BEING BOLD + CLAIMING YOUR SPACE WITH JOSH PEACE

Josh Peace knows the reality—being a full-figured, gender-bending model makes her a rarity and the climb more daunting. That’s fuel for her fire. We spent an afternoon photographing her in the luminous LINE DC space. We also craved time to trace her journey from rugby athlete to androgynous runway rebel.

Bespoke Notes: How do you define your modeling style?

Josh Peace: My style is strong, timeless, androgynous. 

When I started modeling, I had no idea what I looked like and how that would reflect [through] the camera. The camera can be intimidating, especially for new models. You know how, in football, you rewatch the tapes so you can better impact your performance? That's what I did with modeling. I figured out how this and that shape works for me or if this is the message I want to send with my clothing and build from there. 

Bespoke Notes: Football, that’s an interesting analogy. 

J.P.: Well, I played sports in college. Rugby, specifically. We had our 10-year reunion a few months ago. It was cool to see all my old teammates again. What was not cool was having my rugby jacket on and people saying, “Oh, I love your vintage jacket.” I didn't realize I was old. I didn't know my jacket was a vintage.

The competitive drive I gained from Rugby drove me to do the most in modeling. 

Rugby is a very masculine sport, and a lot of the girls on my team happened to be queer. At the time, I was deeply in the closet, even though these beautiful, strong, powerful queer women surrounded me. I was still struggling and didn’t know if I wanted to go in that direction. 

In Rugby, you want to do your best for yourself and your teammates because everyone on that field counts, and it matters. That's how you're going to score. So, when I started modeling, I took that mentality of wanting to be the best. I needed to look back at my “plays” and make sure I was making the right decision. That's how my style evolved. So, I probably shouldn't have used the football metaphor because I never played football. 

Bespoke Notes: Tell us about the early moments of doubting yourself when you started modeling.

J.P.: When you start anything, there are a lot of doubts. When I was younger, I was five-foot-ten and 120 pounds. I was stick thin and unconfident in my ability to walk. We had a fashion show in my high school, and I was selected because I was, again, five-foot-ten and 120 pounds. Looking back, oh my god, I had zero self-confidence, zero self-worth. I had no idea what I was doing, and entering this industry now as a fuller-figured person caused a lot of self-doubt. I was looking at my body and seeing what I used to look like. I thought, “Nobody's gonna believe that this is okay.” That's really where a lot of the self-doubt comes from. It’s the perception of how people see me as a fuller-figured model.

Bespoke Notes: How do you maintain confidence and boldness in doubt?

J.P.: Fake it till you make it. That is my number one tip for anyone. When you get that photo back, they won't see the hours of hair, makeup, working out, and studying your poses to [achieve] the perfect one. They're not going to see any of that. I have a bachelor's and master's degree. They're not going to see that. They're looking at what's on the page. And you can fake that until you have the confidence to do it. What you're feeling that day doesn't matter. Fake it. 

Bespoke Notes: Can you speak more to the psychological element of overcoming doubt?

J.P.: I struggle with anxiety. I show up on set in the first 10 to 15 minutes and am nervous. You can see me shake, but when you practice a sport, you gotta shake it out. You gotta warm up. Once you warm up, hang out with your photographer, and get the lighting just right, that music's pumping—the confidence comes naturally to you because you're doing something you love. You're there for a reason. You shouldn't let that anxiety overtake your confidence or ability to perform because you know you can do it. 

Bespoke Notes: What were some of the earlier hurdles to success? Was it finding opportunities? What were some of the barriers to building career momentum?

J.P.: The most significant [barrier] is myself. I have to put myself out there. I have to be bold. I have to be the one to go up there and say, “Hey, I want to do this. I want to work with you as a photographer. I want to work with you as a designer,” and be open to those opportunities. Really. I am my struggle. I haven't had many issues. I know that's shitty to say, but I haven't had that much hardship finding openings. The hardship is applying for them.

Bespoke Notes: What early lessons would you pass on to others?

J.P.: I wish I were more lenient on myself. You don't have to be perfect the first time but must practice to ensure you're perfect the next time. Your first photos will never be the best, but you can't let that stop you from pursuing it further. Another thing is to learn how to say no. The first time I had to say no to a photographer who was asking me to take my top off, I was nervous. He asked three or four more times. He didn't respect my no, but I stood my ground. Do not give in to peer pressure. Do not give in to someone saying it's just one photo. No means no—end of story.

Bespoke Notes: I notice you enjoy bending your gender in your photos. Why is that important to you?

J.P.: [It’s] showing off my true self. It's important to be comfortable in your skin. When I have the opportunity to do some gender-bending androgyny, I feel more confident because that's who I am. I don't live by a rigid, binary code. A lot of people get forced into a box. That's not me. You can see in those photos how happy, comfortable, confident, and bold I feel with a short haircut, with the binder on and baggy pants. I'm showing off more than a very feminine form. I get to express who I am. How I feel on the inside is now [more] reflected on the outside.

Bespoke Notes: Do you feel feminine? 

J.P.: That's what’s cool about being non-binary; you get to fluctuate between masculine and feminine. Fashion is a great tool for exploring that.

Bespoke Notes: What's the best advice you've received? 

J.P.: The best advice I've received comes from Coco Rocha model camp. It's a prestigious camp. The first thing I learned from Coco Rocha is to do it for the bank or the books. If you're taking the time to go out and do these jobs, you need to do it either for the bank: you better be receiving a fat paycheck, or you're doing it for the books. Is this going to help your career improve? Will it help push you in that direction? That's why you see me in suits a lot. I want to be in every suit on the planet, all the time. I feel so confident and comfortable. I'd be happy if I only got booked for suits for the rest of my life.

Bespoke Notes: Are there any celebrities that inspire your approach to gender-bending?

J.P.: August Sky is a non-binary icon. They are both masculine and feminine. I love both sides. They are Incredible. What a force to reckon with.

Bespoke Notes: Any last piece of wisdom for aspiring models?

J.P.: My number one advice is to grow a thick skin and be firm in who you are. I've only recently come to terms with my non-binary realness, thanks to my hysterectomy in January. I'm no longer hyper-focused on being a woman or a perfect woman. I also built my portfolio to get hired for feminine roles since I still rock a fuller chest. Being curvy, whenever I go to runway shows, they always assume I'm working and not a model. Develop that thick skin, hold your truth, be bold, be confident, show up, claim your space—all those other buzzwords.

Follow Josh on Instagram @joshlynpeace.