The Central American nation of Costa Rica probably doesn’t get as much press in the United States as their neighbors in Nicaragua and Panama (to the north and south respectively), but it should. Not only is it home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna on the planet (five percent of the world’s biodiversity), but in the last decade or so has proven itself essential to a number of pharmaceutical corporations. Not to mention a coffee bean that (at least in my opinion) rivals Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. With its sweeping, pristine beaches and awe inspiring landscapes, you might not expect to find two of the world’s hottest alt models there.

Alternative models NatyMetal and Yaz hail from Heredia Province, District of San Pablo in Costa Rica. The nickname of their hometown is “Ciudad del las Flores” (City of Flowers), which is appropriate as they are indisputably the most precious of flowers in all of Central America. Their beauty is more than skin deep however, they’re both genuinely sweet ladies and enterprising business women. They own and operate Gorgeous Freaks Alternative Modeling Agency, Gorgeous Freaks Magazine, and Gorgeous Freaks Store. Their list of accomplishments don’t end there, but I’ll let Yaz and Naty speak for themselves.

How long have the two of you been modeling?

Mutual Response: Since 2008. We became models when we got our first shoot by surprise, it was in one of our friend's goth boutiques. We went to the store just to see it and we noticed that they were doing the shoots for the boutique. Our friend who was the owner asked us if we wanted to model for her because she liked our style. We said yes and we modeled with our own clothes. It was fun and the photos came out great.

Naty, what inspired you to want to be a model?

Well I don’t know. When I got my first shoot, I just loved the feeling of getting in front of the camera and seeing the end result. In my country people don’t take alternative modeling into consideration, so that’s why I always tried to get my work out there to prove them wrong.

What inspired you to be a model, Yaz?

I just wanted to express myself through pictures, I love the feeling of putting my crazy ideas into pictures.

Why be an alt model instead of a mainstream model?

Mutual Response: Because alternative modeling is different, it can be versatile and you can be yourself without people judging you and telling you what you have to do.

Are the two of you twins?

Naty: Nope. Haha! Yaz is one year and 4 months older than me.

I can’t help but notice the two of you are diminutive women. How tall are you both?

Yaz: I am 5’2’’Naty: I am 5’1’’Yes we are tiny.

When you date, do you prefer someone your height or taller?

Naty: Haha! I prefer tall guys, most of my friends are tall and it feels great when they hug you.

Yaz: I prefer taller guys too. Once I dated a guy that was the same height as me and I felt like we were an Umpa Lumpa couple! LOL

How do your parents feel about your choice in music and your careers?

Mutual Response: They really support us. It was hard at first, but they got used to it. Haha!

Did you grow up listening to your parents music? What kind of music do they listen to?

Yaz: I grew up listening to my dad’s music, he’s a metalhead. But in high school I found out about Punk Rock music and fell in love with it. Especially Horror Punk.

Naty: Yes, my dad always exposed us to good music, like Heavy Metal or classic 80s music which I also love. In school I decided to listen Black Metal, it’s my favorite genre (and Thrash also), but I listen to all kinds of Metal. I have a favorite band in every Metal genre. I also love Horror Punk a lot and some Psychobilly.

What is Costa Rica like?

Mutual Response: It’s a gorgeous country, but the people are too close minded.Is there a big Metal and Punk scene there?

Yaz: Punk is so underground, it’s not that big and it’s full of 15 year old kids. lol

Naty: The Metal scene here is kind of big, we have gigs like every week, and international gigs like every month. It’s nuts! lol But there’s also people who are into the Metal scene just for fun or to get girls/guys. That sucks, because for me Metal is a way of life not a fashion trend.

Naty, you’re into Metal and Yaz, you’re into Punk. How did that happen?

Mutual Response: It was a result of our personalities. Haha!

What are some of your favorite bands, Naty?

Oh that’s difficult. Haha! I love all kinds of music, but my favs are: Hermh, Onslaught, Gravewurm, Agathodaimon, Abyssaria, Nile, Morbid Angel, Goatwhore, Aborym, Satyricon, Catamenia, Bulldozer, Pain, Antrax, Sonata Arctica, Inactive Messiah, Septic Flesh, Horrorpops, GG Allin, and a loooot more!

What are some of your favorite bands, Yaz?

I love Misfits, Kante Pinrelico, Belphegor, Pain, Bikini Kill, Duran Duran, Rotten Horror, Marduk, Amon Amarth, Blondie, Devo, Dead or Alive, etc.

Do the two of you have disputes as to which is better, Metal or Punk?

Yaz: I know punk is waaay better! Haha!

Naty: Naaah, lol Metal rules the world! (wink) I do know that if Punk didn’t exist certain Metal genres wouldn’t exist, so that’s why I respect Punk. But I just loooove Metal a lot, it relaxes me.

Do a lot of bands come to Costa Rica? Which concerts have you attended?

Mutual Response: We have seen Amon Amarth, Marduk, Misfits, Helloween, Stratovarius, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Satyricon, Morbid Angel, Megadeth, Angeles del Infierno, Leo Jimenez, Strung Out, Slayer, Finntroll, Ensiferum. So yeah, a lot of bands perform frequently, but they come too close together and it’s hard to go to all of them. So that sucks a lot.

Have either of you met any of your favorite bands?

Yaz: I saw Misfits playing, but I didn’t have the opportunity to meet them. (sad face)

Naty: I have met some members of some of my favorite bands online, and some are very good friends, so that’s cool. I saw Satyricon live and they are one of my favorite bands, so that day was amazing. Morbid Angel, I saw them live and met them in person and it was great too! Very nice and down to earth people.

Naty, you seem like such a sweetheart, but I’ve seen some of your scary pics. You look like you could murder someone without blinking. LOL

Haha! Thank you! I just love bloody, gory, scary photo shoots. I am a huge fan of horror movies and photos, music, etc, so that’s why I love doing those kinds of shoots. It reflects who I am sometimes or what I like. But I am a very friendly girl so I wouldn’t murder anyone. Haha! (wink)

Yaz, you look like a tough kick-ass Punk chick in most of your photographs, but I know you’re also a sweetheart like Naty. Are you as tough as you look, or is that just for the camera?

Well it depends on the situation and the people. Haha! I’m a sweetheart with the people I enjoy being with, I’m a bitch with the people I don’t want to meet at all. Haha! Or if someone pisses me off.

Whose idea was it for the Gorgeous Freaks business (magazine, store and modeling agency)?

Mutual Response: We don’t remember who started it. Haha! We both have poor memories.

How many issues of Gorgeous Freaks magazine have you published so far?

Mutual Response: We are working on the 5th issue right now, it will be out in March.

How many models does Gorgeous Freaks Alternative Modeling Agency serve?

Mutual Response: Almost 200.Gorgeous Freaks Store sells clothing and jewelry.

Who does the designs?

Mutual Response: Some of the clothes we bought online. Some designs are by friends, and the accessories are done by us.

You both seem to be doing so much. Is it difficult to manage, or are you having fun doing it?

Mutual Response: We really enjoy it, because we can spend more time together.

Naty, you do web design, graphics. I love your artwork and designs! Did you go to school for art and web design, or did you teach yourself?

Thanks a lot! Yes, I took some web designs courses and also some graphic/animation design courses. I also teach myself, exploring programs on Internet.

Yaz, you also do graphic design and photo manipulation. Did you go to school for it, or did you teach yourself?

I learned online, but three years ago I took some courses to get better.

How did the two of you come to work together? Was it planned, or did it just happen coincidentally?

Mutual Response: We basically spend all of our time together-- haha!-- so it was natural to start working together.

Do the two of you ever compete against each other?

Mutual Response: We have a policy. lol If one of us enters a contest, one doesn’t get involved and the other helps out to get more votes.

Besides yourself, who do you like in your field of modeling, Naty?

Oh, well I like Lilith Ave Satanas, she was one of my inspirations, because she was one of the first metal models. I admire Joan Nakamoto, Elenyx, Razor Candi, Rifka, Diva Satanica, Amelia Dinmore and a lot more.

How about you,Yaz?

I looooove Razor Candi, she’s my idol!

Who are some of the bands you have worked with?

Yaz: Time to Kill, Born to Destruct.

You both have some of the best photographs I have ever seen. Do either of you have a favorite photographer?

Mutual Response: Internationally, we love Tattered Productions from Canada. From Costa Rica, we love all the photographers we have worked with.

Which photographer have you not worked with yet, who you would like to work with in the future?

Mutual Response: With Nea Bristol, their work is simply amazing and we love it! We would love to work with some other international photographers.

Speaking of the future, do you have any other plans aside from what you’re doing now?

Mutual Response: We really want to travel and open our own shop some day.You’re both very sexy and extremely attractive.

Do the two of you get a lot of groupies?

Mutual Response: We don’t consider them as groupies or fans, we consider them as friends and supporters. We are so thankful to have them on our side.

When you’re not working, what do you do with your leisure time?

Yaz: I love to edit photos, hang out with my boyfriend, listen to music, go out with my dad, go to gigs.

Naty: I love taking photos, playing with my doggies, going out with my friends and my dad, playing guitar, doing graphic design.

I want to thank you both for participating in this interview, and I wish you all the success in the world. Are there any last words you want to say to your fans?

Yaz: Thank you soooo much for all your support I really appreciate it!! Love you allll!

Naty: You are very welcome, and best of luck to you too! To all of my friends our there, I really wanna thank you for all of your support and help this year. I really appreciate it, and thanks for believing in my work. *hugs* HAILS!!

Below is a list of websites owned and operated by NatyMetal and Yaz:

www.missnatymetal.com

www.yazaltmodel.com

www.gorgeousfreaks.com

Originally published at Gorgeous Freaks Magazine, reprinted with permission.