Meet Natalie Wojtaszek | Fashion Model & Musician

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

Hi Natalie, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Newport Beach, California, and was adopted at birth, which I cherish. My parents, who are successful business people, have provided me with an incredible upbringing and numerous opportunities. My Mom left her job as soon as she adopted me and became a stay at home mom to raise me well and I feel she has done a superb job. She is my best friend. My Dad, a home developer, recently gained recognition on a home he designed in Laguna Beach and was featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Singing in choir since the first grade and having a lifelong passion for singing, I decided to pursue classical voice and opera. My dedication paid off when I got the once in a lifetime opportunity to sing for the Pope at the Vatican in Italy with my choir at Mater Dei High School, directed by Scott Melvin. However, I realized that an opera career didn’t align with my true passion for art after briefly attending the New England Conservatory in Boston. I had an amazing experience attending school there, however being immersed in the opera world I fell in love with how I was able to express myself through music. To this day, I still love to sing all different genres of music and do it on the side, but when I found the fashion industry, the spark that I had for music soon grew into a fire for fashion.

Returning home from college, I had a newfound love of fashion from living on the east coast and began posting on my social media accounts for fun. I attended some local photo meetups and began to love styling an outfit and then shooting it for fun! Soon enough I was scouted by my first ever modeling agency via Instagram. They asked me to come to their LA office and they signed me. I took a leap of faith and ventured into the modeling industry, where I have successfully made a name for myself. I feel blessed to be in contact with my biological parents, who are both very musically talented. I recently found out that my Bio-Dad had the opportunity to collaborate with Sublime. Art seems to run in my genetics, and I’ve always had a strong drive to create.

Given the opportunities provided by my adoptive parents, I want to use my talents to create art in various forms throughout my career. I am the person I have become today because I have been surrounded by incredible role models my entire life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since a very young age, I have always felt as though I belong in the creative industry. I feel what sets me apart from other models is that I am not in it for the attention or to be the ‘prettiest girl in the room.’ I am a model because I want to create art and make someone feel something through a photo or a video and I love working hard to get the perfect shot. Getting to where I am today was not easy, the modeling industry is very competitive and not for the faint of heart. I have learned that you have to have very thick skin and be able to take a million no’s. It just takes that one yes to get to the next step in your career. Ever since I was a child, I have always been a natural salesperson and when I want something that someone says I can’t do, I say ‘watch me’ and I do it.

All models will have slow points in their career when it comes to booking consistent paid work. I have hit slow points before and I have learned to use that time to my advantage, working on building my portfolio or becoming even better at walking the runway. One of the scariest things I have ever done in the fashion industry was sing opera for 10 minutes straight during Designer, Jonathan Guzman’s LAFW show. I had not performed as a vocalist in over five years when he asked me to sing and I almost did not do it due to feeling out of practice. I pushed myself and it ended up being something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was so incredible seeing my love for singing combine with modeling. Another unexpected opportunity I was given was when I was in New York for New York Fashion Week in February. I went planning to only walk one show for a local LA designer and ended up walking multiple. I attended a casting for the big show at Spring Studios powered by after-pay not expecting anything but hoping to even just make a single connection. I was cast to walk for BruceGlen, a designer duo local to LA, and it was one of the most inspiring experiences I have had when it comes to runway. Their story is truly amazing. As an artist, it is so important to take risks even if you might fail.

I want the world to know me as someone who loves to help others. I have always uplifted and supported other models and have even helped a few girls with no experience break into the industry. In the long term of my career when I age out of modeling, I plan on working the business side of the industry and possibly even start my own modeling agency.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Although I do not currently live in LA, I am there almost every day and I plan to move from Orange County very soon! I spend a lot of time in the Fashion District in Downtown. After working, one of my favorite places to stop before I commute home is Bottega Louie. Their macaroons are to die for! I also have an appreciation for all of the food trucks in LA. I have had so many fabulous late night snacks after working runway shows from these amazing and hard working people. This is something I do not have in OC!

After a runway show there is almost always an after party. A couple of the coolest bars I have been to would have to be Black Rabbit Rose and No Vacancy. Black Rabbit Rose is definitely punk and rock vibes and I have always loved this type of music due to my biological parents. It is a fun place to jam out and I personally prefer live music over a DJ. No Vacancy is a very cool speakeasy that everyone should definitely visit at least once!

In Orange County, my favorite place to eat is the Beachcomber Cafe in Newport Coast. I worked there for 2 years before I started modeling full time and it is definitely something I would recommend an LA local friend to drive down and check out. It is located directly on the beach in the Crystal Cove Historic District. The cottages on the beach have been left almost untouched since the 1930’s. You can stay in the cottages overnight and then eat at the Beachcomber. I recommend the shrimp tacos! It is definitely a cool experience and as soon as you step on the beach it is like taking a Time Machine back to the 1930’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have impacted me and helped shape me into the person I am today. My Mom and Dad have been amazing parents and have always pushed me to do what I love. My High School choir teacher, Scott Melvin was my first big role model in life and I still incorporate lessons he taught me into my life to this day. William Whitfield at the Luft Agency in LA was the first person to see my potential as a model and although I am not signed with his agency anymore I still call him for help when I need it. He is great at what he does. Lastly, my amazing boyfriend Kenyon Lee for always supporting me.

Website: https://www.nataliewojo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalie_wojo/channel/

Other: https://on.soundcloud.com/frnFKE5pnVoZuja97

Image Credits
Victoria Volskaya, Jay Coronado, Noam Galai, Wilder Marroquin, Jaspreet Singh