We were accustomed to always seeing her in the role of a successful businesswoman who had built a marvel with the art of event decoration. Emi Canaj, the former model who has now begun her journey in acting, says that this has been one of her childhood dreams. It all started as a game in the Trendy magazine, and then she became involved as a model in various fashion shows for national and international stylists. Her career as a top professional model continued for several years until Emi felt it was time to dedicate herself to her business and take a break from projects related to the runways.
After a few years of absence, she has now returned to a comedy-action film in Albanian cinematography and faced the lenses of some of the most prominent photographers. In an interview with the Tema newspaper, she reveals a little about her life and her future plans, which seem to be intriguing for the former model and now the rising star of Albanian cinema.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your childhood, and your hobbies.
My childhood was beautiful, filled with love from my family, who supported me every step of the way. My hobbies include swimming, one of my early loves; modeling, which I nurtured over the years; acting, horseback riding, and car racing. I was born on June 18th, a surprising date, haha (laughs), in Tirana, where I also completed my university studies in Law and then pursued a master’s degree in criminal forensic science. I studied acting in Italy for a year. Currently, I run my business, Event de Luxe, a wedding planning agency that organizes various events, mainly weddings.
You started with modeling and later ventured into business and recently as an actress. Why these choices?
All three have been my passions since childhood, and now they have become a reality through hard work, sacrifices, and, of course, the support of my family, who have been by my side every step of the way. Modeling was an early passion, and nature has blessed me with the necessary physique for this field. A model who presents her clothes must know how to act to present the outfit in a dignified manner. This was also the seed of my love for acting and one of the reasons I decided to pursue it professionally. Event de Luxe is a company that organizes all kinds of events and has been operating in the Albanian market for six years. The initiative to start this business came from my attention to the small details that make a difference.
You were part of Super Model of the World, among others, a competition that opened doors for many girls in the fashion industry, but you chose to leave that behind for business. Why?
I continued my modeling career both in and outside the country, but the reason I decided to move on was the business that required a significant commitment. I couldn’t continue modeling because nowadays, anyone in Albania can claim to be a model without meeting the basic criteria for being a proper model, such as height, body proportions, and the ability to transform like a chameleon. Another requirement in this field is professional training, something that very few of these so-called models in Albania possess.
Where do you feel most comfortable?
I can’t differentiate between any of my passions because they are no longer just desires but have become proper and refined professions over time. I can’t single out any one of them because they are all part of me now.
What makes a successful model in Albania?
I believe there are three components to achieving such success: passion, determination, and discipline. Without passion, you cannot showcase what you want to convey, and without determination, talent can go to waste without cultivation. As for discipline,