With her striking platinum blonde hair and captivating presence, London-based model Luca Biggs is making waves in the fashion industry. Going from working at the grocery store, Lidl, to modeling for Alexander McQueen, Biggs described her first reaction to getting scouted, saying, “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do before modeling, so it was a big change.” Biggs made her debut for McQueen’s F/W 21 lookbook and, since then, has worked with prestigious publications and brands like British Vogue, Calvin Klein, and Acne Studios. As a mid-size model, she caught the attention of renowned photographers like Paolo Roversi, David Sims, Mario Sorrenti and stylists like Suzanne Koller within an industry that has been lacking in size diversity on the runways, as of late. While juggling her modeling career and her day job working as a barista, Models.com spoke to Biggs about finding meaningful connections through modeling, working with industry heavyweights, and her thoughts on the fashion industry’s progress toward body inclusivity.
Where are you originally from, and did you always want to be a model? Tell us about how you were discovered.
I’m from London originally, and I still live here. I was scouted on Instagram during the lockdown in 2020 by my mother agents. I hadn’t really thought about being a model before, to be honest. When the opportunity came to me, I said, “Okay, we’ll give it a go. And so far, it’s going well. I’m enjoying it a lot.” No, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do before modeling, to be honest. At the time I was scouted, I was working in Lidl, so it was a big change.
Your first job was for an Alexander McQueen F/W 2021 lookbook shot by Paolo Roversi. What was your first reaction when you found out you had been cast for the job?
I was just shocked, to be honest. I didn’t believe it until the job came out. And even then, I was still in disbelief that I had done that and had been cast for that job with that team and that brand. It was just insane. Some of my highlights from that show were meeting some of the other models that I’m still really close friends with. The McQueen team, in general, are just some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and then working with Roversi, the way he shoots, I’ve never even now worked with a photographer like that; it was just insane, the whole setup for the shoot, how he gets the pictures taken is crazy.
Your first campaign was for the Good American x Zara Spring 2022 Collaboration. What was it like working with Mario Sorrenti?
The team was incredibly talented. Mario, the styling team, some massive name models on that job as well. So going into it was definitely a bit daunting, but everyone on set made me feel super comfortable. Mario knew what he wanted in the shoot, and sometimes on set, I prefer that when the photographer kind of tells you, “Okay, this is what we’re going to be doing.” Because it just makes me feel a bit more at ease, personally. But no, it was really good.
Good American x Zara Spring 2022 Collaboration by Mario Sorrenti | Image courtesy of Premier Model Management
You debuted your platinum blond hair for the first time at the Alexander McQueen S/S 22 show. What brought on the hair change?
When I was growing up, my hair was always bleached, but I grew it out because it was getting a bit damaged, so it was fully brown by the time I was doing McQueen. And I remember just before the show, I was talking to Jess and Camilla and Sarah, and they said, “Oh, how would you feel about a hair change?” so I said I was up for it. My hair used to be really blonde, and I showed them a picture, and then we went fully blonde, and I’m super happy with it.
What other interests do you have aside from modeling?
I’m a barista, and I work in a coffee shop. So if I’m not modeling, I’m usually there.
How do you balance working as a model and working as a barista?
I have to give my manager a lot of credit. I’ve been at work before, and I’ve had to make her come in and cover my shift. Or I’ll text her the day before, and I’ll say, “Oh, I need to go to Paris for the weekend.” And she always says, “No worries,” so having a good manager has definitely helped me.
So far in your career, what would you say has been your most memorable moment on set?
I don’t know if there’s just one, but I think the most memorable for me is definitely making friends on set. A lot of my closest friends now are people I’ve met on set or on jobs, or at castings. So anytime you get to work with your mates, it’s great.
You were featured in H&M’s Metaverse campaign at the end of last year. What was the experience like working with Rafael Pavarotti?
That job was really fun. It didn’t really feel like work. It was more like everyone was just having a laugh. There was music on, and everyone was dancing around. It was a really good vibe on set, and Rafael was also really funny.
“I would like to see more inclusion of mid-size or plus-size models, especially on the runway…in the past season, I’m pretty sure it was like 95% or something of models across all four cities, and all the shows were straight sizes. So I think there’s definitely more that can be done to put more mid-size or plus-size models on the runway.”
You were recently shot by Mark Kean for a Self Service editorial. What was it like working with stylist Suzanne Koller for the second time for that shoot?
Oh, it was great. It was a really good shoot. She’s amazing and so lovely as well. I remember for one of the pictures, they put my head through a t-shirt sleeve instead of the neck part, and the pictures turned out really cool. I was thinking, “Oh, I might have to start wearing t-shirts like this.” I’m always learning stuff when I go onto jobs. Everyone teaches you something new, and I think the best way to go about it is to just take it and don’t change who you are; just keep being yourself and learn from all these people.
H&M A metaverse design story A/W 2022 Campaign by Rafael Pavarotti | Image courtesy of Premier Model Management
What are your thoughts on the fashion industry’s steps this season toward body inclusivity? What changes would you like to see in the fashion industry?
I would like to see more inclusion of mid-size or plus-size models, especially on the runway. I was reading an article this morning, and in the past season, I’m pretty sure it was like 95% or something of models across all four cities, and all the shows were straight sizes. So I think there’s definitely more that can be done to put more mid-size or plus-size models on the runway or just anywhere. Although I know there’s definitely been an increase in inclusion, I think there is still a long way to go with that personally.
Who would you say are your dream brands or collaborators to work with in the future?
To be honest, I love all the brands I’ve worked with, and I love everything I’ve been put in. I would probably like to work with a brand that’s more my personal style, which is more casual, more streetwear, I suppose. I’d like to work with a brand that’s closer to what I would actually wear in my day-to-day.
