“I don’t believe in the support of government” says TV star and suicide model
An Interview with Olivia Black
By Kevin Latchford
Friday afternoon I found myself in a bloody frenzy. Trying to get myself in order for an interview with a lady in Sin City by phone. Miss Olivia Black, a Suicide Girl, artistic model, individualist, community volunteer, and aspiring writer of literary works, had agreed to an interview just after she got out of an early afternoon meeting. I had to first find my notebook.
No luck until T -10 when it was found behind a shelf where it had been thrown with Zeus-like intensity in a moment of alcohol-induced writers block. I was trying to find my the number again, when I received a call. Seemed a perfect time to test that Call Recorder app. Sadly it was just another telemarketer. These damn bastards are getting desperate to get me a bachelor’s degree in custodial studies or some other kind of monkey business. I hang up and get back to real tasks. I reviewed the questions once more. I jotted quickly then put in the call. The Call Recorder failed and said so just before I heard hello.
KL: Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?
OB: I am a 20 something year old female that has always danced to the beat of her own drum and plays by her own rules. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Maryland. I later moved to Vegas by route of Texas, Arkansas, and Florida. I love to travel and can never stay still. I have always been in love with hair and makeup design, which later translated to a love of modeling. I have been tying to break into modeling since I was 15, but was told I was too short and would never make it. I wouldn’t accept that response.
KL: I know most people are aware of your work on the popular History Channel series Pawn Stars. How did you become involved with them and what did you think of the business?
OB: I applied for the job on Craigslist because I was in need of a second job, I had barely known about the show(I haven’t owned a TV in 7 years); so I was a bit surprised when I walked into an interview full of cameras. I am honored to have been apart of the shop for the year and a half that I worked there. It was brief, yet not, and no matter what has come since, I will always love the people I worked with and miss them dearly.
KL: What was it like to work with the four big guys of Gold and Silver Pawn, especially The Old Man and Chumlee?
OB: Well, I worked with, not for Chumlee, so that was always fun and adventurous. I loved working for Rick and The Old Man, I tend to go above and beyond in my duties, so I never had to see the “ugly” side of them. It was always a pleasure having our conversations about books, traveling, and just life advice. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
KL: How did you become involved with Suicide Girls?
OB: I have always been extremely comfortable in my skin, so when I decided to get back into modeling as an adult, I went to a few castings for Playboy. I had trouble, and have still yet to make it due to my tattoos. One day when I was 18 a friend told me about SuicideGirls, I was determined to be one from that moment. I love the idea of them being a feminist organization that is about supporting unique, strong, beautiful women.
KL: I have noticed you have been involved in modeling gigs with other photographers and publications. Would you tell me a bit about them? (I would especially like to know about the recent one where your are wearing a Don’t Tread on Me t-shirt)
OB: I love modeling and supporting small business. I, myself am a small business. Whenever a company approaches me to endorse them, I am all about it, if it’s a cause I can get behind. As for the Don’t Tread on Me tee, I currently have a 1960 Columbia Beach Cruiser, but am wanting to get more into Fixed Gears; this plays in my love for a green way of life. I had to support them!
KL: I also notice you have some exquisite body art. Can you tell me something about them, what they represent, and what motivated you get them?
OB: My skin is a yearbook to my life. I document all different types of memories and experiences. My first tattoo is the one on my left abdomen. It’s a tiny butterfly, I love butterflies; simply because my mother always called me bug. My second are the three lady bugs on my right foot, one for the same reason, the other reason standing for myself, my ex husband, and my matron of honor. Others are far more deep than that. They all vary and all mean something no matter how whimsical or in-depth.
KL: I understand that tattoos are a sort of taboo in modeling. What are your thoughts on this subject?
OB: I think people think too much. If you are good at what you do, have a positive personality, and are a pleasure to work with, you should be allowed to be yourself.
KL: You often post your work with Catholic Worker on your social media sites. Can you tell me a bit about them and your involvement with them?
OB: I was introduced to the Catholic Worker through The Human Experience, a local open mic night at my favorite coffee shop, The Beat. They are a non-profit organization that helps serve the less fortunate and homeless in North Las Vegas. I started off by simply volunteering with them Wednesday – Saturday from 6-8. After helping regularly, they asked me to be their Volunteer Ambassador; which means I would be in charge of recruiting new volunteers. Sadly, not long after I was asked to do this, I began working part-time in Los Angeles, the same days I needed to be at the Catholic Worker. To still support them in their wonderful efforts, I have been collecting empty plastic bottles. They give these bottles to the men and women they serve so they can refill them in this extreme Vegas weather. I have since returned to Vegas full time with the intention of returning to my full duties.
KL: May I ask about the whistle hanging around your neck in some of your more recent pictorials? What is about?
OB: My whistle is a Falling Whistle. They are a non-profit organization that is holistically working toward peace in the Congo. The whistle stands for a few different things, the first…some children solders are sent to the front lines with nothing more than a whistle, the second…wearing it states you are a whistle-blower for peace, the third….it’s a communication tool.
You’re walking out of the grocery store, someone with a clip board approaches; you as you’re rushing home with melting groceries, to ask you if you support women’s rights. You most likely do, but do you want to discuss that now? No. Now think about how you approached me to find out about the whistle.
When someone comes up to me and asks me what it means, I simply state; it’s on non profit organization holistically working towards peace in the Congo. 9 times out of 10, they ask to hear more, and in turn become supporters.
KL: You recently started an Indiegogo site to raise money for a documentary entitled A Day in the Life of Miss Olivia Black. Can you tell me a little about the project and your thoughts on crowdsourcing?
OB: Since my departure from Pawn Stars, my supporters and followers have been wanting to see me on the small screen again, but I have nothing in the works that’s already known, or do I have an interest in bouncing around from one reality game show to another. The only reason I was accepting of Pawn Stars is because it was real life. They just filmed me doing my job, I wouldn’t be remembered for being a drunken dramatic train wreck, I would be remembered for being me and having a job…or so I thought. Who knew I would be famous for losing my job, ha. I decided after seeing so many interested people to start my own reality show as a web series. Why would I need it to be on TV, the internet is even bigger. And so lies my newest brainchild.
I have used crowdsourcing for a few different projects, I love the ability you have to reach people from all over the world that may want to support your campaign, some may have been fans of yours from the beginning, some may have just found you by your cause. I sadly haven’t made enough to actually follow through with any idea, but I will keep trying, just as I do with everything else.
KL: Your former boss, Rick Harrison, stated recently, “I truly believe that if government just stepped out-of-the-way, we’d have a trade surplus, we’d be energy independent, we would have full employment, and there’d be so much money out there that basically like it used to be in this country, there would be charitable hospitals all over this country… I’m a total libertarian.” What do you think of his statement and are you of a similar sentiment?
OB: I don’t believe in the support of the government. I don’t vote, I just believe that supports their shenanigans. I choose to be an active member of society by being just that, active. This is why I volunteer and lead by example. If I want to see a change in the world around me, I will be that change, I won’t wait for someone else to do it for me.
KL: May I pry as to your ideology? Would you consider yourself independent, libertarian, or even “SMASH THE STATE?”
OB: I read about politics here and there, as to not live too far under my rock, but I don’t care. I do research on our country as a whole, and I make my decisions by talking to real people living in this country with me. After that I make changes for the good, I start talking about our problems and rally supporters to stand up and peacefully work toward what is right for us all.
KL: How do your activities fit into this ideology, especially in regards to Suicide Girls and Catholic Worker?
OB: I have had issues in the past with full acceptance from places where I volunteer. This saddened me greatly, around that time is when I found the Catholic Worker. At first I was very afraid I was going to run into the same issue again. I didn’t at all, they know what I do; and even ask me about my varies jobs often. They love me for being a loving person and that’s all that matters to them.
KL: What are your thoughts about voluntarism and mutual aid? Do you see these as an ideal way to help people?
OB: I think volunteering and mutual aid are good starts to help people right now, but we need to instill sustaining help. We need to assist people in assisting themselves, that is the only way we will actually make a difference in the problem.
KL: Would like to say anything else?
OB: I am still speechless in all of the fortune and opportunities I have been through Pawn Stars and other various way; I only hope I lead by the best possible example for my beloved community. In my own back yard and all over the world.
While listening to an odd mix of 80s music on Pandora, I began to think about the amazing story from the person I spoke with this day. Her story of constantly chasing the dream of…whatever it may be is to be something to admire. She has seen her work scorned by the many, something we have seen certainly in own lives more often than we’d like to talk about and yet not only did she do so but she was frank about it. Such openness exposes one’s soul before everyone. However, she is as open about her soul as her body and this more than admirable. Her work shows what an individual can accomplish in this toilet called Earth and why we should follow what is our heart’s desire. It is because we are, for lack of a less cliché term, individuals. As she has shown, we are not slaves and our person is not for sale to either the masses or the elites. Olivia Black is a strong independent woman who shows us what being free looks like and what we might find if we stepped beyond the plain.
