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Question
Name one NTM model for each (from any franchise) that has that quintessential, signature look for:
- Beauty
- High Fashion
- Editorial
Use a different model for each.
Have fun answering!!
Okay, sorry for taking so long to answer this question, but I wanted to give it a lot of thought. So here are my rather hesitant answers. I am only using the American, Australian and late British cycles for this mainly, with the odd reference to some of the other international cycles I’ve seen.
High Fashion
I feel like this was the easiest one to decide, as I think High Fashion in general has a much more stereotypical look, and is much more focused on the look than their skill, so picking a quintessential choice was pretty easy.
Instant ones that came to mind were Ann Ward, Leila Goldkuhl, Jane Randall, Fatima Siad, all have really strong expensive looks, strong faces, tall, have that runway look. For me though it came down to two winners from different countries, Aamito Lagum and Alice Burdeu. Both of these I feel would be clear answers in terms of why, but I guess for the final answer I’ll go with Alice. Feels like such an easy answer, but nothing else feels right. Alice’s look was just perfect for high fashion, especially at that time. It also was the first time NTM had really felt like it hit that high fashion angle perfectly. There is a reason that ANTM tried to just find a virtual clone of her when it came to their high fashion season.
Editorial
I found this one harder, as I think editorial has a much wider definition, and is far more skill focused. There is also a big difference between being a successful editorial model in Vogue than in Marie Claire, so answering this was a lot more difficult.
I think when looking at those more high fashion magazines like Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar, any of the names I mentioned above have that look that feels very editorial. I think though a lot of them besides Jane feel a bit more niche, she is the only one who I could then see doing the more commercial feeling magazines as well, so I think she is a contender. Chantelle Young/Winnie Harlow is another shot in terms of having a unique look, I think it is so unique it is hard to pick her as the quintessential choice, but felt like I needed to give her a shout out.
Kathryn Lyons was another one whose portfolio proved she could also do the same, but I think her actual look is quite underwhelming, and it is more skill and being photogenic than that quintessential look. Another one that came to mind was Chantal Jones, I think she has such a versatile look, sort of similar to Jane. I could see her doing those more high fashion magazines, commercial, but then even going into men’s magazine, women’s health magazines, just really anything. She has such a wide editorial appeal. Similarly, considered maybe Shanali Martin. But no one felt fully right.
In the end, once I thought about Montana Cox, she became the clear answer for me. Yeah, so two AusNTM as my choices, but I do think that franchise knew how to do it well. Montana has that look that I feel can do anything, and while there may be others who have the more quintessential looks for individual styles of editorial modelling, I think Montana can do them all successful. Her portfolio is still one of the most diversely strong, but I really feel every shot could come straight from an editorial from a wide variety of magazines. I think that versatility is so essential for an editorial model, so is why I chose Montana as my quintessential editorial model.
Beauty
So this is all about the face, again I think there is a large part of skill, but natural beauty still shines here. I think again there is a slight distinction between those who could succeed in more commercial beauty modelling, for make-up brands and skin case, like Covergirl of course, and those who can do the more high fashion beauty shoots.
I think Olivia Wardell and Jennifer Malengele from Cycle 11 of BNTM help exemplify this sort of distinction, Olivia didn’t show the greatest range in angles, but had such a stunning face that took the more dramatic make-up well, while Jennifer excelled in the natural, commercial beauty shoots. I think those two nicely complement each other really in showing the diversity of beauty shoots, but neither has the look that really feels as wide-ranging.
Some other names to come to my mind are Mikaela Schipani, her bone structure is incredible, perfectly symmetrical features, and has shown she can look great at a few different angles, similarly Alex Sinadinovic for much the same reasons, or Yoanna House, who provided one of the best beauty shots in NTM history because of her bone structure. I think there are also a few models who just have more traditionally simple, yet stunning faces, with flawless skin, so stand out in a different way. So for those Fatima again is a contender, or Kendal Brown. Linnea Stevens-Jones also probably deserves a mention, as well as Sabine Jamieson, both had incredible faces.
Honestly, think I need to just go with Yoanna on this one. There are so many stunning faces, who are distinct, unique, and could excel in so many ways. I’ve spent way too long going through each season, trying to extract unorthodox choices, but sometimes you just need to go with your gut instinct. There may be some technically stronger, but her classic beauty really just is timeless in terms of beauty shots.