American Appeal

 
Ali Stephens @ Elite (mother agnency: Pulse Management)

It will be the first topic of 2008. American models or more exactly North American models. Actually, we're  thinking about it for months, almost half a year when the "American Beauty" buzz started to storm around the fashion industry. Though, at that time, right before and during the latest fashion weeks, we thought it might be too early to write an accurate article on this new wave of models and weren't sure of what to include in the words "American" and "Beauty".
First we finally made the decision to extend the geographical area to Canada, as this country was obviously successful in terms of high profile models and remains interesting if you consider the number of promising newbies hailing from Canadian agencies. This decision was strengthened by the fact that there's no real "type of beauty" among this vibe, no specific features that stand out and it looks more like a claim for diversity, an open door to many different kind of faces. What appeared as the real definition of "American Beauty" seems to belong in the management rather than the models themselves. It's a matter of image, building an image. The secret behind the trend is probably the wonderful work of developpement or model placement agencies that were at the beginnings of many of this last months rising careers.
As the perfect symbol of it, we've picked Ali Stephens. She's grown on us since the first time we saw her face, since these times of high speculation before the castings began. From the most commented newbie at the end of the summer to one of the newcomer counting the highest amount of major shows in Paris leading to a sensational Chloe ad campaign, this might sound a long way but it was actually faster than the speed of light. And we feel the real power here. Since that day we've seen her at Givenchy backstage, as we didn't immediately recognise her and thinking "who's that Lithuanian we've overlooked ?" the story has taken a new turn and our love for Ali grew as much as we simply can't take our eyes off those Chloe ads. All the ingredients are here: high speed success, mistaken with a Lithuanian and a strong mother agency behind her... she embodies our vision of todays "American Beauty".

 
Ali Stephens, test and backstage shots

North America has provided the fashion industry with incredible models for quite a few seasons now. Including some immediate breakthroughs and some rich, long careers. Canada and US have been a very reliable source of diversity, poetry and beauties able to break the usual boundaries, the strongest fences, flying away from all common places. Think of Hilary Rhoda, Jessica Stam, Coco Rocha or Chanel Iman. But many more were building some very strong portfolios. One of the most interesting of these last years is the amazing one Shannan Click has made gathering high quality editorials and eye-catching campaigns. Alison Nix, Erin Heatherton, Rachel Clark or Alexandra Tomlinson seem on the same slope now while most recent stories like Karlie Kloss or Ali Michael might go a tad faster as their rather short career already include a remarkable list of top-notch jobs. Count other names like Courtney Smerski, Cate Chant, Simona McIntyre, Edythe Hughes, Tara Gill, Taryn Davidson, Alex Shaffer... and of course Ali Stephens in that list too. Again, the only thing they seem to have in common is the strong management at their early days. Here we go.
In Canada, they are Chatale Nadeau, Michelle Miller or Elmer Olsen and you've probably heard of Ginny Edwards from the US. These names are behind many of the models listed above. Add to that those agencies that should ring a bell to many readers: Pulse Management, Mode Models, Mgmt First... They worked as fantastic sources of new faces, providing numerous exciting models to the biggest agencies in New York. Chantale Nadeau placed no less than Cate Chant (Prada girl at New York Models) and Simona McIntyre (with Marilyn) while the debuts of Amanda Tataryn (with DNA) are eagerly watched by the most influent eyes of the industry. Elmer Olsen who's a household name for anyone working with models spotted girls like Tara Gill and Taryn Davidson (both with DNA) currently featured in top editorials worldwide, while Michelle Miller - who discovered Stam - has an amazing duet waiting for their first opportunities: Alyssa Walsh and Sea Remington (see below).
If New York Models and especially DNA are blended with North American newbies, the other big names in NY aren't absent from this round. Supreme has a marvelous team of Canadians for a while now, which latest additions include Meghan Collison (Mode Models, already two Vogue Italia covers in a row) and Emily Fox (Giovanni Models). One Model Management has bet on an impressive combo of girls scouted by Ginny Edwards like Alex Shaffer and Julia Caldwell as well as Gwen Carrier from Mother Management. That's not all, Elite's most recent successes like Ali Stephens or Courtney Smerski were both launched by Pulse Management just in time to complete a line-up including Coco Rocha, Danielle Hamm, Edythe Hughes, Karlie Kloss...

Cat, scouted by Mother Model Management (US) like Karlie Kloss, Gwen Carrier or Jenny Sweeney

Fiona, Mode Models (Canada)

Much diversity, a rich palette of faces, a unique combination of beauty types... today's North American models list is far away from any cheap cliché people often have in mind when they hear the word "American". We owe that to the scouts, the agents, all those people who have build this fresh, innovative image and turned the "American Beauty" thing from its classical conservative connotation to a much more appealing concept. Aesthetics for a new era, a handful of handpicked models for the future, from the most selective places you could find accross North America.

Alex Utech @ Ginny Edwards Development (US)

Alyssa Walsh @ International Model Management (Canada)

Lilian Leopold @ Lizbell Agency (Canada)

Megan McCabe @ Ginny Edwards Development (US)

Nathalie Keyser @ Pulse Management (US)

Sea Remington @ International Model Management (Canada)

Comments

[Antoine]

C'est vrai que la Campagne Chloé est SUBLIME,à l'instar d'Ali Stephens, qui donc n'est pas Lituanienne ???!!!
ps: article Passioné et Passionnant !!!
re-ps: au sujet des scans", OUI !!! C'est Vrai que Rien ne vaut le contact visuel sur Papier, "à l'ancienne", concret, "Tout Terrain" . . .

Amicalement, Antoine