Edda
Who:
Edda Ophelia Eggers (@eddaophelia) — 177 cm / 5’9.5″ — German from Berlin, Germany — born March 17th — she/her.
Where:
MIHA modelmanagement (Munich – mother agency), Fever Management (Paris), Fabbrica Milano Management
— The most interesting thing about your family:
My whole family is super interesting, so I have to share at least two interesting facts. My mom is an O50 Influencer, and my sister is an author of more than ten books at the age of 22.
— What are you super interested in that most people have never heard of?
I am interested in Egyptian culture, pyramid building, and hieroglyphs.
— What are three interesting facts about you?
I’m submitting my Ph.D. in Medicine this week. I had six different part-time jobs besides my studies, and I like modeling the most out of all of them.
Jakub
Who:
Jakub Winkler (@starajimiego) — 183 cm / 6’0″ — Polish from Katowice, Poland — born February 5th — he/him.
Where:
Pinokio Models (Warsaw – mother agency)
— Your most embarrassing moments?
Recently, the “Skate Olympics” took place at the skatepark in my city of Katowice. One of the disciplines was the relay race. Three people from each team participated in it, and each person had a different task. My task was to be a human wheelbarrow. I was holding a board in my hands, and my friend was pushing my legs. The whole problem with this discipline was that I had to be naked. On top of that, we fell three times. So I got to the finish line naked, and my legs were all covered in blood. But it was worth it, we won.
— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you?
A surprising fact about me is that I worked for a year and a half in the cold processing of steel, and I can operate machines such as lathes, hydraulic presses, and industrial polishers.
— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I only listen to music from cassette tapes. I have a collection of about 850 pieces.
2. Sometimes, I work at height, building concert stages.
3. I love driving long distances by car of 1200 km for 13 hours without using highways or expressways.
Lucia
Who:
Lucia Valero Marti (@luciaavaleroo) — 177 cm / 5’9.5″ — Spanish from Villa Real, Spain — born October 19th — she/her.
Where:
Carmen Duran Agency (Valencia – mother agency)
— What’s your most prized possession and why?
My sketchbook. It’s a notebook for quick drawings, and I carry it everywhere. It is a good way to express yourself. I don’t work hard on all the drawings, but I feel a strong connection with them, and I would die if someone I didn’t want to saw my “drawing diary.”
— What are three interesting facts about you?
When I was 7 or 8, I really loved Hannah Montana, and I wanted to be like her, including the pop-star part, so I started writing my own songs. They were so bad and about teenage love. I sang my songs (without music because I only wrote lyrics), but when I grew up, I stopped singing. Now, I go to singing classes to improve my voice and fulfill my dream. I don’t actually want to be a pop star, but for me, music and singing feel like home, so maybe it is a good idea to sing without provoking a heavy storm.
2. I have a collection of snowglobes from different places, and most of them are gifts from my mum.
3. My favorite meal is a potato omelet, and every year my grandmother cooks a big one for my birthday, and we eat it instead of a common cake.
— Who is someone you admire?
The person I admire the most is my mum. She’s a strong and independent woman that can do anything, and she has shown that countless times. Despite all the adversities, now she has got her dream work (being a teacher). She always helps me to see things from a different point of view and supports me in all my decisions. I love her, and I hope someday I can be like her.
Moses
Who:
Moses Battiest (@donotperceiveme) — 178 cm / 5’10” — American from Atlanta, Georgia, USA — born March 7th — they/them.
Where:
APM Model Management (New York – mother agency), Storm Management (Los Angeles)
— One thing you never want to do again:
Compromise myself. I often find the need to “choose” or morph into something I’m not. Coming into the industry as a non-binary and trans has its obstacles. We have to make sure gender identity and expression is respected and honored. With compromise comes sacrifice. Although society has achieved progress, there’s a long way to go. Until we reach unconditional acceptance we’re only cheating ourselves and our individual experiences. Queer people deserve acknowledgment of their identity and a chance to chase their dreams in a safe space. I’ve been lucky to work with receptive and kind people all over the world, so I know a change is near. I do my best to work with brands and designers that align with my values and beliefs. Times are indeed changing. You see us on the runways. You see us on billboards. You see us in campaigns. We are everywhere. Proud and loud. We are working towards a future where people, particularly queer folk, can show up to work as themselves. As Eartha Kitt said, “Compromise? For what.”
— Who is someone you admire and why?
One of my many inspirations is the one and only Dominique Jackson. She is a model, actress, author, and activist, featured in a breakout FX series Pose. I’ve had the privilege to meet her at a convention for LGBTQ+ houseless youth, and I asked her how we should navigate in this industry as pioneering transgender models. I trusted her opinion as a Black and trans model in the entertainment industry. She said, “Don’t be a token, but get your coin!” Ms. Jackson then expressed how important it is we stay true to who we are, and “people must respect you.” Ever since then, I take those phrases everywhere I go.
— What’s your most prized possession and why?
My Marni shoes. They were a blessed find while thrift shopping in a San Francisco Goodwill. I didn’t recognize the chunky clown-like shoe, so I looked it up online and gave an audible, “That’s crazy!” Still curious, I asked an employee how much the shoes were. He nonchalantly said, “ten dollars,” and I immediately bought them. I took them to a local cobbler and fixed them up, and cherished them ever since.
Roscoe
Who:
Roscoe Dale (@roscoe_daleee) — 186 cm / 6’1″ — American from Nashville, Tennessee, USA — born April 8th — he/him.
Where:
Eye Model Management (Nashville – mother agency)
— Who is your favorite entertainer?
I have a deep love for Lana Del Rey. She is able to capture certain feelings that might be hard to express. She also has such an interesting perspective on how to tell stories and place them with such beautiful melodies. Every song eats!! (Even her Lizzy Grant era).
— How did you become a model?
I was direct messaged on Instagram by Eye Management!
— Your most embarrassing moment:
One time during the Christmas season, I was drying off my hands in The Cookout bathroom in downtown Nashville, and I heard Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You over the speakers and decided it was an excellent idea to sing along as loud as possible, thinking no one would hear me. I then walked out of the bathroom to everyone staring at me. My family proceeded to hysterically laugh while I just stood there not understanding what was happening, hahaha.
Segun
Who:
Segun Adeleye (@adeleyesegun_) — 186 cm / 6’1″ — Nigerian from Ogun, Nigeria — born February 2nd — he/him.
Where:
Renato Models (Lagos – mother agency), The Claw (Paris), The Claw (Milan)
— How did you become a model?
I was scouted by my mother agency at a gas station where I work, and since then, it has been fun becoming a model, which I thought was all a joke at the start 😄
— The most interesting thing about your family?
Our togetherness. It takes me back to how we spend our Christmas at the family house in Nigeria, where all the family members, nuclear and extended, gather to celebrate together.
— Who is your favorite entertainer?
That would be King SRK, the Indian Bollywood actor. What I love about him is the passion he has for the movie industry and his background, how he started from nothing and became something. It inspires me a lot.