Who:
Ahmad Bakhoum — @ahmad.bakhoum — Senegalese-American from Atlanta, Georgia, USA — born May 21st — 190 cm / 6’3″ — he/him.

Where:
Ursula Wiedmann Models (Atlanta – mother agency), IMG New York, IMG Paris, IMG Milano, IMG London, Modelwerk (Hamburg), WANTED & BANG (Mexico City)

— How did you become a model?
It’s actually a pretty funny story. I used to be a medical assistant, and one day, a coworker of mine told me they thought I’d be a great model. I just brushed it off and thought to myself, “Haha, they think I’m cute 😎” lol. But eventually, we became good friends, and they were leaving the country to go be a teacher in Spain. Before they left, they pretty much forced me to go to an open call, and I got signed the same day.

— What’s an essential part of your daily routine?
Prayer. As a Muslim, I believe that prayer is not only an act of obedience but also of gratitude and humility. It helps me to stay disciplined and reminds me of my purpose and dependence on god.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
I’m pretty into anime, and I’ve been watching Solo Leveling recently. There’s a lot to like about it. I feel that I really identify with the main character’s persona. I’ve always loved characters with a darkness and independence to them, kind of like Batman. I also love how, contrary to most anime, there’s a whole lot of fan service, and the comedy is really natural and not forced.

Who:
Amelia Hajdin — @a._hajdin — Slovakian from Bratislava, Slovakia — born July 13th — 176 cm / 5’9.5″ — she/her.

Where:
Exit Model Management (Bratislava – mother agency)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I danced since I was four years old. I did ballet, jazz, contemporary, and much more.
2. I really love reading.
3. I’m really shy at first, but when I feel comfortable, I wont shut up

— What is your biggest irrational fear?
I’m terrified of the sea. Mostly of what’s in it. I love being on the beach, though!

— What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
I changed schools after being bullied a lot. It was very scary, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Who:
Chinelo Anokwuru — @chin_3lo — Nigerian from Lagos, Nigeria — born March 3rd — 178 cm / 5’10” — she/her.

Where:
SK Model Management (Nigeria – mother agency)

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I believe everyone deserves access to quality education, regardless of background or financial situation. I also think the modeling industry should promote diversity, inclusivity, and realistic beauty standards. I want to help create a more inclusive and compassionate world.

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
I love crocheting, I’m outspoken, and I also love learning languages.

— How did you become a model?
I stumbled upon a post about the SK Models casting on TikTok and decided to take a chance. I attended the casting, met the team, and was chosen.

Who:
Joseph Akot — @josephakott — Dutch from South Sudan — born August 25th — 185 cm / 6’1″ — he/him.

Where:
The Force Models (Amsterdam – mother agency), The Lab Models (Milan)

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
When I was 10 years old, during hide-and-seek, I came up with the idea of hiding in my little brother’s cot with blankets and pillows over me. After a while, my mother and brothers had no idea where I was and searched the whole house and the neighborhood and called for me (I had fallen asleep by then and didn’t hear anything). It got to the point where they almost called the police, but luckily, I woke up in time.

— How did you become a model?
I was scouted on the streets of Amsterdam when I was 16 years old. Friends of mine were also modelling at that time, and they told me a lot about it. That’s how I got more into it and started to find it more and more interesting. Since then, I knew it was something for me, and I finally got signed at my mother agency, The Force Models.

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I have a great passion for fashion and photography (analogue photography, to be precise). I take my camera with me to every party or outing I go to with my friends or family and try to capture every nice moment. I am also currently in my final year of fashion school, and I hope to combine these two things in the future.

Who:
Stella Stangenberg — @stellastangenberg — German from Berlin, Germany — born August 2nd — 178 cm / 5’10” — she/her.

Where:
Let It Go MGMT (Amsterdam – mother agency)

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
I grew up as the daughter of squatters in Berlin Kreuzberg. My two sisters and I were allowed to do pretty much whatever we wanted, our parents trusted us a lot and taught us to follow our intuition and sharpen our minds. All three of us looked for ways to express ourselves creatively and artistically. My sisters became actresses, I did a Master of Arts.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
Oh, that’s difficult to answer; I’m a passionate reader. From the last year, “The Ice Castle” by the Norwegian Tarjei Vesaas. He uses clear, incredibly poetic language to describe the experience of loneliness and closeness. Dostoyevski is certainly one of the most important authors of my life, especially “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov.”

— Did you always envision yourself pursuing a career in modeling, or did it come as a surprise? How did you first enter the world of modeling?
Gosh, no! When my agent contacted me on Instagram, I blushed for sure. During my fashion design studies, I modeled for friends from time to time, but of course, my favorite part was seeing my own creations on models and in motion. But since I love myself and my body a lot as an adult woman and believe there should be so much more variance in the fashion industry, I thought, let’s go for it!

Who:
Wen Gu — @guwin13_ — Chinese from Shandong, China — born March 6th — 191 cm / 6’3″ — he/him.

Where:
OLA Management (Shanghai – mother agency)

— Tell us about your hometown.
My hometown is a small city located in the north of China; it’s so close to Beijing, it only takes about an hour by train. I think the best thing in my hometown is Braised Chicken; it is made from high-quality local chickens, processed through over a dozen procedures, and stewed with a variety of spices; it’s so delicious and healthy. Moreover, I have many good memories in my hometown. However, I have to say that the bad thing about my hometown is that the traffic and economic development are very ordinary!

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
When I was young, I always gave money to the homeless, and until today, I still always do that.

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. If I have enough time, I always choose to go out on foot.
2. My friends around me say that I look like I’m not easy to get along with, but in fact, I’m particularly eager to socialize.
3. I always challenge myself.