Photographed & Interviewed by DANIELA MAJIC Make-up/ Hair & Nails by JILLY IJOE Assistant & Video by ALEX FRANKLIN RACHEL is represented by Peggi Lepage Models & Plutino Models Styled by DANIELA MAJIC & JILLY IJOE, Clothing provided by KITSU BOUTIQUE (kitsu.ca)
Follow Rachel on Social media: Instagram: @rachelromu
GIRL: Tell us about yourself? R: I grew up in the rural city of Thunder Bay ON. and spent my childhood training as an competitive gymnast. I also started playing the piano at a young age, because I admired my older brother as he was learning the instrument with my Mom. Most of our time together as a family was spent at our cottage that was just thirty minutes from home, and in Ft. Lauderdale FLA. each spring for a number of weeks. I moved to Toronto when I was eighteen to train for the Olympics, as I’d grown too tall for gymnastics and progressed to track and field. The summer of 2010, I’d represented Team Canada at the inaugural Youth Olympics Games, all the while keeping secret that I was in excruciating pain and beginning to suspect that there was something more serious than ‘growing pains’ going on. A lot has gone on between then and now, where I’ve had spine surgery twice, been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, began working as a freelance Digital Strategist, fashion model, Accessibility Consultant, and musician. 54
