MMD MODELS: L. SHIMA

MMD September 9, 2014 0

In this edition of MMD Models we caught up with Florida based hottie, L. Shima. This exotic beauty has posed for major publications such as Rides, Donk, and even the iconic Playboy TV. This curvy cutie with an eye for the artistic has a killer body and a pretty face so keep an eye on this up and coming stunner.

Mens Mag Daily: You have a very exotic look. What nationality do people usually think you are and what is your actual nationality?

L. Shima: I was born and raised in Austin, Texas so many people assumed I was Mexican since that ethnicity is so dominant in the city. I am actually super mixed and am Japanese, Black, and Irish.

Mens Mag Daily: You’re pretty versatile in terms of what type of shoots you do. You’ve posed for Rides Magazine, done shots where you’re naked in sneakers (my preference) but you also do stuff that has a much more “artistic” spin on it. Do you have a preference?

L. Shima: I prefer working with teams that are focused on creating an artistic image with me as the canvas. This can be any genre. I’m not into shoots where the photographer is only concerned with shooting my curves. I can be more expressive in the former type of shoot.

Mens Mag Daily: You’ve worked with Playboy TV which is a huge media outlet. What was that experience like and was it totally different from anything you had done up to that point?

L. Shima: That was one of my first gigs and the one that convinced me to pursue modelling full time. At that point it was the largest team I had seen that was working a shoot. There was hair and makeup, assistants, the creative director, etc. Everyone was a sweetheart and very relaxed. It was a great experience for me as a newer, young model.

Mens Mag Daily: You interact with your fans a lot; make a lot of involved videos, blog, etc. I’ve never seen a model be that interactive. Why do you take that approach?

L. Shima: I’m independent. The traditional route for a model is to be signed with an agency that takes care of finding work, advertising, and all aspects of a model’s needs. I don’t have that since I am the anti-model meaning that I am short, curvy, and ethnic. I have to work much harder to reach the same outlets. The larger my audience, the more appealing I am to a brand, especially nowadays in this social media landscape. I genuinely like to interact with those that enjoy my work and as a result they help build a buzz for me.

Mens Mag Daily: What is your favorite physical attribute?

L. Shima: My eyes. (Editor’s Note: Had we been asked what we thought L. Shima’s best physical attribute was, our answer would have been much different.)

Mens Mag Daily: You’re not an agency model which means you have a lot more responsibilities. How do you go about finding work and do you have a process for tackling all of the responsibilities you have?

L. Shima: It’s all about being proactive. I spend a lot of time networking and researching online and message individuals and brands that I respect. I treat this as a 9-5 although it’s more like 9-9 job. I spend 90% of my time behind the scenes and just a bit actually shooting. It’s nowhere near as glamorous as many assume. I am very organized and have a mentor that offers terrific advice when needed.