“There’s such a cathartic aspect to getting something down on paper… It’s like a safe space for your baggage – letting go with every word sinking into the paper.” This interview and shoot with Vera Boreel capture her multifaceted artistry and introspective reflections. Through the lens of Zoë Yasemin Akihary, Vera opens up about her creative journey, relationships, and life lessons.
What do you love about writing?
Oh, everything! There’s such a cathartic aspect to getting something down on paper, whether it’s physically or digitally. It’s like a safe space for your baggage – letting go with every word sinking into the paper.
What inspires you to model?
From a young age, I’ve always been looking for ways to express myself. I still remember having the most fun playing dress-up with friends and taking silly photos in our childhood bedrooms. That must be how it all started…
These days I’m not signed with any agency, yet I still very much enjoy the creative and intimate process of being in front of someone’s lens. I do collaborative shoots with friends every now and then, as a lot of my friends are artists and photographers, but modeling is not my main focus anymore. I have been writing a lot this past year and am now actually working on realizing my first EP!
How do you handle stress and pressure?
That’s a really good question. (smiles) And interesting for me to reflect on, as I think the way I handle stress and pressure nowadays is very different from what it used to be. I have gathered a lot of tools in the last few years (also with the help of therapy) that help me stay balanced and grounded in this insane world we’re living in. These include: meditation, writing, walking, moving, singing, and long, expressive talks with friends on the phone. Oh, and I’ve been leaning into exposure therapy more lately: deliberately doing things that stress me out to show myself I can actually handle small amounts of stress! It works.
What’s one life lesson you learned that always stays with you?
I don’t know if it’s considered a life lesson, but something I learned over the last few years is the difference between talking about your feelings versus actually feeling your feelings. Talking about them can already be so hard, I’m aware, but try sitting with and feeling them… That’s why I practice meditation. I believe this is where the real work, and beauty, lies.
“Something I learned over the last few years is the difference between talking about your feelings versus actually feeling your feelings. That’s why I practice meditation. I believe this is where the real work, and beauty, lies.”
Who is the most important person in your life?
Aah, that’s a tough one for me. I don’t think I can choose just one person if I’m being honest. I’m surrounded by a lot of amazing, like-minded, kind-hearted, creative people at the moment, and I can truly say that I love and trust each and every one of them. I feel deeply supported and accepted by them – something that gives me the strength to be more of my full, true self. Same goes for my family. They are really important to me too. My relationships have shifted quite a bit over the last few years, so it feels like a sweet gift to find myself in this position. I consider myself extremely lucky.
As always, the future is uncertain. Nevertheless, the question: Where do you see yourself in the next ~10 years?
In ten years… I will be 35! For some reason, that feels really strange for me to think about,. (laughs) It feels very far away, but I’ll do my best! The foundation would be quite similar to my daily life right now: focused on my art, surrounded with good people, just doing me. The dream? A career in music. A comfortable, warm home. If I get lucky… a husband, kids, a dog? Resources to help other people. But I’m open to whatever life brings my way. I hope to feel safe and somewhat stable (smiles) – that’s what I’m going for.
The most important thing in life is?
Love.
