Rising star Charlotte Free is known for her glorious Manic Panic hair. Discovered by a photographer at the local arcade last year, the Los Angeles native is currently signed with IMG Models. Even with the pink hair and being only five-foot-seven, which is pretty short for a runway model, she debuted at Richard Chai's fall 2011 show in New York, cast by the eagle-eyed Michelle Lee at KCD. Free was a natural fit on London's more eccentric runways, too, walking for Topshop Unique, House of Holland, and Vivenne Westwood. And she's already been shot by Craig McDean and styled by Marie Amélie Sauvé for Interview. We chatted with Free on the phone about modeling, her hair, cats, and more.

Where are you now?
Right now I am in my room with my cats.

Cool, so, tell us a little about your childhood.
When I was a kid, I was forever in the streets all day, all night playing basketball and riding bikes. I loved playing with squirt guns. Unlike kids these days today who just stay indoors and make play dates to play ... video games.

How did you get discovered?
I was at an arcade playing video games and [I] was stopped by a photographer.

Explain your hair.
I dyed my hair because I was upset with my life. When I dyed my hair it immediately changed my mood.

You're twenty minutes late to your appointment, and you have no time to get dressed — what would you wear?
Anything decent on the floor.

Where do you get your style inspirations?
I've been through a lot of phases, so my inspirations are mostly my imagination.

If you could have an unlimited allowance for one store or brand, what would you choose?
EBay, definitely! I like unique, one-of-a-kind items.

What's the one thing you couldn't live without?
My boyfriend! He's my backbone and my best friend.

You're about to be stranded on an island and you can bring one person and one thing. What would you bring?
My boyfriend and my cats. The cats will hunt birds for us to eat!

What is your favorite ...
Book? The Magic of Green
Film? Princess Mononoke, by Hayao Miyazaki
Musician? Jimmy Page

Guilty pleasure?
Lemons. [They're] so bad for my teeth, but it's oh so sensual to the taste buds.

Do you have other aspirations outside of modeling?
Absolutely! I want to design crazy couture, create freaky music, and learn to play more instruments.

Tell us a secret.
I was born with purple hair.

Model Profile: Charlotte Free

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