{"id":69368,"date":"2026-08-10T10:10:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T14:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/?p=69368"},"modified":"2026-08-10T12:35:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T16:35:27","slug":"models-com-looks-back-at-the-top-stories-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/models-com-looks-back-at-the-top-stories-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Models.com Looks Back at the Top Stories of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ypC0dIjW--M\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<style>\n#content .row {max-width:100%}\n#cover { \nbackground-color: white; position: relative; margin: 0 auto 30px auto;; text-align: center; \n}\n#covertitle, #covertitle h1, #content #covertitle h3 { font-family: \"SuisseIntl-SemiBold\", sans-serif; }\n#covertitle { position: absolute; font-family: \"SuisseIntl-Bold\", sans-serif; bottom: 12%; width: 100%; font-size: 3.8rem; font-weight: 900; }\n#content h1 { font-size: 4vw; display: inherit; display: inline-block; text-align:center; }\n#content div.post h2 {margin: 20px 0; background: white; font-family: \"SuisseIntl-SemiBold\",sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; color: #333;}\n#content #covertitle h3 { \nfont-size: 8vw; line-height: 20vh;\ntext-transform: uppercase; \nfont-family: \"SuisseIntl-SemiBold\", sans-serif;}\n#introbox { border: 1px solid white; padding: 90px 30px !important; max-width: 850px; margin: auto !important; font-family: \"SuisseIntl-SemiBold\",sans-serif; font-size: 20px; text-align: center !important; }\n.introblurb, .introblurb p, .post div.introblurb p:first-child {\nfont-size: .7em; \nline-height: 1.6; \ntext-align:justify;\nfont-family: \"SuisseIntl-Book\", sans-serif;\npadding: .3em 1em;\n}\n#content div.introcredits, #content div.introcredits p {\nfont-family: \"SuisseIntl-Book\", sans-serif;\nfont-size: .8em; \ntext-align: center;\n}\n.pic40 { margin: 0 10%;; text-align: center; }\n.videocontainer {max-width:600px; margin: auto;}\n.txtbox { \nfont-family: \"SuisseIntl-Book\",sans-serif; \nline-height: 2;\nfont-weight: 400; \nwidth: 36%; \nborder: 0; \nmargin: auto; \npadding: 5%;\n}\n.introtxt, .introtxt p {text-align:justify;}\n.pullquote {\nfont-size:4vw;\nline-height: 1;\ntext-align:center;\nfont-style:italic;\nmax-width:900px;\nmargin:auto;\npadding:1em;\nfont-family: \"SuisseIntl-SemiBold\",sans-serif;\n}\n.credits:empty {display:none;}\n.credits {\nfont-size: .75rem; \npadding: 2rem 0;; \nfont-weight: normal; \ntext-align: center; \nclear: both; \ntext-transform: uppercase; \nmax-width: 800px; \nmargin: auto; }\n#thumbsul { margin: 0 8%; }\n.text-left {text-transform: capitalize !important;}\n#thumbsul a, .text-left a {color: black;}\n#thumbsul a:hover, .text-left a:hover {color: #666;}\n.separ { border: 1px solid white; clear: both; padding: 60px; }\nem {color: #999;}\n<\/style>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/css\/sb\/index-sb@9e8baf1be17137f952c9eacc710f6bf0b29b9b08.css\" \/>\n<div class=\"txtdiv\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"introbox\">\n<div class=\"introtxt\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Models.com Looks Back at the Top Stories of the Year<\/h1>\n<p>As the industry settles into its annual August lull before another whirlwind fashion month, Models.com looks back on a year of conversations with the people defining where fashion is headed. Models <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/from-nyc-to-shanghai-industry-icon-xiao-wen-ju-bridges-continents\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Xiao Wen Ju<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/supermodel-adut-akech-steps-into-a-next-era-marked\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Adut Akech<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/awar-odhiang-doesnt-follow-the-fashion-script\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Awar Odhiang<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/new-super-kit-butlers-day-off\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kit Butler<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/mathieu-simoneau-styles-up-satire-in-the-first-male-model\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mathieu Simoneau<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/bhavitha-mandava-went-from-subway-platform-to-chanel-runway\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bhavitha Mandava<\/a> shared the experiences behind their careers, while <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-art-of-collaboration-karlie-kloss-and-thom-bettridge\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Karlie Kloss<\/a> and i-D Editor-in-Chief <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-art-of-collaboration-karlie-kloss-and-thom-bettridge\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thom Bettridge<\/a> discussed the magazine\u2019s next chapter and what lies ahead for independent fashion publishing. We also sat down with Vogue Global Creative Director <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/raul-martinez-on-shaping-the-global-image-of-vogue\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ra\u00fal Martinez<\/a> and hairstylist <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/anthony-turner-on-why-authenticity-is-the-future-of-beauty\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Anthony Turner<\/a> to explore the creative thinking behind today\u2019s image-making. For The Art of Collaboration, M\/M Paris founders <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/m-m-paris-on-why-print-still-matters-ai-cant-replace-taste\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mathias Augustyniak and Micha\u00ebl Amzalag<\/a> traced four decades of work built on a shared eye, while Beauty Papers\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-art-of-collaboration-beauty-papers\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Maxine Leonard and Valerie Wickes<\/a> made the case for beauty as cultural inquiry. For our Industry Access series, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/industry-access-vanessa-friedman-and-rachel-scott\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vanessa Friedman and Rachel Scott<\/a> traded notes on fashion\u2019s shifting critical landscape, while <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/industry-access-showstudios-nick-knight-and-tom-wandrag\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nick Knight<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/industry-access-showstudios-nick-knight-and-a-new-planes-tom-wandrag-part-2\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tom Wandrag<\/a> revisited SHOWstudio\u2019s radical approach to the moving image. Our annual <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/tag\/the-graduates\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Graduates series<\/a> introduced the next generation through <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-ajus-samuel\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ajus Samuel<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-gaye-serigne\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gaye Serigne<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-jiahui-zhang\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jiahui Zhang<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-libby-taverner\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Libby Taverner<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-luiza-perote\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luiza Perote<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-rosalieke-fuchs\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rosalieke Fuchs<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-sara-caballero\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sara Caballero<\/a>. Together, these stories reflect Models.com\u2019s ongoing commitment to documenting not only fashion\u2019s leading figures, but the emerging talent and ideas shaping what comes next.<\/p>\n<div class=\"introcredits\">\nEditor in Chief: <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/stephan-moskovic\">Stephan Moskovic<\/a><br \/>\nEditorial Director and Interviewer: <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/irene-ojo-felix\">Irene Ojo-Felix<\/a><br \/>\nVideo Editor: <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/chase-coughlin\">Chase Coughlin<\/a><br \/>\nTalent:<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/Xiao-Wen-Ju\">Xiao Wen Ju<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/mathieu-simoneau\">Mathieu Simoneau<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/Karlie-Kloss\">Karlie Kloss<\/a> &#038; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/thom-bettridge\">Thom Bettridge<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/anthony-turner\">Anthony Turner<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/ajus-samuel\">Ajus Samuel<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/gaye-serigne\">Gaye Serigne<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/jiahui-zhang\">Jiahui Zhang<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/libby-taverner\">Libby Taverner<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/luiza-perote\">Luiza Perote<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/rosalieke-fuchs\">Rosalieke Fuchs<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/sara-caballero\">Sara Caballero<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/adut-akech\">Adut Akech<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/vanessa-friedman\">Vanessa Friedman<\/a> &#038; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/rachel-scott\">Rachel Scott<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/bhavitha-mandava\">Bhavitha Mandava<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/awar-odhiang\">Awar Odhiang<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/maxine-leonard\">Maxine Leonard<\/a> &#038; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/valerie-wickes\">Valerie Wickes<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/kit-butler\">Kit Butler<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/nick-knight\">Nick Knight<\/a> &#038; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/tom-wandrag\">Tom Wandrag<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/Mathias-Augustyniak-Michael-Amzalag\">Mathias Augustyniak &#038; Micha\u00ebl Amzalag<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/raul-martinez\">Ra\u00fal Martinez<\/a><br \/>\nContributors:<br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/beauty-papers\">Beauty Papers<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/benson-thach\">Benson Thach<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/columbine-goldsmith\">Columbine Goldsmith<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/davide-derocchi\">Davide Derocchi<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/hicham-alaoui\">Hicham Alaoui<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/kyleen-james\">Kyleen James<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/marcel-gitard\">Marcel Gitard<\/a> c\/o <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/en__mode\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">En Mode<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/melodie-jeng\">Melodie Jeng<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/piers-crosby\">Piers Crosby<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/showstudio\">SHOWstudio<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/valentin-herfray\">Valentin Herfray<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/will-pippin\">Will Pippin<\/a><br \/>\nSpecial Thanks: <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/christopher-michael\">Christopher Michael<\/a> at Egos &#038; Icons\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Models.com Looks Back at the Top Stories of the Year As the industry settles into its annual August lull before another whirlwind fashion month, Models.com looks back on a year of conversations with the people defining where fashion is headed. Models Xiao Wen Ju, Adut Akech, Awar Odhiang, Kit Butler, Mathieu Simoneau, and Bhavitha Mandava [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":69383,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3044,1624,155,4259,2130,4257,1538],"tags":[3027,4742,792,3867,5691,5351,5401,5769,1177,4875,5014,4573,4503,2554,4451,234,2712,4780,5185,4740,5689,5707,3253,5692,1737,1537,5772,5468,5770,4481,4466,5706,197,5350,5771,4278,5693,5467,5208,672],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69368"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69386,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69368\/revisions\/69386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}