On a quick browse of the Gram, one might be forgiven for confusing Cori Wood with her sister, influencer Ashton Wood – the family resemblance is pretty hard to mistake – but in 2019, Cori is making her own mark on the Instablogging world. Quitting her full-time job late last year and going on to sign with Vivien’s model agency, Cori has already been capturing the attention of numerous fashion labels as well as steadily growing her own personal IG following.
It’s not hard to see why… just take a look at the shots.
I first had the pleasure of meeting Cori on the Gold Coast late last year when I flew there to do a shoot with her and Ashton for Murad Skincare. The two of them had been using the brand’s Outsmart Blemish range and we were there to capture the results. One thing that surprised me was how switched on both sisters were – they exuberated professionalism throughout both the shoot and the following interview. It was clear they know how to work a career out of a passion. And work it well.
While Cori might be just getting started, we are definitely pegging her as someone going places in 2019. Here, we sit down with the 23-year-old to find out a little more…
Can you tell me a bit about your background?
I was born and bred in Queensland on the Gold Coast. After school, I followed my sister [Ashton]’s footsteps. Being 17 and a bit lost, I thought I wanted to be a TV presenter and do what Ashton was doing [Ashton was at university for media at the time], but once I started studying journalism – I realised that it wasn’t something I enjoyed or had a passion for. I ended up deferring uni and taking on a full-time job at an event’s management company called Cross Promotions. I worked there for a year. In the beginning it was a receptionist role, and then I ended up doing more of their social media and marketing. I left there last year and have been really getting into Instagram and the modelling side of things. It’s a competitive industry – but I think if you can put yourself out there and have a good agent and hustle, then you can get work.
Are you enjoying the modelling and influencing work?
I love this kind of work. It’s really fun and you meet really great people. You get to travel… and hopefully I can do more stuff with Ashton. Now that we’re older and we’re going in the same direction – I think we’re going to do more things as sisters together, which would be really fun!
I love how close you two are. Have you always got along so well?
We went through a funny stage living together – I think living together wasn’t the best thing [for our relationship]. We had silly sisterly fights – borrowing each other’s stuff and things like that… but that’s just sisters! We’ve definitely built a stronger relationship now that we’re older. We’re very alike but very different at the same time. Since she’s moved back to the Gold Coast, we’re hanging out more and doing some work together and vlogs and taking more photos and content together.
Can you talk me through what a normal day in your life looks like?
It’s definitely not the 9-5 office job anymore! For me, I love being out and about. I’ll probably start my day getting up and having a lemon water and some breakfast, normally oats – and then get a coffee. I’ll go for a beach walk or a beach swim if I have the time. If I have work early, I’ll go to the gym in the morning – do a circuit training with Ashton and her boyfriend. I’ll then get ready and go home – plan my day. I like to write down what I need to get done in the day. Then I’ll either go on set to a modelling job or fly to Sydney… it really varies week-to-week depending on what jobs are on, some weeks might be busier than others. I also recently got hired as a PA for Emily Hembrow – so I help her a couple of days a week doing some things for her.
What type of things do you do for Emily?
I’m just her personal assistant – helping her with things like editing her videos or doing her grocery shop. I’ll do that a couple of days a week and then do my modelling work around it.
How did you start working with Emily?
She actually reached out to me. A girl who I’d worked with at Cross Promotions recommended me and passed on my number and then Emily just messaged me. She just had a second baby, which is why she needed some extra help. I just help her as much as she needs, twice a week at the moment – so that’s really great. She’s happy to be really flexible with me.
Can you tell us what your Day on A Plate looks like? Are you a pescatarian like Ashton?
To be honest, I can be funny with meat. I’m not pescatarian or vegetarian, but I could very easily be! For me, it’s so important to be eating clean food – I feel so much better when I eat clean and exercise. I eat chicken and a little bit of red meat, but I don’t eat a lot of it. I do love fish and salmon. I eat salmon a lot.
Do you exercise every day?
I try to. Sometimes if I don’t have time, I’ll get a mat out and put it in my room and do a little mat workout. I’ll get an app up or go to YouTube or do some yoga. I use to be a dancer – I danced from two years old all the way up until Year 12 full-time – and I now have back problems, so I have to make sure I stretch and do yoga. I’ve got scoliosis – where your spine is crooked – so yoga and reformer pilates is good for it. Then I’ll do circuit training and I find a beach walk clears your mind. I love exercise, you never regret exercise. You never walk out of the gym or finish a class and say: “I shouldn’t have done that”, you always think: ‘I’m proud of myself and I feel good!’
I’ve also got a goal to read books more. I’ve got a pile of books I’m wanting to read, it’s something you put aside and forget about. I’m on my phone a lot and I’m really trying to cut down on the screen time on my phone because I feel like I’m addicted to it, it’s really bad. [My screen time] shows me how many hours I waste on Instagram and I’m like, “Okay, there needs to be balance…!” Do my work on it, have a look, but then get off it – because I find myself an hour later and I’ve been on it for so long. I feel like it’s unhealthy.
Definitely good to sometimes take a break from the screen! Switching up from health, can we get you to talk us through your beauty regime?
With my skincare routine, I normally wake up and wash my face. I’ll put a serum on and then the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15* [a lightweight SPF moisturiser]. I love that it has SPF15, that’s a big thing for me. I like using skincare or makeup products that have SPF in it – I feel like it’s so important to protect your skin from the sun because of ageing. Some days I’ll not wear any makeup, I love just letting my pores breathe and having a clean face – especially in summer. I wouldn’t wear makeup unless I had to for work or an event.
What about fashion, how would you describe your style?
I feel like I don’t have just one fashion style – it’s really dependant on what mood I’m in. My whole wardrobe is just a little bit of everything. I might put on some Converse and wear them with a dress or denim skirt, a big tee and tights, or I even just like wearing my gym gear on my day off – it’s the most comfortable. I normally start off my day in gym wear, so I’ll just keep it on. If not, I’ll change into bikinis and go to the beach – just live in my bikini the whole day!
And lastly, what does 2019 look like for you?
Definitely travel – travel is a big thing. And also just really finding what makes me happy. I think I’m starting to get on that pathway of finding myself. It sounds cheesy, but I’m at that age of just discovering what you like and who you are. Focusing on having fun and being happy – and focusing on work. It’s going to be a fun year. Positive vibes.
Main image: Cori Wood on location for Murad Australia. Shot by Husskie Press.
* The Murad Blemish Control Oil Control Mattifier SPF15 is a non-comedogenic moisturiser that immediately mattifies and controls oil for up to 8 hours. It provides powerful UVA/UVB sun protection without blocking pores and helps to restore balance by removing excess oil. The Murad OutSmart Blemish Clarifying Treatment is clinically proven to clear skin of blemish-causing bacteria, oiliness and blackheads while minimising dryness and irritation.
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