Joan Smalls: Beautiful People 2011
By MATTHEW SCHNEIER
There are plenty of power brokers in the modeling industry, but few kingmakers -- better make that queenmakers -- like Riccardo Tisci. The creative director of Givenchy has one of the sharpest eyes for spotting new models. And when he sent out the coltish, long-legged stunner Joan Smalls at his Spring 2010 Haute Couture show, voila. Cliché but apropos: A star was born.
Technically, it wasn't Smalls' first show. The Puerto Rican beauty had been kicking around the industry, appearing at smaller New York shows (and once in a Ricky Martin music video). But after the Givenchy show--and a subsequent ad campaign--all the doors were thrown open. "I had a feeling that this was the beginning of my career, that people were going to notice me and see me differently," Smalls says. "I'll never forget that moment and I'll never forget that man."
Now, Smalls is big. Global Estée Lauder spokeswoman big, face of Gucci and Stella McCartney big, every major catwalk big. And yet she's remained easygoing and quick to smile. "In Puerto Rico, people are constantly friendly, saying hello, good evening, bless you," she shrugs. "It's just my nature. I'm always trying to make people smile or laugh."
So, Joan, heard any good ones lately? Well, there's that one Tom Ford told her -- Ford who selected her, alongside the likes of Beyoncé and Julianne Moore for his hush-hush New York womenswear debut show last year. "He walks into a room and you feel his presence--in a good way," Smalls says. "He said I could turn a gay man straight. That was funny." Who's laughing?
JOAN WEARS TOP, SKIRT AND SHOES BY YVES SAINT LAURENT, EARRINGS AND
BRACELETS BY GERARD YOSCA AND HEADPIECE BY JENNIFER BEHR.
GO BACK TO SEE MORE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF 2011
Technically, it wasn't Smalls' first show. The Puerto Rican beauty had been kicking around the industry, appearing at smaller New York shows (and once in a Ricky Martin music video). But after the Givenchy show--and a subsequent ad campaign--all the doors were thrown open. "I had a feeling that this was the beginning of my career, that people were going to notice me and see me differently," Smalls says. "I'll never forget that moment and I'll never forget that man."
Now, Smalls is big. Global Estée Lauder spokeswoman big, face of Gucci and Stella McCartney big, every major catwalk big. And yet she's remained easygoing and quick to smile. "In Puerto Rico, people are constantly friendly, saying hello, good evening, bless you," she shrugs. "It's just my nature. I'm always trying to make people smile or laugh."
So, Joan, heard any good ones lately? Well, there's that one Tom Ford told her -- Ford who selected her, alongside the likes of Beyoncé and Julianne Moore for his hush-hush New York womenswear debut show last year. "He walks into a room and you feel his presence--in a good way," Smalls says. "He said I could turn a gay man straight. That was funny." Who's laughing?
JOAN WEARS TOP, SKIRT AND SHOES BY YVES SAINT LAURENT, EARRINGS AND
BRACELETS BY GERARD YOSCA AND HEADPIECE BY JENNIFER BEHR.
GO BACK TO SEE MORE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF 2011
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