Teen Model Tovia

I enjoy taking pictures and having fun. I am very outgoing, respectful, and I love to joke around but I also know when it is time to be serious. For a while I have been wanting to do modeling, but I didn't think I had the model image. But then I entered the Miss Ottawa Afro Caribbean pageant and it gave me a totally different aspect on how I see myself... I might be shy at first but I have confidence in myself to do what I want to do!

Enjoy my pictures! Click on them to enlarge.

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FIT-TEEN: How do you stay in shape?

TOVIA: To be honest with you there is no specific way that I stay in shape on a day to day basis -- but I am very athletic. I use to run track (100m,4x4 relay) and I found that helped me stay in shape a lot. I also do a lot of walking and jogging on the weekend when the weather is nice -- and when I am in the mood I will do some sit-ups and stretch, but other than that i guess it comes naturally.

FIT-TEEN: Do you have a specific daily fitness routine?

TOVIA: I don't really have a day to day plan that I follow. Whatever I am in the mood to do I will usually do.

FIT-TEEN: At what age did you start exercising or being active?

TOVIA: I started being active from the age of 6. I would watch girls on TV doing gymnastics and I would always want to be like them or be able to do the moves that they did for example (doing the splits and backflips). When I was in elementary school I started running track and playing on different sport teams every year up to grade 11, and through that I started exercising and practicing good eating habits to be in shape as I learned them.

FIT-TEEN: When did you want to become a model?

TOVIA: For about the past two years now. I had it in mind but I never really pushed myself to it. I guess because I was still young and didn't believe that I could. The confidence that I had in myself obviously was there but still in its shell. Another issue was that I would watch girls modeling on TV and look at myself and I was nothing compared to them, but that all changed when I entered into the Miss Ottawa Afro Pageant and that boosted me up a lot because I kind of had a mentor and she taught me about self confidence and how to present myself as a young lady. I also gained a lot of self esteem and learned that confidence is the key to anything that you want to be in life. What also helped a lot was to learn how to accept myself as a person regardless of my shape or my size -- and that is why I tell girls who put themselves down that there that there is nothing impossible to achieve -- because look at me today. I have goals that are set and now I am working on making them come true.

FIT-TEEN: What are your hobbies?

TOVIA: My hobbies are listening to music and singing. I also enjoy being around friends, going to the movies, and playing different sports on days that I am not working. I enjoy being around my family, as I have two younger brothers, so I am there to watch them grow. Last of all, I enjoy shopping and taking pictures!!

FIT-TEEN: What’s your goal(s) for the future?

TOVIA: It's my last year in high school and then I am out in the real world facing real life situations. My goal is to become a nurse. I enjoy helping the elderly and caring for them if things don't work out for me in that field I might do a hair/makeup course because I enjoy doing hair and testing out different shades of makeup. Also if the modeling field works out for me and I enjoy every part of it, then I will continue and see how far I can go with it. Who know in a few years I might be on a top cover of a magazine modeling for the name brands :)

FIT-TEEN: What advice would you have for other girls who want to model?

TOVIA: For girls that are out there and want to be a model I say that there is nothing too impossible to achieve if you put your body, mind and spirit into it. Whatever it is that you want to be and achieve in life you can do it!! At times in life there will be people out there that will put you down, but the most important thing to do is listen to your heart and have high self esteem and put the negative behind you because at the end of the day those negative comments will either make you who you are, or break who/what you want to become. So it is up to you to think and be positive because who you are will make a big impact on what you will become in the future. Always remember to aim high and that you are beautiful in your own unique ways!!

FIT-TEEN: Thank you Tovia! We look forward to a lot of exciting things from you!