Max Mara F/W 2021 Campaign by Steven Meisel. Image courtesy of Elite New York
Think back to 2020, if you so dare, and you might recall that right before the pandemic kicked off full-force in Europe, the headline news bomb of Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons teaming up at Prada had hit the industry. Fast forward to their first season show and the coronavirus shut down any possibility of audiences attending their coveted runway show. Yet Miuccia and Raf, ever the embracers of change, drove forth the possibility of technology used as an aid and not as an affliction, helping us get through the tough times with a fashion show that cast exclusively debut appearances. Led by Ashley Browkaw’s casting direction, model Chloe Oh has since stood out from that momentous debut and in less than a year has worked with some of the leading photographic talents in fashion. As she has since gone on to dominate the Big Four market, Steven Meisel, Craig McDean, David Sims, and Willy Vanderperre have shot the Korean rising star who now finds herself amongst the Models.com Hot List rankings. We met and spoke with Oh on her exclusive debut at Prada, working with fashion greats, and how she sees the industry she’s linked to.
How was the experience shooting with Steven Meisel for the F/W Max Mara campaign?
It was such an unforgettable experience of my life. Max Mara was my first ever campaign shot right after my successful first regular season after my debut season. My first campaign shot with THE number one photographer in the world, STEVEN MEISEL? I am so grateful. Before we started shooting we said hi to everyone while he was on a zoom call. Though he was on a zoom call he was very precise and was catching small little details such as relaxing our fingers.
Where are you from and how did you get scouted?
I’m from South Korea but I was scouted when I was in LA for school. Growing up, people around me often encouraged me to try modeling because of my height. However, back then I was very shy and had no interest in this field at all. When I went to university to study and was trying different things, I couldn’t figure out what I truly wanted to do for the rest of my life. Out of blue, I decided to apply to my current mother agency, Elite NYC, on their website with a few iPhone snaps I took in my backyard and Elite got back to me in 2 hours. That’s how it all started.
You exclusively debuted at Prada S/S 21 during the lockdown, how was the experience of walking the show from fittings to the runway?
I couldn’t ask for a better debut show. About a month after I signed with Elite, I received a call from them asking if I will be able to fly out to Milan for Prada bc they are very interested in me. I couldn’t believe it. I was just a student having a break due to a pandemic. In the beginning, I was so so nervous since I have never modeled before. I didn’t even know what a digital show meant so I found out that it was a runway only a few days before the show when I was already there in Milan. It was my first time walking in heels so I practiced soooo much. The day of recording the show, I didn’t think it feel different from practicing at all since its a digital non-audience runway, but as soon as the music was on and the camera was rolling my heart started beating with the beat of the music. I walked into the set with my best strong walk and it was indeed one of the memories that I can never forget. I am really thankful to everyone that gave me that unforgettable memory.
Prada S/S 21 Show.Image courtesy of Elite New York
I’m sure you have so many, but what have been your most favorite moments in your career?
I have so many but I still cannot forget the moment of walking out of the tracks in Greece for the finale of the most beautiful show Dior Cruise 2022. I had the most perfect outfit and make-up that suited me very well and I believe it was my first show to walk in front of audiences. The music, the audience, the tension, and the fireworks; everything was just breathtaking to me.
When you’re not modeling, what mostly takes up your time?
As a model both on and off set, we have a lot of time to spare. So I was looking for something productive to do during those spare time. So I decided to teach myself French! I took four years of French in high school and I was very familiar with the language already. So it was very easy for me to approach it again. I just needed to refreshen up a bit and learn more vocabulary. Since I spend a huge portion of my life in Paris, I think understanding and being able to speak French can be a huge help inside and outside of my career.
What’s one thing people may be surprised to find out about you?
You’d have to ask them what surprised them! People often are surprised to hear that I have studied biology at University for quite a time. Also because I had such a shy personality growing up my family and close friends get shocked about the fact that I can even stand in front of a camera.
Vogue Korea editorial by Yeongjun Kim.Image courtesy of Elite New York
What do you hope for the future of the fashion industry?
I am sure that the modeling world has improved so much over the past. However, I think there are still some jobs in the fashion industry where models of color are cast like ticking off the checklist. I hope the modeling world can change in a way that everyone will look at a model of color as a beautiful human being first rather than looked at by their race or ethnicity. As a Korean model, I experience so much racism on set and I’m often overwhelmed. I’m sure so many other models have these experiences as well and have been hurt. I wish this industry could create an environment where we could work as human beings free from the stress of racism.
What changes would you like to be a part of in the modeling world?
I don’t think I am influential enough of a model yet to be able to make huge changes in the modeling world. However, if I could in the future, more than about the modeling world, I want all the models to have a healthy mindset and I want them to know that they are all beautiful in their own way. Many times, models are bluntly judged by the way they look and just have to take it in and laugh it away. I do think that these situations are inevitable because often than not we work with our appearances. I want all the models to know that when we are judged it’s only that one person’s opinion. We do not need to take it personally and try to change anything just for that one person. We are all special in our own ways and not everybody in the world can love us.
