Modeling Journey

California girl Hailey Clauson shows her versatility as a model in this beguiling editorial shot by Sebastian Kim for Numero issue no. 124. Since her debut at the Spring/Summer 2011 shows where she walked for the likes of Calvin Klein, Gucci, Versace, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, Clauson has continued to build on that momentum by posing for such industry heavy-weights as Patrick Demarchelier for LOVE Magazine, Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott for W Magazine, Terry Tsiolis for V Man, Ellen Von Unwerth for i-D Magazine, and Peter Lindbergh for Numero. Clauson had an equally impressive Spring/Summer 2011 campaign season, appearing in campaigns for Gucci, DSquared2 and Jill Stuart. Clauson's ability to combine wholesome all-American appeal with a sophistication belying her sixteen years of age is her trump card. Having recently switched representation from Marilyn to Next Models, I predict that Clauson will be a major force in the modelling world in the years to come.

Chinese model Sui He is fast becoming one of the most coveted newcomers following a succession of sensational editorial appearances in V, Love and W magazine. In addition to that editorial trifecta, is Sui's limelight stealing cover appearance on Vogue China's 6th Anniversary issue lensed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and her star turn as the current face of Ralph Lauren's Fall/Winter 2011 campaign.

Born in Wenzhou, Sui has been modelling for four years and received her first major breakthrough at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows when she was selected by casting director Jennifer Starr to open for Ralph Lauren, making her the first model of Asian descent to do so. What followed was a Dries Van Noten exclusive in Paris and select runway appearances in Milan for  D&G, D'Squared, Costume National and Anteprima.

Sui has a face that is distinctly Eurasian in appearance and is blessed with the most sublime angular bone structure. What is fascinating about Sui is that she is able to morph from a delicate and elegant beauty to that of a harder-edged unconventional gothic type as evidenced in her most recent editorial appearances for Love and V magazine. It is this versatility along with Sui's undeniable exceptional beauty which will ensure her longevity in the fickle world of modelling.

Russh Magazine's August/September issue features a treasure trove of editorial goodies. Golden girl Nyasha Matonhodze stars in an Alex Franco lensed editorial entitled "On a Wing." Matonhodze looks simply sublime wearing an assortment of creations embellished with ostrich feathers, plastic scales and fur by Gareth Pugh, Prada and Haider Ackermann. Gillian Wilkins clever styling is perfectly suited to Matonhodze's unembellished natural beauty which is further enhanced by the surrounding landscape, and flora and fauna. At only sixteen years, Matonhodze seems poised for an incredible future having already landed a Louis Vuitton campaign shot by Steven Meisel, as well as editorials for Teen Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and V Magazine, and a stunning cover debut for the issue 6 of Love Magazine. 

Love Magazine strikes editorial gold yet again in it's Supernatural issue. Lara Stone, Maria Carla Boscono, Daphne Groeneveld and Kristen McMenamy pose alongside stunning new face of the moment Nyasha Matonhodze in this riveting beauty portfolio. Photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott team up with the styling genius of Katie Grand and Panos Yiapanis for this mesmerising editorial. The natural beauty of Stone, Matonhodze, McMenamy, Groeneveld and Boscono's tear streaked visages are enhanced by the minimalist make-up and visually arresting head pieces adorning each model's head. The incandescent beauty, raw emotion and vulnerability conveyed by Matonhodze et al. resonates with each turn of the page.

A true test of a model's skill is her ability to portray and embody a wide range of emotions and looks. I'll admit that I had at one point categorised model Alessandra Ambrosio as being capable of a singular solitary trademark Victoria's Secret sexy look. The following images from an upcoming editorial for LOVE Magazine, blow my assumptions completely out of the water. The editorial lensed by Boo George captures Ambrosio at her most beautiful, without relying on the model's obvious physical attributes and instead allowing her to display an intensity and character that delivers true editorial punch. Ambrosio loses herself in the character role of naval officer and in turn finds a newly converted fan in me.

Sixteen year old Nyasha Matonhodze is being hailed by fashion industry pundits as one of the most exciting new modelling prospects in years. Zimbabwean native Matonhodoze moved to Great Britain at the age of eight years and was signed on by Elite Models when her parents took her into an agency open casting call. Matonhodze made her debut at the Spring/Summer 2011 season where she was championed by fashion editor Katie Grand, who booked her for Louis Vuitton, Emanuel Ungaro and Loewe. 

Matonhodze has since had a meteoric rise within the modelling world with editorial appearances in Teen Vogue with Jason Kibbler, US Harpers Bazaar with Daniel Jackson, V Magazine with Peter Funch and a cover for Love Magazine lensed by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. If that wasn't enough, Matonhodze topped all of this off with a Fall/Winter 2011 Louis Vuitton campaign shot by Steven Meisel. In an interview with the Cut, Matonhodze recalls on landing the campaign, "I danced on the table, I jumped on the bed, and was screaming from excitement. I must say that Katie Grand has to be one of the best people that I've ever worked with, and I hope that I never stop working with her; she's genius." On working with Meisel, Matonhodze reveals to models.com that "Steven is amazing. As a person he's very down to earth. I was scared at first, but when you meet him and you're on set with him he makes you feel very beautiful." Already being referred to by industry insiders as "Baby Naomi", Meisel could well play an instrumental role in realising Matonhodze's full potential.

Valentijn de Hingh, Lea T and Nomi Ruiz are three exceptionally beautiful and talented emerging models who you can expect to see a lot more of in the future. Lea T, de Hingh and Ruiz have captivated the fashion industry with their visceral beauty and for the courage and conviction that they demonstrate in dealing with the prejudice and sitgma faced by many in the transgender community. The three models represent a more inclusive standard of beauty within the modelling industry whilst also acting as pioneers for the transgender community through their increased visibility in and on the covers of mainstream magazines and on catwalks around the world.

Valentijn de Hingh began modelling in 2007 at age seventeen in Amsterdam and was swiftly whisked off to Paris to walk for the likes of Martin Margiela and Comme des Garcons. de Hingh's initial foray into modelling ended abruptly when she was deemed to be to tall, at 186 cm, to have a serious career as a model. de Hingh who had always been keenly interested in fashion opted instead for a career behind the scenes as an assistant booker for Paparazzi Model Management. It was in 2010, when the fashion industry was abuzz over the success of transgender model Lea T, that de Hingh decided to relaunch her modelling career.

Within months, de Hingh was shooting in New York with Patrick Demarchelier and Katie Grand for Love magazine and has since appeared in Candy magazine lensed by Benjamin Alexander Huseby. de Hingh currently resides in Amsterdam where she is a student of Literature Science and hopes to one day to become involved in fashion journalism. Vogue Italia has de Hingh firmly in it's sights, having recently profiled her as a face to watch on vogue.it

Transgender Brooklyn singer Nomi Ruiz has been plucked from relative obscurity by Thierry Mugler head designer Nicola Formichetti to be his muse. Ruiz who is the lead singer of the band Jessica 6, appears in the campaign film for Formichetti's latest Mugler menswear collection and also has an upcoming editorial in V Magazine lensed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Armed with sublime Latino looks and a smokin' hot bod, Ruiz looks set to put the sizzle back into modelling.

Brazilian model Lea T began her career as an assistant and fit model for Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy. Lea rose to prominence when Tisci selected her as one of the faces to front his Fall/Winter 2010 campaign shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. Lea agreed to appear in the campaign on the proviso that her transgender status be fully disclosed in media interviews. Speaking with the New York Times, Lea explains that "When you are a transexual, you look for your future, and you can't see it. I thought this would be a nice message for another tranny: 'Look, we can be the same as other boys and girls.' It's small, but it makes you feel that you have a little chance. Maybe a transexual will open a magazine and think: 'That's cool. We can be whatever we want.' That's why I did the Givenchy campaign."

Tisci is unabashed in his admiration of Lea in an interview for WWD; "She's a true goddess. She has always been very feminine - super fragile, very aristocratic." Appearances in Vogue Paris, Lurve Magazine, Interview, Hercules, V Magazine, and on the cover of Love Magazine alongside Kate Moss cemented Lea's status as a model with true credibility. Currently ranked at number 42 on the models.com list of Top 50 Models, Lea's celebrity status is likely to implode following an appearance this year on the Oprah Winfrey show, detailing her inspirational life story.