She is one of the top models in the world and has done every show from Chanel to Victoria’s Secret but Jacquelyn Jablonski still loves nothing better than her mum’s home cooking and hanging on the beach in New Jersey. We catch up with her in NY on the set of her cover shoot for the latest issue of Glass.
What was the best shoot you ever worked on and what made it so great?
That is hard … It would probably be a destination shoot. I had a job in Turks and Caicos with Claudia Knoepfel and Stefan Indlekofer which was so beautiful. We stayed at the most amazing resort where everyone had their own little villa. You would take your own golf cart or bike to set in the morning … We shot all day on the beach … It was very relaxing. We ended up finishing early so I spent the rest of my time laying out and swimming in the ocean. Another amazing shoot would have to be shooting with Karl Lagerfeld in his studio in Paris. It is so laid back, you have a nice sit down dinner, and the shoot is so quick. Everyone is so nice and the library is beyond amazing!
What are the biggest misconceptions that people have about life as a model?
I hate when I get the comment, “oh you have it so easy, you just sit there and smile”. Yes I am very lucky and so thankful for this opportunity but it is more than just that. We are often booked last minute for our jobs and have to be prepared to get up and go at all times so it is difficult to makes plans for anything. I have been confirmed and had to book and hop on a plane before within a few hours. Also, you have to be tough. Just because you are not booked for a certain show or job you can’t take it personally. Maybe you are just not the look for that specific job. I’ve grown a tough skin.
If you weren’t a model, what would be your career choice number two? And would you still like to pursue it one day?
If I wasn’t a model, I would have been just graduating from college. When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do yet which is why I decided to defer a year from college (which turned out to be longer), travel the world, and take advantage of this opportunity. I have met so many great people in fashion, that maybe I would love to pursue something in the industry one day. I would like to also try acting. I got a little taste of it when I played a short role on Hawaii 5.0 and I had so much fun! It is a totally different vibe than your typical modelling set. Lastly, of course I want to pursue my charity work with Autism Speaks and hopefully start my own foundation one day. I’m already in the process of planning my event for next year so stay tuned!
What is your favourite thing to do when you are not working?
We do a lot of traveling in our work so when I’m home I like to be around my friends and family and get back into a routine. I’ve been getting into cooking and would like to start taking classes. I also played a lot of sports growing up so my work outs were always running, which I still do, but I started to throw more Pilates in the mix and I’m loving it.
Can you remember how many countries you’ve visited so far? And which were your favourites?
That’s a good question! I should start keeping track. I would love to have a map with tacs on it of everywhere I’ve travelled to in the world. It is so hard to pick a favourite … France was the first country I ever travelled to outside of the U.S. and I still find Paris as beautiful as the first time I came. In Italy I loved Rome, especially the gelato … I had so much fun in Scotland when Chanel had their pre-fall show in a castle there … I could go on!
What do you miss most when travelling?
My own bed! Plus friends and family of course. We are always travelling alone for work so sometimes you can get a little homesick.
For anyone visiting your home country, what would you tell them they had to go and see? I would tell them to go to NYC … See a Broadway play, go to the Empire State Building, shop, and just soak it all in! There is so much to do and see, you will never be bored. And of course, come to my home…New Jersey! Visit the beach and have some of my mom’s delicious home cooking!
What are your tricks for staying sane during show season?
It is important to have your friends around in order to stay sane during fashion week. My friends and I try to stay at the same hotels in Europe and find time to get together whenever we have a free moment.
The theme of this issue is ambition, has ambition played a role in where you are today?
Ambition has played a large role in where I am today. I have been ambitious since a young age with my school work and in all my sports, and I am ambitious in my work as a model today, always wanting to do bigger and better things for the future!
by Nicola Kavanagh
Glass, Issue 15, Ambition, is available now
Jacquelyn Jablonski for Glass. Photograph by Bojana Tatarska
Coat by Dior