The Pursuit of a Model Life with Ulla Reiss
Ulla Reiss doesn’t believe in life as a passive existence. She is intent on sampling what she can out of what this journey has to offer. This is obvious whether you witness Ulla mesmerizing crowds at an international Fashion Week event, see her acting in a production, or listen to her speak about her aspirations in an interview. She’s a world traveler whose appetite is expanded by each new location and opportunity her highly successful modeling career has afforded her. While so many of us rebuke the idea of moving to a foreign country for an extended period of time, away from the people and places we know, Ulla runs headfirst towards this scenario. It’s certainly true that she possesses the physical beauty and poise one would expect of an international model who has worked with some of the world’s most revered brands and designers including Thom Browne, Chiara Boni, A Détacher, Costello Tagliapetra, Sherry Hill, Thomas Wylde and others, but there’s far more beyond her overt qualities. The fiercely proud aura she exudes has made her one of the most exciting and coveted models of present day.
After seeing Ms. Reiss featured on the esteemed models.com website as “Model of the Week”, The Wild Magazine immediately recognized her uniqueness and requested to interview her for their “Wild Faces” project. The project involved interviewing models who embody unique characters and asking them about exploring their own wild dreams. Among other topics, Ulla muses on her desire to travel into space and experience Mars. This video interview is transfixing as Ulla seems to wield the ability to vacillate between shyness and projecting confidence with subtle assertiveness. While these qualities are most certainly powerful attributes for any model, Ulla’s direction of these is honest and authentic. It’s easy to imagine her on a shoot where she channels a variety of looks and emotions such as these with unconfined ease.
This ability to project an attitude and persona led the creators of South Korean singer-songwriter HA:TFELT’s (a member of South Korea’s famous Wonder Girls band) “Ain’t Nobody” music video to cast Ulla as the seductress who lures the singer’s boyfriend away for a tryst. Though her character in this production conflicts with her own personal values, Reiss admits to thoroughly enjoying the creative exploration of this character as an actress; a role she does not commonly undertake. She informs, “Modeling often focuses on portraying a specific look, attitude, or style for commercial or editorial purposes. It involves mastering poses, expressions, and movements that highlight fashion or products. Acting demands a deeper immersion into character and storyline. It requires me to step into a role with a defined backstory, emotions, and motivations. The transition between modeling and acting can be both challenging and exhilarating. While modeling often involves short bursts of intense focus on poses or shots, acting requires sustained emotional engagement. It feels like stepping into a character’s world and bringing their story to life.”
The experience of collaborating with other creatives is what draws many to “less conservative” professions like modeling and Ulla is no different. In 2016, she was shot by renowned fashion photographer Rankin for his personal Art project called “Archive Box.” Rankin has worked with some of the most iconic artists/personalities including Madonna, David Bowie, and others. Regarding her time working with Ranking, Ulla recalls, “I loved being in his massive studio in London. As I walked in, I was surrounded by countless posters and photographs of stars, each capturing cool and unique moments. It was a memorable experience soaking in the atmosphere of his creative space, which felt like stepping into a time machine filled with history and artistic inspiration. Reflecting on the legacy of Rankin’s work with legendary figures like Madonna and Bowie added a unique dimension to the experience. It underscored the exclusivity of being photographed by him, placing me within a select group of individuals who have been immortalized through his artistry.” Reiss was also photographed by Cameron Bensley for London-based fashion designer Joshua Kane’s second tailored women’s collection. Kane is known for dressing celebrities such as Tom Holland, Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, and many others.
After experiencing London, Ulla went much further south as Elite Models Chile understood the immense value of Ms. Reiss and signed her in 2017. This same agency is noted for launching the careers of such ubiquitous names and faces as Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Gisele Bundchen. In her time with Elite Models Chile, Ulla has worked with South America’s largest department store Falabella, appeared on billboards for the prominent women’s clothing store Italstore, Saville Row, and numerous print magazines such as Cosas, Hola!, several covers of Mujer magazine, and others. Taking time on the shoots to experience the beauty of places like Patagonia on the tip of South America, Ulla appears to have found the idealistic pairing of her work/play lifestyle for her wandering spirit.
Writer : Winston Scott