CULTURE
FROM DANCER TO MODEL TO ACTRESS TO SINGER: THE JOURNEY OF A REAL INFLUENCER
JUL 19, 2023
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PHOTOGRAPHY AND INTERVIEW
by TATIJANA SHOAN
ARTWORK
by PAOLO CARELLA
STYLED
by STACEY JONES
GRAPHIC DESIGN
by DIEGO PINILLA
HAIR
by ITALO GREGORIO
with BRYAN BANTRY
MAKE UP
by ELISA FLOWERS with ATELIER MANAGEMENT
Larsen Thompson broke into the entertainment world first as a dancer before sashaying her way into modeling, then acting, and now this multi-hyphenate can add singer to the list. Thompspn’s first single, “Roots”, was released early this year and speaks about the difficulties she had growing up ruthlessly teased for her freckled skin and fiery hair that have become prized assets today. The release of her second single early this spring, “Millions”, shows that this young 20-something continues to pave new roads for herself. With her infectious melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Thompson aims to capture the hearts of listeners with authentic and relatable storytelling while giving them something to dance to.
With such a multifaceted career that includes dancing with Christina Aguilera, Pitbull, and Katy Perry, performing in film and television projects that cross all genres, working with some of the fashion's hottest labels, and creating music she can dance to, my team and I decided to create an equally dynamic editorial that showcases Thompson in a myriad of characters to represent her dynamism. From Super Hero to Medieval Goddess, each character encapsulates a unique facet of her persona.
After the photoshoot, I sat down with this quadruple threat to delve deeper into her journey, discussing her early beginnings, foray into music, most embarrassing moment, and why she wants to jump out of a plane!
Bevza breast plate and dress with hood | Dolce & Gabbana Polished calfskin sandals | Wolford underwear
AS IF: You started your dance career, transitioned to modeling and acting, and now you’ve launched a singing career. You dropped your first single, “Roots” this past January, and you have your EP of the same name coming out this summer—you are a born performer!
Larsen Thompson: Yeah.
Put me in the mind of Larson as a little girl and tell me what inspired that desire and what you did to express yourself that led to where you are today.
I’ve always had a joy for entertaining people. My mom tells me stories, and I have home videos of myself putting on crazy outfits, dressing up, dancing, singing, and turning the family room into my stage. I’ve wanted to bring joy to people since I was little through performing, fashion, and dance. I started dancing when I was 4 years old, it’s a form of expression and a way for me to cope with feelings of sadness and anxiety—dancing was like my escape from reality. My dance teachers tried to discourage my parents from keeping me in dance because I would never listen to instructions (laughs)! I’m so glad they didn’t listen because when I’m able to use my gifts as a form of expression I thrive. I’m grateful I started in dance because it has helped me transition into other forms of performance and be comfortable in front of the camera.
