10 EMERGING HOT MODELS 2021
Malika Louback, Amrit, Jade Nguyen +
The Spring/Summer 2021 fashion season was ever-changing due to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols. The big four: New York, London, Milan, and Paris fashion week operated under challenging circumstances, using digital formats, scaled-down productions, and guest-free events. Live or not, new faces emerged on the runway this season, and PROVOKR has a list of 10 breakout models who emerged as catwalkers to keep an eye on.
Amrit is the Indian model gaining attention on the international runway. Last year Amrit was at her first-ever Vogue Paris shoot. It was her first casting, her first time wearing makeup, and her first time facing the camera in a professional set-up. In a recent interview, Amrit discussed her walking experience in the S/S 2021 Milan and Paris fashion week. “I didn’t imagine myself ever ending up on the runway, especially when you think about the height standards. As it was my first season, I just let things unfold for themselves. To my surprise, I ended up walking Fendi and closing the Alberta Ferretti finale on the first day of MFW and walked shows in PFW. Runway has become one of my favorite aspects of this industry. The way you collectively get to tell the story of these wonderful collections is something that touches my spirit so deeply.”
Loli Bahia, the new face of Women Management Paris, walked for Valentino, Chanel, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton, to name a few. Check out Bahia’s Instagram to view her gallery of images.
Jade Nguyen is represented by Elite and has walked numerous shows, including Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Her editorial work includes Dior Beauty and Jo Malone, and she graces the February 2021 cover of Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.
Malika Louback started modeling with IMG in 2019. Less than a year later, the Djiboutian model made the cover of Vogue Paris’s September 2020 issue and Vogue Singapore’s December 2020 cover. This season she walked for Versace, Chanel, Hermès , to name a few. “Being a model is to inspire, to make people dream, and to promote diversity at the same time,” said Louback.
Valeria Buldini was the winner of Elite Model Look in 2017 when she was just 14. She signed with Elite Worldwide but had to wait until she was 16 to start modeling. Buldini was seen on multiple runways this season, including Alberta Ferretti, Blumarine, Sports Max, Ports 1961, Philosophy, and Miu Miu.
Kayoko Higuchi was discovered in a Tokyo Starbucks at the age of 18. Higuchi’s runway and campaign work was hampered because she didn’t want to conform to Japan’s beauty ideals. She explained, “My agency wanted cute girls with big eyes and feminine style. I was too tall and they wanted me to keep my long shiny hair.” She chopped her long locks, and the radical new haircut put her front and center of the opening of Burberry’s spring/summer 2021 show. Not a typical fashion week show, it was set in the English countryside and curated in collaboration with the German performance artist Anne Imhof.
Merlijne Schorren was born in the Netherlands and is signed with Amsterdam-based Ulla Models. Her editorial work includes British Vogue 2020 and the upcoming Vogue Japan March 2021. For the S/S 2021 fashion season, Schorren walked for Chloé, Dior, and Fendi.
Marianna Pardinho, the Brazilian-born model, showed off her versatility at the Dior, Burberry, Givenchy, and Giambattista Valli runway shows. She was also featured in Victoria Beckham’s LookBook 2021. Her agency is São Paulo-based Ming Management.
Britt Oosten, the Dutch model, has been compared to top model Anna Ewers. She had a successful debut S/S 2021 season with Max Mara, Fendi, and Versace.
And finally, Skarla Ali opened for both Gabriela Hearst and Philosophy S/S 2021. She was also seen walking through the forest in the English countryside for Burberry and continued showing her talent for Kenzo, Valentino, Alberta Ferretti, Jacquemus, Ports 1961, and Blumarine.
