Caitlin
Who:
Caitlin Kahaloa (@caitl.inz) — 178 cm / 5’10” — American from Medford, Oregon, USA — born March 19th — she/her.
Where:
Hueman Resources (mother agency), Scout Model Agency (Los Angeles), Scout Model Agency (San Francisco)
— An issue or cause you are passionate about?
Teen homelessness. I’ve had so many friends and personal experiences dealing with this matter, and I wish more light was shed on it, at least where I’m from. It’s an experience that’s character building to say the least, but something no teen should have to go through.
— How did you become a model?
I was thrifting in a Goodwill when this lady named Tia Reagan, jumped at the sight of me and said she needed to talk to my agent. “What do you mean ‘agent?’” I asked. “For modeling!” she said. I had only dreamed of the high lifestyle and accepted the incoming conversation. Little did I know saying yes to working with this woman would be one of the most joyous experiences of my life. What an opportunity!
— Who is someone you admire and why?
My best friend, Alana. The first genuine person I realized I met. I was able to actually listen to her when she called me on my bs, and I’ve been able to grow so much as a person. she’s strong and independent and is everything I aspire to be.
Justice
Who:
Justice Beverley (@justicebeverley) — 190 cm / 6’3″ — American from San Antonio, Texas, USA — born February 24th — he/him.
Where:
MAZZA Models (mother agency), JAG Models (New York)
— How did you become a model?
I was attending university studying film and business and the textiles department sent out a mass email. My sister was trying to transfer to my school at the time to study fashion, and so I reached out. Long story short, I ended up getting cast into a runway show my school holds yearly, and an agent ran up to me, and the rest is history. I never thought I would model, but it has been a grace to my life in traveling, self-confidence, and identity.
— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I am mixed with four different races. Can you guess them? (…) Nordic, Nigerian, a splash of Chinese, and a hint of Native American.
2. I took a film class in New York as an 11-year-old, and I became the youngest graduate of the course.
3. I used to not be able to look at myself in the mirror. I would run past them, close my eyes and avoid them altogether.
— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I used to compete in inline speed skating at a very high level until I broke my pinky finger during practice and had to pull out of nationals.
Kieza
Who:
Kieza Kanda (@kiezakanda_) — 177 cm / 5’9.5″ — Angolan from Lisbon, Portugal — born August 15th — she/her.
Where:
Central Models (Lisbon – mother agency)
— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I am a Christian. I believe in God. He is my refuge and strength, a present help in trouble.
2. I am a dreamer; I fight to get everything I want. I always do my best! I am proud of the woman I am becoming.
3. I am a great daughter, sister, and friend. Those who know me know I am always with my heart open to embrace those in need. I am a great counselor to them. I have few friends, but they are enough.
— What’s your most prized possession and why?
My most valuable asset is my family. They are all I have; every smile, every tear, they have always been there! Near or far… I love them very much.
— How did you become a model?
Since I was a little girl I always liked fashion, I participated in high school fashion shows, at home I used to wear my sister’s high shoes, I loved feeling like a Victoria’s Secret Angel. When I was 15, I started modeling in Angola, then I stopped, but the love for fashion was always there… I started modeling again when I moved to Portugal. And today I’m here! Hahahahaha
Koko
Who:
Koko (Dimitrios) Kokonakis (@kokonakis_dimitris) — 188 cm / 6’2.5″ — Greek from Crete, Greece — born May 22nd — he/him.
Where:
Pop House (Las Palmas de G.C. – mother agency), Independent Model Management (Milan), Sight Management Studio (Barcelona), Modelwerk (Hamburg)
— What’s a story your friends/family like to tell about you?
When I was a kid, my family, during the summers, ran a restaurant by the sea and all day, I was in the sea playing and swimming. But what really attracted me were the very big waves! For me, days with big waves were like “it’s showtime!” Not to say too much, but one day me and my best friend almost got drowned, and our parents were really scared and we got punished. But we decided to just to sneak out the next day and go do the same thing again! I guess sometimes you never learn, haha
— One thing may be surprised to find out about you?
So as far back as I can remember, to whomever I have told that I have served in the Presidential Guard, I always get the same response “Wow,” “how did you do it,” “that must have been really difficult,” and the questions keep coming! Especially for the Greeks, if you have served as Euzonas, it is extra honorable and important, and that’s why I feel blessed to have been able to live this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
— How did you become a model?
I was out with friends having a good time, and a scouter approached me and told me that I should try modeling. At first, I laughed because, as a child who grew up in a village, becoming part of an industry that until then was completely unknown to me seemed impossible. But I thought about it for some days, and finally, I gave it a try, and for something that started for fun, it has now become a part of me!
Lawless
Who:
Lawless Morse (@lawless.morse) — 186 cm / 6’1″ — American from Brooklyn, New York, USA — born July 1st — he/him.
Where:
BRI’GEID AGENCY (Brooklyn – mother agency), STATE Management (Los Angeles), Model Directors Management (Seoul)
— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I have a green thumb. I’ve helped my family in our gardens since I was really little. It might not be a surprise to some of the people who know I work at a bonsai shop now, but growing things has always been part of my life and artistic inspiration.
— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
I asked my mom for a story and this is what she sent: “You have always been a good eater with a preference for fruit. When you were about 15 – 16 months old, we would sit you in your highchair and feed you bits of food so we could prepare dinner, clean the kitchen or do whatever needed to be done without you wandering around the apartment unsupervised. You loved (and still do love) mango. To keep you occupied, we would say a little rhyme before giving you small cuts of fruit. “Bingo, Bango, Mango!” and would laugh the kind of full belly, joyful laugh that only young children laugh. It was during one of these sessions that we ran out of mango. The laugh and smile faded, and to stop you from getting to full tilt melting down, we gave you the mango pit. It was too big for you to choke on and still had a bit of fruit clinging to it. You went quiet and spent a long time removing every speck of fruit from the mango pit. From then on we would save the mango pit for you to enjoy because it keeps you focused and happy. We also continued to say “Bingo, Bango, Mango!” to hear the laughter.”
I made a shirt out of this last year.
— The most interesting thing about your family:
I’m a descendant of Samuel Morse, the inventor of the Morse Code. My dad’s name is also Samuel Morse after him.
Pingxu
Who:
Pingxu Jiao (@pingxujiao) — 178 cm / 5’10” — Chinese from Liaoning, China — born November 8th — she/her.
Where:
Paras Talent Management (Shanghai – mother agency), Titanium Management (Paris), Women Management Milan, Titanium Management (London)
— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. A report by the World Food Programme in Geneva pointed out that hunger has direct effects on human response and IQ. Thus, I never get into any arguments when I have an empty stomach.
2. I never realized the first thing I do when I get hurt is curse. People said cursing actually helps release pain and stress, apparently.
3. I love the night sky in the winter. The sky gets clearer, and the stars are shinier than ever.
— Who is your favorite entertainer?
Lucy Liu. Her work ethic, her attitude, and everything about her. She brings out the wisdom and perseverance of a woman to the fullest. She has absolutely attractive eyes. There is just something about Lucy, like an aura, that fascinates me.
— How did you become a model?
I’m passionate about fashion. Moreover, I love blending fashion into life. To me, fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events as well. You can even see the approaching of a revolution in clothes; see and feel everything in clothes. It’s so difficult for me to articulate the power of style and fashion through words, but these legendary fashion designers, stylists and models, managed to do so with the fashion we now buy and possess. I used to be more into the designing part of fashion, wanting to know more about the secrets “behind the scenes”; however, with my height privilege, I was offered a chance to become a model. Ever since then, I have fallen in love with runways, “clicks clicks,” flashes, and “all eyes on me”. I thought I was ordinary, but the moment I saw my editorials printed in a magazine the very first time, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I could leave some tiny marks of glory in this world.