shooting in Alaska on a glacier in the middle of literally nowhere was an amazing experience. Mark Williams and Sarah Hirakawa, the photographers, are amazingly fun people. It was cold as f*ck but we managed to have the best time!! We have traveled together to the Bahamas as well, which is also a trip I will not soon forget.

The fact that this career has brought me to places I would otherwise probably not have managed to visit is not taken for granted. I am one lucky girl.

 

6. What was your favorite photo shoot (as a photographer) of all time?

Ooh, difficult one. I think my favorite shoots are always with dancers. They know how to move so well and their bodies…(!!!).

David Eisinger and Jorijn Vriesendorp, both amazing dancers, are people I could shoot every day for the rest of my life.

 

7. Tell us a little about your “IamYOU” photography exhibition. You took a series of portraits of various people representing all walks of life – what was your goal? What were you trying to reveal? What inspired your idea behind the project?

IamYOU is my first baby. It was and still is a project that I love. I photographed 14 people who all have something about them that could be perceived as ‘wrong’. From a cancer patient to a girl with Albinism but also someone who is too tall or too pretty for the field they are in.

I believe there are many ways of discrimination that are not often realized. I wanted to show people that you can’t judge someone by just a face, which is generally the first thing you see when getting in contact with someone.

Upon arrival at the opening I gave 60 people a card with a first name, an occupation and a ‘reason’ for being a target for discrimination.

They were asked to walk the gallery and find ‘their’ portrait, linked to the three words on their card.

Nobody but one person had it right and even that person solely guessed.

It is interesting to me how we judge by default or by association and that if we intentionally or subconsciously pick the wrong way of judgement, we put someone in a box where they don’t belong.

My take on things: We all are capable and incapable of certain things, but we are all pink inside and without knowing someone, one shouldn’t judge and box a person to be categorized and dismissed. Period.

 

8. What advice do you have for aspiring models who hope to be where are you are one day?

1. Be realistic
2. Work hard and enjoy yourself (if you don’t enjoy it, it’s not for you).
3. Be the best you can be at whatever you do. Always.

 

WE SAID THIS: Don’t miss our Q&A with model Elisa Sednaoui and the launch of her foundation for children in Egypt.