LOVISA LAGER
LOVISA LAGER is 19 years old, a model, and Instagram sensation who is determined to reshape the way society promotes body positivity and self-confidence.
Top ANNA SCHOLZ
INTERVIEWER CALINA MURESAN
PHOTOGRAPHER OTTO MASTERS
It is a rainy, chilly Thursday, the usual London weather, and Lovisa Lager has just arrived for her shoot. She’s just come back from Tokyo where she did a campaign for Nike. We sit in the make–up room, where lights, brushes and people surround us, preparing her for the photos. In this hustle, Lovisa seems comfortable, and she talks with me like there is no one applying foundation to her face.
Lager’s career as a curve model begun with Instagram in 2017. She started posting photos of herself (@lovisallager) as a way of improving her self–confidence, then one day the IMM model agency messaged her about working with them. “At that time I was not sure if I was going to accept it because I was young, I was 17, and I had just finished school,” she says. But in the end, she did and is comfortable with her decision.
Coat NAYA REA
Lovisa is half Swedish, half Thai, her mum being from Thailand. She was raised in Stockholm, but has always tried to maintain her relationship with Thai culture, although she was just three last time she went to Thailand.
Being curvy, from Sweden, and having Asian features, Lovisa is not your standard model. Curvy Asian models aren’t that common in the media. “There is no lack of curvy Asians, but they choose not to represent them. When I look at other agencies, besides mine, there’s maybe one curvy Asian girl,” says Lovisa.
Lovisa thinks that the term “plus–size” is problematic and that all models should be simply “models”, but for her, this term does not matter. “It has a stigma to it, but I don’t really think about that. I am a model and that is what I am doing. And at the same time, I am curvy, I am plus–size.”
Shirt RIBBED, Dress MARINA RINALDI
She has struggled with her self–confidence, but now is confident in her body and knows that no matter what size you are, anyone can lack confidence – it’s not simply a weight issue. Even so, from her perspective, it’s common for “bigger people to have negative thoughts about themselves”, simply because of the stereotypes that society promotes. In Lovisa’s view, the body–positivity concept is often linked to curvy people, when in fact, we should all be body positive. She wants to represent ‘every body’ through her work. “I have friends who are really skinny, and they have been going through so much self–hate. They told me that I helped them so much with what I am doing.” Lovisa’s first step for achieving confidence is “fake it ‘til you make it”, which for her means that “you have to brainwash yourself into thinking that you are beautiful. Of course, everyone is beautiful, but if the society brainwashed you to think that you are not attractive enough, then you can convince yourself to think that you are.”
Just because you are curvy does not mean you can be a curve model. Model agencies tend to prefer a certain type of body, and that is the hourglass silhouette. Lovisa feels that “there is a privilege attached to having that hourglass figure because you’re curvy, but still considered attractive.” She explains that curve models are usually expected to be between size 12 and 18 (UK). She is size 20 and doing really well.
“If the society brainwashed you to think that you are not attractive enough, then you can convince yourself to think that you are.””
Lovisa tries to connect with her followers on Instagram and talk with them about different issues. Recently she wanted to make them discuss sex because many people use it in a self–destructive way. “I can’t talk for everybody, but the majority I’ve been talking to, they go through major self–hate. As a bigger girl, you can definitely feel like you’re not sexy enough or not good enough for any guy and it’s not just bigger girls. When we went to school no one taught us that it is ok to feel pleasure and that it’s ok to have good sex,” she explains. Lovisa claims that she had the privilege of her parents who talked about sex with their daughter, but knows that among her followers there are young people who do not speak about this at home. Therefore, she has created a safe space for them where they can talk to her like as would to a friend.
Dress TTYA BLACK
In her leisure time, Lovisa needs to relax because she travels a lot and works very hard. She often hangs out with friends who work in the music industry. She enjoys cooking, saying that she’s not picky at all. She eats anything, but her mum’s Thai food is the best.
Being a model means that your skin always has to look good. Lovisa says it’s essential to clean and moisturise her face. “I use a deep cleansing milk and then micellar water. I also use light acids on my face and I moisturise a lot, especially because I live in Sweden and during winter it is really cold, –10 to –20 degrees, so I use a face cream as a night mask.” Her favourite makeup brands are FÄRG (Swedish brand) for contouring, Glossier balm for lips and Anastasia Beverly Hills for eyebrows.
Lovisa’s style is casual, she likes to make different combinations and to dress as she feels: “If I want to wear something classy I am going to do office pants and a blazer. I like to mix different styles, both having a really girly top and a pair of baggy jeans or track pants.”
At the moment, she’s also creating her own merchandise and wants to start her own business. She’s focusing on streetwear, especially T–shirts with different designs available in all sizes, not just L or XL. “I want to make it for girls my size”.
Dress MISSGUIDED, Shoes MARINA RINALDI
The bracelet, worn throughout, and the black trousers, are her own.
STYLIST MARISSA JIAN
HAIR STYLIST TETSUYA KANEKO
MAKEUP ARTIST ASAMI PAKUCHI
PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT KELVIN ELMES
PRODUCER WEI LIU
This profile was originally published in The WOW N° 1, 2019.