Vogue Mexico by Santiago Sierra Soler
Recent addition to Top 50 Caren Jepkemei understood the risk of possibly alienating her family when she first got scouted to be a model. It was a fateful moment when no less than two mother agencies traveled to Nairobi seeking to scout and place the Kenyan model in international agencies abroad. “I was nineteen and in uni so I didn’t tell my dad until it was probably a month before I traveled and I applied for my visa without him knowing,” Jepkemei retells. “Then I had to talk to my mom, so she could talk to my dad to convince him that I really wanted to travel…an opportunity like this only comes once.” No risk without reward and Jepkemei’s career has been fruitful as she gone on to dominate the catwalk walking for notable shows like Miu Miu, Sacai, Coperni, Simone Rocha and many more. Since her runway debut in 2019, it’s been a fever dream for the Kenyan stunner, as she’s lept headfirst into her career whether it’s trapezing on an Icelandic glacier for her first show with Saint Laurent, landing a Vogue Italia cover, or securing multiple campaigns with Gucci. We spoke to Jepkemei about her discovery story, the root of her love for working in far-flung locales, and the importance of finding her confidence.
How did you get your start in modeling? Where did you get scouted?
I started modeling in 2019 when I was scouted by two mother agencies, Star Models and Relatum Models in Nairobi. I met them both together. I think they saw me on Instagram, and then when they came to Kenya because they were scouting together in Kenya. When I was going to meet them, they were together and said, “Oh my God, we both love you.” And they both ended up in a partnership and they both signed me. It was supposed to take me two months to come to Europe since they wanted me to come for haute couture but then I couldn’t because of my passport. I had to apply for a new passport and then had to wait for months for it to come out because there was so much delay, so it turned out taking me four months to debut.
It also was complicated with my parents because I didn’t tell them in the beginning. I was nineteen and in uni so I didn’t tell my dad until it was probably a month before I traveled and I applied for my visa without him knowing. Then I had to talk to my mom, so she could talk to my dad to convince him that I really wanted to travel and that this was really a one-time thing because an opportunity like this only comes once.
You recently walked 25 shows including Sacai, Coperni, Saint Laurent, and Vivienne Westwood. Now that S/S 23 shows have mostly come to a close, how would you describe the energy of this season?
It was a whole vibe! When I went to New York, I was so nervous thinking, “Oh my God, I’m going to do a whole season” because I had never done NY fashion week before this year. I was full of energy, like “I’m ready!” but after New York, I was feeling already exhausted. After the week, I had to hype myself up like “Okay, we got to keep doing this!” At one point my agents asked, “Caren, you want to take some time?” I told them, “No, I want to do it,” because I’m a big fan of shows, actually. If you ask me if I love shoots or shows, I always choose shows because shows are when I’m at my best. I’m a big fan of them because it’s a space where you get to interact with so many different people from all walks of life.
In Paris, I loved Saint Laurent, of course. They have a special place in my heart. I shouldn’t say my favorite because every show has something that is amazing on its own. Like I loved Balmain as it was very special this season. Funny enough, Balmain was one of my first shows in Paris back in 2019. Olivier, I think, is really nice and Balmain has such a good team. You connect with the outfits when he tells you the stories behind each look and he makes you want to give it your all on the runway as a model.
You’ve been shot by top photographers like Steven Meisel, Sølve Sundsbø, Mert & Marcus, and Campbell Addy. What key takeaways did you have from working with them?
From every shoot, I’ve experienced something beautifully different. When I talk about [Steven] Meisel, he’s very creative. Naturally, I’m very nervous if I’m around him because everybody gives you the advice, “You have to give it all,” but the way he is on set, he creates this calmness around the models. There’s an instilled trust that you are going to perform as he wants you to. He always has an image in his mind and describes it like, “Oh Caren, you’re going to do this.” He really believes in you that you’re going to do it, because of how he communicates with all the models and how he connects with to the models. Meisel made me really believe in myself because I felt like he believed in me more than I did. Campbell Addy was among the first photographers I worked with. With him, the Love Magazine shoot was a really fun shoot and one of my best. We have so much fun on set. He’s very friendly and the way he plans his shoot he makes sure that we get to connect together. He tells you, “This is what I want.” He tells you, “This is how it will be,” and then we just come together and put something amazing together.
You have been cast by some of the biggest brands and designers in the business. What have been some of the most memorable projects for you?
Every project I’ve worked on has been very special in its own way but the most memorable is the YSL show in Iceland. It was a memorable and crazy experience because first I’m from Kenya and used to the heat and warm weather. We had to shoot our scenes over and over again to get them just right. Going to Iceland, it was crazy cold which shocked me. It was my first time working with Saint Laurent as well, and they had these amazing outfits that season, and I had a really beautiful look that made me want to give it my all because it just matched the whole environment. Frozen tundra. The ice was everywhere. It was just the most amazing place I’ve ever been to, the calmness of the place. unfortunately, because it was shot during the peak of COVID and Iceland was very strict, there was nothing to be done outside of shooting.
What’s one thing people may be surprised to find out about you?
I volunteered as a geography teacher before I became a model. It was good because when I was in university, we had a four-month break between April and September, and rather than spending that time at home, I used to volunteer in high schools and teach geography. I’m a big fan of geography which makes my current career amazing for me.
Exquisite’ Gucci F/W 2022 Campaign shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott
Looking back at your career so far, what piece of advice would you give yourself when you started?
Being more confident is essential. Looking back when I started, I was so scared of everything in the industry because, coming from Kenya, the way modeling has been depicted there is not such an amazing thing. When I came, I still had that mindset of what modeling is in Kenya. As much as I researched and learned so many things, when I came here, I was really scared because I didn’t know what to expect from the industry. It was the fear of the unknown and not knowing what you’re going to get. I would go on set, and I remember a shoot I did with some photographers and I was really scared and bashful. I just felt like everybody could read it at that moment. At the end of the day when I went back home, I felt really awful because of how scared I was and the lack of my confidence. Sometimes on the runway, I could see that I was really scared and other people could see it as well. Even my mom pointed out at one of the shows I did and asked, “Caren, what happened here?” Fear really holds you back because you end up questioning yourself so many times. You just have so much doubt in yourself. As time went by, I felt like I really improved once I felt more comfortable now in the industry.
Which designers would you love to work with?
I dream of many designers that I haven’t had a chance to work with like Versace, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Chanel. With Hermes, I’ve done their shoots, and I’ve worked on some projects with them, but I’ve never done their shows, so that would be a great addition. I’d love to do a beauty or cosmetics campaign
Where do you see your modeling career headed?
I want to really grow as a fashion model. I see myself continuing to build my modeling career and working with a variety of clients on big projects. I believe that my career will continue to rise and I’ll be able to work with some of the top photographers, stylists and designers in the world. I know I haven’t worked with every stylist and photographer in the industry and in the coming year I really want to guide myself as a model to the point that I get to work with some strong teams. Allowing myself to expand in the industry so I can get to the true level of top model and supermodel.
