Highlights from Tessa Virtueās Vogue Japan Interview, pt. 2
- On being asked about her and Scottās relationship: she sees the questions as praise for their ācreationā up until now (the word used is ä½å which is used for creative output like works of art, novels, songs, musicals etc.) and interprets it as a testament to the love and respect sheās forged with her partner. Their partnership is stronger than ever and theyāve put all of themselves into making it that way so she can say that with confidence. She doesnāt know the best label for what they are, but is aware that itās important for the rest of the world to be able to categorize what they are. In any case, itās unique and special and she isnāt really able to put a name to it other than āthis.ā They are best friends, business partners, and each otherās biggest fans. She says Scott is the most charismatic, sincere, and warm-hearted person, and from the bottom of her heart sheās happy to have been able to grow up and live in this world with him.
- Scott came running from Shin-Yokohama to the shoot and was checking the photos earnestly. Scott knows how much she likes fashion and how she admires Vogue. She only told Scott and Jeffrey Buttle about the shoot in advance, and they were both āas happy as if it had been their own good news.ā
- Previously at SoI in Japan, Tessa had said sheād love to be in Vogue someday. Dare she say it, she likes fashion even more than skating and dance. It was an amazing experience for her to touch the depth of the fashion world through her collaboration projects and sheās grateful for the opportunity. She likes the creative process and all the small details involved.
- When asked if she wants to be like Victoria Beckham, leaving one field to pursue fashion full-time, Tessa says that itās not impossible but that it would require lots of study and commitment. Sheās more interested in studying business and marketing at the moment.
- She had creative influence in the design of her costumes and worked with Mathieu Caron in Montreal, taking into account the entire program, from the story to the choreography to the music. She says the most important part of a skating costume is that it emphasizes the quality of the skating, rather than overpowering it. The interviewer asked about the cutout design of the MR costume and if itās easier for Scott to hold bare skin as opposed to a flesh-toned panel; Tessa laughingly responded that bare skin just looks better.
- About the new rules for menās and ladiesā singles, she said as an ice dancer itās not really her place to comment, but that the rule change should be applied carefully and that the skatersā response is important. Skating is physically strenuous and rules should be in place to protect young skaters from injury, because their careers after skating are much longer. She thinks the debate between judgesā scores and the artistic/athletic ability of skaters is one that will continue eternally. She believes the rule change will cause everyone to reconsider artistry, ingenuity, creativity, expression, etc.
- FoI is the longest show sheās done, at 3.5 hours. Seeing just how popular Yuzuru Hanyu is in Japan is eye-opening, but sheās not surprised because heās so prolific. Heās very kind and always looking out for others, but the difference between when heās under pressure and not is huge. No-pressure Yuzu is like a kid.
- She talked with Yuzuru about his goals for FoI and he said heās been chasing the same dreams since childhood. It seems like the 4.5-rotation quad axel is his biggest motivation at the moment.
Part one: http://fukiko.tumblr.com/post/174932646450/highlights-from-tessa-virtues-vogue-japan
