At Pause, a small Moroccan café in New York’s East Village, Nikita Jansen arrives looking as though she has come straight from Pilates. She wears a matching set and no makeup, and sets an oversized Coach bag beside the table. Over Moroccan brunch, she talks with her hands and laughs at how much dorkier she is than her photographs might suggest. Later, we walk to nearby Tompkins Square Park. The conversation turns to the films she made with her sisters as a child, back when she believed her homemade productions might one day reach Cannes.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam (HBZVN): You were discovered at a summer camp at just 11, when you describe yourself as an awkward, nerdy kid who wrote fantasy stories, fenced competitively, drew and made homemade movies with your sisters. What do you remember most fondly about that girl?
NIKITA JANSEN: What I remember most fondly was how uninhibited my imagination was. I could spend hours writing fantasy stories, drawing characters, or convincing my sisters to be in whatever ridiculous movie I decided to direct that week. I truly believed my iMovie zero budget productions could make it to Cannes. I think any creative has to lock into their childhood determination and imagination to succeed. At the end of the day, I feel like it always comes back to that.
HBZVN: You became successful at a very young age, but eventually decided to step away from modeling. What was the hardest part of that period? What did you learn from the experience, and how did those lessons change you when you returned to modeling?
NIKITA JANSEN: The hardest part was realizing something that I had done for so long as a kid had become a part of my identity. I think something dangerous about the modeling industry for young girls is making them believe your value is tied to something as superficial as looks or body measurements.
As someone who never really fit in growing up, I always had this need to prove myself, and maybe I would somehow have value if I found success in that way. I quickly realized even after I found success in modeling nothing had really changed, I still had to find happiness within myself. There was no way to do that without stepping away, and I found circling back to my childhood passions in the arts healed me.
When you feel fulfilled in yourself creatively, it shows. I found way more success returning to modeling when I was more confident in myself because clients and agencies could see it.
HBZVN: Your second chapter in modeling happened almost by accident. You returned to New York after college, needed a job, started approaching agencies again and eventually worked with names such as Victoria’s Secret and Fenty Beauty. Why do you think the industry responded differently to you this time?
NIKITA JANSEN: I can honestly say most success in modeling comes down to luck and timing. The beauty standards and industry trends change every year, your look can be in one month and out the next.
When I decided to give modeling a second shot after college, I had definitely gained weight and wasn’t the standard sample size that I had always struggled with. At that time, the midsize curve model movement was huge so I was offered contracts in a day. I had never experienced that in New York during my previous years of modeling, so it was a genuine shock but so refreshing. It worked for me because I decided I didn’t want to let industry standards define me and affect my mental health, so I went in fully myself, confident, with nothing to lose.
Loving myself and my body really showed through to clients whereas when I was younger I was overthinking and very insecure. I had never booked more jobs than when I was true to myself!
HBZVN: Take us behind the scenes of your Victoria’s Secret casting. How did you prepare? What did you wear? What was the atmosphere like when you walked into the room, and what were you asked to do? Were you nervous? Tell us one small detail from that experience that has stayed in your memory.
NIKITA JANSEN: What I learned working with clients as a model is that building relationships is so essential. I actually first worked as a fit model for Victoria’s Secret for a year before I booked my first real shoot.
I would come in the day before the real campaigns and fashion shows to try on all the looks with their stylists, test the photography and lighting. It was an invaluable experience because I got to build relationships and get to know the team who made the magic happen.
I got the call to actually shoot for the brand after being behind the scenes for so long, and it was the happiest day for me and a dream come true! Going to the NYC headquarters and getting to see the wings, the magic and meeting the team was one of my favorite memories as a model.
HBZVN. There is so much sunshine, color and playful confidence in your Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam photographs, almost the feeling of an endless summer. What side of yourself did you want to bring to this shoot?
NIKITA JANSEN: I’m from the south, so beachy summer days feel like home to me. It’s such a nice break to shoot on location and get to feel the elements, whereas in NYC you’re almost always in a studio. It’s impossible to not feel happy when you’re by the ocean!
HBZVN: Now give us your perfect day: no casting, no shooting, no emails and nowhere you have to be. Where would you wake up? What would you eat? Who would you spend the day with? Would there be a beach, a long lunch, a movie, music, dancing, or simply doing absolutely nothing?
NIKITA JANSEN: My perfect New York day is sleeping in, then grabbing a sweet treat in my neighborhood in the Upper East Side. I love nature so on days off I try to hang around Central Park whenever I can. Going out at night is always fun (if I do it’s usually at a dive or club in Bushwick) but I’ve entered my grandma era and love staying in to play board games with my friends.
It can be really expensive living here and sometimes you can’t even step outside without having to spend money. Day to day life in Manhattan can be chaotic so I love finding moments of peace every day, even at home. I like enjoying my rent!
HBZVN: What is Nikita like at home with her closest friends? Do you cook, and if so, what is your signature dish? And when friends come over, are you the perfect hostess, or the one who orders takeout, opens something to drink and keeps everyone talking until two in the morning?
NIKITA JANSEN: My ears perk up like a dog with the key words: dinner party, housewarming, pregame! I love nothing more than hosting, even as a little kid I would plan extravagant themed dress-up birthday parties. As much as I wish I was a good cook, I usually leave that to my boyfriend or my little sister Mars. A spaghetti night with red wine and a good movie is my go-to. My movie night rec is something like How to Train Your Dragon or a Disney movie like Lilo & Stitch!
Being called a good host is probably the best compliment I could ever get in my life, and I think I am!
HBZVN: You have already lived several creative lives — model, actor, filmmaker, writer and content creator — and some of your biggest setbacks have unexpectedly opened new doors. What would make the next chapter of Nikita Jansen’s life feel joyful, surprising and truly her own?
NIKITA JANSEN: At my core, storytelling and creating community have always been where my real passions lie. Whether it’s creating travel and advice content for my YouTube channel or writing books (which are hopefully coming soon!) I see my creative path naturally moving more in that direction.
For so much of most models careers, you wait to be discovered, booked, and chosen. I think the next chapter is about choosing myself and creating the stories and projects I’ve always wanted to see!
Model: Nikita Jansen @nikitajansen
Photographer: Nicholas Tamposi @nicholastamposi.
Hair, Makeup & Styling: Marianne Tamposi @mariannetamposi.
Assistant: Vere Ronner @vereronner_.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
