We recently had the chance to connect with Azari’el Sudan and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Azari’el, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve found deep joy in returning to the kitchen. Cooking is not only therapeutic for me—it’s also a form of creative expression. I’m the author of A Model’s Diet Plan, a published cookbook that blends wellness with flavor. Exploring new recipes and expanding the book into a series has reignited my passion and opened up a whole new dimension of creativity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Azari’el Sudan. I’m a professional runway and editorial model with over 11 years of experience, but my creativity extends far beyond the runway. Born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey to Jamaican and Trinidadian migrant parents, my upbringing deeply shaped my artistic lens and ultimately inspired my brand—Sirenn Seductions: a Vintage Futurism lingerie and sleepwear collection for men and women.
What is Vintage Futurism? While I’ve yet to hear the phrase used elsewhere, it perfectly captures my aesthetic—merging silhouettes from the 1920s to the 1980s with futuristic concepts born through visualization. My design process is intuitive and spiritual. I enter a meditative state where visions of the garments come to me before a single sketch is made. From there, I let the materials guide the rest of the collection—each piece forming naturally and uniquely.
Every garment I create is a one-of-one, intentionally crafted to be unlike anything else. My creativity is tied to my spirituality, and that connection is what makes my brand truly special.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
This question deeply resonated with me because healing my inner child is a central theme in my life right now. As a child, I was adventurous, bold, artistic, athletic, and endlessly curious. I was always exploring—whether through gymnastics, basketball, girls’ groups, track, learning guitar, or singing in the choir.
While many of those traits still live within me, I’ve also noticed where adulthood dimmed parts of that light—especially my daring spirit and sense of wonder. There’s a quote that says, “Adulthood is where dreams go to die,” and honestly, it hits. But I believe we’re still allowed to become who we dreamt of being. It may take time, but those dreams are always worth it.
Right now, I’m healing my inner child one passion project at a time—reclaiming joy, curiosity, and the freedom to create without limits.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
One of my quietest yet most meaningful passions is writing fictional short stories. Though I rarely shared this talent with close friends, there’s an entire online book community that has followed my work for years. As a kid, I joined a lowkey storytelling platform that let you create and publish your own books while reading others’—it became a nightly ritual. I’d only write at midnight, when the world was quiet and my ideas flowed freely.
I’ll never forget when a schoolmate told me she found my stories on the site and loved them. I was shocked—not just that she read them, but that she connected with them. It made me feel vulnerable, because those stories were deeply personal—almost like a diary. Fiction was my first form of escapism. The characters I created were pieces of who I was and reflections of who I longed to become. That’s why I kept my writing world separate—it was sacred, private, and healing.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
This might ruffle some feathers, but transparency matters. As a model, I’ve seen firsthand how the fashion industry often profits from illusion—whether it’s repackaging cultural heritage without credit, or selling garments at sky-high prices that cost just a few dollars to produce. But for me, one of the biggest deceptions is around the concept of body inclusivity.
While the movement is rooted in good intentions—and I fully believe everyone deserves to feel seen and celebrated—there’s a fine line between inclusivity and misinformation. Promoting unhealthy extremes, whether that’s glamorizing obesity or surgically altered bodies as the standard, sends a confusing and sometimes harmful message to the public. We all have the right to pursue happiness in our own skin, but honesty and balance need to be part of that conversation.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I recently became a licensed life insurance agent in the state of New Jersey and am currently studying for my Series licenses to become a financial advisor. Stepping into this field has been transformative—it’s not just about numbers, it’s about empowerment. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how to manage and protect my finances, while also learning how to leverage my creativity in service-based industries. I’ve since opened a Roth IRA and secured life insurance, allowing me to invest intentionally in my future with clarity and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elever1.com/azariel-sudan
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_azari_el/
- Facebook: Azari’el Sudan
- Youtube: @PassMeMyApron
