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Just One Thing: Crystal Russell

PHOTOGRAPHER – KAITLYN BOSNJAK
STYLIST – EMMA COTTERILL
HAIR AND MAKEUP – GHADA NOUH
MODEL – CRYTAL RUSSELL

 

Loving fearlessly.

No one has just one job these days, and creatives certainly don’t. We’re a generation of multi-hyphenates and freelancers, just trying to make our way in the gig economy. Photographer Kaitlyn Bosnjak captures emerging models who are doing just that, breaking into the fashion industry and learning more about the world. While she had them, we thought we’d ask a couple of questions about the people behind the faces. And finally, what they would tell our audience if given the chance to say just one thing.

Hey, Crystal! To start, how old are you?

I’m 18.

And where do you live?

I live on the Northern Beaches in Sydney.

Other than modelling, what do you do with your time?

I eat a lot of açai bowls [laughs]. I dance, read and write a lot, and I’m really passionate about all aspects of art, so sometimes I explore music, photography and film. I watch Netflix a lot as well. Oh, and going into my little sister’s room to annoy her.

Can you tell us about your heritage?

My mum is from Rwanda in Africa and my dad’s Australian.

What do you do to switch off?

I usually read, but if I don’t have a good book then there’s going to be a lot of Netflix I’m consuming. But if I want to leave my house, I often go to North Curl headland to watch and film the sunset.

There’s a lot to care about in the world. What are you most passionate about?

This is something I struggle to explain. I have depression, and loneliness is a huge emotion that I carry with me most of the time. It puts a lot of emphasis on my need for connection and fulfilment in my life, but there are a lot of mental barriers and emotional wounds that get in the way.

I am most passionate about healing these wounds, developing my self-awareness and emotional intelligence in order to love better. Because all of our internal worlds create this world we live in, and our world is messed up. I really wonder how different it would be if the people in any position of authority or leadership who negatively impact so many other people were taught how to nurture and unravel the darkest parts of themselves.

What are you doing to fix it?

I have a lot of goals for the future that could hopefully inspire connection, fulfilment, love and self-development. But for now, some days it will look like me sharing my writing, dancing, films and any other art form accessible to me that can translate emotions or experiences, and ignite connection and self-reflection. Other days, it’s simply moving forward when every cell in my body wants to give up. And recently I’ve been trying to transfer this desire into my daily behaviour, habits and how I treat people. I want to become someone who is fearlessly themselves and fearlessly loves, so that by default, it affects everything and everyone around me. That then affects everything and everyone around those people until it eventually affects the world.

What do you think Australia needs right now?

Young people and creatives. Seeing how beautiful the dance community is, how hard-working the kids are who organise School Strikes for Climate, and meeting other beautiful people who just really care, I can see that Australia needs these people – their empathy, acceptance, love and commitment to progressing our country in every way necessary.

You can say anything to our FJ community. Go.

Thank you for providing this platform!! I really value and appreciate people opening up about themselves and their passions, and I believe it’s really important for people’s voices to be on social media accompanying their image.

Read other interviews from our Just One Thing series here


Styling credits

LOOK ONE
MARLO BY MARLO WHITE LINEN CUFFED TEA DRESS $280, RAG & BONE ANCHOR BELT $275, BALACK PHILIA HOOP EARRINGS $210, KATE SPADE LILAC SUEDE BOOTS POA
LOOK TWO
MARLO BY MARLO WHITE LINEN SHIRT $290, Y.A.S JUMPSUIT $159, RELIQUIA GOLD DROP EARRINGS $159, CHARLES AND KEITH BOOTS $61.50
LOOK THREE
ONE FELL SWOOP JUMPSUIT $399, COS BOOTS $460, COS BAG $150, SANCIA KENZA BELT $128
LOOK FOUR
SIGNIFICANT OTHER LUCINE SHIRT $169, MARLO BY MARLO APOSTLE LINEN PANTS (NOT PICTURED) $290, COS LEATHER VISOR $150
LOOK FIVE
SANCIA CLAUDIA DRESS $239, KATE SPADE CONVERTIBLE CHAIN SHOULDER BAG $749, CHARLES AND KEITH BOOTS $116
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