Pretty in Decay
Ava talks trad goth, Friday nights on the cubes, pink glamour, unexpected romance, and life beyond rott1ng.d3cay.
England, Colorado, Los Angeles—and more than a few transformations along the way. Known online as rott1ng.d3cay, Ava moves easily between trad goth, pin-up glamour and candy-pink excess, with a style that’s less about fitting an aesthetic than following wherever her instincts take her. Now firmly at home in LA’s after-dark world, she’s found plenty of room to keep people guessing.
Let's start before Instagram, modeling and LA nightlife. Where did you grow up, and what was your world like before all of this?
I grew up in England and I really loved living there. A lot of my favorite core memories are from that time. My family then moved to Colorado where I struggled to make lasting connections. High school was a difficult period for me, I eventually left and finished my diploma through an online school, so for a while my social life was pretty minimal.
Around that time I had been signed by Wilhelmina, but I realized that the structure of working through an agency wasn’t right for me, so I made the decision to leave. Then my family decided to move to California and the idea of starting over yet again–this time in Los Angeles–felt pretty daunting.
Looking back, though, it ended up being one of the best decisions I could have made!
Your Instagram bio simply says “Trad.” When did you first discover goth, and what were the bands, records, films, books—or people—that first pulled you into that world?
I think it really started with music, and my mom was an early influence there. I grew up listening to bands like The Cure and The Sisters of Mercy, so that darker sound was always around me. My dad also grew up in the UK punk scene and would play vinyl records by The Sex Pistols, G.B.H. and U.K. Subs, which definitely shaped my taste as well.
Beyond music, I was always drawn to the darker, more romantic side of film. I fell in love with movies like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, as well as the work of directors like Tim Burton & Guillermo Del Toro. I think all of those influences came together over time and naturally became part of how I see the world and express myself today.
Your name online is rott1ng.d3cay, which feels particularly appropriate for someone who seems equally drawn to beauty and cemeteries. Where did the name come from?
My boyfriend at the time suggested I give myself a unique username, so I came up with that one pretty quickly and honestly didn’t put much thought into it. If I could go back and put more thought into it, I probably would. Lol
You move easily between dark romantic goth, pin-up, fetish, Y2K and candy-pink glamour without ever looking like you're playing a completely different person. How did your personal style evolve into what it is today?
I’ve always loved changing things up and experimenting with my look. I don't really like feeling confined to one particular aesthetic, so my style has evolved naturally over time. These days, I pull influence from everything from classic pin-up to industrial goth, with plenty of other influences mixed in along the way. I think the fun is in keeping people guessing–so stay tuned!
Your recent posts give us Christian Death, Dark Funeral and Peter Steele. Who else are you listening to these days?
I think people would be surprised by how eclectic my music taste really is. Of course, I love my alternative, darker music—The Cramps, Dark Throne, KMFDM, Christian Death—but I also listen to Amy Winehouse, Adam Ant, The Prodigy, Prince, Lana Del Rey, and so many others. I’ve even been known to listen to rap and Jazz depending on the mood.
I was also lucky enough to recently work on a project with one of my all-time favorite bands, She Wants Revenge which was such a full-circle moment for me. Needless to say, I’ve had them on repeat ever since!
You're also one of the go-go dancers at Club Decades, where a Friday night might mean indie sleaze, Siouxsie and The Cure, or David J behind the decks. How did you end up on the cubes, and what do you love about performing there?
I’ve always loved dancing—I actually did ballet when I was younger—so go-go dancing at Club Decades felt like a really fun way to bring that part of myself back into my life. I originally started there as a host, and one night I decided to give dancing on the cubes a try. I loved it, and the rest is history!
What I love most is the energy of the club. The crowd is always so much fun, and the team I work with every Friday is amazing. There’s something really special about being surrounded by people who are there to completely lose themselves in the music and have a good time.
You recently got married—congratulations! How did you and William meet, and how did the two of you end up getting married in Las Vegas?
Thank you! Yes, William and I actually met one night at the club while I was frantically looking for my lost phone. He was so sweet & offered to help me look for it. The phone was never found but our love for each other was!
When it came to getting married, Las Vegas just felt right. We got married at The Little White Wedding Chapel, and the whole thing felt like something straight out of a movie— real True Romance vibes! It was spontaneous, romantic, a little unconventional, and completely us.
What are you and William like away from nightlife and social media? What does life together look like when neither of you is working?
We’re really lucky that we both have fairly flexible schedules, which means we get to make the most of living in such an amazing city. When we’re not working, we love going to concerts, seeing a movie, or trying a new restaurant. But honestly, some of our favorite nights are the quiet ones—staying home with our dog, Bowie, cooking dinner, and watching TV together.
I think having that balance is really important for us. We love going out and experiencing everything LA has to offer, but there’s nothing better than coming home and just enjoying each other’s company.
What's something you're completely obsessed with right now that has absolutely nothing to do with goth, modeling or nightlife?
I’m a huge animal lover, so honestly, the thing I’m always obsessed with is my dogs! I mentioned my mini Australian Shepherd, Bowie, but I also have an adorable Chihuahua mix named Pippi. My mom and I share custody of her, but I try to spend as much time with her as I can.
We adopted Pippi through Mutt Scouts, a wonderful rescue here in Southern California that rescues abused and abandoned dogs from Mexico and high-kill shelters in California. I am so grateful for my furbabies, they are definitely my biggest obsession outside of everything else in my life!
Keep up with Ava on Instagram: @rott1ng.d3cay
More Black Ravens articles: 👉 TBR Magazine
See also: