I have to admit, I didn't know much about RazorCandi when I first interviewed her. All I knew going in was that she was gorgeous, has amazing tattoos, and that her lovely corset collection could make any girl jealous. RazorCandi has an undeniable edge to her, but underneath all the bondage and body mod, she's a talented artist with an eye for the more creative things in life.
Where are you from and how did you grow up?
I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and from there moved around a lot due to growing up with a father who is a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard. I spent a good portion of my early adolescent years in Pennsylvania and then my teen years to young adult in Tampa, Florida. Moving around must have grown on me as I now live across seas in Romania!
What was your experience of High School and how do you think it has affected who you are today?
High School wasn’t as dreadful as most in my shoes might have experienced. Surprisingly enough I did not get picked on for being one of the very few alternative chicks, people actually let me do my thing in peace and recognized my unique style which stood out even among the other goths. I guess since I had been dressing different since middle school people were over it by the time I reached High School, on that note I did get picked on a lot in Middle School, even by the principal who always made sure to intrude upon my outfits and make up by demanding that I remove or change things, she even went as far as suspending me a few times for “masquerading on my face!” or “showing too much skin!”
How did you get into modeling?
I discovered my interest in modelling around year 2001. It began simply as a hobby and leisure pursuit. I find that modelling is a great way to express art and emotion. I’ve always been especially interested in painting but I feel that modelling is a more instant result. Modelling only became significant when I noticed I was inspiring people and that I was making an impact. It’s an elevating feeling to encourage people to learn and be part of the alternative community. I never actually started modelling with the intent to become a model, I continually look at my modelling in more of a stylist’s point of view. I prefer to have my photos taken to display my changeable looks and ideas. A model is generally a person that serves as a subject for an artist, in my case I model my own artistic ideas, though I have collaborated with many exceptional clothing designers as well. Only until last year did I delve into adult modeling which is new and exciting angle for me. It has opened many new doors and has helped me excel even further with my ideas, in addition it has become an exceptional way for me to express my sexual side which was very repressed during the more fashion modeling period of my life as most of my followers were young teen girls.
Did you model or do photography before you joined the site? Where? How is Zivity different?
I did model extensively before Zivity, but I have suspended all my other websites in which I was posting material and I plan to keep my sets exclusive on Zivity at least for the time being as right now it suits my output perfectly and I love that it’s so organized not to mention all the members so far have all turned out to be awesome, interesting, interactive people. I also enjoy Zivity because it is very different in the way that it’s challenging, the prizes are a great motivation to create themed photo sets, the people are all around very friendly and the voting system is something I’ve never seen on other sites.
You have a very dark and edgy appeal - what drew you into fetish/bondage modeling? How does it reflect your personality?
I found myself being drawn to the lifestyle at a pretty young age mainly out of interest in the fashion. As I’ve gotten older and more experienced I’ve developed a greater taste for the lifestyle. As a girl with a dominant personality and a kink for bondage it was natural for me to find an affinity to the fetish scene. I feel it reflects my personality greatly because of my strong individuality, though I also have a weakness for being dominated, tied up, gagged and spanked despite my self-assured qualities *wink*. Being called a model (fetish or not) unfortunately does not reflect to the full extent my artistic skills, since I do my own styling and make up and I am also a painter I feel that simply being labeled as a model makes me out to be more of a prop than a creator.
Describe your biggest fantasy!
I don’t really hold a big fantasy as I usually get to live out anything I set my mind too, but if I were to say something off the top of my head it would involve a night out in the town, good food, a fun show, lots of booze, and lots of beautiful, sexy punk boys and girls to share my bed with. The rest is too explicit to share ;)
What are you trying to communicate through photography?
My main focus on modeling and what I am trying to communicate through photography is to inspire art while expressing myself. I love to support and expose people to the alternative lifestyle and modeling makes this possible. As far as adult modeling goes I find the raw sexuality to be both exhilarating and empowering! Clearly I’m a bit of an exhibitionist and I find it very arousing to know that my photos get to be viewed by countless people.
How did you learn about Zivity? What sold you on joining?
Kassandra Love contacted me on FetLife and told me about the site. She thought I’d like it and she was right! I had been hearing about Zivity over the years and thought maybe it was time I try it out!
How would you describe Zivity to someone who has never heard of it?
I would describe Zivity as a site where models and photographers can finally post full sets which are slightly more sexual but still very artistic and make money while doing it, which can never be a bad thing! I’ve always run into problems with my work being a little too racy and extreme, but Zivity gives me the chance to demonstrate the full potential of my sets without having them be rejected. Zivity supports art of every kind while also allowing a voting system for the artists to make money off their hard work and allowing fans and admirers to enjoy it. This combination on Zivity has lead to the members being all very supportive of one another and I have felt very welcome since I’ve joined so I would definitely recommend it to other fellow models.
You have a lot of tattoos - which one is your favorite and what does it mean?
My favorite tattoo is the bats around my bellybutton. I chose to do it when I got out of an abusive five year relationship in which I was very controlled so when I left the relationship I decided to get my first tattoo as a sign of freedom. I got the bats because I’ve always been a bit of a goth at heart, I thought the bats flying around the bellybutton were a cute representation of bats around a batcave which was a good icon for me as I am very into old school goth/deathrock music and last, yet most important, the bats are flying which symbolizes freedom and independence.
What was your first body modification? What was that experience like?
I think my first body mod was my septum or my tongue, I don’t remember which came first. I was only fifteen and I got them done at this place called Ink Man Dan’s in Tampa. The tongue piercing turned out fine but the septum was crooked, pierced through the cartilage, and done incorrectly, as a result it was very painful, the tongue wasn’t too bad, I think the healing process was the worst part as it swelled so large I was reduced to eating soup broth and stuck with a speech impediment for about a week. My twin and I later Christened the shop “Stink Man Dan’s”. I don’t regret the experience what so ever!
What are some of the things you enjoy when you're not online?
Watching movies (just finished re-watching the extended uncut LOTR trilogy!) while cuddling with persons unknown, painting, video games (D&D or AD&D based RPG’s), visiting the tea haus to try different teas, sewing as in modifying clothing, cooking and trying new recipes ….and last but not least, while not very geeky I love partying of course! Nothing like a crazy night out to get my blood flowing, along with other things *wink*
Are you passionate about anything else? What is it? Why?
I am extremely passionate about painting and almost every form of art, I love getting lost for hours in my paintings. I am also very ardent about environment and animal rights issues. I live by a vegan diet and I can make anyone’s taste buds orgasm with my cooking.
Why are you a vegan? How long have you been one?
It’s a very controversial subject so I won’t go into it too much. I chose to become vegan for animal rights. I’ve been vegan for a little over a year after I became exposed to a lot of information about animal cruelty and environmental activism, today I could never dream going back to meat or dairy products. I do plan to go completely vegan with my lifestyle once I retire from modeling but choosing a career path like modeling is not very lenient with a vegan lifestyle though I try my very hardest to avoid animal products or items tested on animals and have turned down many modeling offers due to this.
When did you know that art was something that you wanted to pursue?
I knew I had a niche in art when I took it as an elective in high school and I picked up painting quite effortlessly. I wouldn’t truly call it a career, I’ve drifted away from painting a lot since I started modeling so it’s a hobby that has taken a seat on the back burner, though my techniques have evolved over time, just as any would with enough practice, unfortunately as long as the hobby remains on the back burner my techniques will remain untrained.
Art by RazorCandi:
(For more of her art, check out her DeviantArt here)
What themes would you like to explore more of with your art?
I would like to explore using different mediums. I only recently moved onto oil which was not taught to me in school, I was mainly trained to use tempera paint and acrylics so oil is certainly something I’d like to study more. As far as themes go I would like to branch off to more fantasy and ethereal styles like Boris Vallejo and also darker stuff likeHieronymus Bosch style.
Do you think that your art has pushed you forward as an individual?
Since I started out with art at an early age I would definitely say that art has pushed me into being creative and more of an individual. Art has helped me develop a very keen eye for details and has exposed my mind to imaginative and very inventive thoughts. It is hard for me not to observe the world outside of an artistic point of view.
Do you feel that art has shaped your identity over the years? In what ways?
Absolutely. I feel art has pressed me to expand my mind and creativity thus forming my identity into a very visional persona. Painting is a very emotional process for me, just as modeling and preparing for a shoot is, these steps all construct strong artistic qualities in my personality. I feel art has allowed me to psychologically and physically express myself.
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