Kato
Agencies
Mother Agency (MA): Ciotti Models
Answers to Q&A
Why did you want to become a model?
I’ve always wanted to be a model as a child. I grew up so fascinated by models as I watched America’s Next Top Model & Canada’s Next Top Model regularly. This need to become a model grew from my fascination with runway, commercial, and editorial modelling. I’ve been fortunate to work in all of these areas which I dreamed of as a child. I’ve walked the runway for a number of designers during Toronto Fashion Week, Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, Vancouver Fashion Week, and Calgary Fashion Week. I’ve worked with major retailers such as Nordstrom, Hudson’s Bay, Harry Rosen, and Walmart, doing everything from runway, to catalogue, to e-comm work. Oh and campaigns! We can’t forget about the multitude of national campaigns I’ve done for Manulife, Loblaws, and Balnea Spa or the editorials I’ve done for Men’s Fashion Magazine, Vulkan Magazine, as well as my spread in Vogue Italia. It’s truly been such an exhilarating experience to work with all these companies, the 10 year old version of me is screaming with joy.
What makes you special?
What makes me special is my ability to bring my authentic self to any role. I’m an actor as well in the TV and Film industry, and I’m able to bring the skills I have from that craft into my work as a model. I embody a character in relation to the brand I’m working with and the specific style of work. I’ll give you some examples. When I’m shooting for Harry Rosen e-comm, we’re shooting about 50 looks in 8 hours, the posing is quick, transitions are subtle, and the overall feel and character I embody is high-end luxury since we’re shooting for designers like Versace and Prada. For Walmart I’ll lighten the mood and bring a boy-next-door energy, I’ll literally jump around set to bring energy to my face and body, and actually laugh out loud so that the joy that I exude looks real in photos. I always make sure I’m aware of the company I’m working with and the image they want to portray to their audience.
What are you passionate about?
In everything I do as a model and actor passion is imperative. It’s what drives my hunger for wanting and acquiring more as an artist. These careers that I’ve dedicated over a decade of my life to are my passion. And the exciting thing is that passion evolves! What started as a passion for simply modelling and acting, has grown into a passion for voice over work in video-games and animation, and a passion for filmmaking. By perusing your passion in the arts, you come to realize other areas of interest which spark the desire to explore, learn, and become more multifaceted.
Who is someone you admire and why?
I admire Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, I love her ability to move on camera in dramatically provoking poses and I admire her career trajectory. She competed in a modelling competition called Faces West in Vancouver where she was discovered. I too followed her lead and competed in the same competition where I won Top Male Model in 2013. Shortly after that I received an invite to attend a modelling workshop with the one and only Stacey Mckenzie. As you can imagine, I was beyond ecstatic to be working with a supermodel and former judge from Canada’s Next Top Model. Stacey really instilled that extra bit of confidence and courage I needed to fully pursue my career and make the move from Calgary to Toronto. She is a true inspiration, a motivator and icon.
How did you become a model?
Okay this is a funny story… At the age of 16 I conveniently missed class with a friend of mine to go to Chinook Mall in Calgary where I was scouted by a modelling agency. I signed a contract with them and began my career as a model working with a lot of lifestyle bands and local TV networks. I’ve switched agencies since then and am now represented by Ciotti Models, as well as Edna Talent Management.