Fashion month can make a model’s career. Yes, there are the all-important campaigns and editorial spreads, but nothing gets an up and coming face in front of more influential industry insiders than a catwalk. As the industry downs tools at the end of another season, Vogue asks four casting directors – Barbara Nicoli, Leila Ananna, Adam Hindle and Shay Nielsen – to name their breakout models from the AW19 shows.
Carolina Burgin
Age: 19
Nationality: American
Height: 178cm
Represented by: Elite/The Society
Instagram: @carolina.burgin
As seen at: Helmut Lang, Carolina Herrera, Proenza Schouler, Boss, Tory Burch, Khaite, Boss, Sportmax, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Missoni, Dior, Lanvin, Courrèges, Chloé, Nina Ricci, Altuzarra, Hermès
Having debuted last season for Calvin Klein in New York, California-based Burgin went on to walk at Sonia Rykiel, Dior and Chloé, and landed a spot in the last’s SS19 campaign shot by Steven Meisel. This fashion month was the first full show season for the natural, classic beauty.
Natalia Montero
Age: 21
Nationality: Colombian
Height: 176cm
Represented by: The Society
Instagram: @nataliamontero07
As seen at: Rodarte, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Self-Portrait, R13, Helmut Lang, Coach, Ports 1961, Simone Rocha, Mary Katrantzou, Victoria Beckham, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Peter Pilotto, JW Anderson, Christopher Kane, Moncler, Bottega Veneta, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Missoni, Jacquemus, Lanvin, Ann Demeulemeester, Off-White, Selma Çilek, Balenciaga, Giambattista Valli, Miu Miu
After making her debut on the Balenciaga catwalk for AW18, Colombian-born Montero went on to rack up the runway miles in Europe for SS19. The model grew up salsa dancing, “which really translates into her work”, says Nielsen.
Sasha Knysh
Age: 22
Nationality: Ukrainian
Height: 180cm
Represented by: Muse
Instagram: @sashaknysh_omg
As seen at: Rodarte, Sies Marjan, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Marc Jacobs, Matty Bovan, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Peter Pilotto, Erdem, Christopher Kane, Richard Quinn, Ulla Johnson, Miu Miu
Knysh’s interesting features coupled with a unique personal style had brands fighting over her in her debut season in September 2018. The model recently shot with Josh Olins for Vogue Italia and walked for a collection of big brands in New York and London, before rounding off the season in Paris, opening exclusively for Miu Miu.
Ugbad Abdi
Age: 18
Nationality: Somalian
Height: 180cm
Represented by: Next
Instagram: @iamugbad
As seen at: Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Matty Bovan, Simone Rocha, Victoria Beckham, Burberry, Fendi, MaxMara, Roberto Cavalli, Lanvin, Ann Demeulemeester, Off-White, Valentino, Miu Miu
Walking in a show that leaves Naomi Campbell in tears would be a pivotal moment in any model’s career; and the magnitude of making her debut alongside the super in Valentino’s breathtaking haute couture SS19 collection was not lost on Abdi. “Am I dreaming?!” she wrote on Instagram after the show. Following such a “pinch-me” start to her catwalk career, AW19 was the Somalian-born model’s first full season.
Delphi McNicol
Age: 19
Nationality: British
Height: 173cm
Represented by: The Hive
Instagram: @delphi_mc
As seen at: Gucci
London-born McNicol really hit the ground running last year. Scouted in the summer, the fashion student became Alessandro Michele’s go-to Gucci girl: she landed a coveted debut on the brand’s SS19 catwalk in September 2018; starred in the Glen Luchford-photographed SS19 campaign; and walked exclusively for the brand for a second season this February.
Sana Diouf
Age: 18
Nationality: French
Height: 180cm
Represented by: VNY
Instagram: @iam.sana
As seen at: Brandon Maxwell, Prabal Gurung, Vivetta, Etienne Aigner, Laura Biagiotti, Uma Wang, Valentino
While her breakout show was the unforgettable Valentino SS19 haute couture collection in January, the AW19 season was really where Diouf got into the swing of things. Away from the catwalk, Diouf immerses herself in two of her favourite creative outlets: escaping to the countryside to practise landscape photography, and baking pastries and sweet treats from family recipes at home in Paris.
Fitz
Age: 23
Nationality: American
Height: 175cm
Represented by: The Lions LA
Instagram: @itsfreakingfitz
As seen at: Gucci, Rodarte, MSGM, GCDS
“I wanted to take a risk,” Fitz told Vogue of her decision to shave her eyebrows after years of overcompensating by pencilling them in. Her striking look and sprinkling of freckles have landed her beauty campaigns with Marc Jacobs’ Daisy fragrance and Kylie Cosmetics, and this season led her to the runway at Gucci and Rodarte. The 23-year-old has two main passions, exercising and cooking, and is studying for a masters degree in health informatics in between shows and shoots.
Nikki Tissen
Age: 18
Nationality: Dutch
Height: 178cm
Represented by: Premier/Paparazzi
Instagram: @nikkitissen
As seen at: Victoria Beckham, JW Anderson, No21, Prada, Sportmax, Dior, Dries Van Noten, Rochas, Cédric Charlier, Valentino, Givenchy, Lacoste
Tissen came to her current pixie cut, complete with micro bangs, via hairstylist Guido Palau ahead of the Prada SS19 show, for which the up-and-comer was an exclusive. A stark change from her former mane of dark blonde locks, the cut was a shock at first, “but now, I think it looks really nice”, Tissen told Vogue at the time. The edgy, androgynous cut has proved transformative for Tissen, taking the 18-year-old Dutch model to the catwalks of Dior, Valentino and Givenchy.
Noah Carlos
Age: 18
Nationality: Filipino
Height: 182cm
Represented by: IMG
Instagram: @loserthrift
As seen at: R13, Sies Marjan, Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Christopher Kane, Marni, Missoni, Maison Margiela, Dries Van Noten, Courrèges, Ann Demeulemeester
Noah was spotted at Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles by an IMG scout, and the non-binary Filipino model has been racking up high fashion credentials ever since. At home in LA, Carlos has a keen eye for thrifting, posting looks on Instagram and selling items through resale sites like Depop.
Bomi Youn
Age: 20
Nationality: South Korean
Height: 179cm
Represented by: Premier/The Industry
Instagram: @bbbomiii_
As seen at: Jeremy Scott, Longchamp, Tory Burch, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Simone Rocha, Mary Katrantzou, Burberry, Erdem, Fendi, Prada, Sportmax, Dior, Dries Van Noten, Chloé, Nina Ricci, A.P.C, Miu Miu
The South Korean model only made her catwalk debut last year, but has already walked an impressive 16 shows, including Burberry, Dior and Chloé. Blessed with an immaculate complexion and the perfect combination of attitude and edge, Youn’s AW19 credentials read like a hit list of big-name fashion brands – from Tory Burch and Michael Kors in New York to Dior and Nina Ricci in Paris.
