The Graduates
The Graduates
Meet the class of 2013! The cream of the crop from the MDC Hotlist have crossed over onto the Top 50, racking up covers, campaigns and heaps of buzz in the process. These are the girls of the moment and Miguel Reveriego captures them in elegant style in this special story shot exclusively for Models.com. Styled by William Graper these unique portraits showcase new sides of versatile favorites Vanessa Axente, Nadja Bender, Karlina Caune, Tian Yi & Codie Young as they share their thoughts on career highlights, future plans and their meteoric rise to the top.
Photographer: Miguel Reveriego for Models.com
Creative director: Stephan Moskovic
Stylist: William Graper
Hair: Tamara Mcnaughton using Bumble and Bumble.
Makeup: Ozzy Salvatierra (Los Angeles: Streeters Los Angeles, New York: Streeters New York) for Clé de Peau Beauté.
Manicurist: Casey Herman at Kate Ryan Inc for Étoile
Retouching: Velem
Shot at Fast Ashleys Studios in New York
Production: Kristen Bolt for Models.com / Heather Robbins for CLM
Models: Karlina Caune / Vanessa Axente / Codie Young / Nadja Bender / Tian Yi
Karlina Caune (NY Models) wearing Costume National vest
How were you discovered?
I was discovered randomly, my cousin sent my pictures behind my back and I got a call from my mother agent in a middle of Youthgard training. Funny combination, isn’t it?
What has been your proudest moment so far in your modeling career?
Being chosen for the Tom Ford campaign, definitely.
What is one thing no one would ever guess about you?
Before I got scouted I planned for myself a military career… I still do.
What is one thing you would like to do next?
Victoria’s Secret!!!
Vanessa Axente (DNA Models)
How were you discovered?
I met my mother agent when I was 13 in Hungary and that’s when I started. Last year when I was 16 I started to model internationally after opening the Prada show in Milan.
What has been your proudest moment so far in your modeling career?
I was so honoured when Steven Meisel chose me for the December cover and story of Vogue Italia after we had worked together on Prada and the previous Italian Vogue shoot.
What is one thing no one would ever guess about you?
I love to cook and would love to open a restaurant one day. I’d love to take a class in New York or Paris when I have time but for now I’m learning from my mom who is quite a good cook!
What is one thing you would like to do next?
I am just so happy with what I am doing at the moment that I prefer to live in this moment and not to project the future. Let’s see what happens.
Codie Young (DNA Models)
How were you discovered?
I was scouted in a shopping center in Australia.
What has been your proudest moment so far in your modeling career?
Becoming the face of Marc Jacobs fragrance ‘Dot’.
What is one thing no one would ever guess about you?
I’m not sure. I collect Lewis Carroll ‘Alice’ books. But only very old hardback ones.
What is one thing you would like to do next?
In the near future I would like to work with Tim Walker; I think his photographs are very beautiful.
Tian Yi (Fusion Models) wearing Fendi white cotton blouse
How were you discovered?
Fusion scouted me on Models.com
What has been your proudest moment so far in your modeling career?
When I’m shooting I think about how I am making money all by myself!
What is one thing no one would ever guess about you?
They all think my English is good because the pronunciation sounds good, but actually I’m not really good at this language!!:D
What is one thing you would like to do next?
You can’t control everything, so I don’t know what I will do or what will happen next.
Nadja Bender (NY Models) wearing Jean Paul Gaultier corset jacket and bustier
Sequin earrings / Mokuba grosgrain ribbon
How were you discovered?
My downstairs neighbor knows my booker, so she contacted me on Facebook and then it just went fast from there.
What has been your proudest moment so far in your modeling career?
Uhhh, there is a lot but opening Alexander Wang was definitely one of them.
What is one thing no one would ever guess about you?
Hahahahaha, don’t think so, I’ve been asked a lot of weird questions.
What is one thing you would like to do next?
Hmmm, that’s a hard one. I really would like someday to do Prada or Givenchy. I’ve never done those shows.
SPECIAL THANKS
Albright Fashion Library
Southpaw Vintage NYC
What Goes Around Comes Around
Resurrection
New York Vintage
Mega Mega Projects
Love them all ! But my favorites are Tian Yi and Nadja Bender ! Congratulations girls !!
Extremely beautiful portraits. Especially Nadja’s.
I like how models.com are doing the hotlist now , so one season wonders don’t enter in the top 50 and then leave again as quickly as they entered.
Tian Yi is such a standout beauty!
SOOOOOOO CHIC. The girls look beautiful. Miguel is one of the best photographers working today.
I love Vanessa and Codie! Stunning women!
Where is Edie????
Codie is absolutly amazing, her face is striking
With the way things are going for Vanessa it’s a wonder she didn’t skip the Top 50 altogether and jump straight to icons! Her rise to the absolute top is something like I’ve never seen before and is so fun to watch.
Well done on the pictures models.com. These girls should put them in their books. Stunning.
So happy for Karlina!
All girls are so beautiful.
Karlina, Nadja and Vanessa look stunning!
VANESSA!!!!!!
I’ve been in love with this girl since day one!!! :*)
She has charm and a womanly elegance so above her years it’s unbelievable. This girl W I L L be #1 one day.
Maybe Edie has another shoot on that time 🙂
Vanessa is the BEST!!!!
Absolutely stunningly beautiful models here. What incredible women.
Stunning
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Great team!
Karlina looks awesome in the Tom Ford campaign, thanks god theres a redhead in the team (fake, but I was missing sth more “vibrant”), vanessa looks like gisele bundchen and nadja has a face I havent seem before SO BEAUTIFUL!!!
Vanessa is so regal, she has a supermodel aura. I see longevity for her career.
Wow! I did not even recognize Nadja here, she looks like a bombshell! And I love all of these models, good luck to them all! <3
I’m obsessed with Tian Yi and i also love Codie Young
Hmm…we always seem to forget about Rosie.
I found another (fresh) lily Cole last night. She is too short but…she will
photo f—– amazing! Alice in Wonderland.
Karlina, gorgeous face.
Beautiful models all c: Xx
BEst pics goes to Karlina and Codie!!! Kinda disappointed of Vanessa’s pic, but she is still gorgeous <3
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