Who:
Ahmad Hagan — @warr_____ahmad — American from Menifee, California, USA — born July 18th — 184 cm / 6’0.5″ — he/him.

Where:
His Laboratory Management (Los Angeles – mother agency)

— How did you become a model?
I became a model waiting in line at a pop-up for my favorite clothing brand. I got asked to do a job for this small brand, and from that, fell in love with it. Now I’m a signed model and work for the brand I was in line for.

— What’s an essential part of your daily routine?
An essential part of my daily routine is caffeine. I hate to admit it, but I cannot start my day without it

— What is your biggest irrational fear?
My biggest irrational fear is that all bugs are out to get me.

Who:
Barbara Barcala — @barbara_barcala — Brazilian from São Paulo, Brazil — born December 20th — 175 cm / 5’9″ — she/her.

Where:
Way Model Management (São Paulo – mother agency)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I write a lot, about feelings, strangers’ conversations, anything I might think is interesting somehow, and write it like a scene in a movie. I might do one, one day [write a movie].
2. I do ceramics and paint porcelain.
3. I have a lot of hobbies, and I never get tired of starting new things. Now, I’m learning about Latte Art.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
While it’s not exactly a cause or specific area, I deeply value inclusion. I’ve always been someone who notices when others feel left out and makes an effort to bring them in. I always try to create spaces where people feel seen, comfortable, and heard.

— How did you become a model?
I went with my sister to a talent audition, and when I got there, they pushed me to do it too. I started as an actress, but over time I found myself identifying more with fashion, and I decided to pursue a career as a model.

Who:
Ione Hernandez — @ione__666 — Spanish from Murcia, Spain — born September 17th — 184 cm / 6’0.5″ — she/her.

Where:
Isla Management (Spain – mother agency)

— Tell us about your hometown.
I’m originally from Molina de Segura, a small town near Murcia, in the southeast of Spain. Although all my family still lives there, growing up as a queer child wasn’t always easy. There was a lack of references and visibility, and some people could be quite narrow-minded. That’s one of the main reasons I eventually decided to move to Barcelona. It makes me a little sad because Murcia is actually a wonderful place with a very unique lifestyle and culture. Unfortunately, some people can be quite harsh or judgmental when it comes to how others choose to express themselves. What I miss the most is definitely the food—especially my mother’s cooking. Murcia has an incredible gastronomy. I love visiting home and hearing my dad ask on the way back if I want to stop and get some pasteles de carne for dinner. I’m also a big fan of paparajotes, a traditional dessert from the region. It’s a lemon leaf coated in a sweet batter, fried, and covered with sugar and cinnamon. The funny thing is that you’re not supposed to eat the leaf itself. Watching tourists discover that for the first time is always entertaining—they almost always end up taking a bite of it.

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
One of my biggest hobbies has always been watching films and daydreaming. I think it became a way of escaping from things that sometimes made me feel lonely. Cinema allowed me to experience other lives, other realities, and other possibilities. Every film I watched offered me the chance to inhabit a parallel fictional world that I would continue building in my imagination long after the credits ended. As a child, I also loved drawing and creating stories with my toys, spending hours role-playing alone in my room. Looking back, I think those early interests eventually led me to study art. I began my Fine Arts degree in Murcia and later completed it in Barcelona through an exchange program. I’m currently studying a Master’s degree, where I work across sculpture, collage, and performance. Recently, I started developing a new research project after finding a special issue of the magazine LIB from the late 1970s called El libro de los travestis. It contains photographs and interviews with trans women who worked as performers in Barcelona’s nightlife scene during that period. Discovering it felt like uncovering a hidden archive, and it has become an important source of inspiration for my current work.

— If you were to choose a song that symbolizes this current phase of your life, what would it be and why?
I find it very difficult to choose just one song. Lately, I can’t stop listening to Bibiana Fernández’s music from the 1980s. Although she is now retired from singing, she’s an actress, performer, television personality, and one of Spain’s great trans icons. She became well known in the late 1970s while working as a vedette on Barcelona’s Avenida del Paralel. Some of my favorite songs are “Yo juego” and “Sálvame”. In the music video for Sálvame, she plays a castaway stranded on an island, calling for someone to rescue her in a very camp, dramatic, and sensual way. What I admire most about her is her elegance, beauty, and confidence. As a trans woman, I feel empowered when I listen to her music or watch her films and television appearances. She’s not only stunning but also incredibly intelligent. She always seems to know exactly what to say, and I like to imagine that she could read someone completely while remaining perfectly graceful and composed. I find that inspiring because sometimes you have to stay strong in the face of hateful comments and criticism, and she embodies that strength with so much dignity.

Who:
Noah Castelli — @_noahcastelli_ — Italian from Heerlen, the Netherlands — born August 21st — 176 cm / 5’9.5″ — she/her.

Where:
Models Rock Agency (Heerlen – mother agency), Women Management Milan

— How did you become a model?
Two years ago, I was out for a drink with a friend in the town where I grew up. As I was ordering, a woman, Natasha from Models Rock Agency, stopped me and asked if I had ever considered modeling. Two years later, here I am.

— If you were to choose a song that symbolizes this current phase of your life, what would it be and why?
The song that represents me the most right now is We Come 1 by Faithless. It was the song my parents listened to on the drive home from the hospital the day I was born. As I step into adulthood, its message resonates deeply with me; it reminds me to walk with courage and that, just like our left and right eyes, different perspectives are necessary to see in the same direction.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite film is Spirited Away. Like the protagonist, when I face a challenge or a conflict with others or with myself, I try to understand its deeper causes rather than avoid it. I believe that the more aware we are of the different sides of a problem, the more we can grow and improve our relationships. What I admire most is that the protagonist overcomes obstacles not through force, but through understanding and empathy.