Some say love is the universal language. In the case of our Face of the Month, Mila Kali, it’s photography that’s making the world a smaller place and bridging distances. She arrives to our interview, just returned from an overseas trip, smiling and carrying a box of sweets from Europe.

Photographed by Ash Gupta for 838 Media Group
Model – Mila Kali
Makeup/Hair – Inara Lopetaite-Akin, Jyoti Nair, Vanessa Venancio, Janelle Wright
Post Production – Hanne Clarke
Style – Jordan Swain, NAILA Styling (Natalia Diakova)

Our July/August Face of the Month walks in looking like any other young woman in Southern California. But as she talks, her bright smile punctuates a focus, determination, and passion for being in front of the camera. We sat down on one of those oppressively hot, summertime days to learn more about Shayda Shivaei.

Our Face of the Month Emma Holley heard from her agency, Pinkerton Model and Talent, about Ash Gupta and 838 Media Group, where her determination and exuberance soon became apparent.

“Do you know I adopted two owls?” she remarks, at a photo shoot in the Mid City area of Los Angeles. “Ever since I can remember,” she continues, “they have been my absolute favorite creatures. They’re these miraculous creatures who can see from all angles! That’s what I love about them; they never have to be scared because they have a way of being able to always see what’s coming.”

Our Face of the Month Olivia Fox grew up in Los Angeles but describes her origins as “French, Italian, Russian, and Galactic.” Talking with her, one gets the impression that space—both outer and inner—is a common theme in her life.

Our Face of the Month Erica Cisneros grew up in the mile-high city of Denver, Colorado.

“I emailed my info and pics to a local agency in Denver,” she explains, “and they soon helped me get interviews with great agencies.” After signing with LA Models, Erica relocated to Los Angeles and embarked on her career as a model.

Elle Evans October 2012 Face of the Month Ash Gupta’s October Face of the Month comes all the way from Paris, Paris, Texas, that is. Born in Texas, and raised in Louisiana, Elle Evans launched her fashion modeling career earlier this year. “Being from a small town,” she explains, “I had much bigger dreams to get out and see the world. LA seemed to be the perfect place to start!”

Our August/September 2012 Face of the Month, Lauren Caster, grew up on the beaches and deserts of California—“the best of both worlds,” she remarks. Now living in Los Angeles, she recently met Ash Gupta and the talented group at 838 Media.

Ash Gupta’s Face of the Month for July comes from a place many people have only read or heard about, Transylvania. Lavinia Postolache left Romania and came to Los Angeles to continue her studies in acting, but she began her career on the runways of Europe. “When I was 15 years old, “she explains,” I accompanied a friend of mine to a casting.