April Iman

April Iman model from Tokio exclusive at Lions Art Magazine

Where did you grow up? I was born in Singapore but only lived there for a few years. My parents moved a lot, so I grew up in different cities. I would say I spent my most formative years in Los Angeles. But I have been in Tokyo for eight years now.

What inspired you to get into this industry? Basically I kept getting scouted every time I left the house, so I finally caved in! (haha) I started out doing beauty pageants in my teens and then got into modeling and then entertainment reporting and TV.

Describe yourself in a few words: I’m a happy, optimistic person. I laugh a lot. I’m pretty silly and love to have fun.

Instagram or Facebook? Instagram!

 

Who is your favorite designer? I really love long gorgeous dresses, so some designers that come to mind are Versace and Elie Saab.

Bikini or Monokini? Bikini!

Champagne or Gin Tonic? Gin tonic! But my favorite drinks are sweet cocktails made from fresh fruits.

What is your favorite desert? Chocolates! And rich chocolate cake. And New York cheesecake.

Heels or flats? Definitely heels! High stiletto heels are my favorite!

Do you have a beauty secret? Yes, but I can’t tell you all of them, or it wouldn’t be a secret anymore 😉 One thing I do is make my own face and hair mask, when I have time. I love using fresh, organic ingredients from my kitchen!

Do you work out? Yes, of course! I do some kind of workout every day. Either I hit the gym, or go for a night jog along the river, or cycle somewhere, go dancing, go hiking in the countryside… I have to move my body every day!

Which has been your most memorable shooting? I really enjoy shooting outdoors. I’m a city girl who is in love with nature, so whenever I get to shoot outdoors, I have so much more fun! I just had a shoot where the crew and I were allowed to go into a restricted area up in the mountains and shoot in a gorgeous lake. Yes, the water was freezing, but it was such a paradise on Earth.

With which person dead or alive would you like to have dinner? Oscar Wilde! I have this book called ‘The Importance of Being a Wit – The Insults of Oscar Wilde’ and it’s just the best! He’s so flamboyant and witty – we would have the most sensational conversations!

What is your guilty pleasure? Eating burgers at least three times a week! Always with a side of onion rings, and more often than not, I finish the meal with a slice of cake or pie! But honestly, I don’t even feel guilty about it, so does that count as a guilty pleasure?

What do you find sexy in a man? I find it so sexy when a man goes out of his way to be a gentleman. Chivalry is so sexy!

Are you a party person? I can’t say that I am. I go partying maybe once every few months. On the weekends I’m usually hiking, which means that I have to wake up early and drive out to the mountains. I do, however, love going to live houses and dancing! I’m just not a big drinker and I don’t smoke, so it’s hard to party in Tokyo.

What is your sign? I’m an Aries, the fire sign. Yup, I’ve got the fire in me.

Who is your secret crush? I have two, actually! Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Would you rather be a guess girl or shoot for sports illustrated? This one’s really tough. Both would be a dream come true! I love the classic Guess girl image, and I love the SI swimsuit shoots in exotic locations. Maybe SI, because I love to travel and be out in nature.

What is your favorite holiday destination? I love traveling so much, and there are so many places that I still want to visit! But one place that I really love is Thailand. I love the people, the food, the culture, and both the bustling city and the beautiful nature.

If you could choose one super power, which one would it be? I would want telepathic and telekinetic powers, like Marvel’s Jean Grey.

Did you always want to become a model? Growing up, I’ve wanted to be many different things. I’ve wanted to be a doctor, an architect, a news caster, and a writer. But I’ve always enjoyed playing with makeup and fashion, and I love being in front of the camera. So I guess modeling makes sense for me.

How old were you when you had your first kiss? You know what’s weird? I don’t remember my first kiss. I can’t remember who it was, and I can’t remember when it happened. Why??

Which of the “Big 5“ models is your favorite? Cindy Crawford.

What are you thankful for? I feel blessed to have met some really incredible people in my lifetime, people with such beautiful hearts and fascinating minds.

Who would you like to be for one day? Marilyn Monroe in her heydays.

Do you have a fashion icon? I have many different styles, depending on my mood. So I have many different fashion icons too. I admire Amal Alamuddin Clooney. She’s so elegant and sophisticated! And Gigi Hadid. I love that casual California girl style too.

What’s your favorite instagram account? I follow a lot of fitness accounts. Some of my favorites are @fit and @bodyfitness_beautiful. They really motivate me to work out! I also love fashion accounts like @galialahav, and makeup accounts like @beautyisboring_.

Are you a morning person? No no no. I am completely a night owl. I am in love with the moon and the stars. But of course, more often that not, I have to wake up at dreadfully early hours for shoots.

What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is not making use of my full potential and not living up to the high expectations that I have for myself.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Too many. And 70% of my shoe closet is high heels.

Which 3 survival essentials will we always find in your purse? Chapstick. Diva sunglasses. Some kind of candy bar.

Do you have a life motto? “Do the best until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

What do you get complimented on the most? My lips. And my body. A lot of girls ask me how I stay fit, especially when they see the way I eat! Don’t even get me started on the kinds of things guys tell me…

What advice do you have for other aspiring models? Perseverance really is key. Don’t give up. Stay true to yourself. Being unique makes you stand out from the crowd. Also, you will need to be disciplined and hardworking. When it gets hard, push harder.

Who are some of your favorite photographers? I would love to get the opportunity to work with Yu Tsai and James Macari, just to name a few.

How has modeling changed other aspects of your life? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that modeling has “changed” my life, but it definitely has “enhanced” other aspects of my life and it sure does have its perks!

What are your goals as a model? To be on huge billboards all over the world and to be on the cover of the biggest magazines.

Batman or Superman? Um… Wolverine.

April Iman status update

NAME: April Iman

AGE: 20’s

LOCATION: Born in Singapore. Based in Tokyo.

AGENCY: Freelance model

WEBSITE: www.apriliman.com

FACEBOOK: apriliman.official

INSTAGRAM: @april_iman