When Tindi Mar exclusively debuted at Louis Vuitton back in March 2021, she had no clue the year she, and likewise the world, would have in store. Career highs featuring in editorials for Dazed, Interview, and a recent high covering Vogue Paris, were equally met with restrictions of movement that many can currently relate to. With her recent Vogue Paris cover focused on the global theme of a “new beginning”, Mar embodies the re-interpretation of a sunrise, shot by Mikael Jansson and completely body painted to resemble a morning skyline by artist, Johannes Stoetter. Raised in an ecological community and a student of community nutrition, the Mexican model now hopes to use her platform to teach others about the close relationship between the planet’s health and our own. “Just as human activity is largely responsible for global warming and its dire consequences, we have the power to change our interactions with social media to mitigate the effects of climate change,” Mar declares. We spoke to the rising new face about her first Vogue cover, positive empowerment through social media, and the power of sustainable practices.
Where are you from and how were you first scouted?
Discovered in my hometown, I am born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico.
You had your first solo Vogue Paris cover in for September, how was it working with renowned photographer Mikael Jansson?
Mikael has a way of collaborating that makes you feel really comfortable. For my first solo Vogue Paris cover, he was sooo kind and super supportive. Working with him was a lot of fun! I loved that his and Emmanuelle’s mood for this story was art-studio, and being an artist myself …I felt a real connection with this story and team.
One of your first runway debuts was as an exclusive for Louis Vuitton. Do you remember how it felt when you found out you had been cast?
I felt a warm feeling in my chest and butterflies in my stomach!
What has been your most memorable moment on set so far?
Being body painted by Johannes Stoetter for Vogue Paris was definitely a memorable moment. I entered a meditative state to keep still while he painted me and it was amazing to watch his process. He creates with a totally open passion; Johannes is certainly magic while painting. On that day, my heart felt warm and full of love.
Sustainability is something you’re passionate about. How did you first inform yourself and start taking up your own personal lifestyle changes?
Since I was a kid, I have always been in love with and connected to nature. I was raised in an ecological community and my mother always taught us to be respectful of the earth’s resources in our home. Now, I naturally bring that ethos into my daily life and routine. Even more studying community nutrition during university, I came to understand the close relationship between the planet’s health and our own. I now realize how urgently we must work to recover our health as a whole.
How can social media act as an asset for getting issues out on sustainability?
Nowadays, social media can dominate conversations that often lack idealism about the spell of consumption and materialism. But, just as human activity is largely responsible for global warming and its dire consequences, we have the power to change our interactions with social media to mitigate the effects of climate change. We can use it as a space for empowerment and open dialogue, sharing ideas within our communities. We can weave networks and encourage collaboration at different scales. We can demand attention for urgent topics and more importantly, demand attention from our governments to the polluting practices of industry. We should rethink our actions on social media in a collective way, yet never forget that the real work begins when you log off.
Looking ahead to the future, is there anything that you want to do that you haven’t done or clients that you want to work with?
I’m excited to keep working on my sustainability projects in Mexico and eventually, connect it to my work as a model. Personally, I would love to create with any client who is working to make the industry more eco-friendly and inclusive.
