In the Bag: Holly Rose Emery

I am a model living in New York City. My career has been a transformative journey. I started modelling in New Zealand, and I guess I proactively sought it out. When I was young my friends had always told me that I “could be a model if I lost weight”—which I always thought was strange—so I had always had it in the back of my mind. And I was obsessed with America’s Next Top Model. One day, my dad brought me a newspaper article about a local modelling agency and encouraged me to speak with them. I think it was the day before my birthday, or it may well have been my actual birthday—my Mum and I went to meet them and I was offered a contract on the spot. I was only 16, but I was always told I was an old soul, and I felt I could handle it.

After five months, I dropped out of high school to move to Sydney and pursue modelling full-time. I began building my career which eventually led to me being signed in New York, where I quickly booked a Prada exclusive (I think it was the Men’s show). I worked between New York, London, and Europe until 2015, when the pressure to maintain the required measurements took a toll. My body just couldn’t handle it. At 19, I moved back to New Zealand for a break, initially on the direction to recenter and lose weight. But what began as a physical reset became a journey in growing my mental strength.

Instead, during my time away, I focused on therapy and rebuilding my sense of self outside of my appearance. I learned that my worth wasn’t tied to my body or external validation. I had a functioning brain, dreams, and desires, and I came to know that I could achieve those things. In 2017 I returned to the industry, encouraged by my friend Ngahuia Williams, who fostered me into her world and her own agency. Soon, I was ready to head back to New York.

Early in my career, I faced obscene scrutiny from the media—headlines such as “chubby duckling turns to model swan” weren’t uncommon. Growing up in the early 2000s was just different and I felt out of place for being larger and was made to think shrinking was the only answer. Over time, I came to embrace my body, and the word “curve” is now something I’m proud of as it reflects my journey to a healthier mental state.

Now I model because I love the work and the opportunity to connect with creatives and artists, and be a part of the creative process. My career has led me to incredible opportunities including: Savage X Fenty, Valentino, Marina Rinaldi, and Vogue Ukraine. It has been a transformative re-entry into the modelling world. I have had to love and back myself, and push for more diversity and inclusion.

Throughout the trajectory of my life, I’ve loved to dabble in many things and live many different lives. I am quite unsettled as a person, I am spontaneous and like to be doing things. I’ve always just marched to the beat of my own drum. Everyone says I have a very dry sense of humour, and while I am somewhat introverted, I love to be around people.

In New York, you have to always be on, but I’ve created a little pocket where I live a small life. I have my community and it's a slower pace. I live in Williamsburg, so it’s not as chaotic as being in Manhattan but I have the option for when I want to be out. My favourite thing about New York is that you never know what could happen.

If I have an early call time, I’ll get into the shower immediately to wake myself up. I’ll do my skin care routine and get into an outfit that’s easy to take off, usually in a button down top with suit pants or jeans, ballet flats, and a jacket. If it’s a later call time I’ll be slightly more leisurely—taking time to check my phone, gua sha, LED mask (if I haven’t done it the night before), pack my bag, and then grab a matcha on my way to the subway.

When I’m not working my day is less structured so I will try to go to a workout class in the morning (I’m enjoying yoga again), and then I’ll fill my day with friends, and galleries, and museums. I love all the free galleries in Chelsea—there are streets and streets of them so you can spend hours wandering.

From a design perspective, I am a minimalist at heart, with a pop of colour—I still want it to be fun. I don’t like anything that’s boring and beige. I’m quite a thoughtful shopper—I’ll often look through op shops to find special pieces. Right now, I’m trying to build a wardrobe that I love and care for, and that I want to keep re-wearing.

Emma Jing is one of my favourite designers, and I’m very fortunate to own a few pieces by her—a beautiful long white skirt and kite top. Rose Murdock is another New Zealand designer, now based in London, who is also great.

I find I connect with photography. I love that it gives you insight into how others interpret their surroundings. I saw the Wolfgang Tillmans exhibition at David Zwirner last year, and Nan Goldin’s at Gagosian Gallery, and they were both amazing. I recently discovered the photographer John Divolo. His ‘Isolated Houses’ series—of beautiful houses in remote settings—really spoke to me.

When I’m out and about during casting season, I’ll take a book, AirPods, and a water bottle with me, and I always manage to have three different lip products in my bag. Those are my everyday essentials. Although it’s barely necessary anymore I’ll often carry my wallet—it’s a safety blanket. And sometimes I’ll have a spare pair of headphones and a little travel brush.

A book is crucial, and the weight of the book is now something I consider. I’ve just started a new one and it’s so thick and heavy, but I quite like having that weight on my shoulder. I do have a few bags where I have to be mindful about what kind of book I’m trying to shove into them.

If I am out for the day and need to carry a lot I go for a larger tote, but I like the agility of a smaller bag. Especially in New York for all of the walking.

For travelling, I have recently taught myself how to edit down. I quite enjoy having less and working with that.

I’ve recently gotten into a French carrot salad—I think it’s called Carottes Râpées. It’s carrots, dijon mustard, some sort of citrus juice… like orange or lemon, olive oil, and raisins.

When I’m home in Auckland, New Zealand, the Italian restaurant Pici is my favourite spot. The olive oil cheesecake is what dreams are made of.

Words to live by? “Don’t compare your journey to other people’s.” And something my Dad used to always say to me: “Don't sweat the small stuff.” I think our life is made up of minute details, which are impossible to not fixate on from time to time, but it’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture. You’re often doing better than you thought you were doing, and have achieved more than you thought.