According to Models.com, French model Léa Julian is the most in-demand model from June 2017 to May 2018. Julian, who was discovered only five years ago, has become a favorite for top fashion designers and houses, regularly gracing the runways of Chanel, Dior, and Valentino. As the fashion industry gears up for the Spring/Summer 2019 ready-to-wear shows, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the past year’s runway appearances. With an impressive 106 shows under her belt, Julian continues to dominate the scene.
Julian’s appeal lies not only in her tall stature of 1.80 meters but also in her slender figure and vibrant personality that captivate designers. Apart from her numerous runway appearances, Julian has proudly opened shows for Ellery’s pre-fall 2018, Maison Margiela’s Autumn/Winter 2018, and Sonia Rykiel’s Autumn/Winter 2018. Additionally, she had the privilege of closing Christian Wijnants’ Spring/Summer 2018 show.
One standout achievement for Julian is her participation in all of Chanel’s shows between June 2017 and May 2018, including both haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, as well as the Resort presentation and Métiers d’Art collection.
Interestingly, the top 10 models with the most runway appearances during this period are relatively unknown to the general public. Following Julian, Chinese model He Cong takes the second spot with 101 shows, trailed by American models Mckenna Hellam (95 shows) and Cara Taylor (89 shows), as well as Dutch model Kiki Willems (89 shows).
But what about the supermodels? While they may command millions of followers on social media and have lucrative advertising contracts, their runway appearances may not match up to their fame. For instance, Bella Hadid only participated in around 30 shows during this period, significantly fewer than Julian. However, the younger Hadid sister had notable opportunities to open shows for Jason Wu and Salvatore Ferragamo, as well as close shows for Anna Sui and Prabal Gurung. Gigi Hadid, on the other hand, walked in approximately 20 shows, opening six and closing 13. These impressive numbers underline their success on the runway. Designers such as Anna Sui, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, Prabal Gurung, Moschino, Max Mara, and Isabel Marant have demonstrated their faith in the Hadid sisters.
Another emerging star to watch out for is Kaia Gerber, who made her runway debut in September 2017. With a staggering 3.6 million followers on Instagram, Gerber is one of the most popular models and highly sought after by designers. With a total of 43 shows during the period, including eight openings and one closing, it’s evident that she has grabbed everyone’s attention. This observation points to a promising future career for Gerber.
Useful links:
1. Models.com: This website provides an extensive database of models, keeping track of their achievements and popularity in the fashion industry.
2. ELLE: Léa Julian Interview: In this article, ELLE speaks to Léa Julian, providing insights into her journey as a model and her personal style.
