Model Carmella Rose Keeps It Real
The 28-year-old model discusses her struggle with PCOS, her curated Instagram feed, and her evolving connections with fashion designers.
Photography by Steve Gripp
Styled by Salvador Gonzalez
Hair by Allie Ellis
Model Carmella Rose frequently chronicles her boisterous life as a top model on her Instagram grid, which includes shooting a Prada Beauty campaign in clover-speckled fields of Switzerland or attending luxurious fragrance events in Los Angeles. But there is nothing easy about her radiant exterior. Last year, Rose discovered she has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a disease especially harrowing in its inscrutability. PCOS is a hormone disorder that affects metabolism and hormones. It can cause infertility, weight gain, and other issues. After learning about her diagnosis and finding solace in the PCOS community, she is open about her experience living with it as a working model. In a space infamous for its feigned glossiness, Rose wants PCOS to be “normalize[d],” and speaks about it candidly.
Rose tries to translate that sense of authenticity to her social media, which shows her more humorous side, her deep-rooted connection to nature, and the exciting opportunities she is landing in the industry. Rose just shot a Prada Beauty campaign, and with Stella McCartney—an experience that boosted Rose’s confidence and signaled her upward trajectory in the industry.
Ahead of fashion month—which also happens to be PCOS awareness month—Rose spoke to L’OFFICIEL about being starstruck, managing her social media presence, and her advice to women with PCOS.
L’OFFICIEL: How did you get into modeling?
CARMELLA ROSE: I always looked up to the fashion industry at such a young age, and I always told people, even in high school, that's what I wanted to do. People thought, "Okay, this girl's crazy. We'll see." When I was 17, I moved down to Newport, because I was planning on going to college then, and I was just going to attend a community college. Another dream was to transfer to Santa Barbara, do that whole thing. Then it was the beginning of Instagram, It was the first year it was created. I would do test shoots with photographers in LA, and I worked with one on a more consistent basis. I would make little trips to LA and just shoot because I always had that passion. I loved creating. One day a New York agent found me and offered to sign me, and then it just took off from there.
L’O: Is there any particular model or designer that inspired you to pursue this?
CR: I always loved Candice Swanepoel. She was my favorite, and she still is. She is such an inspiration. Growing up in Big Bear, I have such a connection to nature, so I always try to translate that to people. It's important for everybody, and mental health. She does the same thing and she does a really good job of it, and she always has. Designer wise, I'm inspired by so many, but I would say Saint Laurent would be my number one.
L’O: Is there anything about modeling that you were surprised by when you started doing it? Something you didn't really know was a part of the job?
CR: It was mostly when everything started shifting and more so people speaking up about certain things. I was around during that time of models being told they had to be a certain size, and this and that, and I was told that. I was told I fit in the jeans, but I don't fit in the jeans. There's so many things that still go through my brain to this day, that I've been told that are just not okay. It's amazing to see just everything evolve and get better. I wouldn't say it's a hundred percent better, but it's definitely way better than it used to be. So that was a crazy thing to see, and it's just really nice to see how it's changed over the years too.
L’O: Well that brings me to a topic I did want to talk about. I was told you have PCOS. Is that true?
CR: Yeah, I found out in December.
L’O: I have it as well. I am curious about your perspective because when I was diagnosed with it, it wasn't as much of a thing that women talked about. The culture was really different, and things have evolved since then. What was your journey?
CR: For a while, I didn't know what was wrong with me. For two years I was having really, really bad health issues with my blood sugar, and so I thought maybe I was becoming diabetic, because my father is. I wasn't able to travel. It wasn't fun. I wasn't able to go to dinner. Sometimes I'd be on my way, and I'd have to turn back around.
L’O: I imagine it’s difficult given the nature of being a model. It requires traveling, and things that are not conducive with a lot of symptoms.
CR: It's such a learning experience for me. I'm still learning. But I feel good. I'm figuring out what to do. I work out all the time, but for a while I was doing heavier workouts, and I had no idea that you're not supposed to do that. It's supposed to be minimal interval workouts. I've always been good with food, but I know the gluten and dairy thing, stuff like that [is bad for me].
It's such a learning experience for me. I'm still learning.
L’O: With PCOS, even when you've learned to manage certain aspects of it, there's always something else, it could get worse, or it could get better. I had facial hair, and so for years I just thought there was something wrong with me. I wore really heavy foundation all the time. Once I found out, and researched what I could do, I got laser hair removal.
CR: That's the best thing. Honestly, it's the only thing that works in my opinion. I've tried taking so many other things too, and it just doesn't [work]. It's hard. And the thing is, there's a lot that you can do, but it's an everyday thing, and it's going to be like that forever.
L’O: What advice would you give to women who have PCOS and are struggling to manage it?
CR: I would say to find a community with other women to talk about it. That's what I found that was really helpful. At first, I felt stuck. I was like, What am I supposed to do in this situation? I don't know what to do. Rarely anybody is talking about this. So I would find people who also deal with it, and now I have those people to talk to. And just consistency. Then if you do mess up, it's okay. If you have pasta and it has dairy in it, once in a blue moon, it's fine. Don't beat yourself up.
"I have a condition, I'm going through something, and just to normalize it would be much better in the fashion industry."
L’O: It's healthy to have raw, true conversations about things like this.
CR: I agree. Because back to what I said earlier, it's having those harsh agents or brands being weird about weight and everything, too. I have a condition, I'm going through something, and just to normalize it would be much better in the fashion industry. Actually, I've never talked about it publicly before, so this would be the first time. I talk about it openly to friends, but I've never been on my Instagram talking about it, but I would love to. So, it's a good opportunity.
L’O: How do you manage having a strong social media presence? Do you choose things to share and choose things not to share with your audience?
CR: I stay away from politics and stuff like that just because I don't think I'm in a place to talk about it. But a lot of the things that I do share is about protecting the planet and being mindful. People want to see realness. I'm very serious most of the time, but if you click on occasional things, you'll find the funny stuff on there too. A lot of the time we get distracted and we think everything's just so perfect and Instagram's very curated, so I try to make that balance just because that's the real side of things.
"People want to see realness."
L’O: What's your personal style when you're off duty?
CR: Sweats.
L’O: Anything exciting coming up for Fashion Month that you can talk about?
CR: There's so much stuff. There's a Bulgari event to kick off Fashion month. That will be amazing. It's on September 4th. I'm really looking forward to that. They haven't done it in a while. It's supposed to be this big beautiful party. They’re launching a new bracelet.
L’O: Is this event in New York?
CR: Yes. I think the bracelet launches the same day as the party, so it'll be a fun kickoff and a good day. The Bulgari Tubogas Collection.
L’O: Have you ever had any celebrity encounter at Fashion Week that has stuck with you, or left you starstruck in any way?
CR: All the time. I used to love Avril Lavigne to a point where my dad would call me her, to boost my ego or whatever. My hair was super straight. I looked like her when I was little, and I loved her, and I saw her last year. She was sitting across from me. I was like, Oh my gosh, my little Carmella dreams are coming true.
L’O: What are you most looking forward to this fashion month?
CR: I really love seeing what each designer comes up with. I genuinely love watching all of it. It's mostly that and meeting new people. Every single time I come out with really strong new connections or relationships. It's always evolving, and I'm always learning and pronouncing things correctly every time. I'm excited to work with designers that I've been doing events with here and there, and I've never seen their shows. So it'll be cool to finally be a part of that as well, because I feel like that means the relationship is moving forward, and that's exciting.
