Misty Ma’a on Modeling & Motherhood
At the young age of fourteen, Misty Ma’a embarked on her journey in modeling. Since then, she has adorned the covers of numerous magazines and collaborated with countless photographers and brands. Yet, beyond her professional success, Misty is celebrated as a devoted mother and a cherished friend. Today, I am thrilled to present to you the enchanting and effortlessly beautiful Misty Ma’a.
MUDRA LOVE: Tell me about your first time modeling. What was it like?
MISTY MA’A: My first time modeling I did a fashion show for a prom dress. I had no idea what I was doing and didn’t think too much of it at the time. I met a woman, Daniela, who encouraged me to model and took me under her wing. She taught me how to walk in high heels in the parking lot right before the show. It was pretty awesome. She took me to an agency and I signed with them and started modeling. It was a cool way to make money.
ML: I know you were playing volleyball at the time… did it derail you from the sport and your potential for a college sponsorship?
MM: Not at all. It was kind of tricky to dwell in both realms at times because they were both so different. I had a bunch of people in the modeling world telling me to look a certain way. That muscle was “bad”. In volleyball we were always running, lifting, jumping...naturally you get muscle when you’re working your body 5-7 days a week. I think it taught me to focus and be present with whatever I was doing at the time. And to be healthy and listen to my body. I tried to juggle high school, volleyball, and modeling and it got busy. Sometimes I would skip school to work, but try to make it back for practice. I was always on the bus, or catching rides, or borrowing cars from my friends so I could make it to something.
ML: What has been a highlight for you in your modeling career?
MM: Honestly I value the people I met in the industry more than anything. There are so many amazing humans that I got to cross paths with, learn with and grow up with. I cherish those relationships and the times we shared. But as for highlights...I’m not too sure. Once I got a job in Florida and they flew me out from Honolulu. I stayed in a beautiful hotel and on the shoot day I ended up working for like 2 hours and then I was done. I was scheduled to work a 12 hour day so I was super stoked to have the day to explore and cruise around. I flew 20 hours for 2 hours but it was a cool little getaway.
ML: What are some challenges you faced?
MM: I think a lot of the challenges I faced were in regards to decisions. I always felt torn trying to be “all-in” in volleyball or modeling. I almost moved to Paris at 18 but felt guilty for not following through with my college scholarship. When I moved to Miami I signed with Next and tried to balance being a college athlete, student and model. It was hectic. I had to turn down a bunch of jobs because of NCAA rules. I graduated in 3 years so my schedule was crazy. Weights at 5:30 am, 7 am practice, class all day. Night practice, study hall, night class. Traveling during season Thursday-Sunday. And trying to take as many jobs as I could.
Choosing how to move was challenging too. People can be brutal. Wherever there is beauty there is a lot of ugly.
I think when you’re in a world where things are all about how you look, it’s easy to forget that your body is a shell. It was silly to me sometimes listening to people talk so seriously about how others looked. The industry puts a lot of value on the physical. It was challenging to be around people who thought like that.
ML: How did you overcome them?
MM: I definitely got better as it as I got older. I think the more I saw the more I learned and realized. I stopped letting people’s criticism affect me.
ML: What is one word you would use to describe the modeling industry?
MM: Inconsistent. Or unpredictable.
ML: Has motherhood changed your views on modeling? If so, how?
MM: Motherhood changed everything for me. It made me more sharp, observant, thoughtful and intentional. I became more mindful of every action and interaction. I feel like I tapped into another sense. The word modeling to me is so broad, it represents so much but I feel like it gets stigmatized into a small little role. Whenever people would ask me if I modeled I would say no because I felt like it put me in a weird box. The “modeling industry” has so many lanes...it’s really up to each person how they choose to navigate through it.
ML: Will you support Kawā if she wants to model?
MM: I’ll support her in whatever she chooses to venture into. I hope she is intentional in all she does. I hope she always knows why she is doing things. I’ll try to give her the cheat code so she doesn’t have to learn the hard ways like me. Haha.
ML: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to follow in your footsteps?
MM: Don’t feel like you have to listen to everybody. Make your own decisions. Don’t let anybody make you feel something is “wrong” with your body. Put your raincoat on when dealing with ignorance. Let it all slide off and don’t absorb any of it. If something feels wrong it probably is. Listen to your gut. Eat what you want. Work with clients that you align with and that you’re proud to be a part of. Stay away from creepy photographers. Protect your energy. Enjoy the ride!
