Who:
Ash (Asyurafu) Daiya Masuda — @ash__daiya — Japanese/Ugandan from Nagoya, Japan — born July 25th — 187 cm / 6’1.5″ — he/him.

Where:
Holder (Tokyo – mother agency)

— How did you become a model?
An acquaintance of mine asked me to do a model for a vintage clothing store photo shoot, so I became interested and started doing it. At first, it was just a way to earn some pocket money, but I’ve always liked luxury brands, so I began to seriously consider whether I wanted to pursue this path in life.

— Share a bit about your background and upbringing.
When I was little, there were no black people around me, so I struggled with the difference between me and the people around me. I was an active boy, so I would get scolded by adults even for things I thought were right, and I hated adults. In particular, I often rebelled against the Japanese education system, as I felt that even people with special or outstanding abilities were forced to do the same as everyone else. However, as I grew up, I realized there was no point in blaming others and rebelling, and the important thing was to “make the most of the environment I was in.” I still live by that lesson today.

— What’s a story your family/friends like to tell about you?
People often tell me that I’m cheerful and easy to talk to. I like communicating with people and want to do as much as I can, so that makes me happy.

Who:
Jelena Dauter — @jelena.dauter — German from Illertissen, Germany — born August 10th — 175 cm / 5’9″ — she/her.

Where:
HER Management (Hamburg – mother agency), The Agency (Milan), PRESENT MODEL MANAGEMENT (London)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I can probably sew an outfit out of anything; I would even sew a last-minute top of whatever I have nearby if I don’t know what to wear.
2. I go crazy for thrifting and can literally find anything there.
3. I always end up in the weirdest and most unexpected situations, and my friends live from my stories about it

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I worked in security while studying—I know everyone always finds that funny, but I was one of those people in a big football stadium, wearing a huge black jacket and trying to hold back drunk men (I guess I can talk very well).

— An issue or cause you are passionate about:
As a former fashion design student, I am very passionate about sustainability; for me, it is very important that what I make is sustainable. I use certified materials, but most of the time, I work with dead-stock fabrics or upcycle things that I find in second-hand stores or on the street. It is also something that I’m trying to include in my personal everyday life. One of the worst things I can think of is how our ocean and nature is being polluted, causing animals to die from it.

Who:
Jewgenij Grantner — German from Berlin, Germany — born January 18th — 190 cm / 6’3″ — he/him.

Where:
IZAIO Management (Berlin – mother agency)

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
Even though I’m from Germany, everybody thinks I’m Russian because of my name.

— How did you become a model?
An agency from Amsterdam scouted me in Berlin.

— What’s a favorite book/movie/TV show, and why do you love it?
Talking about movies: “Interstellar.” And series such as “Breaking Bad” and “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” were really great.

Who:
Luca Vietri — @lucavvietri1 — New Zealander/Spanish from Pontevedra, Spain — born July 18th — 191 cm / 6’3.5″ — he/him.

Where:
Scope Mgmt (MA), Why Not Model Management (Milan), The MiLK Collective (London)

— What are 3 interesting facts about you?
1. I was born in Galicia, Spain, where I spent my early years before moving to New Zealand with my family, where I eventually attended intermediate and high school.
2. I like sports. Throughout my life, I have played Rugby, Football, Tennis, Basketball, Swimming, Snowboarding, and more.
3. I’m currently a first-year Law and Finance student at university.

— What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
The “scariest” thing I’ve done was probably leaving my friends, family, and home in New Zealand to play in a basketball academy in Europe. I moved into a new city on the other side of the world and lived alone for the first time. Luckily, I ended up creating great relationships, finding a university, and eventually giving me the opportunity to model. So, in hindsight, it was the best decision I’ve made.

— Tell us about your hometown. Where is it? What are the best and worst things about it?
I spent my late childhood and teenage years in Auckland, New Zealand. It is where I have built the majority of friendships and memories. My favourite thing about Auckland is its proximity to the nice beaches and “outdoor culture” while still being in a large city.

Who:
Mia Vidart — @mia_vidart — French from Cape Town, South Africa — born February 16th — 178 cm / 5’10” — she/her.

Where:
City Models (Paris – mother agency), Elite Milan

— Tell us about your hometown.
Right at the tip of the African continent is Cape Town. There, I was born and bred. I will never miss a chance to say that there is no place like it. Apart from the obvious (the scenery, the weather, the sea), I have always been particularly touched by the genuine kindness of the people. Some have become family to me, and I truly believe that a part of me would be missing if they weren’t to be. Like everywhere in the world, Cape Town has its shortcomings – the load-shedding and water restrictions are fun stuff; you get to live like a Victorian child temporarily. The traffic? Continuous. I did high school in Paris, studied in Milan, lived in Barcelona, and nowhere feels like home like Cape Town does.

— One thing people may be surprised to find out about you:
I was a decent student in school; I’d say I was academically good. However, I was TERRIBLE in anything remotely scientific. I didn’t get the logic in Math; you couldn’t bribe me into learning any table, whether it be periodic or multiplication. And I definitely did not care to know about an animal’s digestive system, worse yet, to look AT it. Here’s the surprising part: I dreamed of being a pediatric heart surgeon. I don’t quite know how it’d come to me, but I was absolutely decided that’s what I wanted to do. Every time I’d get asked what I wanted to do in life, that’s what I’d say. Not once was one not baffled. Very astonishingly, I did, in fact, not become a pediatric heart surgeon. I do still absolutely admire the ones that are in this sector for what a beautifully tough job they do.

— Can you tell us about your happiest childhood memory?
I’d organize performances for my family. I would make posters; I’d stick them up the walls; I’d write the date, the time, and the location. It was actually taken as a very serious convocation, but it was also a very recurrent one (they’d sit through the whole 40 minutes of it, maybe once a week.) Some weeks, they’d assist in dance recitals, to tunes like Candy by Foxy Brown, and other weeks to concerts of the whole Grease playlist. Sometimes, I’d convince a family member to do it with me. I think I convinced my brother once, but he never participated again. My mom would prodigiously film them, and rewatching them brings me an immense sense of happiness.

Who:
Yiwei Liu — @yiwei1v — Chinese from Guangzhou, Guangdong, China — born December 31st — 175 cm / 5’9″ — she/her.

Where:
Lacoco Model Management (Shanghai – mother agency)

— How did you become a model?
I studied dance for a while in high school, but my flexibility was not very good, but my figure was thin and tall, so my teacher recommended me to go to the model training next door to have a try.

— Tell us about your hometown. Where is it? What are the best and worst things about it?
I’m from Guangzhou. It belongs to Guangdong Province in the south of China. I think the best thing about it is that it is very inclusive. The food is very rich and delicious. The worst thing about it is that it is really too hot in summer. I get heatstroke every year.

— If you were to choose a song that symbolizes this current phase of your life, what would it be and why?
Reflection. Now, I’m trying my best to do whatever I want, as passionate and sunny as this song.