Meet the Muse: Our designers sat down with the face of Legacy to find out what she likes, being the Muse, and what makes her tick

Carter and I sat down with Jenn Blake, the face of Legacy Apparel to find out a little more about being Legacy's Model Muse and where she's going next.

CD: You haven’t been waiting long, have you?

JB: Not at all. I like to try to be early when I can.

SM: Beautiful and punctual. How wonderful?

JB: Yeah, my mom’s to blame for that. Never be late, if you can help it.

CD: We’ll have to thank her.

JB: Please do. She’d love that.

SM: So, you’ve been given the title of Legacy Muse. Did it intimidate you at all to be stepping into heels filled in the past by Dallas Fite, Sofia Markolov, and Coco Whittman-Katayama?

JB: At first, very much so. The only thing I’ve ever been the spokesperson for is my local chapter of 4H’s June Dairy Month—and I’m not even kidding. I haven’t done any commercials yet, so my modeling has pretty much been what you normally think of, for photographs and on the runway or, you know, for events. It’s been great, though. I was shocked to have been asked, because the other girls are, to me, like my big sister’s cool friends.

CD: You’re good friends with Coco. Did she give you any advice on being a Muse?

JB: Oh yeah. I’ve known Coco since people were still calling her Corrine. We met in 2000 when she was dating Kyle, her husband. He and I are like brother and sister. We were even in a couple bands together in high school. Since then, we’ve been basically a family. She’s my solace in the hectic fashion world. She understands it all. She told me it would change my life. It definitely has. She also told me about all the pranks. You guys have some really creative stuff up your sleeves around here, and since it’s fashion, there’s always someone taking a picture of it.

SM: You’ve been modeling since you were nine years old, is that correct?

JB: Yes. I wasn’t even a cute kid. I just had one of those faces that kids have. Unique, I guess. I started getting fashion jobs when I was 14. I got taller and I’ve grown in to my face, if that makes any sense to you.

CD: So, when you were growing up, what made you say ‘I want to do this?’

JB: It started for me by really looking at people. There are just some really beautiful people in the world. When you’re walking down the street, or you’re at a restaurant, someone catches you eye because they have their own look. It goes way beyond what you’re wearing—in to your mannerisms, the way you smile, or just the way you hold yourself. Me? I’m more inspired by street fashion than Hollywood, but everything in its place, you know?

SM: Your career choice is an unconventional one. How do you spend time when you’re not in front of a camera?

JB: I’m working on a film, but I guess that doesn’t answer your question. I mean, I just got the script. It’s an indie thing for a friend of a friend. I like it. I play an angel. A badass angel. We haven’t started filming, yet. Otherwise, I just hang out when I’m not working. I like movies. I love music. I get sucked in to those social networking sites, too.I'm all over Twitter and Myspace and Facebook. I have really great family and friends, so I like to try and spend time with them whenever I can. I hang out with my sister and we listen to music and watch ridiculous things on tv most of the time. My off time is pretty peaceful, I’d say. I dance and write and paint. It’s busy, but it’s peaceful.

SM:You're a social networker?

JB: Yeah. It's addictive because it's so instant. You find out what people are doing as they're doing it. It's a little overwhelming, but it can be really great if it's used in the right ways. I've booked a lot of jobs and met a lot of fascinating people through social networking and blogs. I even met one of my best friends, Kari who I consider my sister that way. This was years ago, but it's a good way to find people of like-mind to share your thoughts with. I think everybody needs a little bit of that. It can be really good for people, I think.

CD: On top of modeling, you recently graduated from college and you’ve done some original artwork that’s gotten some attention. Were you an art major?

JB: No. I actually majored in Theatre and French. I act and I write plays. While I was in school, I really learned that good Theatre training comes in handy in every aspect of life. I danced in college, too. Modern and Ballet were my big things. My dad and brother are the artists, in the traditional sense. They’re the ones who draw and doodle on everything. I’ve always loved to paint, but I just do it recreationally. I mostly paint for myself and as gifts, but I’ve had a couple of commissions. It’s not something I go out looking for, though. Anything creative and I think I automatically kind of gravitate toward it. I’m pretty much completely right-brained, I guess. Creativity is my fuel source.

SM: Fighting the stereotype of the “dumb model.”

JB: I guess so. I think it’s becoming more evident to people that there’s more to modeling than sitting there and having someone take a photo of you. You have to think about it a lot of things all at the same time, all the time. You have to work very hard. Modeling is a mix between pantomime and silent movie acting for me. Acting helps a lot with that, but it also relaxed my parents a little about my career choice. They could see that I was making an honest living, instead of something, you know, like porn. It opened up their minds in terms of what art is and what it was.

CD: But they still freak out when they see nudes of you.

JB: I don’t show them. I don’t hide them from them, but I don’t actively seek their reactions to them. It’s got to be weird for a parent to see something like that. But like I said, at least it’s not porn. It could be worse.

SM: Is there anything you don’t do?

JB: I can’t sew. I mean, I can, but it’s never as good as I want it to be when I try. I leave the sewing up to people more gifted at it. Eventually, I’ll learn to do it well, though.

SM: You just moved into a new apartment in Nashville. You told me that you like to keep moving, that you haven’t found one place yet that you want to stay permanently. Do you think of yourself as an itinerant person?

JB: I like change. This new place is the fifth apartment I’ve had in five years and it’s just for the summer. I lived in a new place every year when I was in school. People do that, though. I get bored too easily. I grew up with both my parents in the military, so I started out with not a lot of consistency in my life. Even from everyday work to my living situation to whether or not I’m even going to be in Nashville much longer. The one constant thing in my life is the people in it, which is all I need. But I’m happy for right now.

CD: You’re a renter then, right?

JB: Oh yeah. Renting is recession-friendly. Plus, it’s hard for me to figure out where I want to be, so I don’t want to be stuck with something that ceases to make me happy.

SM: Tell us— what’s it like to be the face of a fashion brand?

JB: It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s great. I get to wear some really incredible clothing. Knowing that I’m inspiring pieces is ridiculous. Not many models can say they have two designers working on a collection that they’ve inspired. It’s been a really fun campaign, and it’s just getting started.

CD: How do you think the S/S10 collection compares to ones in the past?

JB: I think it’s something different, and that’s good. Fashion is changing a lot, and I think Legacy is on top of it. The two of you are working really hard to so something good for both fashion and the planet, two of my favorite things. Plus, the sheer number of pieces in this collection is astounding. There are a lot of looks created from a good aesthetic that’s really about the roots of design in the body for men and women. I love its funkiness and its class. It’s nice too see the two integrated well.

SM: Now it’s time for the generic interview questions. What’s in your cd player?

JB: Let’s see, the new Incubus album, ‘Monuments and Melodies,’ ‘Bring Me Your Love,’ by City and Colour, Cage the Elephant, Kings of Leon, and the Flaming Lips.

CD: What are you reading?

JB: Nothing, at the moment. I’m writing a play, so I’m reading that, I guess.

SM: What’s your ultimate career goal.

JB: I have a few. I want to be featured in Interview Magazine, I want to be interviewed by James Lipton [for Inside the Actor’s Studio] and I want to host SNL. I’ll take any one of them.

CD: What’s your favorite thing about Nashville?

JB: There’s so much to do. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Everyone associates Nashville with country music, but there’s every other kind of music you can imagine in and around here. I really love that.

SM: Are you single or taken?

JB: Single, but I’m not on the market. I’m taking some time off dating to get my life together. This summer is mine.

CD: What’s your biggest fear?

JB: A zombie apocalypse.

CD: What’s your bedtime?

JB: I don’t sleep. (laughs) No time. [SM]

Do you have questions for Jenn? Leave your question is a comment to this post of The Report, and we'll have Jenn answer it in a later post.