Top Newcomers F/W 2016
It’s that time of the year again! This season there were a diverse array of buzz worthy, new faces and breakout beauties with rumbling potential. Fall/Winter 2016 shows provided the perfect platform for model rookies to step into the runway spotlight and the experienced girls to lock in major shows that can transcend them to the next level.
Models.com has selected the next graduating class of Top Newcomers F/W 2016 from models that stood out from the rest – walking for the major brands, landing exclusives slots, and securing pivotal opening and closing spots. Fashion week – and that special wow factor – can easily translate into campaigns, covers, and editorials for these girls if they play their cards right. We also reached out to industry insiders, Edward Enninful, Katie Grand and fashion legend, Bethann Hardison, to see who sparked their interests. See the next generation of bright stars who are sure to be on everyone’s lips.
1st Season
Alanna Arrington
Amanda Googe
Charlee Fraser
Emma Harris
Eva Varlamova
Julia Ratner
Katherine Moore
Lorena Maraschi
Mali Koopman
Naki Depass
Paulina Frankowska
Skylar Tartz
Breakout Season
Camille Hurel
Caroline Reagan
Celine Bouly
Cong He
Dilone
Jay Wright
Lily Stewart
Londone Myers
Mayowa Nicholas
Natalie Ludwig
Sandra Schmidt
Selena Forrest
Shelby Hayes
Sophie Rask
Teddy Quinlivan
Alanna Arrington
Cedar Rapids, Iowa rookie Alanna Arrington started her debut season opening for Altuzarra and launched into orbit instantly. Her framed curly hair captivated industry darlings landing her enticing spots in the line up for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Celine, Lanvin, Topshop and Diane von Furstenberg.
Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images
Amanda Googe
A melancholic, green-eyed and demurely striking Ivy League graduate, Amanda’s academic high achieving has carried over to fashion, with her accomplishing a freshman season definitely worth writing home about. Starting in Milan with Prada before heading to Paris where she walked for Dries Van Noten, Isabel Marant, Loewe and Valentino, Amanda has established a brand of arthouse intellect that’s totally on point.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Charlee Fraser
When you start your show season with Alexander Wang, it can only get better from there. Australian Aboriginal freshman Charlee Fraser was has been on the circuit in her native land for a while but made the transition to the major fashion cities for the first time with a buzzy haircut and powerful strut. Shows like Prada, Marni, Dior, Celine and Givenchy called upon the head-turner so it’ll be a race to see where she lands this shoot season!
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Emma Harris
Discovered at a hot dog making factory at a local mall in Boise, Idaho by Stacey Eastman of Pulse Management, Emma’s story couldn’t have started out in a decidedly less glamorous way. But hot dogs to high fashion it was, with this unknown hitting the ground running in NY, starting with Jason Wu and ending with the majorness of closing Calvin Klein, before going on to book Burberry, Cavalli, Loewe, and Givenchy, et al, in Europe. There’s no mall fashion in this girl’s future!
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Eva Varlamova
This flaxen-haired, Latvian newcomer started off her debut show season holding down exclusive spots in London and Milan with major shows J.W. Anderson and Prada respectively. She then went on the the city of Lights with prestigious turns at Dior, Chanel, Rochas, and John Galliano. This young beauty is just getting started!
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Julia Ratner
Julia’s clean sweep started on the Miu Miu Pre-Fall 2016 catwalk, with haute couture showings for Chanel and Valentino swiftly following. The elfish Eastern European then truly hammered home her runway relevance this season, landing everywhere in Milan and Paris. From Prada to Chanel, Ratner was right on.
Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage
Katherine Moore
Turning heads is no easy task–and Katherine Moore’s Guido Palau-given, ginger-topped crop is a testament to the fire starting powers of an extreme cut. Since her debut opening Alexander Wang with a semi-exclusive Katherine was hard to miss and easy to remember. Bookings quickly mounted thanks to the fiery do and icy stark features. It was Moschino, Dries Van Noten (closed), Balenciaga, Givenchy and Saint Laurent that all came calling.
Photo by Catwalking via Getty Images
Lorena Maraschi
Coming into the season Lorena was already a part of the Prada family, having shown up in January on the Prada Pre-Fall/Men’s and Miu Miu Pre-Fall runways. And the brand proved loyal, with their F/W 16 opening spot belonging to this Brazilian bambi. From there it was on to Paris, where she captured hearts and minds at Loewe, Sacai, Giambattista Valli, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Kenzo (closing spot!). We can feel a major moment coming on.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Mali Koopman
Fashion embraced Mali this season, with the Aussie screenwriting student bringing a bit of laconic luxury to the likes of Altuzarra, Calvin Klein, Fendi, Balenciaga, and Chanel — but maybe most notably to the opening spot at Celine, where this golden hued Sydneysider personified low key loveliness.
Photo by Peter White/Getty Images
Naki Depass
This season Naki’s soft gaze and high cheekbones landed her a runway resume that could only be described as impeccable. With exclusives and semi-exclusives for Burberry, Prada and Celine, as well as a notable appearance at Givenchy, this gentle Jamaican’s catwalk cred is flawless.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Paulina Frankowska
The perfect Polish pixie? That’s what Valentino maintained when Paulina Frankowska opened their F/W 16 show. Days before then, a select run of trophy shows like Prada, Marni and Dior offer up little needed proof that Paulina is a burgeoning favorite.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Skylar Tartz
Ruddy cheeked and no-two-ways-about-it pretty, Skylar Tartz blossomed her very first season into a runway rose. She claimed a spot on the runway for Calvin Klein, semi-exclusives at Burberry and Mcqueen and then glowed some more for Versace, Dolce and Chanel.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Camille Hurel
Armed with plenty of French elegance, Camille Hurel found her way to the créme de la créme of shows this Fall season. Walks for Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Dior, Givenchy, Céline, Chanel and Valentino elevated this regal beauty to new heights
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Caroline Reagan
Lush Caroline Reagan makes the catwalk a cakewalk when it comes to looking pristine. So it’s a no brainer why a long list of designers like Coach, Calvin Klein, Isabel Marant, Givenchy and Céline decided Reagan was a natural fit.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE Gamma Rapho via Getty Images
Celine Bouly
Perhaps the belle of the cool girl ball, Céline Bouly is a no holds barred beauty, one part girly and two parts untamed. To realize their collection, she was just what designers like Chloé, Lanvin, JW Anderson, Prada, Versace, Givenchy and Saint Laurent ordered. With presence like hers she’s not going anywhere.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE Gamma Rapho via Getty Images
He Cong
This wasn’t Cong He’s initial experience with major shows; in fact, she got her first taste of the catwalk back in her native China, walking for Valentino in Shanghai. Since then she’s stuck to Europe, walking for Dior F/W 15, Balenciaga S/S 16, and Chanel Haute Couture in January. But this season got the full Cong He treatment — from Narciso Rodriguez and Proenza Schouler in NY to J.W. Anderson and Burberry in London, Marni and Missoni in Milan, and Chloe and Balmain in Paris, this heavenly Hunanese was a hit.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Dilone
Some girls just have to make a grand entrance and bubbling breakout Dilone came in with a roar this season. The native New Yorker was already making waves during menswear and couture season wth her androgynous looks and impish smile. She went on to stand out with appearances at shows like Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Fendi, Versace, Dries Van Noten, Stella McCartney and much more. The sky is the limit for this curly haired sensation!
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Jay Wright
There’s nothing subtle about this soft beauties breakout season. Brands like Burberry, Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Loewe and Balenciaga we’re eager to have the long-limbed Jay Wright float down their catwalks, taking full advantage of her willowy whimsy for Fall/Winter.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Lily Stewart
Some things are worth the wait, and Lily Stewart’s slow mount from Vuitton exclusive to season-to-season runway habitué was practically written in the stars. A Gucci men’s exclusive kicked off her F/W season, while subsequent walks for Coach, Gucci, Gambia (opened), Dolce and Gabbana, Dior, Galliano and Kenzo concluded the intense beauty was worth the wait.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE Gamma Rapho via Getty Images
Londone Myers
Londone Myers wasted no time getting tight with the in-crowd. Can you blame them? Londone’s finely-tuned features made her a runway ready machine geared up to breakout. This season Saint Laurent, Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs and Chloé all found themselves under her spell cast from those almond eyes.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Mayowa Nicholas
Mayowa has come a long way from winning the Elite Model Look in her home country of Nigeria. Her steely gaze and fierce walk earned her buzz at top shows last season, but it was this go around that she shined bright. Turns at Miu Miu, Dior, Dries Van Noten, Mugler, Prada, Topshop Unique and a Loewe closing spot sealed the deal as a girl to watch.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Natalie Ludwig
All crystal clear azure eyes and flaxen blonde locks, Natalie debuted with a Givenchy S/S 16 exclusive, which then turned into appearances at the Calvin Klein Spring 2016 Presentation and Prabal Gurung Pre-Fall ’16 lookbook. But F/W 16 was the season that this Canadian/German quiet achiever truly took off, with a start at Lacoste in NY crescendoing into turns at Ralph Lauren, Mulberry, Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana, Rochas, Céline and Valentino.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Sandra Schmidt
There’s always a Dane in the pack, and this season Sandra wasn’t joking around. From a Proenza semi-exclusive to Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, Dior, Céline, Valentino, Miu Miu, and Valentino, this small town girl proved that pure prettiness is never played out.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Selena Forrest
Californian girls are unforgettable and Selena Forrest proved it time and again this season. She first started her career with an exclusive debut opening for Proenza Schouler and an ad campaign lockdown to boot. Now the flood gates have opened for the steely-gazed angel and appearances for Stella McCartney, Versace, Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu and tons more have cemented her name in everyone’s memory.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Shelby Hayes
Californian dream Shelby Hayes started off as a Proenza Schouler exclusive and already locked in an ad campaign with Marc Jacobs last season, but charmed many with her easygoing effortlessness. She unleashed her cool, curly girl strut at Sacai, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Loewe, Acne and closed Giamba.
Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Sophie Rask
This Danish beaut is no stranger to the runway, but this time she was shined with benchmark bookings at Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Celine, Hermes, and Miu Miu. Her chestnut mane and intense gaze are simply magnetic.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Teddy Quinlivan
Teddy Q came on the radar last season for her quirky personality, envious red bob, and the covetable exclusive Louis Vuitton spot. Soon after a few couture appearances, the breakout star went on to top spots at Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Burberry, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Prada and Dior.
Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images
Impressive Alanna, especially in Carven. Others of my favorite faces this season is Lena Hardt.
The runway looks are all so generic. I can’t tell a model from this years newcomers from last seasons newcomers or the newcomers before that. The only real standout model here is Dilone.
I am not a model by profession so I don’t have a website, but I’d be thankful if you browsed my profile and decided whether I’m fit for it or not. Thanks!
You definitely have the face for it, and I think you have the right body type too. Not sure exactly how tall you are, but you didn’t look short in your photos. I say you should give it a go!
Wow binx and mica have really made an impact on the industry considering only now is there a flourishing of androgynous, racially ambiguous, and unique/curly haired ladies owning! Still nothing like the real deal IMO and they certainly aren’t going to displace any of the top girls but a few like dilone stand out. I also like emma Harris, camile hurel, and cong he Still don’t know what to think of teddy q who looks more like the type of girl who attends the shows not stars in them.
I am Italian girl !
Great ones, but where’s Angélica Erthal and Isabella Ridolfi here?
Odette Pavlova is perfect!Future top)))))
Twins Lia and Odette just killed this season!love so much
Love gorgeous Odette!
Grace! Such a beauty!!
Grace Elizabeth! Such a beauty!!
Pavlova is a queen!!Goddes of the season)))
Lorena Maraschi linda, maravilhosa…
Grace absolutely stunning
Every girl is gorgeous,bravo!
very nice
Black super nice, especially for the evening party dresses