Balancing a veterinary nurse career by day with a caregiving role by night, I doubt anyone would question me calling pinup model Ava L’amour a superhuman. After rushing straight from work to attend one of my vintage pinup makeover shoots with Miss Victory Violet at Berwick Lodge in Bristol last September, we were blown away by Ava’s charming nature and confidence in front of the camera. Following the recent public release of these images in Bombshell Magazine, I’m really excited to be featuring Ava L’amour on the blog today…
Ava L’amour
Occupation: Pinup model on my days off, but the day job is a veterinary nurse.
How would your best friend describe you? Big hearted, loyal, hard working, with a silly sense of humour and a little bit of crazy thrown in.
Name three things that you always carry with you? My phone (you never know when the moment for a good selfie might call), snacks (usually in the form of chocolate and biscuits) and, if I can take her with me, my three legged border collie. Failing that, I’m told I always carry a smile no matter my mood.
What was the last book you read? I wish I read more but patience is not my strong suit and I can never seem to stick with books, so can’t actually remember the last one I read, knowing me it was probably The Hungry Caterpillar!
What inspired you to book a photoshoot? I’ve done a few vintage boudoir shoots now and they’re always so much fun. They’re so liberating and empowering, also seeing my photos afterwards gives me the most incredible body confidence boost. There’s a lot of amazing female photographers out there and I’m lucky enough to have shot with a few of them now, but Tigz has been on my wish list for a while, her style is so dreamy and classically beautiful. As this shoot was so local to me I couldn’t resist, the added incentive with hair and makeup by Ella [aka Miss Victory Violet], she’s amazing.
Who would play you in a movie of your life? I wish it could have been Grace Kelly, she’s such an inspiration and has timeless elegance, a huge Idol of mine. But if we going with modern times, I’d love it to be an actress named Katheryn Winnick. I first saw her in the TV show Vikings and she is incredible, she plays such a strong, empowering, fierce character who also has a very vulnerable motherly side her too, so I know she would absolutely smash it and she is gorgeous although she doesn’t look anything like me.
Whats the most interesting thing about you that the internet doesn’t know about you yet? Aside from the vet nursing and modelling I’m also a carer for my disabled mother, who I have been caring for since I was 18. She has several health conditions that make her housebound and struggle to get out of bed sometimes. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do but my mum was such an amazing woman when I was growing up and she’s still is now. I remember her doing so much for me and always being there for me whenever I needed her, so I’ve never been able to turn away from her when she needs help. Sometimes fitting everything in can be a hard task but I love my shoots so much that it always try to make time for them.
Tell us about one of the outfits you wore for your shoot – why do you love it? I wore a stunning black and white chemise style garment from Kiss Me Deadly, I love it because it’s cute and girly as well as sexy without being revealing. It flatters my shape and curves and is super comfortable to wear. It has a really cute bow that you can tie at the back and the white material is made out of silk which feels amazing, it also has suspenders which I love and work great for a real retro feel. The black and white contrast of it looks so stunning in my photos.
Describe your shoot experience? My photoshoot was awesome!! Tigz and Ella were so welcoming and lovely, my hair and make-up was gorgeous – probably one of the best looks I’ve ever had done. I felt so comfortable and had a blast shooting with the amazing Tigz, we worked really well to make sure we got such fabulous pictures and the location was insane so stunning, I loved every minute of it.
What song gets you on the dance floor? I like all types of music but my heart likes rock – that one song that always gets me and leaping out of my seat at parties is ‘Summer of 69’ by Bryan Adams, love it!!
What are you most proud of in your career so far? When I first started veterinary nursing, I was so squeamish I didn’t know if I’d be able to carry on working at the vets, but I refused to accept defeat and stuck with it. It was very hard to overcome my phobia and I’d have moments where I would doubt myself, but actually I’m very good at fighting through and slaying my demons. I’ve been working at a veterinary practice now for over a decade and I’m no longer squeamish. I even scrubbed in to assist with an 2 hour long operation just recently and I’m so proud of myself for this. I’m also proud of the time I managed to revive a cesarean puppy all on my own – he was struggling to come to and there was no one free to help but I managed it. He was adopted by a friend of mine so I’m lucky enough to keep tabs on him and he’s doing very well. With my modelling, I’m proud of how much I’ve learnt in just a year and a half, as well as being on the front cover of a magazine, modelling for a brand at London Edge and being featured in a calendar. I’ve had a very fortunate first year and cannot wait for more.
What is your top body confidence tip? Book a boudoir shoot!!! Seriously, it has changed my life. There was so much I disliked about myself, but through shoots and modelling you learn no body is perfect everyone has cellulite, scars, stretch marks and one side slightly different to the other. When you do a shoot with respectable professionals they will make you look and feel amazing and your jaw will drop when you see how unbelievably beautiful you look in your photos. I never thought I’d be able to do shots from behind; through photoshoots my bottom has become one of my favourite body parts. Just try to remember that every body is different and equally beautiful.
What will your autobiography be called? ‘Even more beautiful’. It sounds super vain bit there is a reason, I’ve had some hard times in my life, times I wasn’t sure if be able to get through, but every time I do fight through I come out stronger and wiser than I was before. I always try to learn from my hardships and allow them make me a more understanding, accepting person and there’s a little quote I invented which is “Every time this world breaks me I refuse to stay broken and I will rebuild myself into someone even more beautiful than I was before”. So to name my autobiography that seems fitting.
If you could be a model for any brand, which brand would it be and why? I would love to model for Playful Promises, especially the Bettie Page collection they sell. They have such gorgeous lingerie, swimwear and nightwear and so much variety. You can get some amazing vintages looks from them as well as modern and I’m a sucker for both.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about booking a session of their own? Do it!!!! You won’t regret it, there’s a chance it could change your life like it has mine and it will help teach you to love yourself a little more. You will feel beautiful, liberated and empowered and you will have the best time at your shoot too. I think every woman should experience a boudoir photoshoot at least once in their life.
What exciting project are you working on right now? I have some very exciting photoshoots planned which I cannot wait for, I still feel there’s a lot I need to learn and a lot more experience to gain so I’m looking forward to seeing where I go with it all. I’ve also recently changed my employers at my vet nursing job so exciting changes and a lot of learning going on there too, I’m doing new things I’ve never had to do before and I’m loving it.
Want to Experience the most incredible body confidence boost like Ava L’amour? You know what to do: Keep an eye out here for my next boudoir makeover day announcement. I hope to see you at the next event!
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