Who:
Julius Lyons — @julius.lns — German from Berlin, Germany — born January 23rd — 187 cm / 6’1.5″ — he/him.

Where:
Modelwerk (Hamburg – mother agency)

— How did you become a model?
My friends and I were looking for a party on a normal night out when we walked into this location thinking it was a party, but it turned out to be an art vernissage of a photographer who works with my now agency, MODELWERK, and Claudia, the CEO, was present. She pulled me aside and asked if I was interested in modelling. Of course, I said yes.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
I really like reading George Orwell. His style of writing is really special. He is able to express himself very precisely while still using very simple language.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
As I am studying Geo-Engineering, I am very passionate about learning about reliable and sustainable energy sources.

Who:
Lauren Denny — @missbased — Canadian from Vancouver, BC, Canada — born February 9th — 175 cm / 5’9″ — she/her.

Where:
Family Model Management (Vancouver – mother agency)

— Tell us about your hometown.
I live in a city called Langley in British Columbia, Canada. It’s pretty random. There’s a lot of farmland and some long roads that are nice to drive down, but it’s easy to feel confined here. It’s at least 45 minutes away from anything that resembles a nightclub.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I’m very passionate about LGBTQ+ rights. Things are crazy in the world right now, and people seem to be getting increasingly comfortable discussing what others choose to do with their own bodies. I do not understand why so many feel so bothered by people living their most authentic and happy lives, and I truly never will.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
HBO’s ‘Girls’ is the best show ever. It’s so funny and smart and perfect.

Who:
Maxim Modrovic — @maxim_modrovic — Slovakian from Bratislava, Slovakia — born February 13th — 188 cm / 6’2″ — he/him.

Where:
Exit Model Management (Bratislava – mother agency), The Claw (Paris), The Claw (Milan), Trend Model Management (Barcelona), ADDICTED TO MODELS (Vienna)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I am a high school student studying sciences in French.
2. I was a former volleyball player, but I stopped because I hated the competition aspect of it. I still play on occasion.
3. And lastly, I’m a very artistic person- I draw, paint, sing, dance, and I’ve been playing the piano for 11 years now.

— What is your biggest irrational fear?
I fear that I won’t be able to travel when I grow up. I fear that during my life, I’ll make decisions that will hinder me from seeing the world in its full glory, and I’ll be stuck at a boring 9-to-5 job. I think there is nothing worse than not being able to move around freely, and I hope that in the future, I get to have a job that would allow me to share this freedom.

— What’s one non-physical thing you’d like to change about yourself?
I would love to be less affected by my surroundings. I feel that to live life peacefully, a person should try to have thicker skin and not let things affect them that easily. I take everything to heart, and I am easily influenced by others’ opinions of me, and I’d like to change that.

Who:
Mohamed Dabo — @_.mdabo — Spanish from Dakar, Senegal — born May 3rd — 189 cm / 6’2.5″ — he/him.

Where:
Le Troch Management (Barcelona – mother agency)

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
Castle. Since I was little, I’ve liked police series, and this was one I watched the most. I also admired the main character because everything he did was smartly thought out. He was capable of anything, and even though he had many fears, he always managed to help or save others.

— Tell us about your hometown.
Dakar, Senegal. It’s an incredible city with so much to discover and enjoy, but unfortunately, it’s also very unsafe.

— How did you become a model?
By sending an email explaining my situation and goals to different agencies.

Who:
Ray Geovane — @ray_geovanee — Brazilian from Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil — born March 16th — 184 cm / 6’0.5″ — she/her.

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

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
My family loves to tell the story of my journey in understanding myself as a trans person. It wasn’t easy—it was really challenging in every aspect of my life. I had to deal with a lot of doubts, fears, and changes. But despite everything, I was lucky to have my family’s support; they stood by me the whole time. That made all the difference! Thanks to them, I was able to go through this phase with much more peace and confidence in who I truly am.

— What is your biggest irrational fear?
My biggest irrational fear has always been living a life that isn’t truly mine. You know that feeling of following a script someone else wrote for you? Yeah, that always scared me. I’m afraid of living a life that’s “too perfect,” one of those predictable ones that follow society’s expectations step by step: study, work, get married, have kids, and wait for retirement… What really gives me chills is waking up one day and realizing I spent my life trying to please others, meeting expectations that weren’t even mine. I want a life with purpose, with choices I’ve made myself, with mistakes and successes that are my own. I don’t want to be just another face in the crowd, repeating patterns without questioning them. Maybe this fear really is irrational, but it’s what pushes me to seek something different, something more authentic.

— What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
The scariest thing I’ve ever done was moving to São Paulo. With no safety net, no guarantees, no set plan… just my face, my courage, and a suitcase full of dreams. I wasn’t sure about anything, just had a huge desire to make my modeling career happen. It was like jumping into the dark, you know? I just trusted my team, took a deep breath, and went all in, determined to give it my best.

Who:
Ruiyao Zhu — @ruiyao_1219 — Chinese from Chengdu, China — born December 9th — 178 cm / 5’10” — she/her.

Where:
404MODELLAB (Chengdu – mother agency)

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
People might be surprised to find out that while I look cold on the outside, I’m actually a silly, laughter-loving girl.

— What’s an essential part of your daily routine?
An essential part of my daily life is spending time with my friends and family.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
My favorite book is “To Live,” and my favorite movie is “Green Book.”