After a year of virtual shows and lookbooks, fashion months are returning to a more traditional structure. Real events and international travel are beginning once again. This means that emerging models are busy making an impact on the runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris, contributing to the season’s renewed optimism and sense of promise.
These young and emerging talents are busy cementing themselves as the next generation of top models. And they’ll be sure to give any veteran a run for their money. While this may not be their first-ever season, 2021 has been their breakout year. The next generation of top models is officially a force to be reckoned with.
Lila Moss Hack
Lila Moss Hack, soon to be fashion icon, is the daughter of none other than Kate Moss.
And her DNA is packed full of fashion royalty; she is also the daughter of Jefferson Hack, founder and director of Dazed Media.
Lila has adorned the covers of Vogue Italy, Hong Kong, and Japan. At only 19 years old, she has also been the face of Marc Jacobs’ fragrance “Perfect”, and has walked the international runways of Fendi Haute Couture, Miu Miu, Richard Quinn and “Fendace”.
Kate Moss tells Vogue,
“It was so emotional seeing Lila on the runway… I was really proud.”
Lila who has Type 1 diabetes, walked the runway with an insulin pump at the Fendi x Versace “Fendace” show this season. Fans of the supermodel reacted positively, praising her for displaying it proudly on the runway.
Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Adwoa Aboah, Bella Hadid, and Cara Delevingne also walked the runway for Kim Jones’ first womenswear presentation.
América Gonzalez
This Venezuelan rising star was scouted during her second year of medical school at the Central University of Venezuela. She’s enjoying a large amount of success in fashion, booking one show after another this fashion season, becoming a favourite amongst street-style photographers.
According to Vogue, her sister helped Gonzalez to find her way onto the runway. After hearing about an open call in Caracas, her sister encouraged her to attend, thus breaking her into the world of high fashion modelling. Most recently, she appears on the catwalks of Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Loewe.
Devyn Garcia
Devyn Garcia is the newest poster girl for size inclusivity. The 19-year-old Floridian beauty has made her way into the industry through prestige shows like Altuzarra and Brandon Maxwell.
Before she hit the runway, her commercial portfolio was already pretty impressive. State Artist Management claims to have plucked Garcia straight out of obscurity. In 2019, she signed a three-year contract with the firm, before going on to work with Adore Me, Gap, L’Oreal and Tommy Hilfiger. Victoria Secret and Nordstom’s are also regular clients.
Garcia’s appearances on the runways of 2021 have introduced her to a whole new audience. Her most recent runway season highlights are Gabriela Hearst, Brandon Maxwell, Altuzarra and Chloé.
Garcia’s captivating, natural beauty and confident demeanour ensure that we’ll see a lot more of her in future.
Izaak Adu-Watts
Izaak Adu-Watts is the son of iconic soul musician Sade. The male trans model is a relative newcomer to the industry, signing to Next Models in 2019. After his runway debut for Riccardo Tisci at Burberry in 2019, his career was put on delay due to the covid pandemic.
Adu-Watts was born and bred in the British countryside. He and his wife, hairdresser and artist Emily Margaret Shakeshaft, live in Fresno. Following a brief romance, they married in Hawaii earlier this year.
Last month, he featured in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty Vol.3, with its star-studded lineup featuring Normani, Irinna, Shayk, Gigi Hadid, Lourdes Leon and Cindy Crawford.
Adu-Watts tells Vogue about the experience, “I was just so excited,” he says, describing the atmosphere on set as ‘electric’.
“I’ve been the biggest Rihanna fan for so long. There was such amazing energy, you couldn’t help but smile.”
The opportunity to join Rihanna to celebrate diversity at Savage x Fenty is even more meaningful as a trans man. “The fact that she’s including people of all shapes and sizes to me is so important,” says Adu-Watts. “I think that sense of inclusivity is so incredible and important.”
Lina Cruz
19-year-old Cruz took it upon herself to attend a casting in her hometown of Santiago three years ago.
Since then, the Dominican beauty has been signed by Luis Menieur, the designer-come-agency who discovered Vogue fave Arlenis Sosa.
Cruz made her international debut at Versace’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection, following on from Dua Lipa’s appearance on the Runway.
Cruz went on to walk key shows which include Saint Laurent, Loewe, Alexander McQueen and the star-studded tribute to Alber Elbaz at AZ Factory. Her strong looks have her poised to carry her straight into the campaign season.
Ademola Towolawi
Half-Nigerian Towolawi was first discovered on a walk near his home in North London. The 6’3 model was scouted by Joel Bough from Elite London. His breakout show was for Prada Menswear in January 2021. He counts travelling Italy for the occasion as one of his best modelling experiences so far. When asked how he’d like to make an impact in the world, he explains to models.com,
“I want to make an impact by helping people and ensure their physical and mental wellbeing.”
Alpha Dia
The Senegal-born German model has worked with Boss, Kenneth Ize, Prada, Jacquemus, Salvatore Ferragamo, Isabel Marant, Hermès, Thom Browne, Calvin Klein and Balmain.
He tells GQ,
“We need more diversity in the fashion industry. This industry it’s a tongue it can bring big messages to the people by the way we choose to communicate with it. We still have a lot of people in the world, that are not yet being represented in the fashion industry and we also need to include them in the big picture and get on this conversation.”
He continues, “Fashion as you can see people like Virgil [Abloh] who was a DJ before, Rihanna a musician who entered this industry… And paved the way for more people of colour. Talents of people of colour have brings more space and energy to the industry.”
Jordan Barrett
23-year-old Barrett was born to be a model. The Byron local has typically Australian striking features, resulting in a contract with IMG at only 13 years of age.
He is also represented by Kate Moss Agency in the UK, as well as mega-agency CAA in the USA. Barrett is quickly gaining momentum as an international model. In December 2016, Models.com selected him as the “Model of the Year.”
Vogue calls Barrett the “Model It Boy of the new Era.” Recently, he surprised fashion fans by marrying fellow male model Fernando Casablancas. The ceremony had an audience of no more than fifteen of the couple’s closest friends, including models Kate Moss and Georgia May Jagger. Jordan, who is signed to Kate’s modelling agency, is best known as the supermodel’s protege. The pair appeared in the front row of London Fashion Week shows together in September 2021.
Barrett has appeared in campaigns for top brands such as Tom Ford, Coach, Balmain, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino and Versace.
Barrett also walked the runway for Boss at Milan Fashion Week in Italy this year for the label’s Spring/Summer 2022 fashion presentation.
Harvey Petito
Melbourne-born Petito rose to international fame after modelling for major Australian campaigns for brands Witchery, Peter Alexander and Sportsco. He features on the books of Chadwick Models. Petito has also walked in Australian Fashion Week and Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. As a young model, he walked for brands such as Sudo Kids.
Petito has collaborated online with high-profile models such as Meika Woollard, Paris Bishop and William Franklyn-Miller. Harvey is quickly becoming a popular runway model who has graced the runway at VAMFF four times and more recently at Beverly Hill’s LA Fashion Week.
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