Balat

Who:
Balat Pal (@balatpal) — 180 cm / 5’11” — Canadian from Calgary, Alberta, Canada — born October 9th — she/her.

Where:
AMTI: Toronto (mother agency), Storm Management (London)

— Tell us about your hometown.
I’m from Edmonton, Alberta, and the best and worst thing about it is how quiet it can be. It can be a nice break away from bigger cities and somewhere to re-center, but it also can get boring at times!

— Who is someone you admire and why?
Someone I admire is my dearest friend, Rose. Rose is such a creative person, and she always inspires me. Watching her work and bringing everything in her mind to life makes me so happy. She pushes me to be a better version of myself at times when I don’t see it in myself, and I’m forever thankful for her. To have such a positive influence in my life like Rose is truly a blessing. <3

— Who is your favorite entertainer?
My favorite entertainer is the one and only Beyonce!! She is the definition of a visionary and a true inspiration. Her music has always been able to put me in a good mood. Beyonce is also very nostalgic because I grew up listening to her. I remember my mother always listening to Destiny’s Child when I was younger, and that’s where my love for her started.

João

Who:
João Injai (@_joao_injai_) — 188 cm / 6’2″ — Portuguese from Guinea Bissau — born March 25th — he/him.

Where:
Elite Lisbon (mother agency)

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
My culture. Not being ashamed to show my heritage, the food, the music, the traditional clothing… all of that.

— Who is your favorite entertainer?
Björk, I love her perception of the world; she is very poetic in how she expresses herself. And has great fashion sense. Her album “Debut” really resonates with me.

— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I’m very flexible.
2. I’m a good artist (I love drawing and painting).
3. I love reading about fashion history.

Miko

Who:
Miko Tiu-Laurel (@mikotl) — 178 cm / 5’10” — Filipino from Manila, Philippines — born April 11th — he/they.

Where:
We Speak (New York – mother agency)

— Who is someone you admire and why?
My grandparents because they helped build the lives we live today as a family.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
Philippine arts and culture as a cause.

— Tell us about your hometown.
My home town is in Manila, Philippines, specifically Makati City. The food is the best thing! The traffic is the worst thing!

Tyler

Who:
Tyler Futura (@tylerfutura) — 188 cm / 6’2″ — American from Los Angeles, California, USA — born March 3rd — he/him.

Where:
Olga Baranova (mother agent), Storm Management (Los Angeles)

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I grew up playing tons of sports, and fortunately, I was able to play Division 1 Baseball in college. This is definitely where a lot of my work ethic comes from. So many things I learned playing sports are applicable to my life right now, and I’m forever thankful.

— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I make music, and it is something I’ve loved ever since I was little. It started out as a hobby, but eventually, I started to take it more seriously. I make all kinds of music, but I primarily produce for rap artists. I think I’ll make music until the day I die, to be honest.
2. I am in my last year of school, and I’m studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience.
3. I can dunk a basketball.

— How did you become a model?
My mother agent, Olga, found me in her Discord server called “The Modeling Collective”. She helped me sign to Storm in LA as well. She is the best (:

Xanat

Who:
Xanat Dakarya (@xanatdakarya) — 187 cm / 6’1.5″ — Mexican from Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico — born September 6th — she/her/they/them.

Where:
Guerxs (Mexico City – mother agency)

— How did you become a model?
Oh, you know, since I was a little kid, I have always been crazy about fashion, and I loved dressing up. It was kind of my escape, you know? Especially back when I hadn’t transitioned yet, but I still wanted to feel that femininity. So, in my teenage years, I took modeling courses that happened once a year in my hometown. Since my city doesn’t exactly have a booming modeling scene, I tried my luck in Mexico City to get signed, but no agency believed I had what it took. That’s when, after a few years of feeling defeated, I mustered the courage to reach out to my current agency, Guerxs; they gave me a shot!

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I’m all about educating myself and others, especially about the injustices that have been going on in my country for ages. And, well, I’m on a mission for human rights activism. It’s not a walk in the park, but hey, as a regular human in this world, I’m doing my bit to fight for a more conscious, just, and educated world. It’s about time we stop normalizing violent education, brutal systems, and the patriarchy. Oh, and on a lighter note, yes, I’m also crazy about fashion. It’s my little distraction from the harsh realities out there. Even though, you know, the fashion world has its quirks and needs changes too.

— What are three interesting facts about you?
Well, first off, I’m like a chameleon; my personality and fashion sense can change from one day to the next, even within minutes; it’s kind of funny. Secondly, I’m a real chatterbox—I love to talk. I always have something to say, and I’ve always got a topic for conversation. So, you probably won’t get bored in my company, but I might talk your ear off! And lastly, since I was a kid, I’ve been all about self-expression and finding all kinds of ways to stand out. Aside from fashion, I love to dance—Vogue, trap, a bit of twerking, you name it, and I’m interested in pursuing acting.

Zara

Who:
Zara Sykes (@zara._.sykes) — 181 cm / 5’11.5″ — New Zealander from Auckland, New Zealand — born February 13th — she/her.

Where:
62 Management (Auckland – mother agency)

— One thing you never want to do again:
Pull an all-nighter to study last minute for a test (I will 100% end up doing this again!)

— What are three interesting facts about you?
1. I love anything to do with the ocean, and I’ve been so lucky to have lived by the beach my whole life.
2. In 2021, my mates and I walked around a track for 14 hours to spread awareness and raise funds to support the work of the Cancer Society.
3. I love to travel and can’t wait to explore more of the world and indulge in new cultures and experiences.

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
That I’m actually 1/4 Samoan.