In the age of social media, landing a coveted runway exclusive is no longer the sole way for a new face to distinguish herself during fashion month. While a prime spot at Prada or Givenchy will always turn heads, modeling can’t be reduced to a numbers game. In other words: It isn’t enough to walk the walk—you have to stand out from the pack.
Giselle Norman (New York: Women Management / London: Storm Models)
No one can match Giselle Norman when it comes to runway mileage this season. Though she first made her mark opening JW Anderson’s Fall 2018 show a year earlier, Norman celebrated her 18th year with a truly terrific run on the Fall 2019 schedule. “[It’s] much more than I could have hoped for,” said Norman speaking from her home in Petworth, West Sussex. “I have felt such a huge amount of support from everybody—my agents, the designers, stylists, casting directors, other models, makeup artists, and hairdressers, all the behind-the-scenes teams that never get acknowledged but are exceptionally hardworking.”
Make no mistake, walking 38 shows in four cities takes tenacity. “I have never worked so hard in my life and enjoyed it so much,” said Norman. “It sounds silly but after feeling ready to come home to relax, there is a part of me that is really missing everybody and the crazy magic of it all. I have so many brilliant memories that it is honestly impossible to pick one.”
The Fall 2019 shows were dominated by young people who did just that. Among this bright new crop, you’ll find entrepreneurs, content creators, and beauties for whom an impressive list of shows only tells one part of the story. Here, the models of the season share what fashion month was like for them.