Modeling Journey

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. 

Of all the Brazilian models to emerge during the late nineties, Caroline Ribeiro is my absolute favourite. Born in Belom do Para, Brazil, Ribeiro's exotic, unconventional looks were a result of her Portuguese and Amazonian Indian heritage. Ribeiro's multi-cultural looks, which were an considered a hurdle during the initial stages of her career, drew the attention and admiration of the then Gucci designer Tom Ford who cast her in his Spring/Summer 1999 show. Ribeiro became a muse to Ford, who declared that "Her face is an unusual blend of cultures"and featured her prominently in multiple Gucci campaigns.

Ford's adulation opened doors for Ribeiro to work with other fashion houses and she has since starred in campaigns for Escada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and cK1. Championed by the likes of Mario Testino, Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier, Ribeiro was a permanent fixture in American Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Vogue Italia. In September 2001, Ribeiro entered the holy grail of modelling when she was signed a reported $6 million dollar contract as a spokesperson for Revlon cosmetics. Ribeiro's exposure was also maximised in the same year when she was selected to walk in the Victoria's Secret runway spectacle.

During the late nineties, Ribeiro's distinct hybrid looks set her apart and drew comparisons to the iconic beauty Bianca Jagger. The 178 cm tall chameleon downplays her looks, stating that "I think my face is different, it's exotic - not like normal beauty. I don't have what you would call perfect beauty....with a face like mine I can play around." 

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.

Twenty year old newcomer Carola Remer has the kind of extreme, jolting beauty that makes you sit up and take notice. Hailing from Germany and standing at 177 cm, Remer's face has amazingly angular features thanks to her impossibly high cheek bones, wide set eyes and square jawline. Remer has an exotic, other-wordly beauty that is hard to place. To me she looks like a cross between Magdalena Frackowiak and nineties model Tatiana Sorroko.

Remer's plans for a career in medicine were side-lined when a cousin sent her pictures into a modelling agency without her consent. Remer deferred her medical studies when the agency requested to meet with her and signed her on the spot. Now represented by One Management in New York, Remer had an impressive debut at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows appearing in a total of 27 shows including Tom Ford, Emilio Pucci, Hakaan and Yigal Azrouel. Remer debuted on the models.com chart of Top 50 models at position 43 and has had an impressive editorial response with appearances in US Harper's Bazaar with Glen Luchford, Self Service, Vogue China and Nippon Vogue with Daniel Jackson. With Remer's exquisite beauty and grace of movement, I expect appearances in Vogue Italia and Paris Vogue to follow suit.