Gabriel

Who:
Gabriel Thome (@gabrieltthome) — 187 cm / 6’1.5″ — Brazilian from Londrina, Paraná, Brazil — born November 6th — he/him.

Where:
ATTO Management (São Paulo – mother agency), BOOM Models Agency (Milan)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
I did my first magazine in China. Before becoming a model, I worked as a cleaner and telemarketer. A Brazilian fashion designer once told me that I would never be a successful model because I was too gay.

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
Where I come from, people don’t usually dream so big because it’s almost impossible to achieve them due to the conditions in the outskirts. So the story that my family/friends usually tell is about the challenges and obstacles I overcame to be here today.

— Can you tell us about your happiest childhood memory?
When I was little, I was diagnosed with a rare heart disease, so for months, my weekly routine was to wake up early and go to the doctor with my mother. Until one day, the doctor looked at my tests, and I simply had nothing left; I was cured.

Ignacy

Who:
Ignacy Kmiecik (@ignacy.jpeg) — 187 cm / 6’1.5″ — Polish from Gdansk, Poland — born June 12th — he/him.

Where:
The Face (Paris), Uncover Models (Warsaw – mother agency), Special Management (Milan), PRM Agency (London), Sight Management Studio (Barcelona)

— How did you become a model?
I was chilling on a sailing yacht with my friends when suddenly my agency sent me a text message on Facebook. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, but after talking with my mom, I started modeling. The rest is history.

— Tell us about your hometown.
I live in Gdansk, Poland and the best thing about it is it’s a coastal city with a very beautiful old town in the city center. The worst thing about it is the wind, it’s very strong because of the sea.

— What’s an essential part of your daily routine?
An essential part of my daily routine is, for sure, eating breakfast. My favorite breakfasts are shakshouka and protein pancakes. Also, I love my espresso!

Makenna

Who:
Makenna Mullett (@makennamullett) — 171 cm / 5’7″ — American from Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA — born March 4th — she/her.

Where:
Endless Management (mother agency), That Agency (Los Angeles), Ford Models (New York)

— Tell us about your hometown.
I’m from Fremont, Michigan. Fremont is pretty small, but I love how everyone knows everyone and how close the people there are. One of the downsides of Fremont is that because it’s so small, there’s not a lot to do or many job opportunities.

— The most interesting thing about your family:
The most interesting thing about my family is how much we all love Mexican food. If we could eat only one thing for the rest of our lives, we would all choose some sort of Mexican dish.

— How did you become a model?
In July 2023, I went to the hair salon, and my hair stylist told me I should seriously look into modeling. She later sent me the link for Endless Management, and I sent them an email. A couple of weeks later, I met with them and signed with them!

Ryad

Who:
Ryad Saoud (@ryadsao_) — 188 cm / 6’2″ — French from St Etienne, France — born March 9th — he/him.

Where:
Williams Agency (London – mother agency), Metropolitan / M Management / Makers (Paris), Next Milan, Premier Model Management (London), Run Model Management (Brussels), Brooks Modeling Agency (Amsterdam)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I’m a very ambitious person who never gives up.
2. I’ve been boxing since I was a child, which has taught me to deal with pressure. I’m in my second year of medicine, and thanks to sports, I’m able to deal with stress very well.
3. I’m a very calm person, and I like to smile at the simple things in life.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I’m fascinated by medicine and the human body, and I find the way it reacts to illness simply incredible. That’s why I decided to study medicine and help save lives as best I could.

— If money wasn’t an obstacle, what would you be doing with your life?
If money wasn’t a problem for me, I’d put an end to all the injustices in this world; I’d eradicate poverty, and I’d stop wars because money is at the center of it all. I would make sure that my loved ones benefited and give everyone the chance to succeed.

Sarah

Who:
Sarah Bernauer (@sarah_bernauer) — 178 cm / 5’10” — Swiss/German from Männedorf, Switzerland — born August 6th — she/her.

Where:
Let It Go MGMT (Amsterdam – mother agency)

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
I grew up on a communal farm outside of Berne, Switzerland. There were many kids and animals, and we spent our days playing outside without much supervision. This sometimes led to dangerous situations, but looking back, it was a very happy childhood filled with freedom and opportunities to make our own experiences.

— What advice would you give to models who are considering entering the modeling industry later in life? Are there any key lessons or insights you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Know your limits and don’t hesitate to say no if they are crossed. Also, remember that modeling is less about looks and more about attitude.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
“I Love Dick,” both the book and the TV show. It’s equally brave, intelligent, and funny – qualities that are rare to find together.

Shuaitong

Who:
Shuaitong Yao (@y_ssstong) — 178 cm / 5’10” — Chinese from Weifang, China — born September 2nd — she/her.

Where:
Mostar Models (Shanghai – mother agency)

— What is your biggest irrational fear?
I am afraid of sending messages and comments to unfamiliar netizens online, but in real life, I am an outgoing little girl who enjoys communicating with others.

— If money wasn’t an obstacle, what would you be doing with your life?
I want to try various jobs, experience each profession, and experience different lives.

— Tell us about your hometown.
My hometown is Weifang, Shandong, located in the eastern part of China. Weifang is the birthplace of kites, and a kite festival is held every year. In the square, we can see people from all over the world flying kites, and kites are also diverse. Weifang also has many unique delicacies that cannot be found elsewhere.