Unveiling the Drive: A Conversation with Lilly on Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose

Part of the ETEBT Photography Project - exploring the deep connections between culture, identity, and creative expression

In a recent interview for the Etebt project, I spoke with Lilly, a vibrant 21-year-old whose life blends passion, determination, and refreshing perspectives on work and life. Balancing roles as a bartender and freelance model, Lilly's journey reveals a deep-seated drive that shapes her choices and propels her forward in unexpected ways.

A Foundation of Family and Fun

Family forms the cornerstone of Lilly's identity. She describes herself as "very family oriented," surrounded by an impressively large extended family that includes 34 cousins, with new additions still arriving as her cousins begin having children of their own.

This strong family connection extends to her role as the "fun auntie" to her 5-year-old nephew, whom she regularly babysits to help her single-mom sister navigate the challenges of parenthood.

What strikes me about Lilly's perspective is her genuine appreciation for children's innocence and curiosity. She values that "they don't know any better" and are "so interested in learning," constantly absorbing everything around them. For her, these interactions are "wholesome," "cute," and "a beautiful thing."

Perhaps most insightful is her observation about the authenticity children bring to relationships: they offer the "most real respect," because "if they like you, they like you... cuz you're a good person." This stands in stark contrast to her experiences with intoxicated adults, whom she finds comparable to children but notes that adults "know better" and "think that they're right all the time."

From Portuguese Chicken to Editorial Fashion: A Diverse Career Path

Lilly's impressive work ethic emerged early—she started her first job at Oporto, a Portuguese chicken restaurant, at just 14 years old and remained there for three years. Her next stop was cafe work, but she quickly discovered she was "not a morning person" and found morning customers particularly "demanding."

This self-awareness led her to bar work, which she describes as "a lot more relaxed," noting that customers tend to be more pleasant when seeking refreshments.

Her journey into freelance modeling began as "a hobby to get me out of the house" after a chance encounter with a kind model while working as a DJ and club promoter from 2023 to 2024. This interaction challenged her preconception that models were typically "stuck up" or rude—a view influenced by her sister's negative experience with a demanding model.

With Instagram's algorithm conveniently pushing modeling content her way, Lilly decided to explore this creative avenue. Her first professional experience came through Country Girl Management (CGM), where she received training from Miss Philippines Australia, who proved "so good at building confidence." The moment of realization came when Lilly saw her initial photos and thought, "Okay, I look pretty good," cementing her interest in pursuing modeling further.

What fascinates me about Lilly's approach to modeling is how deeply it connects to her love for the creative process. She thrives in the collaborative energy of studio shoots, enjoying the art of mixing and matching outfits and helping fellow models style pieces differently. More than just posing, she actively fosters a fun, positive atmosphere during group shoots, recognizing that stress can be contagious and counterproductive.

Breaking Molds and Building Dreams

As a half-Filipino model standing at 5'4", Lilly acknowledges the industry challenges her height sometimes presents, making it "harder to get gigs" in a field that traditionally favors taller individuals. Yet she's found an interesting dynamic with her ethnicity, which isn't always immediately apparent to others, allowing her to avoid being "placed in a certain box."

Her observations about the modeling industry's evolution are encouraging—she believes it has become "a lot more accepting" in recent years, moving away from exclusively seeking "white women, white men" toward embracing a more "realistic" approach that values unique looks and diverse representations.

Ever the entrepreneur, Lilly is now venturing into organizing her own shoots, an endeavor she describes as both exciting and "a bit nervous." Drawing from her experience organizing parties and events through DJ promoting, she recognizes the different pressures involved in coordinating modeling shoots, particularly the challenge of bringing together photographers and models who are largely strangers to each other.

Perhaps most surprising is Lilly's long-term aspiration: pursuing carpentry. This dream, inspired by childhood memories of building things with her father, reveals another dimension of her creative spirit. She articulates a profound satisfaction in seeing a "finished project" in carpentry—a feeling she parallels with the "art" of seeing final images from modeling shoots, especially when she's styled her own outfits and done her own makeup.

With characteristic pragmatism, Lilly plans to undertake a four-year carpentry course but recognizes the financial challenges, as the "apprentice rate" won't cover her living expenses while living independently. Her solution exemplifies her resourcefulness: continuing modeling and potentially pursuing an events study course as ways to "make sure I'm earning enough to survive" while gradually building toward her carpentry goals.

The Core of Lilly's Drive: Passion and Perseverance

When asked what she wants people to take away from her work, Lilly's response is refreshingly clear: her passion and hard work stand at the center of everything she does.

"I don't do anything that I don't enjoy," she asserts, emphasizing that she'll stop bartending or any activity the moment it ceases to bring her joy. For Lilly, continuing in a job you dislike represents nothing short of "suffering"—a perspective that challenges conventional notions about work and perseverance.

Yet don't mistake this philosophy for a lack of work ethic. Lilly is the definition of a proactive self-starter, not someone to "sit back and hope that jobs will come to me." She actively seeks opportunities, dedicating almost 20 minutes daily to checking various Facebook groups for gigs and applying to "every single job" she encounters.

This intense drive is deeply rooted in her upbringing. She recalls a childhood where she and her dad "lived paycheck to paycheck," sometimes subsisting on "just like toast for a few weeks" during periods when he wasn't working while caring for her grandmother. These experiences instilled in her the powerful belief that "you work for everything and you show it and you're proud of it."

Her fierce protection of her efforts is summed up in the statement: "I'm not going to let people use me as a stepping stone." This boundary-setting is as much a part of her work ethic as her willingness to put in long hours.

Lilly's parting wisdom resonates with the essence of her personal journey: "whatever they end up doing, just keep going." She offers the strategic advice to avoid sharing your aspirations too widely, as external doubt can negatively influence your mindset. Instead, she suggests, "do what you want and then once you succeed, then you tell everyone. Cuz now they can't do nothing cuz you're already there."

In a world often fixated on credentials and conventional paths to success, Lilly's story offers a compelling reminder of the power in aligning work with genuine passion and the resilience gained from overcoming challenges. Her drive to create, connect, and build—whether in front of a camera or with her hands—makes her truly inspiring.