Olga Dashivets is a Ukrainian model successfully building an international career in New York, working in one of the world’s most competitive fashion capitals. She collaborates with brands, participates in creative projects, and proves that being a modern model is not only about beauty, but also about discipline, professionalism, and constant growth. Yet her story goes far beyond the fashion industry. Alongside modeling, Olga manages a dental laboratory in the United States, combining the creative world of fashion with the high-tech medical field. She initiated the development of a specialized application for laboratory operations, which is already being used professionally and has the potential to scale. In an exclusive interview with GOSSIP, Olga spoke about life in New York, the realities of American modeling, competition and opportunities, the most important projects of her career, and managing a business in the United States!
The modeling industry often looks like a beautiful fairy tale, but behind the scenes, it requires resilience and constant work on yourself. What did you discover about this profession once you experienced it from the inside?
From the inside, modeling turned out to be much more subjective than I had imagined. A lot depends not only on your appearance or professionalism, but also on whether the timing, the trend, the specific client, and the person who discovers you all come together. You can be very good at what you do and still simply not fit the type they are looking for at that particular moment, and that does not mean there is anything wrong with you. I also face a lot of rejection, and of course, sometimes I get upset, but gradually you realize that you cannot appeal to absolutely everyone. In this industry, connections, intuition, and the human factor are extremely important. Another thing that surprised me was the huge number of unpaid jobs. Personally, I do not consider this normal, even if it is common practice in creative industries. So the beautiful image you see on a magazine cover is only one part of modeling. Behind it are rejection, searching for work, constant adaptation, and the willingness to keep going after an unsuccessful casting.
And how intense is the competition in this environment?
The competition is truly intense because in New York you constantly see beautiful, talented, and incredibly diverse people who want to work in the industry. But I would say there is no simple formula like “good model = lots of work.” So much depends on what type of person the market is looking for at a particular moment, because trends are constantly changing. Today, they may be looking for a certain ethnicity, distinctive features, plus-size models, or other unconventional types, and tomorrow the trend may shift again. I do not always fit what is currently trending either, and I understand that perfectly well. That is why I try not to take rejection personally: if you do not match a specific brief, it simply means that this is not your moment. At the same time, I believe professionalism, strong connections, and the ability to work well with people are extremely important – and those qualities can open the door to a new opportunity.
The modeling industry is constantly evolving: beauty standards, requirements, and even the definition of a successful model are changing. How do you see modern modeling in New York?
Modern modeling has changed significantly, and traditional standards are no longer the only possible ones. Today, a model can look completely different: requirements regarding height, measurements, and appearance are changing, while brands are increasingly looking for people with distinctive features. Personally, I am more drawn to classic modeling and the standards I associate with the era of Claudia Schiffer and Victoria’s Secret. That image is still a benchmark for me, and I do not want to abandon it simply because the market is moving in a different direction. At the same time, I understand that I cannot stop this process, nor do I want to fight it – it simply exists, and that is also part of the industry. I continue to follow my own standards because that is what makes me feel comfortable, and trends, as we know, have a way of coming back.
Olga, every model has a fashion benchmark. What brand or project is your personal dream today?
If we are talking about one specific dream, it is definitely Victoria’s Secret. I really love the brand’s aesthetic and the image of modeling that I have associated with it since childhood. At the same time, I cannot say that I dream of working with only one brand, because I am interested in different fashion houses, each with its own history and character. I believe that if I continue working and developing in the right direction, I could be interesting to many of them. But Victoria’s Secret is the one I would especially love to work closely with one day – to become part of a major project for the brand. For me, that would be a very special professional milestone because it represents the image of the fashion industry that I genuinely love. And, of course, it would be incredible to see myself walking in the Victoria’s Secret show one day and think: “Yes, I did it!”
You are also currently managing a dental laboratory in the United States. Tell us how this chapter of your life began.
I came to work at a dental laboratory completely by chance. I saw a job posting on Facebook for a Sales Marketeer position, applied, and got the job. My role was to communicate with dental clinics and attract new clients. I enjoyed it because I had also worked in sales in Kyiv and had always loved communicating with people. But over time, I became more interested in the processes behind the business, started suggesting my own ideas, and doing more than was officially part of my responsibilities. When the owner offered me a management position, I initially thought about modeling, but then decided, “Why not?”, even though I had no management experience at all.
As I became more involved, I started building systems, creating spreadsheets and schedules, controlling processes, and thinking about product quality, clients, and the laboratory’s development. This need for organization eventually led to the idea of creating our own application. I tried several dental software solutions, but some were too expensive while others were inconvenient. At one point, I thought: if the existing solutions do not work for us, why not create our own? At first, I simply experimented with AI and builder tools, but today the application is already being used in the laboratory. It helps manage tasks, drivers’ routes, deliveries, notifications, and statistics. For me, it is a very natural process: I love structure and organization, but at the same time, I enjoy creating something new. So even in what may seem like purely managerial work, I find a lot of creativity.
Olga, you have realized yourself in several completely different professional fields. Is it easy to combine such different roles?
I have never been good at choosing just one thing and, honestly, I do not see the need to. I enjoy combining different fields because I find something of my own in each of them: creativity in modeling, structure and growth in business, and the opportunity to create something new in technology. I do not try to separate these roles strictly or decide who I should be first. On the contrary, I like the fact that one field complements another and gives me new knowledge and opportunities. I think the key is to manage your time properly and not take on things that you are genuinely not interested in. I do not want to limit myself, so as long as something interests me, I try it, develop, and see where it takes me.
Olga, what dreams are still waiting to be fulfilled, and what goals are you most eager to achieve?
Right now, I want to continue developing in technology and complete IT training. I am also considering attending dental school because this field has always interested me. I have retained a lot of knowledge about dentistry, and I would like to deepen it, especially since I already understand the laboratory side of the profession very well. In modeling, I am interested in different fashion houses and the opportunity to work with them at a serious level. But most importantly, I do not want to define myself by a single title. I do not know whether, ten years from now, I will call myself a model, entrepreneur, businesswoman, or doctor. I simply want to keep learning, trying new things, and creating something useful!
