Who:
Junior Bartolomeu — @junior_pbpj — Mozambican from Mozambique — born January 15th — 188 cm / 6’2″ — he/him.

Where:
Just Models (Lisbon – mother agency), Why Not Model Management (Milan)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I play 4 different types of musical instruments, but I’ve never been to a music school.
2. I don’t consume any kind of entertainment content.
3. I’m more productive and creative if I’m in front of the sea in the early hours of the morning.

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
My family and friends like to say that my guardian angel is the highest paid, because despite all the accidents I’ve been in, I always stay alive.

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
I grew up in a small town, where I had a peaceful childhood filled with outdoor play. My family always valued education and hard work, which motivated me to strive for the best in everything I do. In school, I became interested in various fields, especially those involving creativity and problem-solving. These experiences shaped my determination and curiosity, traits that I continue to nurture to this day.

Who:
Mariana Hasushi — @marii__anaud — Brazilian from São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil — born February 19th — 179 cm / 5’10.5″ — she/her.

Where:
ATTO Management (São Paulo – mother agency), Marilyn Agency (Paris), BOOM Models Agency (Milan), PRM Agency (London), Francina Models (Barcelona)

— The most interesting thing about your family:
I come from a family predominantly of Japanese descent. I have a Peruvian uncle and two Italian aunts, and the most interesting fact, I believe, is the strength in my family’s blood. I can’t even imagine what they have seen or been through up to this point in their lives, and I don’t even imagine or know much; I consider them warriors of life! My grandparents once lived on a farm with their nine children, one of whom is my mother. It seems to have been a difficult time, but I feel that what is right and fair has always been my family’s motto. My parents, grandparents, and family have worked very hard to have what they have today, such as a house of their own in Brazil, and they believe that with work, we can live and have what we need. It’s a lot of work and strength, so I believe they are very hardworking, fair, and very humble people for that, for they have achieved their own things and have known how to overcome their difficulties along the way!

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. Being a model wasn’t my first dream; I actually wanted to be a fashion designer, and, as a child, I used to put some fabric on my dolls as clothes, as a hobby.
2. I had to go to a phonologist in my childhood because I had trouble pronouncing some words with ch, lh, nh in my mother tongue, (to this day I still do, but only with lh)
3. I also did a swimming course, not because I wanted to, but my parents put me up to it to develop my body and I found out my good and slight connection with water.

— Can you tell us about your happiest childhood memory?
I loved when I slept under the little table in the kitchen of my parents’ luncheonette while my mom made snacks to sell; I made believe that it was my “little stall” and created stories about it.

Who:
Mimi Thoma — @mimithoma — German from Berlin, Germany — born June 30th — 180 cm / 5’11” — she/her.

Where:
MIHA modelmanagement (Munich – mother agency)

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I’m a horse nerd – I did showjumping throughout my teenage years, competing on the weekends, but at this point, I am more interested in the scientific part of it: breeding. I get really excited when I see a good horse in the show ring and I love to see where it’s coming from. It’s a rather niche interest, but I could go on for hours – my guilty pleasure is going through horse auction sites in hopes to find my future broodmare.

— What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
Recently, I went on a trip to the North Pole with my brother and his friend. Temperatures went down to -35 degrees celsius; it was so cold I thought I would lose my toes and fingers. Luckily, I returned with everything still in place.

— The most interesting thing about your family:
We are five kids, me being the youngest, and we are all very close – my best friends, actually, and how lucky I am to have four of them. My parents have always been very generous with their love, but also with their trust in us. They made sure to send us out of the nest at a young age. At 16, I moved to Cuba on my own before leaving for New York a year later. The confidence I gained through this is the greatest gift I could have received from them.

Who:
Mingxin Ma — @mamingxinxin_ — Chinese from Dongguan, China — born January 21st — 174 cm / 5’8.5″ — she/her.

Where:
SMG MODEL MANAGEMENT (Guangzhou – mother agency), New York Model Management, Silent (Paris), Models 1 (London), Next LA (Los Angeles), Chadwick Models (Sydney)

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
Shameless. It is a story about family, love, growth and struggle. I am fascinated by the stories of each character. They are like everyone in our lives, even ourselves.

— What’s an essential part of your daily routine?
I think it’s painting. I have a lot of small drawing books, which are convenient for me to carry. I like to let my thoughts go out, to draw things that flash in my mind or record some of my ideas or some simple and random things, to keep my high sensitivity, and to imagine that I’m a spectator of this world.

— How did you become a model?
My friends often watched videos about models, and they thought I could try it, so I tried to submit my documents. Then I became a model with my mother agency!

Who:
Reuben Larkin — @reubenlarkin — British from Hastings, UK — born September 22nd — 187 cm / 6’1″ — he/him.

Where:
Linden Staub (London – mother agency)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I play drums in a band named Gravy River.
2. I wear a lot of suits.
3. I make church reviews on Instagram.

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
My father is a vicar, and both my grandfathers are also vicars.

— What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
Probably walking my first ever show for Alexander McQueen this year; it was terrifying!

Who:
Tez de Weerd — @tezdeweerd — Dutch from Schagen, the Netherlands — born April 4th — 189 cm / 6’2.5″ — he/him.

Where:
Parker Mgmt (Amsterdam – mother agency), City Models (Paris), d’management group (Milan)

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I study biomedical sciences at a university in Utrecht. I really do love learning about the human body and being in the lab. I also scratch my head at how I will combine these two professions, but I’ll manage :)

— If money wasn’t an obstacle, what would you be doing with your life?
I am kind of a romanticist, so I would move immediately to a little small coastal cottage or a big French mansion (depends how I’m feeling) in the south of France. There, I would dine extravagantly under the grape vines on a tiled balcony with the sun shimmering a warm orange.

— What is your biggest irrational fear?
Open bodies of deep waters really freak me out; vast oceans are the worst, but swimming across an open canal can really fill me with dread. Even swimming pools can sometimes evoke this feeling. It’s a bummer cause I really enjoy being in the water.