claire unabia america’s next top model antm cycle 10 ethnicity actress model producer runway model new york city actress halina daughter matthew james best model famous actress commercial model filipina model filipino native american mixed actress ethincally ambiguous model hawaii surfer kung fu martial artist surfer pepsi coke mcdonalds where are they now claire unabiaamerica’s next top model facebook twitter blog claire unabia portfolio magazine cover modelMid Pacific Institute graduae of Columbia University Producer: Claire Unabia
Claire Unabia is a producer, director and actor from the North Shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i who appeared on AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. Unabia is producing the Las Vegas show MOMENTS for the Venetian, and has collaborated on award winning films, performance pieces and art shows around the world. BA Film, BA Psychology, Columbia University.
I was born in 20 minutes and continue to be a thrill seeker to this day. From jumping off 50 foot cliffs, surfing the biggest waves I can, fighting 200 pound men in Kungfu to being on reality T.V. I love life as an adventure. The rush of energy from the entire world, my experiences and traumas course through me when in front of the camera, on the stage or runway. I want to pour it back out onto the world as moments of pure life. My ultimate art of sharing is filmmaking from shorts, art films and music videos.
A farm on the North Shore of O’ahu in Hawai’i with three brothers and hippie parents was my first playground. I modeled in the pastures and began dance classes at an early age. I danced ballet seriously with Hawai’i State Ballet for six years and continue to pursue it as my first love. I attended the theatre conservatory Mid Pacific School of the Arts and fell in love with directing. At 17 I bought a ticket for New York City without having a place to stay and began modeling here.
I attended Columbia University and received degrees in Psychology and Film Studies. I began working on films as a camera assistant, then camera woman, assistant director, then production coordinator of Integrated Studios for two years.
After giving birth to my daughter I wanted to breakout of my work and decided to go on one of my favorite reality T.V. shows: America’s Next Top Model. Following the show I made my short psychological zombie film, “The Passing” with my husband Matthew James.
Matthew and I are an amazing team. We have collaborated on performance art pieces, the film “Hommage to La Cicatrice Interieure” with the Lost Horse Gallery in Iceland which premiered at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and won awards at the Iceland International Film Festival, which I also starred in. I put on his art shows all around the world from New York City, to Iceland, Miami Art Basel, Honolulu and the next is planned for Manila, Philippines. I am also immortalized in his sculpture for Vera Wang permanently at the Onyx building on 28th and 8th ave. in Chelsea.
Enabling artists for the masses is a passion. I have produced the theatre show “Yo Girl!” by Natalie Kim shown at 59 e 59 theatre, nyc, the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland and Poet’s Den Theater, nyc. I have also produced and assisted in the runway shows of Dresses for Tomorrow for refugee women, Black Snow and Michael Simon for the inner city school p.s. 46.
Giving back is very important to me. I have worked with many charities from “Hearts of Gold,” “WOO,” “Get a Voice Program,” “wrestler’s rescue” and many others. It is my goal to care for the earth and others by living environmentally and selflessly.
I am currently modeling with Emmanuel NY models and have appeared on the covers of Sense and Style magazine, Islands, Smart Magazine, Parents and in the campaigns of Kodak, Intel, Aprica and on the runways of Junko Yoshioka, Anna McCraney, Alisha Trimble, Nico and Adrian, Philippine Fashion Week and many more.
I have returned to one of my first passions acting and have starred in the films “The Passing,” “Inner Scar” and as a lead in “Nour.” Tv show appearances include “Law & Order,” “Gossip Girl,” “White Collar,” “Blue Bloods,” “Nurse Jackie” and more.
Everything I do I love and am so thankful to live a blessed life.