I had the pleasure of interviewing Neva Keva, not only a model, but a model citizen.

We first got to know Neva as a model for our vintage line here at Lulu*s. With her deep brown eyes and trendy fringe bangs, Neva has a strikingly beautiful presence, but as you will see, this young woman possesses not only looks, but plenty of heart.

Here, Neva shares her journey into modeling, what you may find her doing in her spare time and what inspired her passion for man’s best four-legged friend.

How did you make your way into the modeling business?

My family is originally from Serbia, but I grew up in Puerto Rico. If you asked where I was from and I could only give one answer, I would say I’m from Puerto Rico. I am so grateful that I was lucky enough to spend my life as a kid in paradise.

As a teenager, I spent a lot of time in Montauk, New York, in the summers. One of my closest friends lived there, so I got a summer job and spent a few summers out there, working and hanging out with her. We’d take the train into the city (Manhattan) a lot, because it was so close and fun and easy.

And one day, I decided to go check out modeling agencies. So I just went to a bunch of open calls, and while I was in the elevator leaving one of the last open calls of the day, I met a photographer who asked me if I wanted to shoot an editorial for V magazine that weekend, which was crazy because I didn’t even have an agency yet but I had just booked a shoot for a really awesome magazine.

So I guess that’s how it started … a bored teenager with a summer job and a metro card, haha.

What do you love most about your job?

The rewards are many, but the best ones to me are the flexible schedules and the travel … but mostly the travel!

I’ve had the opportunity go to some amazing locations for jobs, but even more than traveling for jobs, I love that I can pick up and go to New York (I live in L.A.) for a few months and know that I at least have the chance to go out on castings and try to book work. Having agencies in different cities and just being able to pick up and go live somewhere different to me is awesome.

The summer I was 18, my boyfriend broke up with me, so I flew to Paris. I didn’t have an agency. I had my portfolio, and after a week of running around on open calls, I not only had an agency but an apartment was set up for me. It was a slow time to be in Paris, and I was broke most of the time, but you think I cared? I was running around exploring the city and eating Nutella-filled crepes.

What plans do you have for the future?

My plans for the future change every day, but I am so happy to be able to say that I have found one thing that truly makes me happy and fills me no matter what else I end up having on my plate a few years from now.

I recently went to Guatemala with my boyfriend, and although the area we visited was one of the most beautiful places I have seen (Lake Atitlan), the amount of suffering and starvation when it came to the stray dog population there was heartbreaking. I don’t know if it’s because I grew up with a dog-crazy mother who was always rescuing stray dogs, or if I just have this intense connection with dogs, but being there hurt me so much.

I’ve traveled to many impoverished places before (and yes, I have “smuggled” dogs back to the states and gotten them adopted, more on that on my site), but the Guatemala trip was extra hard. So when I came back to the states, I sat down with my boyfriend and figured some stuff out.

I realized that I have the ability to help on a much bigger level than dragging around a Hefty trash bag of homemade dog food mush that I made in my hotel kitchen and feed to whatever strays I came across while on vacation, and well, that’s how Iheartmutts.com got started. It’s a non-profit group I started to spay and neuter dogs in impoverished areas outside of the U.S.

I’d love it if your readers went on my site since its fairly new, and I love getting feedback and suggestions on any way to make it, and my charity, as great as can be.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, just for fun?

For fun, I read. I have so many books that I LOVE. Some all time faves are Atlas Shrugged, She’s Come Undone, Outliers, Ana Karenina, Bonfire of the Vanities, Kitchen Confidential and Same Soul, Many Bodies. It’s a random grouping, but I just looked over my shoulder and picked some favorites off my bookshelf.

I also love to explore food. A perfect Sunday for me is when my boyfriend and I drive around and try out little food dives. We usually go by word of mouth or an article we’ve read, where someone will randomly mention “oh I had this great burger,” and we like memorize what they ate and where and then barely hear the rest of the conversation or read the rest of the article.

I’ve always said, if I didn’t have a high metabolism I wouldn’t model. Food is too big a part of my life to have to obsess about it. I know girls who eat like a green apple, a hard boiled egg and that’s it. It’s gross and sad and lame all at the same time, but mostly lame. What percentage of the worlds population is starving? And you’re starving yourself BY CHOICE?

Sorry, I just get annoyed because I go to NYC like once a year for few months to work, and I can never find anyone to go explore pizza joints with. So it’s a sore subject.

Describe your style and any fashion trends you follow.

Trends, hmmmm. I can live in black skinny jeans (Jbrand), Black Fiorentini and Baker motorcycle boots and a slinky, low-cut black tank, or a black James Perse tank. That’s my outfit, and I’m sticking to it.

I really don’t follow trends. I believe in quality over quantity. I will splurge and pay a lot of $$$ when I see a piece of clothing I love. Since I am not a frequent shopper, I know my impulses are trustworthy. Like a lacy Dolce & Gabbana top that fits the description impulse buy I wore to death.

I don’t have a statement piece or a specific style, but because of my hair (my bangs), clients always throw me into this weird rocker rebel girl category, and they don’t realize my style is a product of my laziness, haha.

Check out Neva sporting her cute and stylish looks on our vintage page, and don’t forget to visit Neva’s website, Iheartmutts.com, to learn more about her efforts to help stray dogs in third world communities.

STYLE ROOKIE of the YEAR

First of all, she’s 13.

Second of all, she’s adorable.

Third of all, she is one of the best blogger pop culture haute couture vintage fashion experts within the universe of online blogging.

Fourth, she is ssssSO cool LOVE Magazine is sending out fake online editions with her on the cover!

Fifth, she realized the potential of an online interactive audience of millions to reach out to for the Save Darfur campaign. And did it.

Sixth, she has her own t-shirts and hand knit things for sale.

Seventh, she takes her own photographs and edits them all by herself!

Eighth, she layers her vintage finds in a way that age or sophistication couldn’t match, fake, or even try to emulate.

Ninth, she is witty and sarcastic enough to make you read a 13-year-old.

And last but certainly not least:

TEN, her name is TAVI.

Duty Gorn is one of the newest graphic designer/artists to become the talk of the town in the famous and fashionable Milan, Italy. After winning various design contests, including Campari and Volkswagen, he has earned his prestige in the world of graphics and pop art.

Gorn’s work has been featured in numerous galleries in the art district of Brera and throughout Milan and Italy. Optimism abounds in Gorn’s paintings, which embody brilliant and neon hues. Bright ruby red lips are a consistent focal point for many of his pieces.

Fashion photographer Alberto Zanetti recently attended and photographed a party and fundraiser event named Duty For Beauty organized by Silvia Ranzi for a beauty salon in Milan. The pieces were sold and profits went to fund peace efforts.

One of the favorite pieces of the night, The Puzzle for Peace, is an interesting take on painting ordinary objects in out of place settings. Gorn has created a life-sized puzzle cube painted as if a graffiti artist tagged it with an image of a gorgeous super model. Enjoy the pictures of Duty’s latest project sent to us by Alberto Zanetti himself!

Go check Duty Gorn out!

Lulus.com is the perfect place to provide our budgeting fashionistas with the materials they need to make the challenge of taking one fabulous piece and styling it into limitless possibilities. All of us here at LuLu*s have been following The Uniform Project, which takes the concept of transforming the little black dress to a whole new level. 

The creator of this site, Sheena Matheiken, has vowed to wear the same black dress for 365 days to support the cause of education in India. In her blog she explains, “I was raised and schooled in India where uniforms were a mandate in most public schools. Despite the imposed conformity, kids always found a way to bend the rules and flaunt a little personality.”

Not only is this a concept for a cause, but it supports the challenge that many of us are living with in this time of economic turmoil and recession, looking chic everyday of the week while keeping it cheap! Also, this is a great example of breaking out of the business attire and school regulated clothing and getting in touch with our own personal fashion.

Lulus.com offers endless possibilities to make this happen! We suggest investing in the BB Dakota Kay dress [sold out!], or for a younger look, the BB Dakota by Jack Nataliaz Dress in Black  [sold out!] for your staple piece. Try mixing in funky leggings, scarves, belts, and headbands to freshen up your look for less! Pieces I am currently loving include the Heartfelt Cardigan in Grey [sold out!], the Smithsonian Necklace [sold out!], the Carefree crop top in taupe [sold out!], and the Peacock Feather Hair Clip [sold out!].