Vera Munyangaju is an international model from Northern Ireland, who has graced the catwalks at London, Milan and New York Fashion Weeks. Vera has walked for a range of designers, including Zac Posen in his New York Fashion Week show earlier this year.
Vera was joined by Terry Costello, the man who discovered her in 2014 when Vera was studying Politics at Northumbria University in Newcastle. As she graduated, Vera was unsure of the career path she wanted and joined the agency. Ever since she has built up her reputation as an international high fashion model for catwalk and editorial, taking part in castings for Yeezy and interest from Alexander Wang.
Photograph taken by: Lucie Simon
Vera and Terry gave an insightful talk into the highs and lows of the fashion industry to our fashion journalism students. They also revealed their secrets into how to make a successful photoshoot, from preparation tips to pose ideas and where to find inspiration.
It was interesting to hear all about Vera’s experiences on the catwalks, castings and photoshoots. From what happens at a casting to taking selfies behind the scenes of a show, and the atmosphere throughout the whole experience. She also revealed that she takes her own foundation with her in her handbag, just incase a make-up artist doesn’t have the correct make-up for her skin tone on a shoot. The model revealed that one day she would love to be the face of a beauty campaign, for the likes of Maybelline.
Terry Costello founded and established the North East based Savalas Models agency in 2014, with the vision of bringing a London style modelling agency to the North East. The quirky name was inspired by Terry’s grandad, who would call him Terry Savalas after the American actor Telly Savalas. The name was also chosen because Terry wanted something different for a new platform, with the idea that you don’t have to go to London to make it in the fashion industry.
Terry described the rewarding feeling when models from his agency do so well, referring to checking out his Facebook news feed and seeing a model he knows modelling for ASOS. “I’m all about seeing people from the North East do well,” Terry explained.
It was inspiring to hear all about the establishment and success of Savalas Models, and amazing to get an insight into the world of fashion and modelling.
We’d love to thank Terry Costello and Vera Munyangaju for chatting to us, and we wish them both every success in the future with Savalas Models!
