For the past decade, Models.com’s The Graduates series has been a visual check-in with the models of the moment who have consistently performed at the highest levels, going from the rising newcomers on the Hot List to the Top 50 recognizable muses throughout the world. Stars like Bella Hadid, Hoyeon, Vittoria Ceretti, Selena Forrest, and Sora Choi, to name a few, have all taken part of the milestone series that uniquely marks the shift in a model’s career. With major bookings in editorials, advertisements, lookbooks, and on the runway, these models have consistently locked down luxury clients in the most competitive markets while continuing to dominate on the global stage.
To commemorate our tenth year, we flew to Paris during the madness of fashion week to shoot all the top talent with photographer Mauricio Sierra. This year’s cast connects with the Models.com team to divulge how they got their starts, the key brands and creatives that have made their careers, and taking their place in the upper echelons.
Considering her infectious, charismatic nature, it’s no surprise that Colin Jones was able to chart her course in the fashion industry. Fresh off opening Mugler’s S/S 25 show when she sat down with us on set, Jones reflected on her meteoric rise of her modeling career after a year full of viral runway moments. Born and raised in Utah, she always knew she was destined for the runway, with a dream fueled by her passion for the industry and the unwavering support of her mother. As a proud trans woman, fashion has always been her outlet for expressing her identity. “I remember watching a video of Naomi Campbell on my iPod touch, and I thought, ‘That’s the career for me.’ From 3rd grade on, I was set on becoming a model.” In a serendipitous twist, Jones’ journey to the top wasn’t just an ambition she aspired to—it was literally a dream she had while sleeping. “I’m a spiritual person, and I believe dreams are direct indicators of steps we should take in the physical world.” The day after her lucid dream, she went into her shift at a Utah Taco Bell, applied to an agency that she found by using Models.com, and never looked back.
Hermès by Martin Margiela top – MIES PREOWNED | Shorts and heels – STYLIST’S OWN
“It’s been important for me to live my truth openly.”
Hermès by Martin Margiela top – MIES PREOWNED | Shorts and heels – STYLIST’S OWN
Soon, she found herself in New York, meeting with major agencies before signing with Women Management. In just two years, Jones has gone from the Hot List to the Top 50 rankings, securing 13 campaigns with brands like Ferragamo, Marc Jacobs, and Mugler, while working with photographers such as Ethan James Green and Rafael Pavarotti. Her powerful walk, which went viral after Maison Margiela’s S/S 24 show and has morphed into other maximalist variations of her signature stomp, is now iconically a representation of her passion. Reflecting on her experience as a trans woman in the industry, Jones says, “It’s been important for me to live my truth openly. I’m so proud of who I am, and my transness has absolutely sculpted me into the model I am today. The challenges have been tough, but having a community of women and people who understand my journey is empowering.” Jones credits much of her success to self-love and finding time away from the fashion world, whether by spending time with her family or volunteering at an AIDS clinic in New York. “You realize FOMO disappears when you take care of yourself. Volunteering has helped me approach fashion with a sense of selflessness, wanting to show up for others in the same way.”
