Teresa Moore
Teresa Moore
Fashion Model, Influencer, Environmentalist
Instagram: @teresamooremooreTeresa’s modeling career is impressive, boasting major beauty, fashion, and swimwear campaigns. She has appeared on the cover of W, Elle and Shape Magazines and shot editorials for numerous international issues of Vogue, W, Cosmo, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamor, Fashion Quarterly, and many others. Her client list is impressive beyond mention.
Teresa was born in the Kingdom of Tonga, then at nine moved to New Zealand. When her modeling career took off, she moved to the bright lights of Manhattan, New York. Throughout, she has always appreciated nature and the connection of land, sea, and people. Teresa believes modern fashion and beauty can be unified with sustainable values. She wants to collaborate with brands to redefine style as aesthetic consciousness in all forms.
Outside of modeling, Teresa studies sustainable business at NYU and hopes to collaborate with brands to raise consumer consciousness and develop change through sustainable business. Teresa runs an environmental action group focused on conscious consumerism to help people “vote with their dollars.” She advocates stylish sustainability to her 50k+ social media followers. Teresa is also a mum to two adorable children. She lives in New York and is a vibrant public speaker. Her party tricks include acting, singing, dancing, and hula hoop!
BC: At what age did your career begin? And how did you get your start?
TM: I started modeling part-time in New Zealand when I was 16 with 62 Models and then went full-time at 19 when I started working internationally. Several agencies scouted me across the world to work in New York, Paris, Milan, London, and Germany. I have based myself in New York for over a decade and also traveled to Europe once a month or so for bookings. During the 2008 recession, I moved to London and lived there for 2 years and it was a great experience as I avoided most of the downturn in the US economy and was closer to Europe. I came back to New Zealand every year for Christmas and New Year and always loved reconnecting with people back home. I feel so blessed to have had such a long career that allowed me to meet amazing people and travel extensively.
BC: From your perspective, how has the industry changed?
TM: Firstly the industry has changed with technology. When I first started, polaroids were still used to check the composition and lighting before we started shooting rolls of film. A few years later digital photography emerged as cheaper and more convenient. Art directors and clients could see what previously only the photographer saw in his camera. E-commerce also changed the landscape of how products were sold. Online businesses and publications have grown as catalogs and print have declined. Secondly, in the last few years, the pivot to social media influencers and regular people have sometimes displaced models, but models are still important in high fashion and catalogs.
“There is definitely more diversity in models today, which is wonderful social progress and highlights global culture and consumer markets.”
BC: Has social media changed the way you work? Do you feel more / less in control of your career now?
TM: Social media makes me feel less in control overall. Before social media, modeling was about going to a casting or photoshoot via your agency, doing your job, being part of a team and participating in creative work. With social media now, we all have to promote ourselves and I feel the burden of doing the work of an entire team to create beautiful content. I’d much rather work with amazing artists and create together. Plus teamwork is so much more fun and raises quality and creativity standards! I think social media has the benefit that a person can become a thought leader and develop an engagement with followers who have similar values and interests. It enables people to share their voice and personality and advocate for causes they care about.
BC: Let’s talk beauty. Skincare is key for a model, what’s your secret to that fantastic skin?
TM: I think great beauty products and an occasional laser facial are the best investment. I think the Clear and Brilliant laser gives great results with no downtime. I use SKII masks for a refreshing mask and Belif Peat Clay Masks when I have clogged pores. Elta MD sunscreen is a must and is the first high SPF sunscreen I have used that feels light and fresh.
BC: You live in NYC who is your ‘go-to’ beauty person and your ‘must-have’ beauty treatment?
TM: I just started seeing the world-famous dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Hale in New York and she gets exceptional results. She’s a super-efficient and a lovely person.
BC: Looking after your skin can be a pricey affair, do you have any ‘save’ products you swear by?
TM: I am really into natural products where possible. I use organic coconut oil as my body moisturizer, it’s amazing and super cheap. I buy the raw oils from BulkApothecary.com and they are a bargain. It is where people buy the ingredients to make beauty products at home, so it is wholesale prices. Since your skin is the body’s largest organ, you better use a natural product! I am also really into reusable items such as cotton makeup wipes that you throw in the washing machine and reuse. It saves money and the environment. It’s a no-brainer.
“Since your skin is the body’s largest organ, you better use a natural product! ”