FAULT Issue 18 Focus section cover star Zara Martin never misses a VIP party. In fact, she’s usually the one who keeps it going all night when she’s spinning the tunes from behind the decks for the international glitterati crowd. Zara is also a model and TV presenter and you’ll often spot her on red carpet style lists or sitting on the front row at fashion week presentations with her countless celebrity friends, including Tali Lennox, Caroline Flack and Miquita Oliver. For FAULT’s RAW issue, we looked underneath the glamour with Zara to discuss her hidden talents, charity work and what her younger self wouldn’t believe about her now.

FAULT: Which came first: your modelling or DJing?

Zara: I started doing some work for MTV back in the day when there weren’t so many girl DJs. So it was the music connection that helped with the DJing but I’ve always had a model agency. I’m not super tall so I never did any catwalk stuff, more commercial work, so all the cool opportunities came from the DJing. The shows that I do on TV are mostly fashion or music based as well.

It’s slightly strange that my first job was given to me by Al Gore. It was really random.

…

So you’re a model, a DJ, a TV presenter and you’re creating a line of headphones… do you have any hidden talents?

Well, I’m working on doing some acting at the moment. I went to drama school before I got into all of this but I never finished it. So in my spare time I’m taking classes and auditioning. I’ll be in LA for pilot season and I’ve just got the trailer through for a short film I worked on with Director Wayne Che Yip called Toledo. I have an American accent in it and it’s all really weird. It’s based on a Charles Bukowski poem called ‘For The Foxes’.

…

What new music are you really pushing at the moment?

I’ve liked Angel Haze for a really long time and it seems like she’s just blowing up at the moment [Ed: FAULT Online featured her recently]. So I’m like ‘see I told you!’ I really like her, she’s just wicked.

Other than that, I love it when acts collaborate and do something a little different like the Iggy Azalea/Charli XCX track ‘Fancy’ is amazing and it kind of reminds me of old Gwen Stefani. I still love The Weeknd, he does this cover of XO by Beyoncé that’s really good!

There are so many good artists about at the moment. It’s hard to pick just one. ..

…

You also manage to fit in time to be an ambassador for Women for Women International…

Women for Women are the most incredible organisation. I met Brita [Fernandez Schmidt], who’s the chairwoman in the UK, and I immediately vibed with her. You know when you just meet someone with such pure energy you just have to know more about them? She’s so inspirational. Every time I see her I feel like I’m not doing enough! So I wanted to get involved. At the moment we’re just working out the best way and I’m trying to get some younger people involved in the organisation and hopefully we’ll be doing some events this year. You’ll be hearing more about it soon.

…

What advice would you give your younger self?

Stop messing around and do some work! I wasted a lot of time in night clubs but I have no regrets. I don’t like to live my life like that.

FAULT MAGAZINE ISSUE 18 – THE RAW ISSUE – IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW

 *FAULT MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY WORLDWIDE*

…Or get your copy digitally via Zinio! 1 year’s subscription = just £14.40