Today we have the pleasure of meeting international cover girl and Instagram star Radi Budyounova in New York where she has been living and working since 2015.
We caught up with Radi at Ground Support in Soho and asked her a few questions about modeling, how she built her social media presence - and of course - her fashion style.
Hi Radi, tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in Bulgaria, but have made New York my home after living mostly in Europe.
You are an accomplished international model. How did you decide to become a model, and what does it take to succeed in the industry?
I always liked the spotlight and started modeling at 18. At first, it was small gigs here and there, but I quickly embraced this line of work and made it my career. Modeling is not an easy job, you have to be strong and determined. You cannot let people pull you down. You must stay focused and keep going even when things seem very hard. You just have to keep going at it.
Take us back to your first catwalk - what did you feel the first time you were behind the camera?
I was very scared at my first runway and even more scared at my first photo shoot, but after I saw the results of my hard work I fell in love with creating art.
As a model, I am sure you travel a lot for work. You are a regular at all European Fashion Weeks and at New York Fashion Week. How did the pandemic affect your work?
The pandemic has affected the entire world, not only me. During this difficult period, I am focusing more on my influencer work, keeping my content on point and collaborating with many brands.
Yes, you are an Instagram star with over 1.7 Million followers and your posts regularly gather tens of thousands of likes. How were you able to build such a large fan base?
You have to believe in yourself, pursue your dreams and work hard. At first, no one believed in me, even my mom was skeptical about me becoming a model and investing my time to build my social media brand, but after she saw my work she became my number one fan. The secret is to always work hard because nothing is given. But nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.
What are your plans for 2024?
Live, love and create art.
What music do you listen to?
I love k-pop and hip-hop.
Are you a BTS fan?
I love BTS!
What are you wearing today?
A plain black tee and my favorite skinny jeans, which I complemented with my Evalina laminated leather trench. It is such a statement piece, it transforms my look effortlessly.
How’s the coffee?
Sweet.
Thank you Radi!
Thank you!
Connect with Radi on instagram @radi_budyounova.