Influentials Interviews September 2010 Influential: July Raymaker
Written by Takeshi Monday, 20 September 2010 16:58
Second Life attracts so many different people from all walks of life. Its always amazing to find out how and where someone first heard about SL and July Raymaker, Top Model and Owner and Creator of the brand Manifeste Poses, is no exception.
"LoL! I used to work for an airline and was away from home a lot and I read in a magazine about Second Life®. One other boring night in my hotel room I decided to try and see what this Second Life was all about. The article I read was about fashion in Second Life. When I first signed in and came off orientation island the first thing I ran into was an AV with a massive erm...well you know what. And I thought, God not a place like this, signed off and forgot about it for at least another month. I then decided to try again but forgot my login name and password. So that's when July was 'born'."
Truly a birthday to remember. July admits that she is a complete fashionista and the article was what prompted her to give it a shot.
"Yes, I'm a total fashion addict in RL. It was that article and boredom really."
Equipped with a new avatar and name, did she leap stiletto first into the fashion industry?
"Oh no. I've been wandering around for two years before I started modeling. I've owned a club and a sim with rentals. It was a quite nice club, it was beautifully built, a dance club. I think I've had it for about six months. It was quite a disaster really. When it comes to paying the rent, people seem to just vanish. But I did go and see fashion shows at that time.
"I always thought 'models' in SL were out of this world. They were so perfect. So beautiful, well styled. I thought they were 'hand-picked' or something like that but then I came across an ad from Uvogue saying they were starting new classes and you could sign up for an interview and so I did. That's when it really started. My instructors where Rumour Market, Gemini Hennesy and Seashell Dench.
Looking at July's resume and list of top agencies, she's certainly made an impact on the modelling industry.
"I'm really happy with the way things are now. When you look at it I've only started modelling a year ago so I think I didn't do too bad."
Beautiful, stylish and modest. Too bad indeed. Not only has she taken the modelling world by storm, but she has also brought her brand of modelling poses to Second Life.
"I am very picky when it comes to poses. Like I said before I am a perfectionist. I found that most poses weren't exactly made for model's shapes. Models are usually quite skinny and I always found my hands a few inches above my hips instead of on them. That's why I started looking into making my own. I got a trial version of Poser and started to play. I gave up because I thought it was way too difficult but then tried again and I managed to make a pose which wasn't that bad."
Poser is definitely a serious program, with a steep learning curve. But July gives it top scores for her pose making.
"Once you get the hang of it, it's so easy and so good to work with. I've tried these pose making things (in world pose makers) but those are hard plus you don't have all the possibilities you have with a program for making animations outside SL. I really didn't think Manifeste would be such a success though."
Now that Manifeste is a success and seen on runways all over Second Life, July is working on new poses. She provided the poses for the Finalists of the Ms Costa Rica Sims pageant and with more models entering the industry, the demand is not likely to stop anytime soon. A plus in that she also makes male poses, which are in short supply on the grid.
"Yes I'm working on new male and female poses at the moment. I always have a lot of different projects going on. I've been quite busy with the Modavia Fashion Week the last two weeks so things have been a little slow. But first I have to catch up on shopping."
Shopping is one thing we have plenty of in Costa Rica Sims. I ask her what brought her to the estate.
"An ass of a previous landlord. Yep one of those. I searched for land and remember seeing one of the CRS shows so i checked the website..and voila. I think it was around Christmas last year. I love it here. All the events they have, the things they do for the residents. But the problem is, I'm really quite a shy person. And that's why I don't do much contests, I'm way too shy."
Shy she may be but she's given me assurance that she is definitely going to be partaking in even more of the wonderful events we have here at Costa Rica sims. Like every great fashionista, her style sets her apart.
"Well first I don't buy things I wouldn't wear in real life. You won't see me walking around in a gown. It's not that I don't like the gowns in Second Life, some are so beautiful and of course I'll wear one if it's for an occasion. I like colorful designs but also wear a lot of black. And I love to wander around the grid finding little shops, the so called "hidden gems". I do read a lot of blogs at work, LOL!"
I decide to pick her brain and ask what her top five fashion blogs are.
"Kyrie Source, Strawberry Singh, Carol's Style, Juicy's blog, 5th Avenue's blog. I have them all in my favs and I usually click them one by one. So a top tip, hit the blogs to find those really cool hidden gems and just wander around sims."
And favorite designers?
"Do you have a while? LOL! My all time favorite is still LeeZu I think but also Chantkare, Paper Couture, Miamai. It really depends what I'm looking for. There are so many great designers in Second Life."
So what is next for Miss Raymaker?
"Well like I said I'm working on new poses at the moment but that's about it. I'm really glad vacation season is over and the fashion shows are starting again."
If it means you are back on the runway then we are very happy too. July served as one of the judges of the Miss Costa Rica Sims 2011 pageant and you can meet her at the Influentials fashion fueled party this Sunday at 12 noon SLT. Come in your most fashionable and be ready to strut your stuff!
Peace everyone,
Keshi
