“Killin’ Me Smalls!” Or rather, Smalls is killin’ it. #SupermodelSmalls.

“Jonesin’ for Joans”. That’s basically what the entire modeling/fashion world is saying. Joan Smalls is reigning over the industry – she kickstarted her career by walking exclusively for Riccardo Tisci’s Givenchy S/S10 show. Now, she tops the Forbes “World’s Highest-Paid Models” list.

Whole look by Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent.

Beyond starring in campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Balmain, Chanel, Gucci & more, walking for Prada, Lanvin, Dior, featured in the Pirelli calendar (twice), VS Fashion Show, covered VOGUE, ELLE, Bazaar, W … Joan also broke the barriers and became the 1st Latina face of Estée Lauder. This Puerto Rican dream has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Body suit by Givenchy.

Smalls graces Net-a-Porter’s online mag The EDIT & talks slaying her career. She looks stunning & chic as always | Photographed by Santiago Mauricio | Styled by Tracy Taylor.

A Versace top paired with Charlotte Olympia platform heels.

The Balmain beauty has major discipline & work ethic – no wonder why she’s incredibly successful – part of her routine? No caffeine. Alcohol once a month. Exercise every day. Bed by 10.30pm. Day in the life of a model anyone?

She says, “[That attitude] comes from being in touch with your womanhood and not being afraid of embracing it. Being Latina and growing up in Puerto Rico, it’s just part of our culture. Dancing at a young age, learning how to move your hips, being comfortable with your body, going to the beach in skimpy clothes… It was innate.”

Jacket by McQ Alexander McQueen | Top: T by Alexander Wang | Bodysuit: L’Agent by Agent Provocateur.

On the ‘Supermodel icons’: “I admire and respect what [the Supermodels] do. When I was growing up, there was Linda, Naomi, Tyra, Heidi. And they worked hard for it. Nowadays, a girl gets two covers and [the industry is] like, ‘Oh, supermodel’. They throw it around too loosely to mean anything. Supermodels are not my role models, because I’m not modeling myself after them. There is no competition. I just want to be the best Joan Smalls.”

Dolce & Gabbana striped top with Haider Ackermann pants.

Top | Skirt | Hat – All Saint Laurent.

On hard work & success: “[My career] was never given to me. What is [down to] luck is genetics – I was born like this, my parents gave me these genes. But I worked my ass off and pushed myself and, even in the darkest moments, when I thought it wasn’t going to happen, I had to remain positive. People only see the glitz and glamor, but behind it comes a lot of sacrifice. So many tears, so much frustration.”

Joans Smalls, Cara Delevingne & Karlie Kloss cover VOGUE’s ’14 September issue | by Mario Testino.

The 26 year old also talks be dubbed an Instagirl on the coveted VOGUE September ’14 issue: “We’re in a different time, where things have evolved. I don’t think it’s about things being instant; something instant just goes fast. I guess it comes from the word Instagram and social media – but it’s a double-edged sword… [Social media] is good for expressing yourself. You get to dispel stereotypes and assumptions; you can allow people into your world. But too much importance is placed on that – there’s more to life than having a lot of likes. It’s not validation of who you are; having more followers doesn’t make you a better model. But that doesn’t always register to the industry. Does [a big following] mean that you’re good to do what’s required?”

Bodysuit & shorts from Givenchy.

Next up on her list? Becoming an actress: “Acting has been one of my biggest dreams since I was really young. I lose myself in films; when actors are able to make you feel that, it’s real talent, and I want to be a part of that. I want to experience it.”Oh and she confirmed she’s already started auditioning!

Smalls is inspiring in the fashion world – we love it. Want to reach this level of supermodel status? Join us at our Professional Model Bootcamp in NYC! The countdown has started and space is filling up FAST so reserve a spot | Catch our digits directly on site HERE. 

*Photos & interview courtesy of Net-A-Porter’s The EDIT.

Leader of Balmain’s Army: Olivier Rousteing (and Rihanna).

 

Rihanna, Kim Kardashian West, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karlie Kloss, Nicki Minaj, Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, Miley Cyrus, Gisele Bundchen, Chanel Iman, Selena Gomez, Kanye West,…. the list goes ON & ON … BALMAIN’s Army is taking over the fashion world one catwalk & selfie at a time, courtesy of, Olivier Rousteing. The 28 year old creative director has turned the Paris Fashion house into a POWER house.

Rousteing’s unconventional ways are reigning the industry, especially due to the impact of celebs/supermodels/musicians. “When you look at the fashion brands, how many followers do they have? Balmain has 1.1 million. It’s like 10 per cent of what those girls have. It shows you the power of the personality more than the power of the entire brand.”

The Bourdeaux-born babe (for real those cheek bones…) talks to Telegraph.co.uk about design, his muses & more, he says, “Celebrity is more important today than it used to be. It gives access to so many different people. For me it’s the new high-street window. You can actually be part of the dream. It’s not only available to 10 people on the front row – it’s a way of communication that’s inclusive, and there’s something generous about that.”

On his main muse BadGalRiRi: “There’s no doubt about it. She has this aura, this charisma. It’s not only sexual. It’s something else. She is like a new Grace Kelly, or a Madonna… This woman of the world who represents a new world.” Adding,”No, if you mean, ‘Do I have someone in my life?’ No, I don’t. Just work and Rihanna.But that’s enough. That’s a lot!”

On women & fashion: “Fashion had started to forget women in a way, and concentrate too much on the clothes. For me it made no sense. In fashion the biggest moment was when the models were celebrities – we all remember Naomi, Claudia, Carla, Linda. The woman had to come back; the curved woman, and different kinds of body shapes. I don’t like skinny girls. I want to represent a real woman, not just a shadow or a ghost.”

On diversity on the runway: “The mixety [sic] of my castings is one of the most important things about the show,” Rousteing says. “Sometimes I feel like some designers just focus on the clothes. Obviously it’s a business, but when you do a show you want to be modern – it’s not only about trying to find the fabric that no one else uses. Being modern means having a view or a vision of what the world is today. I want to show a vision of my world, what I see and what I want to see in the future.”

On the founder of the French fashion house, Pierre Balmain: “I keep Pierre Balmain in my mind because he loved strong women, women who have something to say. All the French designers – Balmain, Poiret, Dior, Balenciaga – they believed in strong women. Their mothers were really important. In France fashion has always been connected to the role of the woman. I keep in my mind the rules of French fashion.”

We have to say – we’re inlove with Balmain & Olivier’s vision. Thoughts?

Balmain’s ARMY of LOVE with #KIMYE

#ItsAllAboutLove according to BALMAIN’s latest high-fashion campaign. So, what better pair to feature in a ‘love’ themed ad than The World’s Most Talked about Couple: KIMYE.

Kim Kardashian & husband Kanye West get sultry for Balmain’s Spring/Summer 2015 ‘Army of Lovers’ ad. The hot couple – which has reached a level of phenomenon between them & the entire Kardashian Klan that no one quite understands… posed for renowned photographed Mario Sorrenti. Kim & Kanye have been huge ‘lovers’ of the chic brand for some time now. Kim Kardashian wore an elegant, bedazzled piece at her bachelorette party in Paris & joined supermodel sister, Kendall Jenner, in the ‘Balmain Army’  at the Vogue Paris Foundation Gala this last year.

Wonder if these shots will #BreakTheInternet like Kim did when she showed off her ‘ass-ets’ for Paper Magazine … probably not but just sayin’!

Olivier Rousteing, the creative director for the the French fashion house, said, “For this Menswear campaign, I wanted to capture a moment of love. Kim and Kanye are style icons and friends. It is an honor to have them in this Balmain campaign. Together, they represent love, beauty and diversity — they are the new modernity. This is more than a campaign, it expresses something beyond clothes — it is a celebration of love and friendship. This is a new statement for Balmain.”

In case you missed it, Kim & Kanye were married this past May at the exclusive Fort di Belvedere in Florence, Italy. They welcomed their adorable & utterly fashionable daughter, North West, the previous year, in June 2013. The Kardashian-West made their family debut in the April 2014 issue of VOGUE US photographed by Annie Leibovitz, where they were titled #worldsmosttalkedaboutcouple.

Phresh out the RUNWAY.

Fall fashion fierceness: Rihanna, Iman & Naomi Campbell pose in Balmain (by Olivier Rousteing) for W Magazine’s September issue.

The Balmain Army of ICONS are absolutely stunning photographed by Emma Summerton. The top fashion brand’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing, became one of the youngest talents to hold such a high position in a power-fashion house. The idea behind the editorial shoot was to embrace racial diversity – both within Balmain & the entire fashion//modeling industry.

Rousteing says,“These women are inspiring to so many different people. Bringing them together represents the concept I’m working toward.”

Our homegirl//style icon, RiRi is featured on the cover of WMag titled ‘Eskimo Horror Story‘ – she evokes drama, fierceness, & beauty. We’re absolutley loving this issue and can’t wait to get out hands on it.