The Graduates
Emeline Hoareau
For over a decade, Models.com’s The Graduates series has served as a visual check-in with the models of the moment who have consistently performed at the highest levels, graduating from rising newcomers on the Hot List to the Top 50’s most recognizable faces. Stars like Bella Hadid, Hoyeon, Vittoria Ceretti, Selena Forrest, and Sora Choi, to name a few, have all taken part in the milestone series, which marks a defining shift in a model’s career. With major bookings across editorials, campaigns, lookbooks, and runways, these models have secured their places among fashion’s most sought-after talents, working with leading luxury houses and influential creatives while continuing to make their mark on the global stage.
For the 2026 edition, Models.com headed back to Paris during the whirlwind of Fashion Week to capture this year’s graduating class through the lens of photographer Valentin Herfray, with styling by Dara and looks exclusively from LVMH Prize finalist De Pino. Beyond the images, the cast sits down with the Models.com team to reflect on their unexpected beginnings, career-defining moments, the designers and photographers who have shaped their journeys, and what lies ahead as they cement their positions as the next generation of leading faces in fashion.
Photography Valentin Herfray
Stylist Dara
Collection De Pino
Hair Stylist Sarah Jo Palmer
Makeup Artist Julian Stoller
Manicurist Sylvie Vacca
Movement Director Gabriele Esposito
Video Director & Art Direction Marcel Gitard, En Mode
Video Director of Photography Maxime Thiolet Berger
Editor-in-Chief Stephan Moskovic
Editorial Director Irene Ojo-Felix
Interviewer Anire Ikomi
Production 360PM – MA + Group
Producers Jocelyn Rummler and Julia Lellouche
1st Assistant Photographer Rémi Procureur
2nd Assistant Photographer Joshua Abecassis
Digital Tech Romain Boé
Retouching INK
Styling Assistants Mona Antabli and Maszia Oettgen
Tailor Carole Savaton
Hair Assistants Celine Lanclume, Aimeric Amiot, and Taisiia Povalii
Manicure Assistant Isabelle Guyon
Special Thanks Christopher Michael at Egos & Icons
French model Emeline Hoareau, who hails from Réunion, has built her career steadily since making her runway debut at Ester Manas S/S 22. Rather than an overnight ascent, Hoareau’s trajectory has been one of gradual momentum, with Maison Margiela’s viral Artisanal 2024 show marking a standout moment in her early career, when she took to the runway before appearing in an American Vogue editorial featuring the collection, photographed by Steven Meisel.
In 2025, things really started heating up for Hoareau when Sarah Burton set her sights on her for Givenchy’s F/W 25 runway. She went on to walk for the house three more times, most recently for S/S 27, while also appearing in two campaigns for the brand, photographed by Collier Schorr and David Sims. Speaking about her connection with Burton and the house, Hoareau shared, “She’s really always cognizant of different types of body types and finding what looks good on you, corresponding to the type of your body.”
As a mid-size model, Hoareau has become a notable presence in the industry’s ongoing conversation around body representation, with Sarah Burton and casting director Jess Hallett championing different silhouettes on the runway. Having worked with some of the industry’s leading photographers, including Paolo Roversi, David Sims, Rafael Pavarotti, and Ethan James Green, Hoareau continued to build her editorial presence in 2026. The year also marked a major milestone as she landed her first two solo covers, one for Double Vision and another for Dazed, while recently returning to the Victoria’s Secret runway for the second time. With an already impressive body of work behind her, Hoareau is looking ahead to what’s next. When reflecting on her goals, the Paris-based model said, “I really want to push myself in high fashion and do more because my objective now is to push for curve models.”
