Kaep Does It

While sitting down with Veco via video chat, I immediately understand why creatives want to work with him. Poised, cheery, and introspective come through the screen, adding depth to an image that hinges on masculinity and smolder. Connecting to his Instagram bio, “Tio looks with Tia vibes,” Veco speaks in tones that remind you of an aunt or sister. Transcending normative views of expression, the talented model continues to carve out his path in the creative industry.

In an exclusive interview with office, including photos captured by Christian Soria and styling by César Álverez, Veco discusses growth, aspirations, and navigating a new industry.
 

Thank you for taking the time with me. Where are you right now?

I'm at home. This is not my real background. I had construction going on. I was like, 'I can't let them know that I have a mess back here.' It's not even that bad.

Where's home for you?

In Southgate. I grew up in Huntington Park, which is like, it's all Southeast LA kind of area, my parents still live there like 15 minutes away from me. When I first moved out of my parents, I was living in Koreatown. And then I found a place here in Southgate. So I moved back to South East LA which is funny because I never thought I would be back when I left my parents'. I was like, 'I'm done, I'm outta the hood, I'm in Koreatown now.' I thought I was cool. After a few years, I went back to my parents to save up and then found a place in South Gate. And I actually fell in love with it, and it's everything I could want in a place. So I've been living here for four, I think four years now. I love being close to my family and more so how much work my dad and I have put into this place.

What does a typical day look like for you?

If I'm working, so right now, we're still working remotely, which I love because it allows me to do side projects and shoots and stuff. I take my laptop everywhere. I've always had a nine-to-five job, but my true passion has always been photography and just being creative and modeling. I guess I didn't start modeling or felt that I was capable of modeling in a way until thanks to social media. But like three years ago was maybe when things started like popping off. Honestly, every time people ask me, "how did you start?" a lot of people think that I model full time, and it's like, no, like I do it on the side because it's a side hustle in a way, but it's also a passion of mine. So I wish I could afford to do it full-time. I'm not even signed or anything, but I love creating with other creatives. And I love when people think I'm a full-time model. I'm like, 'no, trust me. I'm not.'

I always credit when people ask me how I started. I always credit Fabian Guerrero, who is a photographer from Texas, well he just moved back. But I basically met him in late 2017, and he reached out; we never met, but just through Instagram, like we followed each other. And he asked me one time, "oh, can I shoot you in your cowboy hat? and I was down for it. He came here to my side of town. I went to Maywood and just walked around, shot outside of a laundry mat, and had tacos after. It was my first time meeting him, but it was so chill and comfortable. And it was great that we were able to connect and vibe off each other, even though he's from Texas with a different upbringing than mine here in LA. I feel like it's a little different, but both being Mexican, I think we found common ground. And since then, we've been friends, and we've collaborated maybe like a total of three or four times. I credit him because since then, once we shot those first few images, they were so simple; it was just me and a cowboy hat and a denim skirt. They just blew up on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr at the time when I was still using Tumblr. That's kind of how it started.

After that, more photographers started reaching out, brands, like brands that I would've never imagined that, would even notice me, you know, thanks to Fabian, and things just happened. I always credit him, and I say, like, life is crazy because when I was little, I would say, 'oh my God, I wish I could model or do this and do that.' But I never felt like the look or felt cause I'm short like I'm five, eight. I never thought it would be possible. I think it's the beauty of social media, it makes things happen, and it's opening up doors for people.

Gypsy Sport mascada and underwear, Lick Diablo trousers, HIM NYC shirt 

Projects that you've collaborated on with Fabian are so impressionable. Do you have any other favorite collaborations that you've done?

A lot of people resonated with the magic that we created, the photos that we created. So definitely, those are some of my top favorites. Another surreal moment that I think was a favorite of mine was being able to walk for Willy Chavarria in 2019. I felt like a baby, and my walk was not the best. I'll be honest with myself. I was so nervous, and it was my first time going to New York, and I went by myself. Like I didn't, I never even thought I would go to New York, to be honest, but that happened. So that was a highlight and a favorite memory of mine; just because I was, I'm here like walking New York fashion week. I was mind blown that I was even there and meeting these people. I always feel like it's a blessing, and I'm grateful. Even though I've been doing it for like three years now, it still feels new.

Another shoot that I loved was one that I did for Agency Skincare only because I love skincare and to be able to have been used as a model for them, like for their line of new skincare. It was validating to be like, 'oh my God, I can do different things.' I can do a regular shoot and kind of put the masc face on, but then also do a little bit more fem and do beauty products and stuff. I feel like sometimes, in the past, I was super hard on myself. Growing up, I was a chubby kid. So to be modeling or being looked at in essence of like beauty is wild even to this day. I'm like, 'what?' but I'm glad I'm doing it and because it's a passion of mine and fun.

I want to touch on your intentionality behind how you present yourself, balancing masculine and feminine energy. I love your bio, "Tio looks with Tia vibes." I love that. You're pushing against this norm within Latinx culture and households where gender is very binary. When did you become conscious of these intentions and the fluidity of identity?

I think honestly, okay.So to be completely honest, I'm 31 now. I say my age only because it wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I began to appreciate and become more confident in my masc/fem qualities. It was then that I became much more intentional in expressing myself. But in a way, I'm grateful that I started in the modeling industry later in my life. Like I said earlier about my age, I was way more self-conscious. I don't think I would be even down to fly to New York and walk a show. You know, I feel like I was way too; I could not put myself to do that. I became a little more intentional with that.
My bio, came up organically only because when I met new friends, they would always kind of tell me, Tia, I would just give off that vibe. I mean, at first, it started with looks because I was; I've always been inspired by my cousins and just photo albums. My mom has a ton of photo albums and, you know, the way that my cousins would dress in high school with their Dodger caps and big puffers. Even just my dad would have his wife beater and slacks to be working in the backyard. And his mustache, I've always kind of admired that. And I think, in a way, I admired that because I was in the closet for a long time, but I always wanted to make them proud and be that kind of figure. But I knew deep inside, like I, it was a shortcoming. I don't feel that way now, but at the time I did, because I was, I'm the only boy in my family. So I felt like, not a disappointment, but in a way. My parents probably wanted me to walk these steps that my cousins have, my parents, and my uncles have.

So the looks I do, a lot of my references come from that. And then the vibes come from when I open my mouth and the way I just talk to people, I think it's because of my upbringing. I was raised by women, you know? And they're older; my parents are 70 something. So like my humor and how I relate to people, I feel like it's them in a way. And that's why my bio is that because I feel like that's all that I am. I can be masc looking when I want, but I can also work off my fem-like qualities that I maybe would've shied away from before and now I'm embracing. So it's definitely intentional. And I think that’s important in this day and age. Visibility and to be able to inspire those that might feel the same.

Your modeling career has grown tremendously within the last few years. Although we're in an age where inclusivity and diversity are appreciated, the creative industry still doesn't hold itself to that standard. Have there ever been moments where spaces have felt minimizing or made you feel tokenized?

It's funny that you touch on that because I feel lately I've kind of felt that way. I feel like people liked my look because I had a mustache, and it was really thick. And then one time, I kind of not related, but kind of in a way, like the fetishization, I shaved it, and they didn't want to book me because I didn't have a mustache. And I was kind of like 'I mean, it, that's not all I am,' I love to model, you know, yes, the mustache, I love it. And it was my look, but I think I got tired of it, that's just what they want. It's kinda like a fetish.

I kind of wanted to move away from that. It sucks that then it would take away jobs. In terms of navigating, I would say the fashion industry, for the most part, I think, and maybe it's just because I'm so excited to be involved with it; it hasn't been as negative as people would think it. I do see that brands are highlighting more of these groups of people. But at the same time, I sometimes feel these brands, they'll choose models to work with that are from these kinds of communities, but then the clothes that they are selling to their target audience is such a high price, I don't know anyone personally like I'm not gonna spend $300 on sweatpants. Maybe that's my mom and dad talking through me, but it's like you're targeting this kind look, you know, cholo and hood luxury and stuff. It's almost unattainable to me. Are they also like getting compensated fairly?

I feel like it's more intentional as far as the projects that I say yes to, because I'm like, well, I think we live in a society now that where you have to be aware, it's like read the room. Are you just using these people for hype, or are you actually, what are you giving back to the community. I mean, one time, I did experience that in a way about compensation because I was told I was gonna get this rate, and I wasn't. They didn't pay me what they said they were gonna pay me. And I just went home, and I was still happy. Maybe that's not the smartest thing, but that's just cause I have fun. Like I love it. It doesn't feel like a job to me, but it does suck. And I'm probably not helping because I didn't stand up for myself. But it just sucks for other people, for me to think that they're going through the same thing and we're just getting low balled basically, yet you are making money off of us, but you're not giving back to the community.
 

banzo bermudas 

I definitely understand what you're saying. Although the culture within these spaces and the industry seems like it's shifting, there are still these questions: Are the people on the crew reflecting the talent? Are they reflecting the consumer? I feel that a hundred percent. I want to talk about your connections in Los Angeles and the roots you've created. A collaborator you work with is Los Angeles-based creative Cesar Alvarez, founder of Tótem Magazine. Can you speak to that relationship and your contributions to their latest project, Tótem TV, in partnership with Vans Channel66?

We met a few years ago; he actually reached out because he wanted to feature me. We had not met. We just followed each other on Instagram. He's like, 'oh, I wanna feature you for Tótem's September issue.' And I was so excited cuz September's my birthday month. So I was like, 'oh my God. Even better.' So we met, and we discussed a little bit of his idea for the shoot. He told me about the photography and who he was looking to work with, which was Clifford Prince King. So we met with Clifford, and then we shot a few days later. Since then, we've been just doing little side gigs together. He's so sweet.

He's from Mexico City. And when I met him, I felt like he reminded me of my cousins from Mexico, honestly. Since then, we've been friends, and probably because I'm loud and crazy or whatever, he asked me to be a part of Tótem TV for Vans Channel66. I was like, 'obviously,' I said yes. I trust him for everything. I'm like, 'listen, I trust you. Like with whatever, I'll ride or die.' We've been doing that since I think it's, we did six shows. I only did. I think four, only because two of them were in New York and I wasn't going to go.

That's a great platform; I think more so for an artist because we invite different creatives and always have a DJ there. We have designers, creative influencers and just highlight different groups of creatives and give them a platform to reach a different audience. It's almost like a little talk show, and we ask our questions. Vans literally gave us a platform that you can do whatever you want—we just kind of love to talk to people and get to know other creatives. Tótem wants to create a community, so I think it's great to be able to bring all these kinds of different people into our space and share their stories and highlight them.

Are there any dream collaborations you have or any dreams about the future in particular?

Oh my gosh, well, since I was little, now that I'm modeling, I can kind of scratch that in a way. I would love to; I've always wanted to cover celebrity news, like a host kind of thing, which is funny because yesterday at Vans Channel66, I wanted to be a co-host, and I guess I'm doing it in a sense. I would love to do that or like a fashion kind of correspondence. I feel like that would be so fun. Either if it's in, in Mexico or any, like in Spanish, I'd be so down.

I also would love to hopefully even do work with movement, like art direction for movement, music videos. I feel like that'd be cool. Just to be on set and not even be the one in front of the camera. Like I just love to be there and just take everything in. So I think to direct somebody or direct a shoot would be something amazing that hopefully will happen in the future.

You're taking the industry by storm, so those dreams seem very realistic. Is there any advice you'd give to an aspiring model or creative who has a similar background or may think it's too late for them to pursue creative projects?

I feel like I was never the most confident person. I think later in my years; I grew that confidence. Dealing with life and putting yourself first. I think you should always want the best for yourself. Sometimes we forget because we give so much of ourselves to other people that we forget about ourselves. I think just always putting yourself first and trusting in your gut, and just being open to opportunities. I feel like sometimes we get in our head and we feel that we're not good enough right away, and so we just close off any kind of, even if there's like a slight interest and someone wants your input on something, and you're too scared to even just like open your mouth and share your ideas.

We all have a special something in us and own it and be confident in that. To me, it was like being confident with who I was as a person—the balance of being femme and masc, like carrying those and walking with my head up high. I feel like there's magic in that, and people will see that and resonate.
 

banzo bermudas, nike shoes, Gypsy Sport mascada, HIM NYC shirt 

That was very inspiring. Before we end, I want to talk about the beautiful images taken by Christian Soria and styled by Cesar Alvarez. In a few of the pictures, there are religious aspects, including a cross. In Latinx culture, Catholicism is very prevalent and has a massive influence on how one's raised. Can you speak to your experience with the church and how you explored your identity, like how you talked about coming out later in life and balancing expectations?

I love the photos too because of the whole, like the cross and the religious aspect. I also think my style, in a way, sometimes is influenced by growing up in a Catholic household. My parents, like I said, my parents are in their 70s, so they had me; they were like 40. They've always been involved in the church. Like, honestly, I could get married if I want to, like, I already had my confirmation done.

When I turned 18, my mom let me kind of do my own thing and didn't push me to go to church. I mean, she would say little side comments, as you know, they always do, but you just kind of shrug it off, ignore it. My style, I kind of like Catholic schoolboy looks, I'm influenced by a lot, but growing up, that's why I think I came out so late because I didn't wanna be a disappointment to my family. It didn't help that when I, where I grew up, literally the street where I grew up, all my mom's side of the family lives on that street, like, my Tia is across the street. My cousin Ruby is two houses down. My Tio is three houses down like my other cousin's on the corner. I felt like I couldn't come out because there's no way; everyone's gonna know, the whole block is gonna be like, 'oh, you know, there's the gay boy.' Yeah. So I just couldn't come out. I had friends that knew of my identity. I had a journal that I would write things in. My sister found my journal, and she called me asking, 'Veco, who is this guy's name that you write here?', then I told her I'm gay.

There was a Sunday with my mom, she was like, 'Oh, I'm gonna take you to church with me because I don't believe, if you say you're gonna go by yourself, you're not gonna go' which was true. So we're driving, and I told my sister, Julie, before we left, I was like, 'I'm gonna come out.' Finally, we're turning into the parking lot. And I asked her, 'why are the views in religion of the gay community so awful?Like people claim that gay people are gonna go to hell.' She's like, 'well, what does it matter? Who's gay?' I told her me, and she was shocked to say the least. Honestly, my mom and me, like after I came out, we had a horrible time, which is why I moved out to Koreatown. I was scared to come out to my dad, and my dad was like the opposite of my mom. It did take a strain on our relationship and my family. I feel like for a while; I felt like I lost a lot of time. It's been ten years later, and it took literally like she just came around, probably like last year.

It was very stressful, and I think that's why in a way, it was weird to me to kind of like when Fabian reached out, and things started happening, something that I only dreamed of as a kid, and for people to hype me up or resonate with me in a way. Sometimes I think deep down. It's almost like I don't feel worthy. I'm always so grateful for every opportunity because I know they can choose anybody else. And I love what I do. I think it's an amazing experience. And I always say life is crazy because I would've never imagined where I'd be right now and be able to meet these people and be in this kind of room. Even when I did the Gypsy Sports show, I told like Rio, the designer, I was like, 'this is like, I'm reclaiming my time.' Because when I walked in New York fashion week for Willy, I hated my walk. But when I was in the Gypsy show, like even being backstage, this model looked at me, and I was like, 'oh my God, you're always just smiling when I look at you.' But it's like, I'm just grateful to even be in that space with everybody else. I feel like I'm worthy, you know? Even though I tell myself that and I'm confident even more than I was ten years ago. It's a beautiful feeling, like wow, I'm worthy of being here.