When looking at a model of magazines and catwalks, her face and body always draw people’s attention. They look like sparky women out of fantasy and we forget they have also a family so they have a homey life as any other woman.
In order to know about those other experiences of models, I talk to Yilena Hernández González, a model born and raised in Holguín, the northern of Cuba.

Until what age did you live in Holguín?

I lived in my beautiful city of parks until my seventeens.

Did you want to be a model as a child?

Since I was little I was passionate about art, I always wanted to be an actress. That is why my grandmother took me to acting lessons. But love for modeling was developed as a challenge in my life, since I never felt pretty and I had self-esteem issues. Since early times I suffered bulling because I have been always very thin. One day while looking at a magazine, I observed a model who looked like me and had the same features I was bullied for, that made me feel strong and I learned to love me with my virtues and flaws.

When and how did you start modeling?

One day my grandmother and I were walking aroundCalixtoGarcía park and a man approached us, Isaías, who said he had been looking at my way of walking for a while and that I should participate in a beauty contest they were doing named Holguín’s bride and her nine muses. I said no, since I was an ordinary young woman competing with such beautiful girls. But my grandmother told me please to do it for her. So I did it and I got the prize.

The art of modeling is quite ancient, it emerged with the first painters of humanity. When drawing the first faces and bodies, to make portraits, they needed a female or male model. Through the years it appeared new clothes brands, fashion tendencies, magazines, television, photographic cameras and then video ones; this way models were widely known and the most popular and famous stand out by exposing styles and brands of some well-known designers.

Who were your first teachers of modeling?

My first teacher and the one I owe to is called Isaías. Thanks to him for believing in me I am today an international model.
 
How did you remember your time here?

My happiest moments were when I was next to my family, they are the most important to me.

What do you miss more about Holguín?

I miss everything from my beautiful Holguín, the town where I had my first steps, the beaches, my family and friends.

How was the beginning of your career abroad?

I have to say the beginning of my career in the United States was very tough, since I did not know the language and everything was so different. I had to work in construction, factories, among other hard jobs in order to be able to afford the expenses of my early career in there.

Here in Cuba between the eighties and nineties international models started to be popular. It was back then when names like Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Heidi Klum, among others, appeared in magazines read by Cuban young women, mainly in the pre-university campus where many dreamt about looking like those famous world models.

What has been the most important job you have done to date?

I could not name just one. I would say this year I had the chance to catwalk in the world most relevant stages such as in New York’s fashion week, also in Los Angeles, Miami, Italy, Paris, Vietnam, Jamaica and France. Moreover, I have met great international designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Christian Louboutin,Balmain and Tom Ford.This year has been blessed for me since I have been in the cover of great magazines such as FHM, Ellements, Fantasy Factory and Playboy.

Today when one looks at Yilena’s body no one could ever imagine that as a child she wore orthopedic shoes and metal devices to adjust her legs. This shows that even though life has set obstacles at early times one can never give up and should keep going. Thanks to her good will she overcame that phase. Yilena herself says that she used to always wear orthopedic shoes and she was told she could never wear high-heel shoes, however now she walks better with them than with low heels.

How have your family supported you in your career?

My family is my biggest motivation to be better every day. Everything I am I owe it to my grandmother Nina who keeps supporting me though we are miles away. This year for the first time my dear mother and brother accompanied me to an international event called IBMS in Dominican Republic. I feel that my family always supports me though we are not together all the time; I keep them in my heart. I have to mention my Aunt Loy who is very important for me; she used to train me to walk with high-heel shoes holding a book on my head. Indeed, God blessed me with the best family in the world.

Who have you met in important events around the modeling world?

I have the chance to share important events with haut couture designers such as Willfredo Gerardo, Roberto Cavalli, Balmain, Tomford, among others. Besides, well known models such as Khloe Terae, Kelsie Jean,TamaraMilicivic, so as other famous ones.

Who is the model you admire the most? Why?

The model I admire the most is my grandmother Nina for she is a unique person, wonderful and strong. She is the love of my life.

What are your plans in the future to come?

I am working to have my own fashion line with my mother, since she was a designer in Holguín. I am really very excited to be able to create this, so I can share my passion for art and fashion with the world.

Something unknown about Yilena is that she was born premature. However, she overcame those first hard months of life and she made it through. As she grew stronger so her thoughts did. She never felt underestimated in the schools or in the streets. As a reward for her struggles in life, nature granted her a slender anatomy.

What would you like to do that you have not done yet?

I have goals and new things on my mind, but something I would like to do is acting.

Yilena says that her favorite day of the week is Sunday when they share as a family. They got together and cook roast meat, they watch movies and tell jokes. She utters that simple things are the ones she enjoys the most.

Until what age would you like to model?

Working keeps me alive. I do not think I stop modeling for now since I have many goals and dreams that I want to accomplish before retiring.

What would you advise to those girls who start in this world, especially Cubans,and those from Holguín?

I say that each person is the owner of their dreams and we are responsible to make them happen. If you do want to succeed you just have to fight for it, nothing is impossible.

Yilena Hernández González is a young woman from Holguín who has achieved international success, though her biggest accomplishment is not fame, nor her best virtue is beauty, but her great deed has been to remain as a simple and natural person. She knows how to defend her origins with strength and proud. A Cuban who returns to her land to feedfrom what goes with her all the time, which is her roots.