Her Name is Aga, and She´s a Top Model With Chef Skills

For top model Aga Wojtasik the lockdown in New York City has provided the unexpected opportunity to explore another passion she´s always had: cooking. As a progressing chef and influential social media thought leader, Aga is helping her followers stay active indoors by constructing and teaching new recipes. The 22-year-old remains optimistic about her current situation and the future of the billion-dollar fashion industry in which she works. Wojtasik believes it will easily bounce back, but in the meantime, she is focusing on the present and how she can have a positive, healthy, and influential impact.

The fashion industry is temporarily shut down, which means no runway shows, photoshoots, or castings. What has the transition been like from working nearly every day to not at all? How has it made you feel?

As a person working in such a creative industry, I can definitely see how a lack of work impacts me personally. It is quite stressful not knowing when it will be safe to get back to work. I started to feel like I have to do everything that I can to use this time productively, and for me, it is focusing on developing my own personal interests and staying healthy.

How are you coping with financial setbacks, if any?

I have always tried to make sure I have money saved away for a rainy day, which has been a big help lately. All models in the industry, at one time or another, go through slow periods. So I have learned you have to be committed to saving money on every job. That mindset has helped me through my career and even more so now.

What are you doing to stay busy?

I have been focusing on my social media, where I am trying to share my passion for cooking. I am creating new recipes each week, and it has been really exciting to be able to share them! I am also reading a lot more; I love being able to dive into a good book.

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How has promoting your cooking been received by your followers? Do you find there is more wholesome engagement?

My friends and followers seem to really like the idea and have been incredibly supportive. I keep getting positive messages from my followers, and some of them have been recreating my recipes, which is awesome! I have definitely seen higher engagement after going in a healthy lifestyle direction with my profile.

Why did you choose to show the world your cooking skills?

I think seeing what other people eat has always interested me, and helped me as an individual. My followers ask me all the time about how to eat well and be healthy. I know there is constant pressure in my industry, and I want to show people you can eat, be healthy, and be happy. It may just take a little creativity. I want to set the right example.