“Vulnerability can be your power.” These simple but powerful words from model Iris Werkman hold a deep truth. It’s not always about being the toughest — sometimes showing your softness carries even more strength and authenticity.
Shot through the warm, emotive lens of Kirsten Busman this series invites you to step into Iris’ world. With glowing beauty looks crafted by Romee Stapel and styling done by Willeke Elisabeth. Enjoy the full series and get inspired by Iris’ honest words about confidence, rejection, and the deep connection between creativity and self-love.
Iris, how would you describe your current chapter in life?
Professionally I am currently enjoying and exploring the fashion industry as a curve model. I’m focused and determined on bringing more diversity into the fashion scene, which can be challenging at times. But I really enjoy it and I find it a rewarding mission.
What made you take the step to work as a model?
I was scouted when I was younger back in 2014, but then they told me I’d need to lose weight, get a PT and a strict diet to maybe be signed. I’ve always enjoyed taking photo’s, but I didn’t want to jeopardize my health for a maybe and thought maybe it’s not for me then.
I always kept doing small shoots or taking photos for fun in my free time during the years because I loved it. When my old agent at Dominique Models emailed me asking for my size and height, and she said ‘that’s perfect!’ I almost couldn’t believe it and decided to sign with her because I felt she really deeply believed in me.
And she was right, I’m so happy I got that opportunity and could work as my normal, healthy self and show other body-types within the industry.
Your portfolio showcases a diverse range of styles and themes. How do you approach adapting to different creative visions during shoots?
That’s one of the aspects I love a lot about this job, hat you can bring out different sides of yourself everytime. Every shoot is different and clients want different things and I love playing with different sides of myself. I love to do fun test-shoots that show different sides, and when they use such photos as inspiration for the job I know the direction of what they’re looking for.
Like this shoot, I love to bring out a stronger and more fashion vibe, but I also enjoy doing a more beachy and softer vibe. I like to adapt to different visions and feel like I can be diverse by playing with my different sides. I love the challenge to do that the best way possible everytime. (smiles)
“Rejection is a big part of working in this industry. … I like to keep a photo album of all shoots that I do, and going through that reminds me that it’s all part of the journey.”
What advice would you give to aspiring models about handling rejection and maintaining confidence in the industry?
That’s a really good question. I think it’s important you are confident and are aware of your capabilities, so you deeply believe in yourself. To fully embrace yourself as you are, to feel that from within. And unfortunately rejection is a big part of working in this industry. To focus on the good things, I like to keep a photo album of all shoots that I do and going through that reminds me that it’s all part of the journey.
And to believe you are good as you are. Especially as a curve model you can feel frustrated at times, but what always helps me is writing a lot about my thoughts and within these writings you can see the growth or that rejections lead to other good things.
Do you have a personal mantra or quote you come back to during challenging moments?
I always love to believe in ‘everything happens for a reason’. This also helps with handling rejection, to think it wasn’t meant to be this time. It’s powerful to hold onto and it can create more peace in handling the harder situations. But sometimes it can take a while to see the ‘reason’. (laughs)
When do you feel most connected to yourself?
In nature, especially at the ocean. Walking, surfing, longboarding on the beach always makes me feel really connected.
And writing. I write a lot about my thoughts, ideas, inspirations and writing in my journals makes me feel deeply connected with myself.
“When you feel comfortable, you also feel more free to show your vulnerable side. Vulnerability can be your power.”
What qualities do you value in the people you work with?
One of my favorite aspects of working in this industry is all the incredible people you get to meet & work with. It’s so unique to work with different teams all the time, in and with people from different countries. The other day someone asked me about my favorite shoot or favorite thing to shoot and it made me realize that for me, people really make or break the shoot. I love it so much to get to know people, connect and see every shoot as an opportunity to create memories. My favorite shoots are multiple day shoots where you get to know each other better and I love when there’s like fun, laughter and inside jokes on the jobs. So I value when people are open to connect, excited and also interested in who you are as a person.
And I believe it also adds to better results when you feel happy and comfortable to work with each other.
When you feel comfortable, you also feel more free to show your vulnerable side and that’s something I loved about this shoot in particular. Because the whole team connected so well, it was okay to show my vulnerable side and that made me feel even stronger. And I think you can see that fierceness back in the photos, vulnerability can be your power.
Your Instagram is a world full of sunshine, summer, and good vibes—where do you feel happiest?
The beach is my happy place. Seeing the sparkles on the water, watching the waves crash. Being near or in the ocean always makes me so happy. I lived in Australia for half a year last year and it was so incredible. In Bondi there’s a sunrise culture and the beach is full at 6:00 in the morning, all people working out, surfing, walking their dog, swimming or just simply watching the sunrise. This was so magical to experience and everything to do with the beach is when I feel happiest.
Photographer: Kirsten Busman, @kirstenbusman_
Model: Iris Werkman, @__irisw
MUAH: Romee Stapel, @romeestapel
Styling: Willeke Elisabeth, @willeke.elisabethstyling
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
