Introducing Kyoko: the Behind the Scenes Edition
Meet Kyoko (@kyokomatoko) a very well
known model from London. He's taken the world most definitely by storm with his
absolutely stunning looks and lovely personality. But wouldn't you want to know
more about him personally, what he thinks about and how he feels about certain
things? Now I deem that a even better read honestly.
Photos provided by Kyoko Matoko
I'm not my name, if I had one... I wouldn't be me. A name is a weird
concept, for you are forever going to be in the mist of it. My given name is
John-Anthony. I was called after my uncle who passed away early, I never met
him. With no disrespect to him, I hate the name John, as it does not feel to
represent my inner being; the phonetics are too blunt. Taking into account that
nobody calls me Anthony, just John. I prefer Johnny if so, but I recently fell
in love with the name Kyoko; there's something about it that just makes me feel
me when I say it. But still... I'm more than my name, given or not given.
What made you want to get into modeling and or photography?:
It's
quite of a long and odd story actually, I was never really interested in
modeling at all at first, it all just suddenly happened. At one stage around
last year 2015 May, I started to get told that I should start modeling and try
and sign to an agency. I was pretty confused then because I never saw myself as
having model potential, like what even is model potential, truly? Anyways, that
kind of boosted my self-confidence but I just dismissed it, as I was too short
to even sign to anyone in the first place, bearing in mind I was only 17 as
well not knowing anything about the industry. I actually did my first shoot
shortly after with a photographer called Kevin Sparks(he was one of the models
that day), I wouldn't call it my first shoot though as it was just through my
friend Dom Sesto, who just invited me to his shoot because they needed an extra
person. Wasn't anything special.
Some weeks after that Kevin wanted to shoot me
for his portfolio, and I gladly accepted. Then I realized that I could actually
enjoy this stuff, it was fun. But that was just a spontaneous shoot at the
start of the year, it didn't mean anything, that's not when I actually started
properly modeling I'd say. As I didn't get any other shoot opportunities until
the year after. So, just before we reached 2016, I deleted my Instagram, it was
@jheezejohn at the time. Took a break for a while then made Instagram again
with the @jungleboybabyjonny a few weeks later. I was just spamming insta as
usual with b.s and random stuff. Then in February 2016, I received a DM from a
girl called Danika that runs the photography account @sirius.film, she shot me.
And still to this day, I shall say if it wasn't for her, I probably would never
have done anything in modeling ever. She took this one picture that went pretty
viral, as Amandla Stenberg liked it then reblogged it on my tumblr too, and
ever since then I had been getting contacted to do jobs for photographers and
small brands. It's pretty nice.
Do you ever feel there's lots of superficiality with social media when it comes to your work being put out there? Whats your stance?:
Yes, its inevitable. Especially within the modeling industry, you can't escape it. But I've got to admit it, I was a little caught up in it, it became overwhelming. I was in so deep, it began to consume me. All this validation from women and men of all different races I didn't truly know how to react or to even believe it or not. But I somehow got out of the superficiality and fascade that is the modeling industry, that's when I truly learned to love myself and my features honestly. But I will say at a certain point the superficiality of it all got too far... so much I decided to delete my instagram account. I fell into a place where people only care about followers and good looks, I am grateful for all the love and support I've given. Never doubt that, but there's also a downside to all of that. I'm just not that type of guy with that type of ego you know? And I didn't want to become that person, so about me to the point that I stopped caring about others. So I delete my Instagram in hope of detaching from the superficiality of that. We all need a break somtimes, now I'm a loser again and I love it. But I'll always reactivate my Instagram sooner or later, I have self control.
How can you tell the "real ones" and "real friends" from the "fakes" and "groupies"?:
Honestly, I
can just feel their vibe. I'm not even gong to lie, I judged people a lot at
the start thinking they just wanted to be my friend because of my huge
following on Instagram. And in some situations that was true, but I learned to
balance it and notice if they genuinely want to be friends because of who I truly
am or because of what they believe I can provide them. Despite it all, I have
love for everybody. It's all love. <3
Who would you say are your inspirations when it comes to photography of art of any form and why?:
I would
easily say Tyler the Creator within a second thought to it. He's just got such
artistic and extraordinary mind out of this world. He's always thinking outside
of the both, doing him authentically. In so many different expressions, I fuck
with that.
Where do you see yourself doing and being in 5 years time?:
If everything
went my way (in a perfect world even though I know it never truly works like
that) I would be traveling this planet, just doing me as honestly and
truthfully as I could have ever imagined. Being that I would b singing,
designing, creating, modeling, acting, and rock climbing. Expressing absolutely
everything that I love while creating a shower of abundance. Though that I
would make sure my family and close friends are always comfortably living as
possible with no financial issues or inner peace turmoil.
Do you think you've grown as an artist and person in the last year or so? If so, how?:
Definitely,
2016 was the most wildest year I've ever experienced. I've definitely as a
being and opened my heart a lot more. I've also come to the certain
realizations and seeing the honest truth in people and things. My hair has also
grew a lot too, and lastly I see it as a representation of my inner growth (if
that makes sense). It's basically never been this long ever. I feel like a
brand new being, I'm closer to my true self than ever before.
What's one thing no one knows about you? How does that unique thing make you different?:
If nobody
knew, maybe it's for a reason? But I do have a red birthmark in the form of a
question mark, when then dissipated into an explosion kind of thing now. That's
it, I don't have that many unique things about me haha, I wish I could tell you
and everyone more.
How do you feel about the #BlackLivesMatter movement? Pros and cons?:
It's such a
wonderful movement, it really sparked something in us and our people. It's
definitely sparked something within me and my peers. It's given us that extra
drive we need to stay socially aware, be safe, become more educated and either
continue or start to love our beautiful melanin and much more. It's created so
much unity within our communities, that's so real and powerful. Therefore I see
no cons in my eyes.
Just be
completely you. In hinds sight it seems simple, but in this industry it's very
easy to loose who you are as a person, try your very best to do things and be
around people that remind you of who you are and always have been. Making it
isn't what your soul shouldn't only strive for, that's just what you've been
programmed by society conditioned that's the only thing you need in order to be
accepted by the society in the first place. To truly make it out there, you got
to make it in there, in your heart.
Lastly, who's been your biggest support system in supporting you and your dreams?:
My most
favorite person in the whole wideworld, Tracy. I love her so much. She's
just... I can't even type this without feeling inspired and happy and love and
aaaaah. She's just that amazing, I love and adore her so very much. I wouldn't
consider her as my support system though, because nobody really needs this. You
are your own support system, she's more like my rock. But yes, most definitely
shout outs to @tracyjo_. I love you, unconditionally.
Picture of Kyoko and Tracy!!!
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