![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2016\/07\/KIKI0539alt-1.jpg\")
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When asked how she was discovered, Dutch model Kiki Willems<\/a> responds, \u201cWhich time?\u201d Though said in partial jest, her answer obliquely paints a picture of a girl who is able, and continues, to transform herself, earning the attentions of fashion’s principal players. In Kiki\u2019s case it\u2019s from a fresh faced Saint Laurent muse, rakish and buzzy, to a veritable big-ticket model\u2013capable of booking multiple top campaigns and editorials. In an industry as fickle as this, rediscovery might just be the formula to ongoing success. Now cinching her Models.com Top 50 standing, Kiki Willems shows no signs of relinquishing her status as model-on-the-rise. <\/p>\n Photographer – Steven Yatsko<\/a> for Models.com When you first started modeling, did you think it would become something as serious as it has?<\/strong> Dutch girls are ever-present in the modeling industry, you\u2019re friends with quite a few being one yourself. In your opinion, what makes Dutch girls such distinct, exceptional models?<\/strong> How have you personally changed since you first started, or even just from your first\u00a0models.com\u00a0go-see in 2015?<\/strong> Did becoming a Saint Laurent girl influence and change your lifestyle?<\/strong> You mentioned when you\u2019re shooting, you aren\u2019t yourself, but instead you are playing a role and each shoot is different. Can you expand on this?<\/strong> What was your most transformative shoot thus far?<\/strong> Is there a particular instance when you felt you were participating in something really special?<\/strong> And how has your perspective on what it means to be a model changed now that you\u2019ve worked with some of the best teams?<\/strong> If you had to say\u2013what three things make a great model?<\/strong> Between traveling the world and meeting new people through work\u2013has it shaped your desires and priorities?<\/strong> Do you think you would you have arrived to conclusion if you hadn\u2019t become a model?\u00a0<\/strong> Outside of fashion, what do you find inspiring or stimulating?<\/strong> Lastly, what\u2019s something you want less of in your life? What about more of\u2026.?\u00a0<\/strong> The wanted Dutch model talks with Models.com after cinching a Top 50 standing <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":443,"featured_media":86859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,10169],"tags":[10495,10196,9467,9468,2429,10448,10078,10496,10715,10467,10424,10497],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86798"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/443"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86798"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86878,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86798\/revisions\/86878"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nModel – Kiki Willems<\/a>
\nStylist – Irene Ojo-Felix<\/a>
\nHair – Tetsuya Yamakata<\/a> (MAM <\/a>)
\nMakeup – Aminata Gueye<\/a> (MAM <\/a>) using MAC Cosmetics
\nText and Interview – Steven Yatsko <\/p>\n
\nNo absolutely not. I wanted to start with college initially and then IMG wanted me to come to Paris for fashion week. I thought why not give it a chance, it\u2019s definitely an experience. Never thinking I would open Saint Laurent and move to Paris to work with them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nI think our mentality and the values\u00a0we\u2019ve been brought up with. Dutch people are very down to earth, no one feels better than another. Most of us learned to be\u00a0respectful and polite growing up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nDefinitely. In the beginning\u00a0it’s all very impressive, I remember walking in to the Models.com office being so impressed. My first time in New York, my first time in the office meeting you all. Seeing the photos on the wall and hoping I would ever shoot something so\u00a0beautiful. Now I actually have these experiences. I\u2019m a lot calmer than I used to be, way more independent and learned to be happy on my own. Something which is a big part of\u00a0modeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2016\/07\/KIKI0920alt.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nWell I guess it did. Through Saint Laurent I met a lot of my good friends who kind of brought me into the scene of gigs and music. I’ve always loved music but going to gigs wasn\u2019t really a thing in my home town.<\/p>\n
\nI mean, I am myself on shoots of course, it’s Kiki who you\u2019re shooting with. But when I get in front of a camera I like to play a character. I\u2019ve always played theater and wanted to go to drama school. So I find a lot of this back in modeling. Now with all the shoots it\u2019s possible to go there, those ones I find most fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2016\/07\/KIKI0571edit-2-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nI shot with Tim Walker for LOVE. I had enormous boobs, crazy cheeks and tears running down my cheek. On a day like that you think, this is why I do this job.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nWhen we were in Cuba for Chanel, we were part of history. Only a day after the first cruise ship arrived in more than 50 years. Being part of this felt very special. And walking ON the Trevi Fountain for Fendi, who can ever say they did that?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2016\/07\/KIKI0985-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nI feel I\u2019m being part of the creative process, I\u2019m creating together with the team.<\/p>\n
\nBeing present on a shoot,\u00a0good energy and\u00a0determination.<\/p>\n
\nOf course, I live in another country and work all over the world. My world completely changed from living in Maastricht, The Netherlands. Spending time with family and friends is something so precious, something I maybe would have taken for granted before.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2016\/07\/KIKI1629-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nNo, different experiences shape you to the person you are or will become. That\u2019s for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nHaving conversations with my friends, reading and going to galleries and\u00a0exhibitions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLess stress, more family.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"