8 Models Who Ruled the Runways This Season
Lineisy Montero on the runway at Louis Vuitton. Photo: Imaxtree
Another runway season has come and gone, and with it, hundreds of genetically blessed girls hired to model the new collections — far more than most people can recognize or know by name. So how does a new face set herself apart, and compete with the current class of social media-savvy supermodels? Book enough shows and presentations that it's impossible for top editors and fashion fans not to notice you.
Although we've certainly been noting repeat performances ourselves (Olivia Jansing, for instance), the team over at Models.com kept a more official tally, with an ongoing ranking system of who's walked, and where. Now that the final numbers are in, we're bringing you the eight models who ruled the runways for spring 2016 — some already established industry mainstays, and others who are still new to the scene. Take note of these ladies, because if they have enough of an "It" factor to land this many gigs, you can bet there are many more to come.
Alexandra Elizabeth Ljadov
Alexandra Elizabeth Ljadov on the runway at Prada. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Estonian
Number of shows walked: 65
Why you should get to know her: After being scouted at a meat festival in her native land of Estonia (seriously), Ljadov broke out at Proenza Schouler's spring 2014 show, and promptly began landing at the top of every fashion outlet's "ones to watch" list (and the number two position on this very same roundup last year). By 2015, her sandy blonde hair and piercing stare was landing magazine covers and billboard ads, along with coveted gigs at almost all of Fashion Month's most talked about shows. While there's no space to go through her massive list of runway clients this season, highlights include Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs.
Harleth Kuusik
Harleth Kuusik on the runway at Chanel. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Estonian
Number of shows walked: 65
Why you should get to know her: A close friend of Alexandra Elizabeth's, Kuusik also hails from Estonia, and walked for the first time at Proenza Schouler's spring 2014 show. She's followed a similar career path over the past few years as well: glossy fashion editorials, highly visible campaigns and a runway clientele encompassing the biggest names in the business. Her blonde lob and signature freckles, however, are more than enough to set her apart — and to land her the closing spot at Nina Ricci this year.
Lineisy Montero
Lineisy Montero on the runway at Isabel Marant. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Dominican
Number of shows walked: 65
Why you should get to know her: This 19-year-old caused quite the stir when she hit the scene last March as a Prada exclusive. She snagged a role in the accompanying ad campaign, and went straight into Fashion Month as one of the buzziest (and busiest) newbies in the industry right now.
Greta Varlese
Greta Varlese on the runway at Miu Miu. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Italian/German
Number of shows walked: 59
Why you should get to know her: We first meet Varlese when she won the Elite Model Look contest in 2014, and promptly signed on to appear in Givenchy's show last March. While it's only been six months, her raven hair and pixieish cheekbones have won her a couple of major campaigns and, of course, a rigorous schedule of Fashion Month runway walks — five of which she either opened or closed.
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Julie Hoomans
Julie Hoomans on the runway at Louis Vuitton. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Dutch
Number of shows walked: 57
Why you should get to know her: Hoomans began her work as model in 2013 —her first-ever runway was Prada — but things didn't really start to heat up until the following year, when she began racking up edgy editorials in niche magazines. By the time this Fashion Month rolled around, all of that extra visibility helped earn the attention of both storied design houses (Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Chanel, to name just a few) and contemporary "It" labels (like Rag & Bone, Isabel Marant and Tommy Hilfiger) alike.
Maartje Verhoef
Maartje Verhoef on the runway at Valentino. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Dutch
Number of shows walked: 57
Why you should get to know her: Verhoef came in with the top runway count last season, and while her number did drop for spring 2016, we still give her props for her dedication these past four weeks. The Netherlands native — who got her big break modeling Prada's spring 2013 collection — has not only appeared in far more shows than most of her contemporaries, she's also occupied a bookend position in seven of the lineups.
Vanessa Moody
Vanessa Moody on the runway at Balenciaga. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: American
Number of shows walked: 57
Why you should get to know her: It was Moody's father who actually convinced her to meet with an agency, and things took off from there: Hot on the heels of an exclusive first walk for Alexander Wang, her trademark Birkin bangs began appearing in blockbuster campaigns and on the most prestigious runways in the business. Her upward trajectory was particularly apparent this September, as she either opened or closed at 13 shows, most notably at Wang's highly anticipated finale turn at Balenciaga.
Irina Djuranovic
Irina Djuranovic on the runway at Valentino. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Montenegrin
Number of shows walked: 56
Why you should get to know her: Djuranovic walked Fashion Month for the first time last March, but that hasn't stopped brands from flocking to her. Post-debut at Prada's fall 2015 show, this Slavic beauty (and former Elite Model Look contestant) has appeared in Céline's autumn campaign, an honor that clearly opened all the right doors before bookings began.
Waleska Gorczevski
Waleska Gorczevski on the runway at Stella McCartney. Photo: Imaxtree
Nationality: Brazilian
Number of shows walked: 49
Why you should get to know her: Despite the formidable list of supermodels that hail from her homeland, Gorczevski's done just fine carving her own path. The model has been getting noticed in a big way since her debut at Dior's spring 2014 couture show, a splashy arrival she quickly parleyed to Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang fragrance campaigns. Her editorial work has been quite extensive as well — Wonderland, Interview and international editions of Vogue — but will probably double after her turnout this season, with walks on the top runways across all four fashion capitals.
