Carla

Saturday, April 11, 2020

If you scroll through Ascale Beghin’s Instagram you’ll see a tastefully moderated page complemented by color organization, original looks, and her glowy clear skin. More commonly known as her middle name Carla, the Belgian-Ethiopian American and Washington University graduate has a laundry list of know-hows and talents both technical and creative. Her personality is warm and genuine but she manages to also balance it with a timeless erudite swagger. I was afforded the chance to interview her about her modeling and styling portfolio via FaceTime during the Stay at Home Act in early April.

When the FaceTime call connects, Carla is centered in front of the cream white wall of her study, where she has been working as a tech consultant from home.

han : Where are you from?

“I was born in Raleigh North Carolina in 1996 and two years later my family and I moved to Ames, Iowa where my dad had gotten a new job at Iowa State. Both my parents are immigrants so I’ve also lived a year in France as well as a year in Australia so those are also places that feel kind of at home.”

Styled and shot by Lindsey Hinderer featuring model Ascale Carla Beghin

han : What was living overseas like?

” I was six when we lived in France and I went to a super small school, our family lived on the farm where my grandparents had retired. I don’t remember many specifics from that time but I attribute that time to the reason I can speak French now. “

” Then I lived in Australia was when I was 12. That was a really good experience. I was just moving into a phase of wanting more independence and I realized that people come and go but it doesn’t mean you can’t try to build a connection with people and that what you leave behind is valueless. It broadened my outlook for sure and my value of people. Another lesson I learned was that not everyone has to like you and that’s fine. You don’t even have to like yourself everyday. “

“Another lesson I also learned was that not everyone has to like you and that’s fine. You don’t even have to like yourself everyday. “

-Ascale Carla Beghin

han : How was moving to St. Louis and coming to Washington University?

” I started freshman year at Wash U in 2014. Coming from Ames I’d essentially spent my high school career feeling like a big fish. School had always been pretty easy for me. Wash U came with a culture shock. The year started with me knowing one other person and school didn’t feel like a party, but I felt like I needed to make it one. It felt like everyone else was having fun and I didn’t know if school was unenjoyable for just me. The first year was pretty rough. But I found really good core group of people who were on the same scholarship as me and they did a really good job of building a family amongst us. I’m still in touch with a bunch of the people I connected with there and even work with one of them now. It was a good foundation to have.”

” After freshman year I quit business school and went to go study economics and liberal arts, I started doing computer science and felt a little more comfortable academically. I found more of my own people and things really improved after freshman year. “

han : Tell me about how you got into fashion and styling.

” Fashion I loved for a long time. I was a tomboy up until 14 and then I stared to pay attention and care about stuff. And I’m not going to be idealistic; it was very boy motivated.” Carla admits laughing. ”

I was always into artistry as kid. I did pottery, glass, drawing and painting so fashion felt like a really good everyday manifestation art.

” I should say, I’m not a paid stylist, I style a lot of my own shoots myself but keeping it as a hobby as opposed to a career makes it a lot more enjoyable for me. It lets me focus more on the aesthetics.

featured post from January 2nd 2020 on model Ascale Carla Beghin’s Instagram Page shot by @leannielens
han : Tell me about this photo (above)

” That is a shoot I did with Le’Annie from @leannielens. I really love her work and just hard flash photos with texture. It provides this really cool contrast, I love those shots with harsh lights.”

” I don’t have two or three words for it but I do have a scenario to describe the inspiration for the look” she pauses for a moment then continues. Ive really been into the look of ‘expensive evening out party’ at like a cool mansion or something. Not New Years necessarily, but definitely classy evening do. Then it is about an hour after you’re home and you’ve taken off your shoes and half of what you’re wearing is still really posh and half is what you’re wearing because no one is looking. I love finding that balance. “

” If you look a little further on my page you’ll find this other look that I love. I did a shoot with photographer Henri Trin who works for a modeling agency in Chicago now. We shot on a squash court in Forest Park and I’m wearing this huge green overcoat with Adidas track pants and an undone button up white blouse that has a tie around it. I paired it with some really nice boots. That’s the balance I like to find, somewhere between really extra and really casual. You can’t wear it to a lot of places and I have other taste too, but its still something I love to work with.”

“That’s the balance I like to find, somewhere between really extra and really casual.”

-Ascale Carla Beghin

han : What are some fashions that inspire you?

” I really love Hijabi Fashion. There is a Muslim blogger, Leena Ha I believe, who does more elevated, Western, high fashion, luxury looks. I think that because of the emphasis on modesty, Hajabi stylist are pushed to be more creative. Leens does cover all the way down to her wrist so her looks have less of a crutch on a femininesthetic that comes from your body or hair. She wears these interesting layers and I feel like it’s really easy to find inspiration in those looks compared to the LA girl who has the same cut offs and t – shirt vibe you know? I really love Scandinavian fashion as well. It is very clean and minimal with a slight masculine vibe. “

han : Would you say that a lot of the styling you do for yourself is situations based?

” A bit, I like to put an emphasis on comfort and then combine it with polish. So I would say I prioritize comfort but I love to build the more button up look it. I love silk shirts, wide legged slacks that I can wear to the office. I love suit style shorts too.” Carla picks up the camera to show me the ones she was currently wearing. ” I focus on easy pieces that I don’t feel like I have to take off when I get home. “

han : Where do you prefer to pick out the pieces in your wardrobe?

” I love the mens section of H&M but I’m trying to stray away from them now because it works for the odd piece that I want that is trendy and I know I’m not going to wear much, but I’m trying to find more things I think will last. I love thrifting. I really like May’s Place which is this vintage store in The Grove. I also love a GoodWill thrift, I’ve gotten a ton of men’s blazers from them. I’m trying to focus more on that kind of shopping. “

Styled and modeled by Ascale Carla Beghin and shot by Henri Trinh

han : How did you get into modeling?

” I got into modeling a little while back. I was an intern here in St. Louis and a guy in HR named Christian had started getting into photography and asked if I wanted to do a shoot. This was the first shoot I’d ever styled and I wore my boyfriend’s suit who is like 220 pounds and 6’5. We shot in a parking garage and there was a learning curve, but I loved everything about it. The styling and being able to see myself in this new way”

” After that I did some freelance shoots via Instagram and after getting paid to do a shoot I started charging. It is more difficult to get paid as a freelancer. After building my portfolio I signed to West Model Management which was perfect because I didn’t plan on making a career out of modeling and I still had school. ”

Live Photo from Better in Print FaceTime call interview with model Ascale Carla Beghin

han : How are you enjoying working as a tech consultant thus far?

” I do project work and have been on two projects. I am in the tech division and tech is need based. I love it. No day is like the next and it’s a good way to keep learning and acquire new skills. The goal is to make you even more useful as a resource and build you up as an employee. “

han : How has being in quarantine affected your creative process?

” Hmm… Quarantine has negatively impacted my creative process but it has pushed me in different directions. I’m getting more into makeup and I got a tripod for my iPhone so I can self shoot some of my looks. It’s just hard seeing the seasons change. I bought this bomb summer gown from Cos that I was excited to wear. I want to get back outside and dress for the season and not just the one chair I sit in.

han : When is style Better ?

I would say style is betterin balance. My personal style tends to find the balance between comfy and elegant but it really depends on the taste of the person and what makes them feel the best.”

View more of Carla’s style and model work on :

Instagram