HA
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ENTREVISTA A ALEX HARPER: JUGANDO CON LA MODA
Descubre la visión única de un modelo en el auge de la moda mientras reflexiona sobre su carrera y su vida personal.
"Life is this: a game where the rules change, and the key is knowing how to adapt without losing the essence.
– Alex Harper
OCT 2024
ESP.
By Jair Adreste
ALEXANDER
HARPER
It's not every day that you get the chance to sit down and chat with someone like Alex Harper. His magnetic presence is reflected not only on the catwalks, but also in his approach to life: with a mix of lightness and depth that seems to be drawn from a balance between playfulness and seriousness. When we meet for the interview in a downtown bar, Alex appears with a carefree but impeccable style: an oversized black jacket, sunglasses, and a simplicity that contrasts with the sophistication of the world in which he moves.
The conversation flows naturally. Despite her rising modeling career, Harper has that rare ability to make everything seem effortless. Perhaps that's the key to her success: an innate ability to keep things in perspective, as if, deep down, she's always playing.
If you're not having fun while you work, you're doing something wrong.
J: Alex, you are making huge strides in your career, but you seem to handle it with a calm that many in the industry would envy. What is your secret?
A: "I think the secret is to not lose sight of who you are. Fashion, like any industry, can get you caught up in external expectations. But I see everything as a big experiment. It's almost like when I was a kid and I would spend hours creating scenarios with toys; now I do the same thing, but with clothes and in front of a camera. I don't let myself be overwhelmed by external noise."
Your comment reminds me of the photo shoot we just did. Alex had arrived late, but there were no signs of stress on him. He greeted us with a smile and within minutes he was up and running. His calmness seems contagious.
J: Alex, you are making huge strides in your career, but you seem to handle it with a calm that many in the industry would envy. What is your secret?
A: "I think the secret is to not lose sight of who you are. Fashion, like any industry, can get you caught up in external expectations. But I see everything as a big experiment. It's almost like when I was a kid and I would spend hours creating scenarios with toys; now I do the same thing, but with clothes and in front of a camera. I don't let myself be overwhelmed by external noise."
Your comment reminds me of the photo shoot we just did. Alex had arrived late, but there were no signs of stress on him. He greeted us with a smile and within minutes he was up and running. His calmness seems contagious.
J: That's an interesting view. In fact, many people in the industry believe that you have to take your work very seriously to succeed. How do you see it?
A: "I think you have to take what you love seriously, but not yourself. I don't want to say that I don't take work seriously; I respect it a lot. But when you start seeing yourself as too important, you don't enjoy the process. For me, work is creative, playful, and that's the key: having fun while you're doing it."
In a world where social media has transformed the careers of many models, Alex stands out by his absence online. I decided to ask him about this, as his approach is quite unusual in an environment where visibility is everything.
J: You're not on social media, which is very unusual for someone in your position. How did you make that decision?
A: "It's not that I have anything against social media, but I do think it can be distracting. I prefer my work to speak for itself. Sometimes I feel like people focus too much on creating a version of themselves for the public, and they forget who they really are. For me, keeping my distance helps me focus on what matters to me."
J: That makes a lot of sense. I imagine it allows you to live a more authentic life, without the pressure of constant exposure.
A: “Exactly. I think if you spend too much time thinking about how others perceive you, you lose touch with what you really want to do. And for me, modeling is just a small part of my life. I want to continue exploring new forms of expression, and that includes maintaining the freedom to be myself.”
J: That's an interesting view. In fact, many people in the industry believe that you have to take your work very seriously to succeed. How do you see it?
A: "I think you have to take what you love seriously, but not yourself. I don't want to say that I don't take work seriously; I respect it a lot. But when you start seeing yourself as too important, you don't enjoy the process. For me, work is creative, playful, and that's the key: having fun while you're doing it."
In a world where social media has transformed the careers of many models, Alex stands out by his absence online. I decided to ask him about this, as his approach is quite unusual in an environment where visibility is everything.
J: You're not on social media, which is very unusual for someone in your position. How did you make that decision?
A: "It's not that I have anything against social media, but I do think it can be distracting. I prefer my work to speak for itself. Sometimes I feel like people focus too much on creating a version of themselves for the public, and they forget who they really are. For me, keeping my distance helps me focus on what matters to me."
J: That makes a lot of sense. I imagine it allows you to live a more authentic life, without the pressure of constant exposure.
A: “Exactly. I think if you spend too much time thinking about how others perceive you, you lose touch with what you really want to do. And for me, modeling is just a small part of my life. I want to continue exploring new forms of expression, and that includes maintaining the freedom to be myself.”
"I prefer my work to speak for itself. I don't want to be a prisoner of social media."
Authenticity finds its place, even in such a competitive industry.
J: Alex, you are quite private about your personal life, but could you share something about your origins and how they influenced your career?
A: "Well, one of the few things I always tell is that my family is not Spanish. We came here when I was little. I don't think that where you come from defines who you are completely, but I do feel that those roots have given me a different perspective. When I grew up, I realized that I had the opportunity to start over in this country, and I think that sense of renewal has greatly influenced how I view my career. Adapting to a new culture was almost like learning to play by different rules, something that ended up being positive for me in every aspect."
MODELING
IT'S JUST A
GAME
CREATIVE
Talking to Alex, one realizes that fun is not a banal concept for him. Far from it, he considers it an essential component of his success. And his life seems to be a reflection of that vision: he lives without rushing, without losing focus on what really matters, but also without losing sight of the fact that life is, in itself, a game.
J: You've talked a lot about play and creativity. Would you say they are the keys to your success?
A: "Definitely. When you are able to look at things with a focus on enjoyment, you break free from rigidity. Having fun allows you to find creative solutions to problems that would otherwise seem impossible. I like to think that through modeling, I am not only expressing myself, but also having fun. I think that is what people notice in the photos: that I am enjoying every moment, even when it is something like an editorial project."
"You have to take what you love seriously, but not yourself."
J: Alex,
Harper is right. In the photo shoot, that lightness was palpable. Her movements were fluid, relaxed, as if everything were an extension of her personality.
J: When you look back, what would you say to Alex from a few years ago, when you were just starting out in this world?
A: "I would tell him to keep enjoying it, to not lose that touch. It's easy to get lost along the way, but if you remember why you started, everything becomes easier. And I would also tell him not to be afraid of being different. Authenticity always finds its place, even in a competitive industry like this."
Harper reflects for a moment before concluding: "At the end of the day, this is what life is. It's simple and complex at the same time. But if you have fun while living it, it makes a lot more sense."
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