American beauty ELIZA WINN is back to talk life as an inked up influencer and overcoming adversity…
Welcome back, Eliza, what have you been up to since we last saw you in MAXIM?
Hello! I’ve been pretty busy since my last feature in MAXIM – I’ve been travelling a lot, working and shooting. There are a couple of music videos I’ve been able to be a part of, too.
This is a very cool photo shoot. What did you love most about it?
This was another really fun shoot. I love classic cars so I had the idea to find a 1962 Lincoln Continental and shoot with the car at Huntington Beach, California. The security and police came to the beach to check up on us and ended up asking for a photo, which I thought was hilarious.
Well, you look great! What do you think is your best asset?
Thank you! I think, and hear, that it’s my eyes.
Have you got any new tatts since your last MAXIM appearance?
Nope, but I’ve filled in my tiger tattoo on my left thigh a lot more and we’ve been working on covering up my right arm which is going really well. It’s much prettier.
What made you want to cover yourself in ink?
I actually had never planned on covering myself, it just kind of happened over time I suppose. I got my first tattoo when I was 18, it was a gift, and I got a hibiscus and lilies on my left shoulder.
How did you come to have so many?
I slowly started to get a few more tattoos after my first one, but when I began working a lot with magazines, like Inked Girls, and got really into it. I think that’s when I started to get more covered – it was a lot of fun. What it comes down to is that I love my tattoos and the culture. My tattoos are a part of me and my personality.
What would you say are your top three favourite tattoos?
My Pulp Fiction tattoo is my favourite! I love Quentin Tarantino and that’s one of my favourite movies. The way the artist made Uma Thurman look is unreal – I’m always getting compliments on it. Then there’s the tiger on my thigh – I love tigers and the artwork was beautifully done by a goof friend of mine, Jeffrey Page. The third favourite would be my lucky Japanese kitty. This was done on live TV by my good friend Cervena Fox. I have a lot of good memories from Japan and it reminds me of those, too.
Do tattooed women have more fun?
Haha… I don’t know the answer to that but I know that I have the most fun.
What’s the worst reaction you’ve ever had to your tatts?
A couple of times I’ve had elder ladies snarl and ask me why I would do that to myself. It doesn’t bother me that much but I also don’t want to hear that. People do freak out over the Pulp Fiction tattoo. My mom told me it was “gnarly” before she passed. That was kind of funny now that I think about it.
Do you feel you feel there is any discrimination in society when it comes to those covered in tattoos compared to a clean body?
Where I live, that’s not really a problem. I do think that shit exists in different places but thankfully I’ve never had to deal with it, for the most part.
What tattoo would do you want to get next?
I want to get my back done. There’s a beautiful drawing of a geisha that I’ve wanted for years. It’s a huge piece so it’s a huge commitment!
What tattoo would you never get?
I don’t have anything against them, but I don’t think I would ever get my face tattooed.
Give us a little more background about yourself and your life story so far.
I was born in Phoenix, Arizona U.S.A. and grew up in Aspen, Colorado. Being from Aspen I was an avid snowboarder, which moulded a lot of my influences. I moved to California when I was 15 and went to a private music, arts and acting school – I played classical piano heavily growing up and won multiple awards for it. I began modelling that year and was picked up by an agency in New York City. Shortly after that I desired to be with my friends and family more so I moved to Phoenix where I taught students from pre-school to fourth grade. It wasn’t long after that when I began modelling again, moved back to L.A. where I’ve lived ever since.
You also love studying psychology as a hobby, right?
Yes, studying psychology has helped me have a better understanding about myself, my family and human behaviour in general. I’ve suffered from chronic depression for years and have overcome a lot, including both of my parents killing themselves. Learning certain tools and understanding the patterns of certain behaviours, and where they may arise from, has been key in my grieving and recovery from traumas. I’m physical proof that practice, willingness and education can retrain the brain.
Nice work. Being a pre-school teacher, did you find that the kids’ dads were more inclined to pick up their children seeing as you were their teacher?
Hahaha… that’s definitely a possibility! I do know that the youngsters were infatuated with me – one kid had such a crush on me he would have to hide under his desk when I would enter the room. He had to switch classes.
Lastly, describe your ideal man.
Ideally, my man has talent, financial stability, is sweet and unconditional with love, adventurous, fun, funny and loves the same things that I do – animals, food, nature, cars, music, movies, travelling, entertainment and entertaining. He’ll surprise me with flowers and loves my friends and family. ■
STATUS UPDATE
NAME: Eliza Winn
BORN: May 1
HOMETOWN: Phoenix, Arizona U.S.A.
CURRENTLY LIVES: Los Angeles, California U.S.A.
FIVE WORD SELF-DESCRIPTION: “Fun, sexy, artistic, talented, intelligent.”
LIFE MOTTO: “Work hard, play hard, enjoy the time we have.”
INSTAGRAM: @ElizaWinn
TWITTER: @MissElizaWinn
TIK TOK: @ElizaWinnOfficial
Photographed by RYAN DWYER
Interview by SANTI PINTADO
Hair & make-up by TAYLOR JAZZ
Produced by MAIN STREET PRODUCTIONS
For the full article grab the April 2022 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
