A Touch of Seduction
with Arina Feeney
Photography by Olly Vento – @ollyvento
Makeup & Hair by Nataliia Nosokas – @nataliiamakeupartist
This month’s cover star is none other than the always-gorgeous Arina Feeney. Get swept away by her captivating beauty and irresistible charm as she shares more with us about who she is and what she’s all about. Take a look!
Hello beautiful, for those people that don’t already know you maybe you could tell our readers a little more about yourself Arina? Hi guys, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. I have shot covers all over the world for different magazines but this is my first US cover and I am so thrilled that it is with FHM. I am a happy go lucky, fun-loving girl but also a professional businesswoman with my own skincare company. I live in Boca Raton, a beautiful small coastal town outside of Miami and love its easy pace and way of life, and would say that I am definitely more a sun and beach person than a girl of snow and ice, despite my Russian heritage. I hope y’all enjoy the pics and the interview. Hugs and kisses.
What an absolute honor to have you feature! How excited were you to be featured as the cover for FHM? Over the moon! Jumpin up and down to be precise actually. I always loved that FHM had such a good mix of athletic and feminine beauty. Now is such a great time to celebrate femininity and sexuality! Especially after months of lockdown this is freeing on so many levels.
Modeling is a big part of your life, could you tell us what inspired you to start and what your journey has been like to get to this point? Modeling is so creative and liberating, perhaps just as much as acting! Being able to take on a whole new look and personality for a day gives me a sense of all the possibilities in life and makes me feel so sexy and empowered.
You look incredible, what are some of your favorite ways to work out? It literally differs from day to day. I try to really listen to my body and never push myself to a point of exhaustion or failure as some of those trendy gyms tell you to do. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous to work out so hard that you almost collapse. Who needs that? For me, it’s yoga, Pilates, light gym work and running around after a three-year-old on a sugar high. And of course, all things outdoorsy.
We would love to get to know you! Could you describe to us what a day in your life is like? The alarm goes off at 6:30am and one of these days I’m actually going to wake up before it goes off! I would love to tell you that my days are structured and planned but that would be so far from reality! I go through weeks when I’m very disciplined about my eating, going to bed at a proper hour and being super productive in my company HERENOW skincare. But then I could wake up on a Friday morning and have this huge urge to have one of my, what do I call them, adventures! I catch a flight or go completely off the grid for a few days doing things that are so absolutely pointless and meaningless but oh so joyful in that very moment. And once I get that out of my system I go back to my routine and my gourmet avocado toast. Another thing that might be surprising is despite being a millennial I hate my cellphone with a passion. I feel like it’s such an intrusion into life’s best moments and some days I literally feel like tossing it across the room. When I have that PERFECT DAY I try really hard not to check my phone, not even once so that I can really feel each moment to the fullest. Not just go through the motions but feel and remember every sense, every smell – that’s what memories are made of and it only takes one day for it to be your favorite day of the year.
What are some of your favorite things to do? Hmmm… pass! No, seriously, like I said ALL things outdoorsy – restaurants, boating, hiking, just being in nature. This is random but I have the Steps app that measures my walking activity. And nothin’ is more satisfying than checking that app when I’m on vacation by the end of the day and seeing a crazy number that just came up by doing nothing more than playfully exploring a new city. OMG, I sound like such a nerd! So to actually answer your question, traveling is by far my favorite activity. I love Europe with a passion but would never live there again (jeez never say never right?). I have never connected more with any place or culture than the US. Being of Russian descent I come from a place that’s full of uncertainty about life in general. In the US I feel safe, I love that people have manners and really respect one another and each others’ beliefs and opinions. Also, I love the diversity of Florida, where I currently live. I’m around people who are from all over the world and so many cultures are blended together here.
You’re glamorous and fun, what would you say makes you the happiest? Definitely staying true to who I am. My likes and interests change all the time. But then with time I’ve come to realize that that’s what makes me, ME. I change hobbies, careers, places and never stop moving – definitely a gypsy soul. What makes me happiest is having the opportunity to constantly challenge myself. I never stop learning and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. They say that the only true definition of happiness is the ability to adapt. That’s me. Also, I don’t look at happiness as this grand idea or destination. I find it in small things literally every day of my life.
Turn-ons… It might be an obvious answer but turn-ons for me are meeting someone who’s personality is very similar to mine. I can meet a new person and it’s almost like we have known each other for years, you know what I mean? Like you all of a sudden geek out and finish each other’s sentences! I love to be around people who are open-minded. Intelligence is always key. No one likes some dude rambling on about something he has no idea about right! I really admire people who truly enjoy life to the fullest. I hate the predictability of ANY kind of routine. So a turn on would be if a guy would, out of nowhere, surprise me with a cool experience that he planned. Anyone can send flowers right? But a guy being really creative and imaginative speaks volumes for a girl. Like realizing that someone spent days planning something special just for you or for you as a couple – what’s hotter than that?
Turnoffs… Bad listeners, interrupters and self-absorbed people. And a huge one for me – bad table manners. I have literally walked out on dates because a guy used a wrong fork. I’m also pretty good at reading people and body language so when I meet someone and I immediately see that they are just posers for whatever reason, that drives me up the wall. I take such pride in staying true to my desires and needs (with boundaries obviously) but I would never put on a whole new persona and facade just to fit in with a certain group or be accepted. I really choose to live a life with no regrets because we don’t really get second chances do we, despite what people say. So when I come across someone in my life who is obviously and deliberately trying to get ahead by completely putting on a false persona I just take two steps back. Bye Felicia! So, to summarize, I can’t stand social climbers and friend hoppers.
What makes you tick? Something to look forward to… it could be a cool vacation, or a new breakthrough collaboration in my skincare business, or an exciting new modeling project like FHM USA.
As an established model, what advice can you give aspiring models out there to help them achieve their dreams of doing what you do? I’ve always believed there is no job that’s too small or beneath me. Pride always comes before a fall. After all, the more you put yourself out there and the harder you work the more comfortable you become in your field (this goes for anything, not just modeling). You never know who you will meet and what opportunities may arise from those new contacts. It’s important to be persistent and work hard to constantly learn and perfect your craft. It may be intimidating starting out in modeling as you tend to compare yourself to the people you see every day on social media, that’s just human nature. But every career has to start somewhere, every business has a day one. Stay strong and believe in yourself regardless of the obstacles or criticism that may get in your way.
Thank you so much for sitting with us and letting us get to know a bit about you! Any last words for our readers out there? Wow, I feel like this should be a major one but I can’t really think of anything that would make a big bang finale. Since this is kinda a guys’ sneak peek inside a girl’s head… my tip for your guys is – be authentic! Not everyone is looking for a man of mystery. That’s only in the movies! Us girls are so good at reading between the lines and every time you play a character we just say NEXT. There is nothing hotter than a guy who works on himself as a person for his own personal growth and not to impress a girl. Sure some girls might get impressed by flashy cars and bottles of Dom but most girls also get really impressed that you, for example, can speak multiple languages or have such a cool hobby that we might never dare to try. Take her outside of her comfort zone. Xo
Be sure to follow all of Arina’s amazing adventures on Instagram @arinafeeney for all her latest news and story updates!