Senne Helmer poses for the lens. *Photo by Marcel Koch*

By Tom Victoria

Senne Helmer didn’t realize he was destined to be the subject of the lens.

The Netherlands model began last year after being contacted by an agency.

“I got a DM from management, which had to start up again since they quit years ago because of some health issues with the manager,” Senne said. “He wanted to restart it, so he reached out to me and asked if I could model for him. I will get a free photo shoot and we will see how it will go.”

Senne, 19, didn’t pass up the opportunity.

“I really enjoyed it,” he said. “For me, it was getting a second chance. When I was 16 years old, I went to the store and it was Joop!. It's big in the perfume world and suits world. They asked me if I wanted to model there, but I was really scared because it would never happen to me. Getting questions like that. I wasn't really born as the pretty guy or the guy that could model, so I was so scared.”

Consequently, Senne passed on the offer.

“I just bought the suit and I walked out,” he said. “I always regretted not making that decision. Ever since then, I said to myself, whatever comes your way, give it a try. If it isn't for you, don't do it. I also had a period of singing. I went under music management. I really cannot sing, so don't ask me to sing. But it was just trying. That's what it was all about for me, getting in those experiences.”

Senne explained what he likes about modeling.

“What I like the most about modeling is the fact that my hard work from improving on myself has paid off and it makes me feel proud of myself,” he said. “It has made me accomplish something.”

Senne didn’t let naysayers prevent him from trying new things.

“No matter what people at school would tell me or say about me, for me it was do what you want and that's how you should live it,” he said. “Don't care about what other people say about you because they will always have opinions and sometimes you just gotta stop giving a shit. And that's how I got rolled into modeling.”

Senne’s work with a larger brand postponed other work.

“We were supposed to start last summer with some brands, but we got this big client and their contract was so big that we really couldn't shoot with other small brands,” he said. “Those had to be put aside.”

Senne still stayed busy, though.

“But that doesn't mean I have been doing nothing this year,” he said. “I have worked in a restaurant for a few months, I also have had a job in the sales which both have made me socially better which will be important for when I will open my own restaurant when I'm older.”

Senne’s social media posts have been a boon to his career.

“When it comes down to social media my socials have been doing pretty well,” he said. “Instagram is growing and has given me some new modelling opportunities. One is a water bottle campaign and the other for youth camping with all kinds of activities — which both sound like fun to me — also will start soon so I'm really looking forward to the upcoming months in my life and where it will take me.”

Senne was discovered through social media.

“He saw a TikTok of mine,” he said about the agency manager. “He thought that I would be a good guy for modeling. He reached out to me and from the first shoot, he said I had a lot of talent for it. I'm also teaching some new guys. I'm trying to let them become better models because he really says I have a lot of talent for it. Those new guys are also really excited for modeling.”

Senne is a bit of a perfectionist.

“I'm a very critical person, so I zoom into every picture that's made of me,” he said. “I go, okay, this can be better. Whilst other people, they really wouldn't see it or they really wouldn't care that much about it. It's maybe because I go to the gym a lot. I always look where I can improve on and that has its good sides but also its downsides.”

Despite Senne being very photogenic, he remains humble about his looks.

“I take a lot of pictures and just a few out of all of them are for my socials,” he said. “Also made a story, put on a bad picture or an ugly picture where you see me going in the middle of the picture I wrote this is a photo you will not see in my post. That's the reality of social media that you can sometimes show your followers that it isn't 24/7 the photogenic law.”

Senne keeps his expressions from becoming fake.

“I really try to make myself look as natural as possible, not to think a lot when I'm taking these pictures,” he said. “For now, it's accept the things you have and work with the tools you have.”

Before modeling became a reality, Senne posted just to keep up with TikTok and other social media.

“I also had to keep my Instagram updated a few times, but mostly I did it through stories, not really through posts,” he said. “But my manager told me you really got to make more posts because that way it's an extension of your portfolio. That way you also get more clients, so I started doing that. One post of mine already has — not that it's really a lot — 1,200 likes or something like that. I was like, this doesn't happen to me. Sometimes, I'm still stunned by how successful sometimes a post can be. It may not be a million compared to Shawn Mendes or something like that. Still a thousand. I believe you should be grateful for every like you get.”

Senne pointed out contemporary modeling isn’t just about having the prettiest face anymore.

“Going down a runway or having a photo shoot is also about looking quite unique,” he said. “There are some pretty guys here in my town and I believe they would probably make better models than I am, but they're not. I believe it has to do with that uniqueness.”

Senne cited one model as an example.

“On TikTok, I also saw this guy Calum Harper,” he said. “He's one of the biggest models in this age. That doesn’t mean he isn’t good-looking or course, but in a unique standout way instead of a typical pretty guy way.”

Senne said happy expressions are harder than less cheery ones for him.

“My manager says the expressions I'm good at are mostly looking mad because I can really make my eyes look really big and make a frown,” he said. “I believe smiling pictures are a difficult one for me. That's a weakness of mine. Some different angles don't really work for me. You gotta find your strong suits and also address your weak points and try to work on them. So my smiling, I've been working with some pictures. For an Instagram post, there's one that I really like. That's something I'm proud of: to see that improve.”

Senne stressed models must possess patience.

“Some jobs are being postponed or sometimes you don't get a job, so you also need to have patience for that,” he said. “But also during the shoots, you need to have a lot of patience for the right picture. Sometimes, my manager wants me to adjust my pose just a little bit and then you gotta wait until it's just right or the camera won't focus the right way on you. Sometimes, the camera can't take any more pictures because it's already full. Then you gotta replace the chip with a new one and then you gotta wait for that.”

Senne explained some photo shoots are lengthy.

“It's also pretty long,” he said. “Some shoots are also a full day. Some people I know had a 9-to-5 modeling shoot. Pays really well but gotta be in there for a long time. I still have got to do one of those but I've done a home shoot recently for my portfolio, which was shirtless. We try to work on that one because I also do some underwear modeling. That's also pretty new for me. But why not? It is a job.”

However, gawkers shouldn’t expect any shirtless pics being posted online.

“I really wouldn't post myself on social media myself without a shirt,” he said. “That's something I wouldn't do. But when it's for a job, it's different for me. You have different reasons to do it because then I'm not doing it for the attention. I'm doing because it's my job. When I would post myself shirtless on social media I would know this is the attention that I'm getting. And truth is I do not need a lot of girls chasing me or a lot of guys chasing me. I do not need it.”

Senne said he wants people to like him as a person.

“I don't want to be an object of lust,” he said. “I want people to watch me because they enjoy my content and enjoy the person I am. The most followers I've gained are through my TikTok lives. People ask me questions, really get to know me. They say, I really enjoy watching your lives. They make my day. That means a lot because that means that I'm more than the thirst trap you see on TikTok.”

Senne started doing TikTok to pass the time.

“Cringy type content,” he said. “I was a crazy TikToker. Not really proud of it. But it all started when I was in Iceland. I had a moment of boredom during my holiday. I'd film the Blue Lagoon and then I say, place you need to visit. And then the worst village in the Netherlands and it's called Urk. They're the biggest meme of all in the Netherlands. Those people are probably okay, but it's known for being one of the worst villages in the Netherlands.”

Senne kept going with content.

“After that, I just rolled into making TikToks,” he said. “Some were relatable. I've always enjoyed making relatable content, but some were really, really cringe. I also stopped lip syncing TikToks except for some acting TikToks because I was like, this isn't the guy that I really want to be. I wanted to make people laugh or enjoy the outfits I make and not be the guy that won't make people go, oh, he's so pretty. If I were to be in a relationship and the girl that I'm with, I wouldn't want her to feel uncomfortable by those comments.”

Senne has his own clothing brand, Senuf.

“When I was in high school, I started a clothing brand with a friend of mine, but it was more his brand,” he said. “I modeled a bit for him and really enjoyed modeling for him, but it wasn't really my passion. The designs weren't really mine, so that's the reason I stepped out of it and didn't really think of it until last year.”

Senne selected a motif from a TikTok trend to identify a successful lifestyle.

“There was a strength about Starboy,” he said. “And then something clicked to me and I say, right, let's make not just Starboy, but let's think about Stargirl. What if you were to put those two together? Then you'd have a Starlife and I would make the Starlife Collective, because I want it to be more than just friends. I want it to be a way of looking at life. You always gotta put your best foot forward. You gotta try and be healthy. Try to connect with other people.”

Senne sells hoodies and T-shirts.

“I'm also working on the knitwear right now,” he said. “Once I'll have my budget, then I'll launch a bulk so people really can order. It's not yet for sale, but I'll make a knitwear about grabbing coffee together and enjoying the time you have together. That's the next one that I'm working on.”

Senne is expanding apparel with the star design.

“I also have this one in design for women's,” he said. “Still gotta sample that one. This will be gold and the back will also be gold.”

Senne is taking a gap year from college to focus on modeling and other endeavors.

“For now, it's focusing on social media and modeling and everything that comes with it,” he said. “And after that, I'll probably study psychology if this doesn't work out. I can be a therapist or do something with humans. Maybe one day, I'll write or do something that will help society, so that's something I'm also looking forward to do. I want to finish that study. But let's say modeling will go really well, then I'll probably do an online study. That way I can mix it better with my modeling life.”

Senne wants to help others in work and recreation.

“I probably want to become a therapist or open my own jazz cafe,” he said. “I want to make this cafe or little restaurant in Utrecht. I want it to be a bright, clean, aesthetic little place. Then close the doors for an hour, make everything turn red, give it a warm vibe, cozy vibe to it. Then in the night there will be a little jazz. Maybe people can enjoy that evening together by connecting.”

Senne expressed his love of jazz.

“That's something I'm really passionate about,” he said. “I believe it's music at its truest form. You get these instruments and it sounds so pure. It isn't auto tuned, it isn't anything that sounds really electrical.”

Senne stays fit by working out.

“Five days when I'm not skipping leg day,” he said. “But my legs don't really lose muscle that much so that's why I often skip them. Right now, I'm focusing on main gaining, so building a bit of muscle, losing a bit more fat. That's because I'm not allowed for my modeling jobs to really gain muscle or gain a lot of fat. Just gotta focus on being leaner and maintain the muscle I have. So that's why I don't really cut or bulk.”

Senne initially wasn’t consistent.

“I decided to stay consistent,” he said. “I told myself, all right, you're gonna lose your weight, but not by cutting it immediately. Since then, I lost 10 kg (more than 22 pounds) within eight months. I've maintained the muscle I have, if not gained a bit of muscle. Last time, I wrapped 19 kg for six reps. But just a week ago, I wrapped 85 kg for seven reps, so that's quite a progression.”

Senne set a limit on consumption.

“I don't really diet, but I just eat when I'm hungry,” he said. “That's my rule right now. That way, I haven't lost any muscle and just lost fat.”

Senne stays motivated by doing what he wants to do, not going along with the crowd.

“As a kid, I've never really fit in,” he said. “I always did the things I like and other people always said something about it. I just started high school and people were talking trash about the things I like to do. I know they got to me and I let it change me. Eventually, I fit in a bit, but not because I was me. I was someone they wanted me to be. Once I went to my new high school and started TikTok, I thought to myself: this time, it isn't going to happen.”

Others ridiculed Senne until his following grew.

“When I came to that school, I just had 2,000 followers and all of those people were trying to make fun of me,” he said. “Now all those people come to me and say, you really made it. I don't believe I really made it. But they tell me right now you're doing a great job, this and that, even though they were the guys that will make fun of me. So I just told myself, keep being true to yourself. That's how I kept being motivated for TikTok.”

Senne does social media to make somebody’s day.

“Ever since I was a kid, I always enjoyed being the guy that could entertain people,” he said. “That's always been a big passion of mine. Or make people laugh or people happy. That's also why I started TikTok.”

Senne advised future content creators to not let anything prevent them from starting.

“All those people that are going to trash talk about you, they will not say face to face,” he said. “They're either someone from social media that doesn't have the balls to say it to you in real life. As long as you're being you, what is wrong with posting yourself on social media? Just stay true to yourself and do what you enjoy. Don't let other people ruin it. That's how I just kept going, because I've had a lot of reasons to quit.”

Senne said it’s better to not succeed than never try.

“If it is what you love and if it is something that you want to do, do it,” he said. “Within a year or two, when you're in high school, you will not see these people again, you will not hear from them again. You will just keep doing what you love and maybe be successful at it. If it fails, it fails. But you can at least look back at your life and say you've tried and not regret never trying.”

Senne’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senne_helmer/

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