Tatiana Giraud of GTM Models Speaks To The Fashion Police Of London Town

CEO to GTM Models is Ms Tatiana Giraud(photo by Polydor and make up by Chloe Smith)

1)Please tell us who you are and what you do for those not familiar with you?

      My name is Tatiana Giraud and I am the Director of GTM Models and the CEO of the TG         

      Foundation, a UK registered charity that helps women and children in the Democratic     

      Republic of Congo.

2)What 2 words best describe you as a person?

     Persistent and focused.

Email..................info@gtmmodels.com
Website.............................www.gtmmodels.com

3)Do you think your a true representation of a today's woman if yes/no why?

      What is today's woman haha?!! I guess I am educated, independent and ambitious, which is    

      what today's women pride themselves in! Self-determination and being in control of our own   

      destiny!

4)Tell us all about GTM Models and how you started till this date?

      GTM Models is one years old this month so happy birthday GTM Models! I started it whilst I    

      still had a full-time job and I was volunteering my spare time for the charity so it was tough! I 

      went full-time with it last August and its gone from strength to strength!

5)What makes a good model?

     Someone who listens and is good at taking advice. A person who realises it's a business and   

     that there is a formula to developing into a strong model and that you have to be good-

     looking and have certain measurements, but that it is also very important to be smart and   

     have a good team around you to help you go to the next level in our career!

6)What do you look for when scouting for fresh faces?

      Most of our clients are in fashion, so height and a good body are important for GTM Models.   

      We also look for a hidden beauty, strength or quirkiness...someone who has that je ne c'est 

      quoi!

7)How can someone from the other side of the world learn more about your agency?

     Hopefully if they Google GTM Models we will come up!

Tatiana Giraud of GTM Models

8)Describe your fashion sense?

     I love comfort and simplicity. True fashion for me is following fashion, but wearing what you   

     love even if it's not in fashion. Being able to sometimes dislike what is in trend and being true    

     to your own taste can also be very fashionable! After all looking unique as well as in trend is   

     important! I try to stick to wearing what I truly love and leopard print and navy stripes will    

     always have a place in my wardrobe haha! 

9)What are a few problems models face on a daily basis?

      Competition is rife! There are some amazing looking models who are also in trend and 

      understand fashion and click with the clients or casting directors. It's important models 

      understand that they have to have the full package and not just be a pretty face or have a   

      'look' so that when they have the opportunity to go to castings they stand out and have better 

      chance of being booked! No-one likes boring! You need to sell yourself in a subtle way.

10)When not working what do you enjoy doing?

        I love hanging out with close friends and love eating out and believe it or not sight-seeing!  

        London is great for history and culture! Art galleries are also great hang outs.

Tatiana Giraud back in the days doing her thing as a former model

11)If you were to walk the red carpet at an event which designer would you wear and why?

        I think for me it would be Vintage Valentino or Oscar de la Renta. These designers for me 

        are from a different era; an era of real, unadulterated quality and glamour.

12)If the fashion police was to have dinner at your home what would you prepare them?

        Definitely no carbs haha! Fish, vegetables...I would pop open the Champagne and spoil  

        them with some French patisserie for dessert!

13)Which 2 models do you think are the best runway walkers?

       Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista.

14)What do you think of the fashion police news blog?

        I think it is great! Very diverse which is important to remind people fashion is not only 

        exclusive but it should be relatable and real at times too.

15)What do you think of men who teaches women how to walk?

        I find it very entertaining and fun! Love it!

16)If we was to be a fly on your bedroom wall what would we be shocked to see?

       Well at the moment I'm lying on my bed wearing a bodycon dress and my bright red high  

       heeled sandals haha! Not exactly bedtime attire!

17)What perfume are you wearing as we speak?

        Loulou by Cacharel.

18)How can someone apply to be a model at your agency?

       By filling out the contact us form on our website.

19)Do you think anyone can be a model?

       No.

20)What do you think of size 0 models on the runway?

       I think it should be illegal. A US 2 should be the smallest legal size which is a UK 6. I think 0  

       is just too small and a woman clearly is not eating at that point.  The very limit for me is a  

       small 2US.... That's small enough for Gods sake!

21)Where do you see your agency in 10 years time?

        I hope one of the Worlds prestige model agencies.

22)There are so many agencies out there what makes you different from all the rest?

        I like to think we have a culture that promotes mutual respect and that also empowers 

        models to be business women not just pretty faces! I want to create an environment of trust  

        between the agency and models not a place of hostility.

23)What are you 4 fashion tips that you live by?

        Cleanse your skin regularly, don't show both cleavage and legs (only one or the other), 

        invest in a little black dress as you will always need one and don't over accessorise; it can 

        ruin an outfit.

24)What are 4 things men do that makes you mad?

       Abandoning their parental responsibilities , not being gentlemanly (there's never a good 

       excuse for this), not grooming themselves on the basis thy are men and treating women 

       disrespectfully!

Tatiana Giraud CEO of GTM Models

25)Should models have to pay for pictures?

       Yes sometimes, but rarely ! Testshoots are important but if you need a particular look in your           

       book and you can't get the testshoot then you should pay if your agency knows this will help        

       to market you. It's an investment and you can't expect a free ride all the way especially not at   

       the beginning! A good agency should source good testshoots though so most times models   

       won't pay! All our new faces get testshoots. 

26)What advice do you have for others looking to start their own agency as well?

        Make sure you love it and it is a passion (that applies to every career I think).

Tatiana strikes a pose

27)Any last words for our many blog readers world wide?

       Time is the most precious gift yo have so don't waste it!