Miriam Veil: fetish model & full time Femme Fatale

I’ve been a fan of the intoxicating beauty that is Miriam Veil for years. I met her in London and photographed her in my incredible gothic dreamland of a hotel room - The Chateau Denmark. Miriam has created a life doing full time fetish modeling and performing and she carries herself with a grace and charm that for me personally, felt absolutely divine to experience. I sat down with her in my romantic gothic palace hotel room for a quick chat about her life in London working in the fetish scene and being a professional muse and beauty. I am forever inspired by the powerful women I meet who create their own magical world and live inside of it day in and day out.

Bask in her divine femme fatale energy by checking out her instagram here: link

Leo: Miriam where are you from originally?

Miriam: I’m originally from Italy. Yeah, I’m Italian. I moved to London 8 years ago and I love it here so much.

Leo: What motivated you to move to London?

Miriam: I was 21 and I’m from a very tiny village in the South of Italy. My village is very conservative and close minded and I was very bored and  always dreamed of going to a big city. There wasn’t much going on. So I was like, where should I go? I can go basically anywhere. So that’s when I decided to move to London.

Leo: Were you into fetish modeling in Italy?

Miriam: Oh no. I’ve discovered this world here in London. We have a big fetish community here. I started modeling here in London. It started out as a joke. Some guy messaged me on facebook and wanted to take pictures of me. And that’s how I started and I eventually found my style. I had interest in latex and I just went from there.

Leo: And now you’re doing this full time?

Miriam: Yes. I’m a full time model and muse. Modeling for me is working different events, fetish events, fashion shows, anything related to fetish.

Leo: Does your family know about your life as a full time fetish model and muse in London?

Miriam: Yeah, I think they do. They should know from my instagram. I guess, like, I became famous. So yeah, they must see what I get up to. They don’t ask questions. I don’t think people in Italy truly get it. It’s not part of the culture. Wearing latex and leather is part of my everyday now but where I’m from, people just don’t understand.

Leo: I’m always interested in how people who follow their dream and do exactly what they want to do- how that might affect their relationship with their family.

Miriam: Yeah, it’s been weird at times. I was trying to figure things out and find myself in this city and explaining that to my family was confusing. I was shaping myself. It was difficult, but I’m very happy with what I do. I have no shame. I don’t feel I should have any shame when my family asks me, ‘What did you get up to today?’ and I say, ‘Well, I did some photo shoots and I worked at this event where I was collared and a gorgeous woman was walking me around.’ Yeah, I get paid for it.

Leo: What’s your experience in the kink community been like here in London?

Miriam: I feel like everyone knows each other. It’s a big community but every time I go to an event I will see the same faces. It’s very nice to be part of a big community here in London. There are so many parties- London is very active when it comes to kink.

Leo: You mentioned during our photo shoot that you do waist training while I was cinching up your corset around your itsy bitsy tiny waist. Can you tell me about that?

Miriam: Oh yeah, that’s my passion. I just love restricting myself with these stupid corsets.

Leo: How do you feel when you’re restricted?

Miriam: I just feel safe and it’s a hug for me in many ways. It feels amazing. I started a few years ago, trying corsets and trying to get them smaller and smaller. I think my waist is now 18 inches in a corset. Oh, what a wonderful shape.

Leo: Who are some of your fashion inspirations?

Miriam: Dita Von Teese is my icon. She’s number one. I love her early work- she used to do more fetish work. I really look up to her, not just for her fetish look, but for her entire glamorous vibe. She’s my number one queen.

Leo: You said you met your boyfriend on Tinder 7 years ago. Is he part of the fetish community as well?

Miriam: No. I like to keep things separate. I like to do my own thing and have my private life. I don’t think we should always be in each other's world. But he supports my work. In fact that’s how I started my journey as a model. He would take pictures of me from the very beginning and that was how I became confident around the camera. You know, he created a safe environment for me. That was the beginning of my career. It’s so nice to share it with him.

Leo: What do you do in London when you’re not at fetish events?

Miriam: I like going out with my girlfriends and finding nice boujee places. I love art galleries and restaurants. I’ve been to many other cities but I feel like London has everything. If I leave here it will only be for a few months. I will always come back to London.

Leo: You are the most exquisite creature and I’m so happy I was able to photograph you and chat with you.