Look around any bustling city, and what are you typically met with? A crowd of people with different skin tones, features, hairstyles, backgrounds, and the like. Shift your focus to the fashion or beauty worlds, and that hasn't always been the case. But it looks as though the two industries are finally making strides to reflect that cultural and aesthetic variety. Just ask Maria Borges, Hari Nef, or Barbie Ferreira: Representations of attractiveness are definitely changing. These are the individuals we want to call out today. While we see a series of similar pretty faces pop up season after season on the runway, it's the ones with strong, unique beauty identities that catch our eye and hold our gaze. They're the ones with textured, or even no, hair among a sea of straight and long. Those with striking features that might be deemed "weird" in another setting. They bring a bit of diversity to a uniform crowd.
Ahead, we highlight these bold beauties. Some have already garnered the attention of the fashion and beauty industries, but we expect their spotlights to shine even brighter this upcoming season.
Kris Gottschalk
We love a good androgynous moment, and German model Kris Gottschalk has been serving them up left and right. She made her runway debut during Public School's menswear show, and has appeared in both a Givenchy runway show and ad campaign.
But the backstory behind her buzzed haircut is what inspires us the most about this up-and-comer. She ended up shaving her head after surviving a horrific motorcycle accident and, since then, her career and life have never been the same. "All of a sudden, I saw people that I had never seen before in my three years or so in New York; a lot of casting directors and photographers who were really interested in [my] story," she told Nylon. "Before, I went to castings and I just played ‘the blondie.’ Now, I go and I’m myself. I have short hair and I wear whatever I want."
Poppy Okotcha
We saw an uptick in natural hair on the runway last season, and Poppy Okotcha is one of the handful of models heralding this movement. The 19-year-old has walked in Chloé, Vivienne Westwood, and Alberta Ferretti so far in her blossoming career, and her textured 'fro and babydoll features have made for a refreshing appearance at all three.
Rhiannon McConnell
Fresh freckle-face Rhiannon McConnell has only been on the scene for a short time but with Chanel, Gucci, and an i-D feature already under her belt, we're going to go ahead and say this young gun has big things in store for 2016.
Yuka Mannami
We're not the only ones to have fallen head over heels in love with Japanese model Yuka Mannami and her adorably fierce baby bangs. Her very first runway show was Fendi Haute Couture in Tokyo, and the model continued her streak by walking for the brand on exclusive this past season. We can't wait to see more of Mannami and her fringe both backstage and on the runways.
Alice Metza
L.A. native Alice Metza and her unique look (she has German, Cherokee, and Belizian roots) were a force to be reckoned with on the runway during the fall/winter season. Not to mention her debut at Proenza Schouler, and walking Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Valentino both during the spring/summer season and this past couture week.
But it's not only her features that set her apart — her eccentric personality and commandeering presence on the runway only add to her appeal.
Hari Nef
Model/actress Hari Nef first made headlines this summer when she became the first transgender model signed to IMG. Nef's name reappeared in the media just last month when she made her Milan Fashion Week debut hitting the runway for Gucci Menswear. In one of the only industries that both welcomes and celebrates gender fluidity, it's nice to see more and more trans models representing for the community in visible and boundary-pushing ways.
Frederikke Sofie
With a loose, tousled curly mane like Frederikke Sofie's, it's hard not to take notice. Stella McCartney, Tommy Hilfiger, and Céline are just some of the designers that have managed to book this classic beauty (Céline snagged her for an exclusive and campaign, FYI). We're sure she's going to become even more of a hot commodity in the seasons to come.
Nirvana Naves
Having nabbed an exclusive at the show of all shows — Prada — Nirvana Naves has "budding star" written all over her. The Dutch curly-haired showstopper made her debut opening up for J.W.Anderson in London, followed by showings at Hermès, Valentino, and Maison Margiela this past couture season.
Karly Loyce
Karly Loyce is the owner of another prominent 'fro. Her name has been everywhere recently, from her badass Céline campaign (a spot previously held by Joan Didion) to appearing on the cover of i-D's 35th-year anniversary issue. Not to mention all over the runway: walking at big-name shows like Chanel, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, and DVF (and those are just the big ones).
Peyton Knight
It's hard to forget a bold bowl-cut-and-bang combo like young Peyton's — nor do we necessarily want to. The 17-year-old has been posing for the camera since the tender age of 11, but appeared in her first show last season when she was picked for an Alexander Wang exclusive. There, hairstylist Guido Palau gave her this standout mod cut.
Varya Shutova
Another hair transformation at the hands of Guido Palau is that of newcomer Varya Shutova. According to Vogue, Shutova had her naturally strawberry-blond loose curls dyed fiery red for Marc Jacobs' fall 2015 campaign. And while the contrast of the Russian model's blond eyebrows and fair skin with her red hair may have garnered her some teasing as a kid, it's definitely made her stand out on the runway.
Ari Westphal
First catching our attention with herGolden Girls -inspired locks this past season, Westphal has definitely made an imprint on the industry with her short, curled 'do. The Brazilian model was cast in Chloé's recent campaign (we'll forgive the mullet treatment her pixie was forced to undergo), and if her hair doesn't draw you in, her mesmerizing eyes will.
Lula Kenfe
Ethiopian model Lula Kenfe may not have received her "big runway break" just yet, but we anticipate it's not too far off. Her envy-inducing bone structure, chocolate skin, and lion-esque mane aren't easily forgotten, after all.
Hyun Ji Shin
Hyun Ji Shin not only took the crown on Korea's Next Top Model, but hit international fame once she walked for Prada in Milan. Her schedule's been nonstop work, work, work, since then, strutting her stuff at shows like Dries van Noten, Coach, DKNY, Elie Saab, Rodarte, and Public School.
Pooja Mor
Pooja Mor left the world of engineering to become a model, despite her parents' disapproval. This may be one of the cases when mom and dad aren't always right, because Mor's fresh face is exactly what the beauty world needs.
Nicole Atieno
Vogue included Nicole Atieno as a must-watch model of 2016, and we’re here to second that statement. She's a testament to Black-girl magic everywhere (as well as the beauty of short hair), and though her résumé isn't very long as of yet, with three Gucci shows and an ad feature under her belt, we think her potential pretty much speaks for itself.
Olivia Jansing
Olivia Jansing came onto the scene in a major way — complete with sculpted, insanely chiseled cheekbones. She's already walked alongside seasoned models in shows like Versace, Alexander Wang, Balenciaga, and Valentino.
Lameka Fox
Not many can say they've gained model fame from Instagram, but Lameka Fox isn't your average catwalker, clearly. Plucked from social media by one of the most famous agencies in the world, Fox made her grand debut at Marc Jacobs’ spring 2016 resort show, and the industry's had its eye on the buzz-worthy beauty ever since.
Mathilde Brandi
Watch out Cara Delevingne, there's a new bushy-browed model in town. The Danish newbie's blue eyes and carefree beauty have appeared at top-tier shows like Céline, Calvin Klein, and Coach.
Sahara Lin
You’re probably wondering why Sahara Lin is the only model of the bunch without a runway photo. Well, that’s because the young sprout has yet to make her catwalk debut. But let us make the case that this is her season: She was a model at Pat McGrath’s makeup-collection extravaganza (also known as cool-girl central), starred in Hood by Air x Empire's lookbook, and has a personality that doesn’t quit. Is that not the recipe for ultimate model fame?
Oh, and did we forget to mention she’s also got a mouth full of metal? Now that’s something you don’t see very often in the industry.
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