My Journey from Fashion Model to Actress: Embracing the Thrill of Acting

As you know I have been a fashion model my whole life, but in 2020 I started to develop my acting career. I want to share with you the incredible journey I embarked on in 2020 – transitioning from a fashion model to a full-fledged actress. It's been an upward climb and an incredible learning curve with emotions, self-discovery, and memorable experiences that have forever added this trajectory to my career.

Embracing the Realness of Acting
To be honest, acting wasn't something I initially wanted to do. As a fashion model, the allure of the catwalk and the glamorous world of fashion seemed more rewarding. However, every time a movie camera was pointed at me, the cameramen would look through their lens, and their heads would popup and they would say, "You should be an actress!". I never understood why and even to this day, the only explanation I ever got was that there are these cross-hairs in the camera and if your face lines up with them, it means you are an actress.

Acting had always lingered in the background, with people asking me to be part of their films or play cameo roles of myself. I have had several documentaries made of me, including PBS which garnered the most views of any PBS show at the time. While I was occupied with television commercials and public speaking engagements in the tech industry, the world of acting kept whispering in my ear, nudging me to explore its depths.

The Turning Point: KG-145 and the President's Wife
Everything changed when I received a game-changing opportunity in 2020. I was offered the lead role in the movie "KG-145" as the President's wife, Lisette. At first, I was hesitant, unsure if acting could match the rewards I found in modeling. But something inside me pushed me to take the leap. Little did I know that this decision would be the turning point in my acting career.

The interesting thing about this opportunity lay not only in the role itself but also in the circumstances surrounding it. Several people that I knew would be in the movie, including my friend Simon, who was the person who recommended me for the role to the director. Being surrounded by my dear friends on set created a comfortable and supportive environment, helping me ease into the world of acting with less pressure. And let's not forget the incredible director whose passion for the film was contagious. We began shooting just as the pandemic struck, making travel challenging. However, my friend Simon, who also stared in the movie, came to my rescue, picking me up with his daughter, and together, we embarked on this exciting adventure.

Discovering the Love for Acting
As the shoot progressed, I found myself falling in love with the craft of acting. The authenticity and realness it demanded were unlike anything I had experienced before. Every scene became an opportunity to immerse myself in Grace's world, to feel her emotions, to truly become her. The rain, the dirt, the exhaustion – everything felt incredibly real. Acting became my gateway to living in the present moment, embracing the challenges, and unleashing my inner creativity. The lines however and remembering them, were my greatest challenge. I did not have any fear, only fear of forgetting my line!

A Poster-Worthy Achievement
My journey took an extraordinary turn when "KG-145" was selected to be showcased at the illustrious Cannes Film Festival in France this year. To my amazement, I discovered that I was featured front and center on the film's poster. Two days before I had been scrolling through movie posters on Netflix thinking, "I wonder if I will ever be featured in a movie poster..." I was jumping up and down for joy when the director sent me the poster with me on it. I was rendered speechless. It was an honor and a thrill beyond words. Dreams really do come true!

The Love Affair with Acting Continues
Today, I love acting. I have taken classes online, and I am proud to say that I've found something others say I'm good at. I have even received standing ovations on set when I finish my scene. Sometimes I wonder if they are just saying it, or if it's really true - I can't judge, I only can do my best. I have much to learn in terms of techniques and I'm really grateful to be among other more experienced actors and teachers to point the way. The journey has taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, self-belief, and the joy that comes from pursuing your passion. Yes, movie-making is a lengthy and intricate process, but the love I have for it fuels my spirit. Being featured in "KG-145" has only deepened my commitment to this craft and fueled my desire to take on more diverse roles. I can't wait for the day when the film is available for all of you to enjoy, sharing this incredible adventure with my dear friends, both old and new.

So, there you have it – my personal journey from fashion model to actress, my transformation in the fascinating world of acting in China. It has been an extraordinary ride, filled with challenges, triumphs, and unforgettable moments. Through it all, I've discovered the exhilaration and fulfillment that acting brings to my life. The path to success in the film industry is paved with dedication and resilience, but the rewards are immeasurable. Thank you to all my friends around the world who cheer me on my incredible life adventure. I can't wait to share more stories and experiences with you in the future. Sometimes you just gotta blog!

PRESS: Page Online Sneak Peek at Qi Suit Powered by Intel Curie

 

Qi SUIT PRESS TEASER from 360Fashion on Vimeo.

Berlin, Germany - PRESS: Page-Online.de have given everyone a sneak peek at our upcoming launch with ROMASTER: The Qi Suit made with the 360Fash Tech "Gesture" Kit. 

The Qi Suit was a particularly challenging creation because of the obstacles we needed to overcome in order to create this incredibly tailored suit by Master Li - the Golden Scissors award winning tailor who recently died, with my work with him as his last great living legacy on this earth. Although I could not speak a single word with Master Li, we had another way to communicate that transcended language: we had the language of innovation. 

The main obstacle to this project was TIME. We only had 45 Days to complete this project and then launch it at Intel Developer Conference in Shenzhen May 13th, 2016. The second most prominent obstacle was CULTURE & LANGUAGE. The third most difficult obstacle was TECHNOLOGY.

TIME

With only 45 days to complete the project for the Intel Developer Conference 2016, we worked 45 days straight with very long hours up to 2:00AM the next day. We had to figure out the parts, order the parts, test the parts, and then build the LED patterns. Lack of sleep is not a good thing for a team because it leads to short tempers and not clear thinking. Some days we just had to roll up our sleeves and drink a lot of black tea.

CULTURE & LANGUAGE

With the whole team of 10 people speaking Chinese, I found myself challenged with only translation to help me explain and communicate how to execute the project. We had to revert to a lot of diagrams, and twice I had to pull in my friends who just for their kindness came in and solved the problems late at night. Also in using online project management software, the fashion team had no VPN's and were not able to follow the project in a "modern" way. The engineering team often did not get the whole specifications translated and thus we had mistakes that we had to re-do and would lose time. In these situations it is extremely important to be professional and to put your nose to the grindstone and not give up. To be flexible and willing to give up something but also to go back and re-do, including things that may have been lost in translation. #NeverNeverNeverGiveUp

TECHNOLOGY

Currently there are a lot of LEDs out there and we had to make quick decisions on what type we were going to sew into the suit. We made several tests and in the end forgot about LED Strips because it would be prone to fail on the weakest points: the soldering joints at the end of the strips. Flexible LED boards that we cut were too hard and would be extremely uncomfortable for the wearer. The final test, and ultimate choice were the LEDs in shapes on boards. This allowed us to create a poetic pattern, but had big enough holes on the back for us to solder them together with insulated thread.

Stay tuned for more of this epic story and the launch!

CRI Radio & TV Interviews Anina Net in Beijing, China about 360Fashion Network

Ever wonder what it is that I am doing in China all this time? Well, here's your chance to see it. CRI Radio followed me around during our 3D Festival rampup and you get to see me building the robotic dress, talking about fashion and tech, and executing the 3D Festival exhibition. It's pretty go-go-go and at the same time it's pretty much fun. It is certainly not easy, but in the world where we get to choose what we want to do, I am following my passion.

Ambassador of Finland Hosts Event for 360Fashion Network & Pekka Salokannel

The Ambassador of Finland hosted an event in his residency to honor Mr. Salokannel's 3D Printed eyewear and jewelry freshly printed in Finland on March 28th, 2014. The event brought the leading design and fashion experts together to view Mr. Salokannel's collection. Represenatives from Beijing Design Week, Red Star Design Award, Beijing Design Institute, 751DPark, and CNGA all gathered to learn about Pure Design from Finland as demonstrated by Mr. Salokannel's work.

"I'm very honored that we could showcase the excellent work of Pekka Salokannel in China during our 360Fashion & Tech Exhibition." said Anina.

Read more about the 360Fashion & Tech exhibition here!

Beijing Mayor visits 360Fashion Network 3D Festival Exhibition Beijing Design Week 2013

The Mayor of Beijing came to visit the 3D Festival exhibition during Beijing Design Week 2013. He enjoyed to see all the 3D Printers and told us that he knows a lot about 3D technology because he used to work with autocad and other 3D programs for architecture!

Anina Demonstrates Nokia City Lens to Beijing Design Week 2013

Anina demonstrates Nokia City Lens Augmented Reality app to Beijing Design Week Director. Talking about smart cities, and tools that can be used, location based Augmented Reality is an excellent solution!

China Daily report on 360Fashion Network during Beijing Design Week 2013

You can read the full article here!

What is NFC? NFC是什么？NFC means “near field communication” system.

NFC Technology

powered by 360Fashion Network

由360时尚网络提供技术支持

1、What is NFC? NFC是什么？

NFC means “near field communication” system. It uses an RFID tag and a built-in mobile phone reader to pass information between objects when touched together. An example of NFC is when people scan their Beijing metro card to enter the train area. The metro card uses an RFID chip to pass information to the metro card and allow the gates to the train area to open. The most common form of NFC used in fashion is to track freight on clothing items or shipments to protect against lost or stolen materials.

NFC是指“近距离无线通讯”系统。当两个物体相接触，它使用一种射频身份识别标签和一种嵌入手机的读码器，将信息从一个物体传输到另一个物体上。举个例子，当人们在乘坐地铁的时候刷卡进入，“一卡通”内就有一种射频身份识别芯片，它可以把信息传输到“一卡通”中。从而刷开地铁的闸机门。在时尚界， NFC功能普遍用于记录服装或者货物的重量，防止物品遗失或被盗。

2、How to use NFC and the ESMOD Technology Textile Collage? 如何使用NFC和ESMOD科技纺织品拼贴画？

a. Using the phone provided touch the phone to the fabric on the wall. 请使用所提供的电话接触展示墙上的纺织品。

b. The phone will vibrate and ask if it should display the information, click YES 电话会发出震动声并询问是否需要显示信息，请点击“是”。

c. The name of the fabric and information will be displayed on the screen of the phone. 电话上会显示出纺织品的名字和相关信息。

 

3、How can I use NFC in my business? 我如何在经营中使用NFC?

NFC can be used inside physical stores to download coupons and discounts from posters, create check-in areas for VIP guests, or link to additional information in the store environment. It can encourage new customers to come inside and try new collections, download an app to the mobile, or watch a video. NFC is useful because it is a 2-way communication and can be used in customer loyalty programs and events.

在实体商店中，您可以使用NFC下载海报上的优惠券和促销信息，开辟VIP客户登记区域，或者连接更多的商店信息。这样一来，能够鼓励新客户走进商店体验新品，并且用他们的手机下载应用程序，或者观看一段视频。由于NFC运用了一种双向通讯模式，所以它也可以用于增加客户忠诚度的项目和商业活动中。

Girls in TechCrunch

Beijing, China - TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing Event - Women in Tech Coverage
I recently had the pleasure of being invited to the TechCrunch Beijing event on October 31-November 1st. It was quite epic as the French decided to participate in their favorite pastime and strike at the airport. I waited a lovely 8 hours until my flight, having woken up at 5am with no alert that there was a strike. I arrived half way through with a big luggage to the event. Trying to hide it behind the reception, I quickly made my way into the hall to listen to the presentations half asleep.

I quickly woke up as I saw a stunningly beautiful woman on the stage interviewing one of the speakers named Sarah Lacy. Confident, savvy, and with a dark red lipstick with long hair, she announced that she had just had a baby and had none the less left her family to attend to the TechCrunch Disrupt event.

During the break, I went to say "Hi" to some of the speakers and as I was over in the press section I started to see other beautiful, savvy, women walking around with clipboards and official TechCrunch badges. I approached one of them only to find she was not at all fierce and intimidating but rather lovely, kind, and helpful. As I thanked her for their invitation, I also mentioned how excited I was to have so many fashion focused topics to write about for 360Fashion Network's tech section. It was a surprize as 360Fashion Network has been so long the lone duck in that sector. She smiled at me and said that I should talk to another beautiful, sexy, woman typing furriously at her laptop who manned the fashion news on TechCrunch.

My head started spinning, asking what was going on here--there seemed to be no men heading up the TechCrunch Beijing event--I was finally surrounded by beautiful, smart, techy women! So hats off to Mr. Arrington, who as baggy-eyed as he is from lack of sleep, bad diet, and surely the attacks he's gotten recently from the industry, for hiring such accomplished, successful, beautiful, smart, women to man up his portal and work within his organization. For this, he's done an great job--I can even find it in my heart to forgive him for calling me a clown on TechCrunch reviewing my Anina Dress Up Game and insulting my CMO for wearing an above the knee skirt (Go Arrington for painting a positive image for women and supporting them in such a crude way--sarcasm). So how does it come that he has had such a change of perspective, a revelation to hire so many wiked girls?

I'm really happy not to be alone and wish those beautiful women to come again soon to Beijing and meet the fantastic techy Chinese CEO's and entrepreneurs over here. I hope they will also be at Le Web this year to meet again. Thank you also for having so much great food for our tech portal with all the fashion focused start-ups! Bravo! Keep going!

Read the reviews of the event here.

Models Should Support Young Designers

(Models viewing the ESMOD Beijing Mobile Event Guide sponsored by 360Fashion at the Fitting)

Many times in my career when I started, I worked for free for this exhibition of that upcoming designer, or this editorial for that big photographer. As I progressed in my career I had less time due to bookings, and passed through a period where I was no longer doing free things for anything, that's called the money making period: when you are hot, you have to grab it all. Then you come to the top of the piramid and you are financially stable, with your clients, and booking less but for more money. This is the stage where it's time to start your next life projects and thinking, and to give back. Never forget the exposure that xyz designer/event/magazine/photographer gave to you when you started, and now it's time to lend your name to support with attention, contacts, and notoriety the next generation.

I know some models just want to go to they gym or laze around in the sunshine (never!) all day dreaming lazy dreams of beauty, but it is in these moment that I promise you we are actually thinking, planning, diving deep into the soul to know what we are to be doing. 

So it is with great pleasure and honor that I participated in the ESMOD Beijing graduate class of 2011 fashion show. Let me tell you! The quality of the designs were stunning. I have a few pieces that I would love to buy and I like all my outfits (of course since I"m the princiapal model I got my pick). The whole fitting was so super professional and many of my model friends from the New Silk Road Modelling School greeted me with "Anina!!!" and we instantly hugged (even though we cant really talk to eachother there's that model-bond). Sitting on my friend's lap I show her my photos I'd been snapping during the fitting of her and the other models. We laugh and she QQ Weibo's me and another girl Sina Weibo's me (there are so many social networks in China). I still cant write in Chinese....at least they can read my English.

It's fun the imagination of the graduating class's imagination. Some highlights to entice you to stay tuned. You can see the article written, but it's in Chinese. The fashion show was covered by the whole Chinese media as ESMOD is a very prestegious school from France. 360Fashion are the proud sponsor, with the ESMOD EVENT GUIDE MobileMags fashion app you can download from the gallery and check out all the designers directly in your mobile phone!