I asked Joby Bach last month if she is interested in doing a personal interview with me and she agreed. I was delighted by that, because as an editor of Style & Curve I wanted to give our fans the chance to know how the people really are. Social Media is a great tool to connect with a lot of people, but you can’t know how a person really is unless you meet them in real life. With the new #GetToKnow interview segment we give you a chance to see who the person behind-the-scene is. Joby loved the idea so much that she even provided us with BTS video teasers and a full shooting story. Find full video and the pics from her ‘STRANDED WITH JOBY BACH’ shooting with Martin Perreault below. Enjoy the interview I had with Joby Bach.
Lyz Lupo: Firstly, tell us some basic information about yourself?
Joby Bach: Well, I am from Montreal, Canada. I spent my childhood in Saint-Bruno; a little city off Montreal. I am 31 years old and I have a wonderful son of 10 years old.
Lyz: Tell us how your life was?
Joby: I had a difficult childhood. My mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol; besides that, she was also bipolar. Luckily, she had this deep desire to get out of this situation and get better, and since 1998, she’s been sober and is functioning very well.
My parents were already divorced so I lived with my mum. It was very difficult, especially between the ages of 4 to 9 years old because of her problems. Positive prospects took place when I went to a private college, because I was surrounded and well guided by the professors. And I could happily say that, “THIS SCHOOL SAVED MY LIFE.”
Lyz: How was it for you as a kid to see your mother being addicted?
Joby: I knew it was not normal! My mother told me that at the age of 3, when she was drinking; I took the bottle from her hands and said: “poison mom poison!”
So, I was pretty much aware of it as a kid.
For some reason, I kept my head cool although I knew it was not normal. Therefore, I never identified myself with this lifestyle. Did I have scars from that time?!!! OH, YES!! Many! And as a result, I sympathize with all those who have had similar experiences to me.
Lyz: That must have been hard, but I’m glad you managed it. How did you learn to not let it affect you? Or, how did you learn to be disciplined and work on your plans?
Joby: That’s a good question!
I believe that my spiritual side embarked here, to answer this question.
I have always said that there are two reasons as to why I could cope.
The first one: Being young, I was NOT raised in a religious family who practised the religion, but for some reason, I always believed in God! At a very young age, I was praying without anyone showing me how to. I felt that someone was watching positively over me in the sky.
Secondly: I saw my mother put loads of effort into getting out of the situation she was in. Unfortunately, damage had been done to me, but it’s NEVER TOO LATE to get out of it. Her recovery gave me a BREAK.
Lyz: Did you continue to be disciplined, or did you also make your own mistakes in life? Describe what happened.
Joby: Oh, jeez!!! YESS, I have made mistakes, but these mistakes have taught me. Because I grew up in difficult conditions, when I was 17, I was selling drugs and I fell myself as a drug user. For me, my thing at that time was Amphetamines, and I loved the night life. My boyfriend at that time was a drug dealer; we had the big life; but it was all illusionary. I lost myself in this universe for 2 and a half years. And I can tell you this, for you to understand that no matter how difficult your life is; there is ALWAYS a way out and you can do something about it. We are powerful and we are the masters of our lives.
By chance, when I was 20, I got out of this world which was extremely unhealthy. I left the boy whom I was with, moved to my father’s house and started to work in a FUTURE SHOP store. It was a new beginning for me.
Lyz: Continue how you became a mother and model.
Joby: I have always been artistic. As a kid, I amused myself by recording myself singing or playing radio presenter. Also, acting as a DJ lol…Yes, I did that!! (laughs), so I am not surprised that I ended up being a model, because I always had an interest in photography and art. On the other hand, my mother role began in 2007 when I had my son, and I can say open-heartedly that giving birth saved my LIFE somehow. I did not want my son to suffer as I had suffered as a child! So, I used ALL possible ways to make sure he would not have the life I had as a child. 🙂 My son is a blessing and the moment I saw his little eyes, I knew I was going to do everything in my power to protect him like a ‘mama wolf’.
Lyz: Being a model is a hard job sometimes, but what about the times when you don’t have a job. How do you manage to stay positive and motivated in those times?
Joby: As you know, being a model means working for oneself. Like all things, when you are self-employed there are strong periods and sometimes slower. This is part of the game as they say.
Personally, during my periods of tranquillity, I take the opportunity to recharge:
Walking in nature, writing, meditating and polishing up on other spheres that turn me on! As for example, spirituality or to create artistic projects. I am also a good life coach! I like to help people in need and to help them see clear through difficult situations. I think I’m a good guider.
Lyz: Why do you think you are a good life coach? What gives you strength to stay positive?
Joby: To be humble and sincere towards all my fans who read me, sometimes I am discouraged in the society in which we live. It’s like a race of the ego.
Who has the most beautiful house, the most beautiful body, the most beautiful career etc, and as a model this game is very present between girls; despite that they are PLUS SIZE, this does not change anything at all.
There is a lot of competition in the fashion industry and that personally turns me off!
I love my job, but I realized that we do not save lives.
Therefore, the best I can do is to try to help my friends and fans realize what’s really important in life. WELL-BEING is real important in-itself, and how to achieve it.
Now you probably wonder yourself, “Why do you continue to be a model.” It’s simply because I love the art behind it. I love to create photoshoots and I love to receive emails from fans saying, “Thank you Joby, you are a real inspiration, you helped me to love myself and to accept myself the way I am. Thank you and please don’t stop!” To be 100% real with you Lyz, it’s my main reason. Plus, why do I find my craft so difficult? It’s because I do not want to act like other models out there. Unfortunately, I find that many of them do it for selfish motivations. Personally, I want to make it in the right way! Without falling into the trap of appearance and lust. I try to keep it real and to focus on the goal to help others instead of being seduced by the assets that the job of a model can bring, or to become A CELEBRITY!
That’s why I think it’s important for me to associate myself with THE RIGHT CLIENTS, because I want to give THE RIGHT MESSAGE to the population. I want to associate myself with those who worry about others and care about others.
Most of my bookings are strategically selected because I like to partner with people of hearts; who take good care of the models. It’s happened to me a few times where I refused big bookings, SIMPLY because my intuition told me: “No, Joby do not make this booking!” I always consider myself and listen to myself.
Lyz: Apart from the motivations of your fans, where do you get your positive outlook of life from?
Joby: It’s a choice
(I don’t have anything else to add) lol
Lyz: Ok, so we already heard that your childhood wasn’t easy, that you also made your mistakes in life as we all did, and that your son changed your life. Can you sum up your life lessons in 1-3 sentences?
Joby: I think it’s super important to be well surrendered by people who have good intentions towards you and who sincerely want to help you. Unfortunately, often in life, it is the bad people who teach you the best lessons! The conclusion is here, do not fear the worst. You should TRUST the process 🙂 and know that everything will be fine in the end.
Lyz: Give me a quote of you that sums up your essence?
Joby: I like to expose the things that need to be exposed.
I’m a truth seeker, like a warrior of light from the famous book written by Paulo Coelho.
SHOOTING PICS:
FULL VIDEO:
BTS TEASERS:
ABOUT JOBY BACH:
Joby Bach is a plus size model from Montreal, Canada for many years now. She works regularly for brands like Addition Elle, Le Chateau, Laura Petit Plus, Wonderbra, Curvy Couture with Vivica A. Fox and she already appeared Vanity Fair Magazine in 2014. She is represented by NEXT MODELS CANADA and the contact to book her is DIDIER@NEXTMODELS.CA.
SHOOTING CREDITS:
photoshoot: Martin Perreault @martinperreault.ca
model: Joby Bach @jobybach
bts video: Yanik Chauvin @yanikphoto
makeup & hair: Catherine Lavoie @catounua
assistant: Bruno Laporte @bruno.laporte.5
assistant: Pat Tremblay @pat.tremblay.1980
lingerie : Victroria’s Secret @victoriassecret
location: Daniel Goyette Gas Station, Montreal, Canada
special thanks for location tip: Alexandre Monet @alexandre.monet.3
music: Interlude – Briovere Buffentis – jamendo.com
Kind regards,
