Modeling Journey

Swiss newcomer Julia Saner has been making serious forays in the modelling world since her impressive debut at the Spring/Summer 2011 shows in Milan and Paris where she logged a total of 21 shows. Proving that she is here for the long-haul, Saner had an equally stellar Fall/Winter 2011 season appearing in a staggering 47 shows. 

Saner was discovered in 2009 when she competed in and won the Elite Look of the Year competition. What differentiates Saner however from the relentless influx of newcomers, is her presence and versatile appeal which hark back to the days of the supermodels of the nineties. Saner possesses an impossibly gorgeous face in the classic sense and an equally athletic, powerhouse physique.

Industry insiders are unanimous in their enthusiasm for Saner with appearances in US Vogue, Vogue Italia and W Magazine shot by Mario Testino, Steven Meisel and photographic duo Knoepfel & Indlekofer. Saner's appeal translates seamlessly into campaign dollars with blue chip campaigns for Valentino and Mulberry lensed by David Sims and Tim Walker respectively. With Saner no gimmicks are required. What you have simply is an astoundingly beautiful girl with just the right mix of wholesomeness and va-va-voom to appeal to both high fashion and commercial end clients.

A new wave of Asian models are redefining the industry's standards of beauty at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows. Chinese model Bonnie Chen was discovered at the age of sixteen in the Elite Model Look of the Year. Modelling only part-time during school holidays, Chen placed modelling on hold to pursue a degree in Psychology in the US. Now aged twenty one, Chen reveals in an interview with Pony Ryder that "My life changed after I entered college, I started to explore the international culture and understand fashion in a more intellectual level. I think my education has definitely helped me to re-identify myself in the fashion industry and shape my career in the longer term." 

Represented by Next Models in New York, Chen stands at 178 cm in height and has delicate almond shaped eyes, bee stung lips framed by a heart shaped face. Formerly a rhythmic gymnastics national champion, Chen has a grace of movement that is evident on the runway. Chen's presence was felt at ADAM, Badgely Mishkaa, Christian Siriano, Dennis Basso, Halston, Kevork Kiledjian, Monique L'Huillier, Nanette Lepore, Issa and Prabal Gurung. Chen has been photographed by Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier for US Vogue and appears in the Fall/Winter 2010 Benetton campaign shot by Josh Olins.

Seventeen year old Angolan model Roberta Narciso was discovered in 2010 at the Elite Model Look of the Year Competition where she placed in the top fifteen finalists. Narciso made a stunning debut at the recent Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture shows in Paris, where she glided down the runways for Valentino and Bouchra Jarrar. Represented by Elite Models in Paris, Narciso's career is being guided with meticulous precision. Narciso skipped the New York and London show circuits, opting instead to make her Fall/Winter 2011 debut in Milan. The buzz generated has been worth the wait with Narciso walking for Prada, Albino, Brioni, Angelo Marani, Ermanno Scervino and Gareth Pugh. Standing at 181 cm in height with a face that is reminiscent of the legendary late Naomi Sims, Narciso could well be the next great pioneer for diversity in modelling. Next stop Paris!