Meet Alexa Zaro | Model & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexa Zaro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexa, why did you pursue a creative career?
All of my creative pursuits are fueled from a deep fire within. It’s a need for me. For my music, it’s a way for me to express myself when words fail. As someone who often struggles to find the words to express my emotions, this is crucial for me. It’s the communication, community, and love that I can feel with music that’s unlike anything else. And with modeling, I found a deeper connection to my self worth. I went through a huge change in confidence before I began my career in modeling. I wouldn’t be where I am today without those changes. When I fed my soul with the confidence it needed, I felt more radiant. I felt more beautiful than ever. And modeling, at least to me, is hugely about inner radiance before anything else.

I never felt like I chose these paths. I felt like they’ve always belonged to me, like they’re a part of me. And these creative careers have always felt right to me. Despite the pressure to ‘become’ something or someone, pursuing my passions alone show me I am successful. My passion is the thing that makes this all feel nothing like work at all.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
With both modeling and music, I’ve learned to accept every success, small or large. It’s love and passion that makes this all so easy for me.

I began modeling during the pandemic. I felt like the opportunity to model presented itself at the perfect time. I hadn’t always felt pretty or good enough. And I still don’t sometimes. But when I started to focus on my beauty within, outer beauty became
more natural. I felt good in what I wore. I was appearing in pictures differently. An emotional and physical shift happened that made modeling feel like something I finally could do. As a tall woman, I’ve heard people tell me to model all my life. But only in the past few years did I really start to feel ready. Over the past few years, modeling has become way more than looking pretty. It felt good at first to get photos taken, to just *say* I was a model. But this really is hard work. It’s especially difficult on your mental health. I never thought as a curvy woman with short hair and tattoos, that *I’d* be able to model. But I show up and show out. I know what I have, different than others, is my light within. I want to shine and show off. And all I want most is to be authentic, open, and honest in my work. And when I show up, looking the way that I do, I feel the most beautiful. And it may be different than what’s expected in this industry, but I aim to be the unexpected. I want so badly for the girls who felt like me at age 5, age 10, age 15… to feel like they can do it too. I need those girls, boys, those young people to know most importantly that they’re so beautiful.

Music is so deeply in my spirit and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Most of what I’ve written, of course, is from past experiences. So the challenges in music have usually been challenged by what’s happening in my life. I went through a lot of pivotal relationships at a really young age. As I grow older, I realize that music was the constant that got me out of so many dark places. Not only was it healing, but it was challenging. It was frustrating. And once the pandemic began, I thought I lost my spark. And this year I decided to write a song every day. No exceptions. So over the past year I’ve written some great songs, and some terrible songs. And that’s okay with me! My success is not measured by material things, or milestones, or awards. I measure success with my incremental work. If I got up and wrote a song today? I’m successful. If I sent a new song to a friend? I’m successful. This year alone has brought me so much growth in my music that I’m so grateful for. I’ve found a sound that works for me and I’m excited to release some new music soon. I’m excited to start fresh. I want people to hear me and be seen. I want my music to be a little funny. I want it to make people feel something. I want you to take it and make it your own. Because the greatest thing about art is interpretation from a community that values that art the same way you do. THAT to me, is so special.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As someone who rarely goes out, this is a tough one to answer! I’d definitely want to explore some coffee shops during the mornings. One of my favorite spots right now is Kobrick Coffee in downtown Manhattan. The only rule is that the coffee shop must be local! We’ll grab a pastry and coffee and walk around downtown and make our way to Washington Square Park. I love how busy the park is, especially on weekends. We can people watch and enjoy all the characters we encounter.

Next, we absolutely need to go thrifting. We’re going to some local Beacon’s Closets’, Buffalo Exhange’s, and some hole in the walls! Thrifting is an absolute must when I’m traveling to new places.

For food, we have sooo many options but some of my favorites in New York are Klong, Clove, Mermaid Oyster Bar, & French Louie’s, so I think we’d do one of those. If they’ve got oysters and dirty martini’s on the menu, we’re there!

The icing on the cake would be going to a concert together. There’s always live music in NYC. Even better if we can check out a local show by a friend!

And to end the night, we’re either going to a bodega or a 7/11 to get some snacks and chill for the rest of the night. The rest of the night being probably 10pm on, because I most certainly am a sleepy girl!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My agents at Ophelia Model Management (Eden, Karina, Luke) all really kickstarted my modeling careers. The other models I’ve met through signing with them have been equally as important in my life. I’m lucky to be surrounded by some really supportive people in the modeling world.

My brother Zack has always been one of my biggest inspirations. We’re a year apart and basically twins, so we’ve been singing together for our whole lives. I can get a bit stoic in the collaborative process, but he’s helped me come out of my shell and really embrace myself and others with my music.

I always thank one of my former colleges, Michael, for being the reason I began my journey with religion and spirituality. What began as a class I’d take for college credit became something that really changed my life. I focused my journey on Buddhism and other Eastern religions. I had incorporated more meditation, readings, and practices in my life that now have became crucial for my well being. One book in particular, “The Places That Scare You” by Pema Chodron, really changed my life. All of the work from within has given me everything I desire, and most importantly, it’s made me the person I’ve dreamed of becoming. Once I realized how capable I am of change, I accepted it. I became present with myself and my surroundings. I began to give myself love, and then was able to properly give it back to others. This deep and spiritual change played a huge part in who I’ve become, and my love for life and my passions became only more loved and treasured.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexazaro/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexarzaro?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Image Credits
Zachery K. Ali