Name: Aline Weber

Age: 23

Nationality: Brazilian

Found her: Backstage at Osklen

Why she’s major: Known for her platinum blonde hair and prominent cheekbones, Weber is instantly recognizable and one of the most successful models to come out of Brazil in recent years. She’s a veteran of fashion weeks around the world, including Sao Paulo, and has starred in tons of ad campaigns and magazine editorials. Kind of obsessed with her.

Have you done Sao Paulo Fashion Week before?
This is my 17th season here.

Wow, how have you seen it change and evolve over time?
I think from the time it started–it was in 2004–to now, it has grown a lot and there’s a lot of international press coming here now, so it’s getting much more interesting.

What are the major differences you’ve noticed between New York and Sao Paulo?
In Brazil, a lot of the designers are still doing beachwear stuff and we don’t see that in New York much, so that’s one difference and in New York, they do more clothes for the city and things that happen around the city.

What about the industry and the people you work with?
For me, everytime I come to Brazil, I feel like I’m home because I’m Brazilian as well, so for me that’s the difference. It’s just because I’ve known everyone here for such a long time and we speak the same language we have the same culture, so I feel very comfortable here. In New York I feel comfortable because I’ve made a lot of friends there already because I’ve done so many fashion weeks there, [too].