Exclusive Interview/Fashion Story "RUBY ROSE" is now updated!

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 RUBY ROSE

On being a role model in the gay community “It is quite simply an honor. I wouldn’t know what else I was doing on this planet if it were not for this purpose.”

Susan Schell: You’ve worked as a model, a MTV VJ, a DJ, as a recording artist, etc. but what is your favorite type of work? What gets you most excited? 

Ruby Rose: An impossible question with an impossible answer. I love the Arts, whether it is fashion design, music, TV, Film, or my street art. I can’t choose one because I feel they all represent a different part of me I am trying to express. Acting is my huge focus because it is where I feel I am the most pushed outside my comfort zone. It is what keeps me up at night wanting to learn more. It is also just cathartic after 6 years as a TV host/personality to play the role of someone else. Then there is my music… what better way to both travel and see my fans than to tour DJing. 

SS: What is something about you that might surprise people? 

RR: I wanted to turn pro in boxing a few years back, I had some amateur fights, I trained 6-hour days, and I loved it. But after seeing me fight, my friends and family (and even people I worked for) all begged me not to. So I didn’t. I am kind of glad I didn’t because my memory is bad enough without adding a few head injuries to it. 

SS: How would you describe your personal style? And how has it evolved? 

RR: I never know how to answer this question; I always just say something different depending on my mood. Truth is I can’t really explain it. I mean, I like being comfortable, I like looking well put together, but I don’t know what genre and god forbid I say I’m ‘eclectic’… that’s probably the most used term in history. I know I used to be a lot more leather, studs, band tees and skinny jeans, where as now I have a more sophisticated plate and mix high fashion with street fashion but after that, I have no idea. 

SS: You also wear your style on your body with your tattoos and hair styles, do you have a favorite tattoo or hair cut? 

RR: I would rock a shaved head forever if I could, Sinead O’Connor style, but it sort of limits my avenues of work. My favorite tattoo is either Basquiat on my arm or Leonardo my ninja turtle. 

SS: What inspired you to make “Break Free”? 

RR: I have wanted to make Break Free for about 10 years I just never got around to it, I wanted to capture what it feels like to be gender queer, or confused or in a constant state of feeling uncomfortable in societies expectations and then how it feels to say “fuck it” and break away from that. It is a short film that captures my teenage years.

SS: Did you expect the short film to be such a hit and go viral? 

RR: NO…. if I did… I would have probably not smoked in it and put a warning at the end about ‘ace bandages’. 

Actually that’s a lie, I still would have smoked as it was autobiographical and I did smoke (I have been a non-smoker for a while) but ace bandages are what I used in my young years before I found out they can restrict your breathing and do quite some damage. I would have still used the ace bandage but maybe added some info after the credits. I also would have added a link to where people could visit online if it brought up any emotions for them they needed to talk about. I just set out to shoot a short film with my friends and give it to my fans… Over 10 million on Facebook later and 2 million on Youtube… Well… now a lot of people have seen me wearing a dildo… Hi mum.

SS: You transform yourself in “Break Free” to make a point about gender norms and what it is like to not be so easily defined - what did it mean to you to be able to share this with so many people? 

RR: It was so well received that I often cried reading the letters and messages I received from fans about how it changed their lives, how many people went out and chopped their hair off, or came out to their parents or accepted themselves because of this small video is astonishing.

SS: What is one of the hardest things about being gender fluid, especially with a life in the public eye? 

RR: In my case the rules are simple…Don’t ever Google yourself and don’t ever read rednecks comments on news articles, or you will lose faith in humanity.

SS: As a role model in the gay community, what is it like to be able to reach out and share your story with younger generations who are maybe going through similar things? 

RR: It is quite simply an honor. I wouldn’t know what else I was doing on this planet if it were not for this purpose. 

SS: Do you have any new projects lined up for the near future that we can look forward to seeing?

RR: I am shooting a TV show and a movie right now, working on my music and a DJ tour as well as launching “Faircloth Lane” a unisex street wear brand with my fiancé which is designed for women, men, trans… everyone.

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"Break Free - Ruby Rose"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFjsSSDLl8w

WRITTEN BY: SUSAN SCHELL

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHAMA

STYLING: HISSA IGARASHI

HAIR: SHINGO SHIBATA

MAKE UP: KENTO UTSUBO

PRODUCER: DORA CHI

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS: COLIN HUGHES, CHICHI

STYLING ASSISTANTS: MANAMI JINDO, MARIE ABE

MODEL: RUBY ROSE @WILHELMINA