Aran
Who:
Aran Schaaf (@araneschf) — 178 cm / 5’10” — American from Seattle, Washington, USA — born August 1st — she/her.
Where:
Heffner Management (Seattle)
— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I have a freckle in the middle of my lower lip.
2. I’ve played violin since I was seven.
3. The only bone I’ve ever broken was my big toe, which I dropped a dumbbell on when I was 9.
— Who is someone you admire and why?
My dad! When I first started modeling and had no license, he’d go out of his way to get me to my photoshoots and would accompany me if I ever felt nervous. He’s always been extremely enthusiastic about my career, and I couldn’t ask for a better father/hype-man.
— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I’ve always been passionate about genderqueer representation in the fashion world. Our community has forever been at the backbone of the industry, yet it’s only been in the past decade that we’ve seen an ounce of visibility. I believe representation is crucial to changing perspectives, and it’s important that we continue to push for more space at the forefront of the fashion industry.
Gauri
Who:
Gauri Sharma (@goriandsharmili) — 180 cm / 5’11” — Indian from Delhi, India — born June 5th — she/her.
Where:
Ninjamodels (Delhi – mother agency), Women Management (New York), Women 360 Paris, Women Management Milan
— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
My dad loves to tell everyone how I was really naughty as a kid and how I used to draw all over the white walls of our house. He then gave me the nickname “Billu,” which means a little cat, because my shenanigans reminded him of a kitten.
— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I have been passionate about animal rescue ever since I was a little child. I remember bringing home injured pigeons and nursing them back to health. Ever since I can remember, I have loved dogs, and I have fed the stray dogs in my street since the age of 4 or 5. In India, it’s really common to see cows on the street, and my mom and I feed the stray cows too. Pretty much I love to take care of any animal which comes to my attention. It’s really important to be compassionate towards everyone around me, especially animals!
— The most interesting thing about your family:
Everyone in my family is a soap opera, so much drama, and they make life so fun. I am the only child, so my mum and dad are very possessive of me. They treat me like their kid and also like a friend, which I love. Both my mum and dad can be super annoying sometimes, but isn’t everyone’s parents? So yeah, dramatic Indian parents, which I love.
Jonah
Who:
Jonah Paz (@jonahgold1) — 188 cm / 6’2″ — American from San Diego, California, USA — born October 26th — he/him.
Where:
STATE Management (Los Angeles – mother agency), STATE Management (New York)
— Who is your favorite entertainer?
Manny Machado because he plays for the best team in the world, and loads of people hate him.
— How did you become a model?
The luck of the draw. Mama’s looks.
— One thing you never want to do again:
Ecomm.
Juanita & Maria Jose
Who:
Juanita & Maria Jose González (@gonzalez_twinscol) — 180 cm / 5’11” — Colombian from Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, Colombia — born August 7th — she/her.
Where:
XY Models (Medellín – mother agency)
— How did you become a model?
M: I became a model because of my father. At first, he mentioned it just as a possibility, not taking it too seriously, and I decided to take some classes. I learned how to walk and how to pose and started doing some shoots and stuff. Then, after I started liking it, I decided to take it seriously, and now being a model is one of the things I love the most about myself.
— Who is your favorite entertainer?
J: My favorite entertainers for the moment are the Arctic Monkeys. I’ve been really fascinated with indie and alternative music for the last two years. What I like the most about them is the evolution you can see in all their albums through the years; each song has unique lyrics as if it were a poem that doesn’t directly tell you what it means or its theme. Honestly, I’m waiting impatiently for the new album.
— The most interesting thing about your family:
We’re a small, shy family full of introverts. We don’t have too many friends because of that!
Kaiden
Who:
Kaiden Rogers (@kaiden.rogers) — 186 cm / 6’1.5″ — American from Tipton, Indiana, USA — born July 29th — he/him.
Where:
Rune Models (Indianapolis – mother agency), JAG Models (New York)
— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I am fascinated with the study of my mind. I didn’t always grow up in the most stable surroundings. As I became older, this led to me having a very scrambled inner monologue. This eventually led me to try to fix this issue myself. I began reading books and listening to podcasts on all types of different subjects: psychology, spirituality, theology, meditation, fitness, and dieting. I really took the time to deepen my understanding of who I am, and that, in turn, allowed me to understand people and the world from a better perspective.
— Who is your favorite entertainer?
My favorite entertainer would have to be The Rock. Since a small child, I have always thought he and his movies were hilarious. As I got older, he became more of a role model to me because of the great charisma he has and what he stands for as a person.
— How did you become a model?
I got signed back in February by Rune Models. I sent them my senior photos, and I received a call back 20 minutes later. A few months after, JAG wanted to sign me as well.
Seina
Who:
Seina Shigeda (@6dollar7) — 187 cm / 6’1.5″ — Japanese from Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan — born July 3rd — he/him.
Where:
Bravo Models (Tokyo – mother agency), CREW Model Management (Milan)
— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I read books. Surprise!
— The most interesting thing about your family:
My dad likes punk.
— Who is someone you admire and why?
Sid Vicious. He had his own way of living, different from other people. I want to take a path different from other people as well.