HALF OF THE TOP 12 MODELS THAT WALKED THE FALL 2018 RUNWAYS WERE WOMEN OF COLOUR BY MORGAN C. SCHIMMINGER
In case you couldn’t tell by all the Diversity Reports, inclusion is pretty important to us. We love seeing a variety of races, sizes, gender identities and ages on the runways, in addition to killer clothes. So we are super thrilled to reveal that the top model of this season is a woman of color. South Sudan’s own Shanelle Nyasiase walked for an impressive 43 designers, taking home the top prize this time around.
Actually, half of the top 12 were women of color. And while there were a few holdouts from the New York list, a good portion of the ranking models on this countdown didn’t register in the Big Apple.
- Jessie Bloemendaal (Women): 32 Shows
Reaching number four on our top models in New York this season, Jessie Bloemendaal’s impressive run continued in Milan and Paris. In the former, she strutted her stuff for Prada, Etro, Tod’s, Blumarine, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Nº21, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and even Tommy Hilfiger x Gigi Hadid. In the City of Light, she popped up at Sacai, Rochas, Maison Margiela, Balmain, Christian Dior and several others.
- Alyssa Traoré (IMG): 32 Shows
The half Dutch, half Ivorian model graced the runways of 32 shows this season. She hit the European catwalks for big names like J.W.Anderson, Burberry, Erdem, Off-White, Loewe, Elie Saab, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Sportmax, Rochas (which she closed)…we could go on. And she also represented in New York with appearances at Calvin Klein, Prabal Gurung, Victoria Beckham, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Jeremy Scott, Coach 1941, Tory Burch and Michael Kors.
- Léa Julian (The Society): 32 Shows
Another familiar face from this season’s top models list from New York, the French beauty also shined in Milan and Paris. Alberta Ferretti, Gucci, Fendi, Moschino, Prada, Versace and Salvatore Ferragamo were just some of the shows she walked in Italy. During her time in Paris, Léa Julian sauntered down the runways of the likes of Dries Van Noten, Valentino, Givenchy, Hermes and Chanel.
- Kiki Willems (IMG): 32 Shows
The Netherlands’ own Kiki Willems had a big Fall 2018 season. Her tally included turns at Fendi, Prada, Versace, Etro, Jil Sander, Burberry, Saint Laurent, Chloe, Sacai, Chanel and Miu Miu, among others. And her New York numbers weren’t too shabby, either. She was seen at Calvin Klein, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Sies Marjan, Coach 1941, Tory Burch, Anna Sui and Michael Kors.
- Fran Summers (Ford): 33 Shows
Fran Summers managed to hit all four fashion capitals and walked in some pretty high-profile shows. She opened Chloe plus walked for Saint Laurent, Loewe, Christian Dior, Valentino, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen and more in Paris. Fran also turned up at Fendi, Max Mara, Prada (where she closed out the show), Versace, Burberry, J.W.Anderson, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford.
- Adut Akech (The Society): 33 Shows
Adut Akech hails from South Sudan, but she moved to Australia at just 6 years old. For Fall 2018, she racked up a cool 33 shows, including H&M and Valentino, both of which she opened. Adut also shut down Saint Laurent and hit the runways of Loewe, Nina Ricci, Stella McCartney, Hermes, Alexander McQueen, Simone Rocha, Moschino, Jil Sander, Marni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Jason Wu, Bottega Veneta, Tom Ford, etc.
- Chu Wong (The Society): 34 Shows
The Chinese stunner walked in a grand total of 34 shows for Fall 2018. Lanvin, Lemaire, Balmain, Elie Saab, Alexander McQueen, Erdem, Christopher Kane, Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni and Salvatore Ferragamo were a few of her European accomplishments. In the Big Apple, Chu Wong represented for the likes of Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Self-Portrait and Jason Wu.
5.Yoon Young Bae (The Society): 37 Shows
South Korean beauty Yoon Young Bae bolstered her runway résumé by hitting the stage for 37 shows during fashion month. Chloe, Ann Demeulemeester, Off-White, Loewe, Valentino, John Galliano, Chanel, Max Mara, Moschino, Etro, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Preen, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Tory Burch, Coach 1941… We hope she’s taking a much needed vacay after racking up all those runway miles.
4.Cara Taylor (Silent): 39 Shows
While she scored the top spot in New York, Cara Taylor earned the fourth position on this list. That’s pretty amazing for the Alabama native, considering she was cast in some epic shows like Fendi, Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Givenchy, Chanel and Burberry on top of Alexander Wang, Prabal Gurung, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Narciso Rodriguez and Marc Jacobs stateside.
- Hyun Ji Shin (IMG): 40 Shows
Hats off to Hyun Ji Shin who lands the third spot this season. She started her streak in New York at shows like Carolina Herrera, Brandon Maxwell, Ulla Johnson only to stay strong in the three other cities. David Koma, Preen, Erdem, Rochas, Chloe, Balmain, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, Stella McCartney, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander, Antonio Berardi and Dolce & Gabbana were just some of her other triumphs.
2.Hannah Motler (Ford): 41 Shows
Appearing on our top models of New York list at number eight, this U.K. native really upped her game the following weeks. Hannah Motler opened Erdem and closed both Matty Bovan and Dries Van Noten. She also appeared on the catwalk for J.W.Anderson, Preen, Roberto Cavalli, Fendi, Moschino, Prada, Marni, Chloe, Christian Dior, Valentino and Miu Miu.
- Shanelle Nyasiase (Red): 43 Shows
She managed to snag the second spot in New York, so we weren’t surprised to see this stunner from South Sudan earn the top position on this list. Shanelle Nyasiase walked for Jonathan Simkhai, Sies Marjan, Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez (which she closed), Marc Jacobs, Boss (closed that one, too), Gareth Pugh, Ports 1961, Temperley London, Dries Van Noten, Rick Owens, Loewe, Nina Ricci (which she closed), Valentino, Gucci, Versace… Gee, we get tired just reading that list.
