Today we’d like to introduce you to Maija Erickson.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I hit 5′ 10” when I was about 12 years old, so people have been asking me if I play basketball for my whole life. As I got older, that question turned into, “What race are you?” and “Do you model?”
I started dabbling in modeling when I was about 19. It was fun doing photoshoots, connecting with local photographers and designers, and attending events and parties.
However, I was not healthy during that time. I was drinking. A lot. I was staying out late, mixing my anti-anxiety medication with booze, and struggling with an eating disorder that started when I was a teenager. Needless to say, I was depressed. Modeling offered an escape. It made me feel loved. Because I could not love myself, I craved attention from others.
At that time, my modeling career did not go far. Eventually, I burned out. My skin was a wreck. The partying caught up with me, and I gained almost 30 pounds.
I’m going to be 26 this year. When I look back, I feel sad for that girl. Sad for what I put my body through. Sad that I could hate myself so deeply.
But I am hopeful for the future. Now, I am a nutrition student at Simmons. I limit the drinks to special occasions only. I take a lot of care in preparing healthy, nourishing meals. I go to the gym not out of an obsessive need to burn calories, but because I am actively trying to build strength.
What changed? Gaining an awareness of my spiritual body and the subtle energies that govern our lives. There is so much more to life than that which we can see with our eyes. I’ve come to believe that divinity lies within each and every one of us. I used to think that if I found the right dose of mood stabilizer, the best therapist, or got to a “perfect” weight, I would finally be happy. Only when I recognized that I had the power to heal myself did I really begin to recover.
This past year and a half or so, I’ve gotten back to modeling. And now I am doing it the right way. I am not in it for the attention or the glamor. I want to use modeling as a platform to share my story with as many people as possible. I want to offer a message of hope for those who are struggling.
I am making progress. Change has been slow, and putting myself out there is terrifying at times. I’m currently signed with two agencies in NE, and hoping to sign with an agency in NY this summer after my semester ends.
All I really want in life is for my parents to be proud of me, and to leave the world a better place than I found it.
Please tell us about your art.
I love to move. I grew up figure skating, so creating different shapes with my body comes easily. I like to create images that evoke emotion and give people that WOW feeling.
My message is that beauty shines through when you give off love. Love to yourself and love to those around you.
Additionally, I think it is important that more models who are multi-racial are seen in the media. Not everyone fits neatly into a category! And guess what, it doesn’t matter. People are so hyper-obsessed with race. I did not even realize I was “bi-racial” until other people pointed it out to me growing up. I think that we need to stop separating ourselves into categories based on the color of our skin. I also think that shaming white people needs to stop. We can’t bring everyone together by ostracizing one group.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
It is tough to keep doing what you love when you’re not getting noticed. Some days I ask myself why I bother to pursue modeling.
What keeps me going is words of support from my friends and people on social media. And I love connecting with local designers, photographers, HMUAs, and stylists! Working with others has a way of jumpstarting my creativity.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I post all of my work on Instagram!
Contact Info:
- Email: msjambalaya@gmail.com
- Instagram: maija_jambalaya
Image Credit:
1. Taylor Robinson
2. Chorale Miles
3. Katie Brogan
4. Julie Turner and HMUA is Nikki Dawson
5. 5 & 6 Ginny Cummings
7. Julie Turner and HMUA is Nikki Dawson
8. Christina Cobb and designer Samuel Vartan
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
