Top Newcomers F/W 2017
Newcomers F/W 17
Each season Models.com assembles a list of the top performing newcomers and models having their breakout moments tallied from the fashion week circuit from New York to Paris. Call it an obsession. What moves a model from contender to our Top standing? For Fall / Winter 2017 there was no shortage of success stories who, between walking for the major brands, landing exclusives slots and securing pivotal opening and closing spots, shared in common their noteworthy seasons. Notice on the runway can be a springboard for girls booking sought-after campaigns, covers and editorials. Models.com also reached out to industry insiders Katie Grand, Bethann Hardison, Edward Enninful, Charlotte Stockdale and Sissy Vian who have a knack for heralding the next best thing.
The Top Newcomers list is broken down in 2 sections:
Industry Selects
Models.com’s Top Newcomers
Industry Selects
Jasmine Daniels
Samile Bermannelli
Aiden Curtiss
Ellen Rosa
Dilone
Manuela Sanchez
Iesha Hodges
Ansolet Rossouw
Sohyun Jung
Samantha Archibald
Radhika Nair
Achok Majak
Yoon Young Bae
Kris Grikaite
1st Season
Aira Ferreira
EZ
Femke Huijzer
Imari Karanja
Kateryna Zub
Lex Herl
Moira Berntz
Nandy Nicodeme
Nina Milner
Sarah Berger
Breakout Season
Aiden Curtiss
Alicia Holtz
Birgit Kos
Chu Wong
Jay Jankowska
Kaya Wilkins
Lea Holzfuss
Lea Julian
Leah Rodl
Mag Cysewska
Manuela Sanchez
Marie Damian
Milena Litvinovskaya
Radhika Nair
Samile Bermannelli
Sohyun Jung
1st Season
Aira Ferreira
One of Brazil’s latest beautiful exports, sizzling Aira reaffirms the trope. This F/W season the newbie got some major mileage on top runways like Calvin Klein, Coach, Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Miu Miu-Phew! Aira is a hot ticket.
Chanel (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images)
EZ
South Korean EZ couldn’t help but dial up the cool factor and her platinum buzz cut and killer look landed her an envious closing spot at Alexander Wang and the NY king, Marc Jacobs. It was on to the city of lights with strong showings during Paris Fashion Week at Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, and Miu Miu. How’s that for an entrance?
Alexander Wang (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Femke Huijzer
It began with Dior. An exclusive debut during couture season was the best introduction newcomer Femke Huijizer could have had and perfect prep for the big leagues. She re-emerged fresh faced and ready to strut at J.W. Anderson, Saint Laurent, Rochas, Loewe, Acne, Valentino, Sacai, and of course, Dior.
Sacai (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images)
Imari Karanja
A Marc Jacobs exclusive will make anyone take notice but follow up with a Prada exclusive and the industry’s will certainly do a double take. Doe-eyed Imari Karanja proved true the adage quality over quantity adding turns at Hermes, Giambattista Valli, & Loewe to her already impressive show list.
Giambattista (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Kateryna Zub
Braces be damned, the F/W 2017 season has seen Europe go insane for this girl from Ukraine. A Jil Sander exclusive in Milan morphed into a parade of Parisian blue chip runways. From Rochas, Chloe, and Céline, to Galliano, McQueen and Chanel, France showed Zub a lot of love.
Jil Sander (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
Lex Herl
A must-have off the bat, Wisconsin-native Lex Herl has wasted no time in getting her superior strut noticed. The 17-year old made her presence first known on Raf’s Calvin Klein runway and had grand openings for Sies Marjan and Altuzarra. From there she barely missed a beat: Coach, Prada, Saint Laurent, Maison Margiela, Loewe, Dior, Valentino, Chanel and Miu Miu.
Miu Miu (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Moira Berntz
Not much is known about Moira. She’s brand new, Argentinian, and just had the kind of pristine season that even a veteran top model would envy. Bottega, Saint Laurent, Dior, Chanel, Miu Miu. With a show resume like that, what more do you need?
Christian Dior (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Nandy Nicodeme
A Prada exclusive set in motion a season to remember for newcomer Nandy Nicodeme. She won’t be the only one remembering though: the rare beauty left lasting first impressions walking for Saint Laurent, Dior, Sonia Rykiel and Chanel.
Sonia Rykiel (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Nina Milner
After getting a coveted cut from Guido Palau to go along with her Alexander Wang exclusive, Nina Milner had casting directors bent on booking the edgy South African. Armed with her bold new look, Nina landed Fendi, Moschino, Versace and Lanvin.
Lanvin (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Sarah Berger
Newface Sarah Berger came into the show season hot at London staple Burberry and with an opening slot for Christopher Kane. From then on the chiseled beauty went on to conquer Milano with top walks at Marni, No. 21, & Jil Sander. Paris rounded up a notable season with runway walks for houses Rochas, Celine, and Chanel. ¡Que Linda!
Christopher Kane (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Aiden Curtiss
Top breakout Aiden Curtiss is fashion royalty as the daughter of model legend, Katoucha Niane. With roots in the industry, it was a no-brainer that this season she commanded all eyes on her with stellar bookings at Anna Sui, Topshop, Fendi, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Off-White, Stella McCarthy, and ending at Miu Miu.
Fendi (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images)
Alicia Holtz
Hard work pays off and Alicia Holtz came and conquered this F/W, making for a marvelous season by any measure. This German model’s regal looks made effortless work out of top shows like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Chloe and Chanel.
Salvatore Ferragamo (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Birgit Kos
An elegant Dutchie whose career started back in 2014, Birgit’s versatile timelessness came to the forefront of high fashion’s consciousness last season when she opened the Miu Miu show. Giorgio Armani, GAP, and Miu Miu campaigns followed, culminating in a Fall/Winter 2017 show circuit where there was nary a major show not graced with Birgit’s beauty.
Stella McCartney (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images)
Chu Wong
Originally debuting back in Fall/Winter 2015, a slight image adjustment put Chu firmly on international radar last season, when she walked for Dior and Kenzo. This season, however, was all about Chu’s chic toughness — spots at Prada, Bottega, Balenciaga, Loewe, Balmain, Stella McCartney, and Miu Miu all confirmed that this modern Chinese woman can kick ass and take names.
Prada (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Jay Jankowska
Bright-eyed brunette Jay Jankowska had her most formidable season to boot. Calvin Klein, Marni, Loewe, Dior and Valentino all sought out the intensely pretty Polish model to add an extra punch to their catwalks.
Carolina Herrera (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Kaya Wilkins
Kaya Wilkins takes the stage as both musician (Okay Kaya) and model. Designers fancied this Norwegian multi-hyphenate for her all around gorgeousness making this her breakout season. Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, J.W. Anderson, Burberry and Balenciaga all became fans of this well-rounded woman for F/W 17.
Marc Jacobs (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
Lea Holzfuss
From start to finish, breakout star Lea Holzfuss played a heavy hand with a season opener at one of the biggest show of New York, Raf Simons’ newly backed, Calvin Klein. From there on she went on to profile-building castings at Jason Wu, Altuzarra, Coach, Prada, Dior, Valentino, Sacai, and Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
Lea Julian
Another alumnus of the Elite Model Look competition system, Lea’s look has been sought after since day one… since Valentino Haute Couture, Fall 2015, to be exact. But the French are never ones to rush, so Lea took her time and did it right, gathering momentum every season since. Fall/Winter 2017 was when Lea’s career reached a crescendo, though, with 39 shows walked, every one of them notable.
Valentino (Photo by Peter White/Getty Images)
Leah Rodl
German-American Leah Rodl seized her Fall Winter 17 circuit to light up the runway. Her pristine presence was requested for shows like Gucci, No. 21, Jil Sander, Valentino and Giambattista Valli where she took her glow to next-level.
Alexander McQueen (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)
Mag Cysewska
Mag Cysewsja was a girl that the topmost designers were clamoring for. One look at the stunning brunette and it’s no wonder why. Back in S/S Vacarello’s Saint Laurent had the Polish model open the show with an exclusive, and for F/W she returned with a semi-exclusive. From there she had a meticulously on target season: Dior, Valentino, Chanel and Miu Miu only.
Saint Laurent (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
Manuela Sanchez
That small island nation of Dominican Republic has produced yet another breakout star. After debuting at Saint Laurent S/S 17, Manuela landed in London this season and came out swinging, walking for Topshop Unique, J.W. Anderson, Versus, Preen, and Mulberry, then Fendi, Prada, Versace, and Marni in Milan before returning to Saint Laurent in Paris which was followed by Isabel Marant, Loewe, Dior, Sacai, McQueen and Vuitton. Phew!
Missoni (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Marie Damian
Fall / Winter made way for majestic Marie Damian. The exquisite Romanian had breakout-worthy stints downs top runway like J.W. Anderson, Marni, Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, Valentino, Céline and Chanel, to name a few.
Nina Ricci (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Milena Litvinovskaya
The opening spot at Prada is a major one, and so we knew that S/S 17 wasn’t the last we were going to see of Milena. This time a full show season commenced for this post-soviet youth, and it was glorious. From NY to Paris, from Proenza exclusive to Burberry to Prada encore and beyond, Milena proved herself to be one tenaciously trendy teenager.
Hermes (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Radhika Nair
After already making a name as an exclusive pick for the Balenciaga S/S 17 show, Radhika Nair reclaimed her spot at the famed house this new season along with walks at Miu Miu, Loewe, J.W. Anderson, Pucci, and buzz-worthy label, Sies Marjan.
JW Anderson (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Samile Bermannelli
It was finally this Brazilian stunner’s time to shine, and sparkle she did with a noteworthy lineup of runway jaunts for Marc Jacobs, Brandon Maxwell, Yeezy, Alberta Ferretti, Mugler, Nina Ricci, and Miu Miu. With her angelic look and great smile, she’s sure to go far!
Mugler (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Sohyun Jung
Starting off strong at Alexander Wang, androgynous beauty Sohyun Jung added a coveted spot at Marc Jacobs to get her buzz going. She then jetted off to Milan for walks at Fendi and Marni and a Paris trifecta of showings at Celine, Chanel, Miu Miu solidified an already sure deal.
Celine (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images)
The season of the new faces. I love the selection, my favorite new faces: Lex Herl, Leah Rold, Kateryna Zub, Femke Huijzer, Imari Karanja, Sarah Berger, Manuela Sanchez, Radhika Nair, Fernanda Beuker,- Linda Helena Soares, Liz Yefremava, Lara Mullen, Irina Kravchenko.
Irina is not so new in fashion industry… but she’s an awesome model
For me, Lex Herl is almost the next Lexi Boling, I really don’t know why, but she kind of resembles Lexi (not just because of the name)
I would add Michelle Gutknecht somewhere !
Last season! https://models.com/mdx/top-newcomers-ss-2017/
This list is missing Blésnya Minher from Elite Paris / DA BANDA Models…
Samile, stunning in Vogue Arabia with Hans Feurer. Sara Grace is the new Kate Moss.
I think Leila goldkuhl must be featured as breakout season, she scored 32 shows, including Fendi, Chanel, Hermes, MacCartney, Valentino, D&G, Saab, Ricci, Burberry, Moschino, Plein, Altuzarra, Klein, JW and Lanvin just to name a few…. plus is the only ANTM contestant to actually hit the runway with such resume.
ERTYUIOOIUYT
i would love to model
Have a beuatiful girl kinda of a loss soul and doesn’t no which way to go… age 37 very fit
Have a beuatiful girl kinda of a loss soul and doesn’t no which way to go… age 37 very fit random post in search of career model help.!!!
why don’t you have a TOP MEN NEWCOMERS next season? this industry always benefits girls first, you have gender equality on every other of your lists except on this one.
I agree with Yippo, it would be lovely to have a men’s list next season. It’s impossible for the male industry to grow if it never has enough exposure.
I want on the podium