These Models Are Changing What Fashion Looks Like
Every fashion season, new up-and-comers get to make their mark on the fashion industry. From the models making their runway debuts to the newest celebs sitting front row (who can ever forget this epic Cardi B moment), there's always someone fresh to keep your eye on.
The ones to watch at New York Fashion Week's Fall/Winter 2019 shows are the people pushing boundaries to make the world of fashion better for everyone. While model and activist Paloma Elsesser has spent her entire career pushing for size inclusivity on the runway, drag queen Aquaria is changing the way people think about fashion icons.
As we head into a full month of fashion overload, we’ve compiled a list of all of the models changing the industry one runway and front row at a time.
1/6Chella Man
In 2018, Chella Man became the first deaf transgender model signed to IMG. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Chella expressed what the accomplishment meant to him. "There is an extreme lack of representation for young deaf, queer, Jewish, Asian, transgender artists — sorry, that is a mouthful," he said. "So, I decided to be my own representation."
This season, he's already making a splash sitting front row at shows like No Sesso and attending parties dressed in this year's top looks (and of course posting about it all on his Instagram).
JP Yim2/6Paloma Elsesser
Paloma Elsesser is certainly not new to the world of fashion, but each season her presence seems to grow even more. In September 2018, she made a splash when she stepped out on the Savage X Fenty stage wearing lingerie and looking as fierce as ever. This season, the IMG model will be a fixture at the shows (and hopefully walking in some!) and chronicling them on her IG Stories.
Courtesy of @ageofaquaria3/6Aquaria
Aquaria may be best known as the winner of the 10th season of RuPaul's Drag Race, in 2018, but fashion's front row is where she's going to be for the next month. In an interview with Forbes, she explained that "drag is all about challenging people’s perceptions of life," and part of that has been through fashion.
Courtesy of Aaron Philip4/6Aaron Philip
In 2017, model Aaron Philip went viral when she posted a photo of herself on Twitter, saying, "honestly when I get scouted/discovered by a modeling agency it's OVER for y'all!" Shortly after that, it was over for all of us because the 17-year-old became the first disabled trans model signed to Elite.
This season, it's not clear if she'll be showing off her skills on the runway, but she's already been seen in the front row, giving us major style moments and pushing to make each show a more inclusive space for everyone.
Estrop5/6Yoonmi Sun
Yoonmi Sun is a fresh face in fashion who made her runway debut at Louis Vuitton in 2017 (NBD). This season she'll be hitting the catwalks in New York, bringing her edgy style to the Fall/Winter 2019 season. Follow her journey on Instagram.
Courtesy of Noah Carlos6/6Noah Carlos
Noah Carlos has mastered the art of cool style, pushing societal norms aside and wearing exactly the outfits they want to wear. This season, Noah will be out and about on the NYFW stages, showing off their impeccable styling prowess and knack for matching barrettes with every ensemble. They're constantly posting his enviable LOTDs on Instagram, so NYFW is sure to bring out some of the best.
