Written by Artemide
Photos by Alberto Buzzanca
We have seen it in Vermeer’s girl, with her pearl and that aesthetic cleanliness cloaked in decision and delicacy. Or in Cecilia Gallerani, portrayed by Leonardo with the same ermine glow, sharp, linear and powerful.
If she lived in the 14th or 17th century, Michelle Marradi would probably be
a preferred subject of artists in search of formal purism and beauty without superstructures.
Meaning that each person covers everything, even nudity, with their energy and expressive tone. Michelle’s is delicacy. Shining through, without showing off.
How did you end up modelling?
A girl from Treviso was looking for people to photograph, she wrote to me on Instagram. That’s how I started, for fun, and among other things it helped me a lot to gain self-esteem.
Now you are not going to say that you were insecure, you didn’t like yourself, and so on…
Well in my school environment and friends I was very low in my self-awareness, I was very thin, I was always shy.
Seeing myself in pictures really changed my perception.
No embarrassment in nudity?
Absolutely none, I only focus on the lens not on who is photographing me, I move spontaneously.
Is the gentleness in the photos part of you?
Personally I’m kind, helpful, I don’t show off. I don’t post rubbish on social media, I use it for work and post maybe some travel or weekend photos apart from shoots.
What’s the thing you would never want?
Being vulgar. I love the artistic imprint in things.
What do you like, besides modelling?
The world of law has always fascinated me, I have a passion for law, it is a job that would reflect me and I also find a strong elegance in it. I have just finished high school for linguistics, for now modelling is a job in its own right and takes up my time.
Have you ever thought about making films?
I have done film shoots but I don’t see myself in them, my shyness comes out, I don’t think I could do it.
But what is the difference between a photo shoot and a film set?
In posing everything is more static, whereas in acting you have to be brought in, take over the role and make it your own, get into it.
In a way you change personality.
You are very young, how do you deal with the photography market?
I carefully select the photographers I work with,
when I do glamour shootings. I am also working a lot in the fashion industry. By the way, this is the first time Buzzanca is proposing me, I am working full time, I have many projects and a lot of travelling. In short, my head is on the job.
You have perfect facial lines, I don’t think it will ever be your problem, but… what do you think of the retouching phobia these days?
I am not against surgery, but I see so many girl of my age abusing it. I wouldn’t like to see myself a slave to retouching or the same as a thousand others..
