Who:
Ertan Bijedic — @ertanbijedic — Bosnian from Antwerp, Belgium — born May 3rd — 186 cm / 6’1″ — he/him.

Where:
Run Model Management (Brussels – mother agency)

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
I’m 100% of Bosnian descent, and I love going there every summer because of its natural beauty and lovely people and culture. I didn’t have the easiest upbringing, but I’ve learned a lot of important lessons in my life already.

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
I attempted to be a YouTuber a couple of times when I was younger but with no success. I love socializing with people I haven’t met yet, and I couldn’t go a day without my AirPods.

— How did you become a model?
I got scouted a couple of times in different cities, so I started to think that modeling might be a real option for me. I of course didn’t want to pass by the chance so I just went for it and I’m extremely happy with the choices I’ve made so far.

Who:
Karen Bernschein — @karen_bernschein — German from Riesa, Germany — born September 20th — 170 cm / 5’7″ — she/her.

Where:
ELF Management (Munich), Silver (Paris)

— Did you always envision yourself pursuing a career in modeling, or did it come as a surprise? How did you first enter the world of modeling?
I came to it more because I was looking for “visibility.” It inspired me from the beginning, and as a former dancer, moving in front of the camera is wonderful for me.

— 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?
I have not had any bad experiences. But a good agency that really cares about its models is of great use. And – not to sell yourself too “cheaply”…

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
I come from the former GDR, danced there, and always wanted to be a doctor. Unfortunately, my path has taken a completely different direction.

Who:
Lina Yang — @linayang_ 422 — Chinese from Guizhou, China — born April 22nd — 176 cm / 5’9.5″ — she/her.

Where:
UmoModels (mother agency), THE WOLVES (Milan)

— How did you become a model?
This is a very predestined thing. At first, my friends thought I’d be a good model. But I never thought about that. It wasn’t until more and more people around me suggested this that I realized maybe I should try something different. So I started looking online at agencies, and I got a response, and I ended up auditioning to become a model. I was surprised to see so many different styles of myself in the subsequent shooting. I’m happy with the choices I made back then and where I am now.

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
Most people who are not familiar with me will think that I am a cold person. So very little will be said to me, actually, I’m quite social, not as cramped as I look. It’s funny how my voice doesn’t match my face, it’s more like a boy’s voice.

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
They usually talk about me being a glutton when I was a kid. Because I was very protective of food as a child, no one could get shared food in my hands. This is often joked about.

Who:
Natasha De Bruin — @_n.de.bruin_ — South African from Cape Town, South Africa — born May 26th — 178 cm / 5’10” — she/her.

Where:
Topco Models (Cape Town – mother agency)

— How did you become a model?
I was scouted at a hockey game by a Topco scout.

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
I asked my brother this, and he replied, ” Tell them you are a ginger.” Other than that, I have been riding horses for 15 years.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
Helping animals. Volunteering at the SPCA shelters.

Who:
Noah Straush — @noah.stsh — German from Reutlingen, Germany — born July 1st — 188 cm / 6’2″ — he/him.

Where:
MIHA modelmanagement (Munich – mother agency), The Squad (London)

— How did you become a model?
I never really thought about becoming a model until a lady in my hometown talked me into it. She was running a pop-up store selling special fashion pieces, and she came up to me and said that I should try to be a model. So I went to a test shoot and used the pictures to apply to agencies, which led to me getting signed shortly after :)

— The most interesting thing about your family:
There are not a lot of interesting things I know about my family other than my grandmother growing up as a noble in a beautiful castle. We sometimes go there for vacation, but unfortunately, we now have nothing to do with the castle or its owners. It’s still kinda cool to see some of my ancestors and great-grandparents as paintings in a castle :)

— Can you tell us about your happiest childhood memory?
The time around summer break during 1st to 4th Grade, which is like elementary school in Germany, was always so beautiful, and everyone was so excited to go on vacation and eat ice cream and all that. I also loved collecting Pokemon cards with my friends. We always used to go buy some Pokemon cards during school breaks, so I don’t even want to know how much we spent on cards over the years.

Who:
Victor Iyiola — @iam_bossvick — Nigerian from Atiba, Oyo, Nigeria — born August 16th — 186 cm / 6’1″ — he/him.

Where:
Agraa Model Management (mother agency), Muse Management (New York), Next Paris, Wonderwall Management (Milan), Francina Models (Barcelona)

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
My family always loves telling the story of how I confidently walked into my first casting wearing mismatched shoes by accident and still got signed. They say it showed my bold personality and how I can turn any situation into something positive.

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
I’m passionate about youth empowerment and access to education. I believe every young person deserves the chance to unlock their full potential, regardless of their background. I hope to use my platform in modeling to inspire and support initiatives that give young people better opportunities.

— How did you become a model?
I was scouted while attending a model caring that was organized by my mother agency in Lagos Nigeria. At first, I never imagined myself as a model, but after getting scouted and signed by my mother agency and doing my first photo shoot, I realized how much I enjoyed expressing creativity through fashion and posing. Since then, I’ve grown more confident and passionate about modeling.