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Jet-Setting's Just 'Awesome' For Local Model

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2007

Within the past three years, Claudia Davila has traveled the world, danced alongside hip-hop stars and walked the runway wearing Roberto Cavalli. She has lived in Thailand and Italy, signed a contract with Ford Models, learned two languages and earned more money than she ever imagined.

To fans, Davila, 22, is the woman in the video. She has danced with Ludacris and Akon. When she isn't chatting with celebrities, she spends time with family and friends at her home in Wesley Chapel in Pasco County.

Where are you from?

I was born in Cambridge, Mass. I didn't live in Cambridge though. My parents moved to Argentina after I was born. When I was 6 or 7, then my parents moved us to Tampa, where I spent my youth.

What was your life like growing up?

My mom, Monica, was a single parent after we moved to Tampa. It was pretty tough for her to raise three girls. Money was always tight but my grandmother helped us out. I was always a tomboy playing soccer with my uncles or basketball with my friends at the local courts.

At what age did you begin modeling?

Random people, friends and family always said I should model. It was something I wanted but I was really shy about it. When I vacationed in Miami three years ago, a friend of mine got me a gig on a video clip for 50 Cent. Then, Elite modeling agency approached me asking to represent me. I was so scared of all the attention I declined, even though I was curious about the modeling world.

A year later, another agency approached me while I was on vacation and since I had friends already on their board, I went with it. I got my first job within a week and with only four pictures from my first test. After that, I was working all the time.

What's it like being a model?

It's such a great feeling. My first year, I did like 15 commercials, from McDonald's to Papa John's with Dan Marino, MTV, Fashion TV and American Eagle. I was in the infamous music video 'La Tortura' from Shakira with Alejandro Saenz.

I now have a contract with Ford Models and Runways, The Talent Group in Miami. I love that my sisters feel proud and eager to say that their sister is a model. That makes me wake up every day and do my best to book the castings, so my sisters and family can be proud.

You are the main girl in the Zion and Akon video 'I Love the Way She Moves.' How did you land the gig?

It was a last minute casting. They changed their mind on a girl that they had already booked. I was actually the very last one seen. When they played the song for me it just made me move. They asked me to meet the artist and if I was available that Saturday to shoot, which I was, of course.

What was the experience like?

It was awesome. We shot in Hollywood, Florida. It was a lot of hard work. I had to wear 5-inch heels from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Akon and Zion where pretty funny together, cracking jokes all the time. They were so much fun to work with. They were really nice and both super hard workers. It was a wonderful experience.

Do you think women are objectified by videos?

Attractive women are easy on the eyes. Everyone loves beauty whether it's a male or female in a video. The reason they are on the video is because the artist thought, 'this is the face I want to entice my audience with.' It's all about marketing.

What is your response to the stereotype that models are unintelligent?

Models are probably the most cultured and intelligent people I have ever been around. We travel so much and have the chance to live in different countries for weeks or months at a time. I learned to speak Italian fluently while living in Milan for four months. I also learned to speak Portuguese while living in Bangkok because my roommates did not speak English.

What is your educational background?

After I graduated from high school, I went straight into college. I did two years. I studied international business and communication. I was very fortunate modeling went so well for me the first year and it still keeps getting better. If I need to, which I will in the near future, I will go back to finish what I started at school. I learned more about business as an entrepreneur traveling and being a model than I did in college in that short time. Experience is everything.

What was your first major modeling job?

I will never forget it. I closed for Roberto Cavalli in his first appearance at his own fashion show in Miami. After the show, he had me and one other girl wear one of his exclusive dresses. We took pictures for the press next to him and we were on E! entertainment television, 'Extra' and a lot of other press. It was all over the papers and magazines. It was great.

Do you prefer runway or print? Why?

That's a tough question. Runway requires so much preparation but the day of the show, it goes so fast. It's such an adrenaline rush. Print goes from the cute catalog stuff that you get to see everywhere to the hot editorials that are so much work. The poses you have to do to make the clothes look their best are work. You stand there trembling, your muscles about to give out, and then you see the shoot in some worldwide magazine and you think to yourself, 'wow.' All the work ends up being worth it.

What do you like most about the profession?

I would have to say the traveling and all the people I get to meet. It's a real adventure. I just came back from a two-week photo shoot in Las Galeras at the Rincon beach in Republica Dominica Dominican Republic. Every morning it was an hour drive of jungle and adobe roads and mountains to reach this beautiful beach. It was just amazing, the things I saw. It was straight out of some foreign film or documentary. I love that about this job because every day, I learn something from someone.

What is most challenging?

Being organized is difficult for me. Because I travel so much, I tend to lose things or forget things. Keeping track of my own finances when I have two agencies just in Miami can be difficult. I have to keep track of all my expenses all the time.

Also, keeping in shape and being confident at all times can be challenging. There is a lot of competition. There is always some VIP party but you have to learn to not follow the crowd. That's hard, when it looks so fun, but if you want to get to that casting the next morning looking good you will go home, eat healthy and go to sleep early.

What countries have you visited? Which was your favorite?

Brazil, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Peru, Italy, and a lot of places in the USA.

Every country or city had something different to offer. It's amazing the cultural differences ... I guess Brazil would have to be my favorite because Brazil has so much beauty to offer.

What are some interesting experiences you've had?

One time I was working with Dan Marino and he was holding an umbrella for me and getting me water. I mean, he has people to do that for him but he was so humble. He did that for me. That's so cool. Oh, I did this commercial for Nissan for Mexico and it was like a Lara Croft kind of thing where I had to learn how to free dive and swim with sharks.

When you aren't working, what are your hobbies and interests?

I love to practice my languages, write poems in Spanish, play soccer, ride my bike, play video games with my friends, sleep, shop, cook, find new recipes to cook, make special dinners for my friends, and answer my e-mail.

What are your future goals?

To be a super model, not just a top model, and to be a well-known actress. If not, I will return to school toward the end of my career and study culinary arts. I would love to be a chef and then open a cafe to serve foods from many cultures. Either way it will be a fun ride.

Reporter Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813) 865-4845 or srothwell@tampatrib.com.

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