New York is known as the city of dreams, which is why it’s appropriate that we shot one half of our class of future icons in its streets. Composed of actors, models, a musician, an art curator, and a writer, the group is a diverse jackpot of talent, brains, and dreamers. Theirs are the faces and names that will stand the test of time—just watch.
Barbie Ferreira, 20, model
“Representation is underestimated and not given enough credit,” says Barbie Ferreira, the model du jour who has become synonymous with advocating for inclusion and representation of all types within the fashion industry and beyond. “Young people are learning and absorbing everything they see, if they only see white thin cis faces being the epitome of fashion or beauty, they won't believe that they are capable.” Barbie, who growing up had few icons within mainstream media that she could identify with, has covered Grazia France; appeared in Nylon, Teen Vogue, and i-D, among others; and appeared in campaigns for Aerie and Missguided. Whenever she’s on set, she makes sure they don’t pad her body to make it look more voluptuous or curvy, and she pushes for images of her to run unretouched. She’s bringing some realness to fashion in more ways than one. “I want to open up the idea that curvy can be chic and not just seen as sexy bombshell,” she reveals. “I can wear a high fashion outfit just as good as a woman who's a size 0 so why can't I be shot in it? I want to help, in my own little way, to broaden the niche of curve modeling.”
Paloma Elsesser, 25, Model
Paloma Elsesser is more than a model (and muse for makeup legend Pat McGrath): She’s a total game changer. As a plus-size, Afro-Latinx model who glowed up in the age of Instagram, she’s seen a complete transformation in what body positivity means. “The idea of it has become much more fluid. Girls who identify with me are seeing themselves in spaces they haven't before,” says Paloma. “I hope that in 50 years I can look back and say I made my most fervent efforts to provide visibility for the unseen.” — Melanie Mignucci
Kelsey Lu, 28, Musician
You’ve likely heard Kelsey Lu’s work, even if you might not realize it. She’s collaborated with Blood Orange, Lady Gaga, and Wet, and her vocals can be heard on “Interlude: This Moment” from Solange’s A Seat at the Table. The North Carolina native, who grew up a Jehovah’s Witness, attended the North Carolina School for the Arts to study cello before dropping out after a year. “The ocean is one of my favorite places to be. For me, playing the cello is like diving into the clearest of oceans with nothing on but my own skin,” she says. After leaving school, Lu, as she prefers to be called, started jamming with a local hip-hop group, through which she met Nappy Roots. She went on to play cello on one of the quartet’s albums, and toured with them on and off over the next two years before settling in New York, where she recorded her six-track debut EP called Church in 2016. Currently, Lu is finishing up the soundtrack for a short film by Tiana Marenah. “It’s really exciting for me, it’s a dream come true,” she says of the project. “Tiana and I met though a collective we’re both part of called HowDoYouSayYamInAfrican. Soundtracking is tedious work, but it’s improving my skills as a producer, maneuvering around computer programs and such.” Though she remains tight-lipped about whether or not we can expect an album anytime soon, she has stellar advice in bounds: “Hold on to your compass and don’t let anyone else sway it for you. True freedom lies in the eyes of the beholder, and you better take that responsibility because it’s no one else’s but your own.”
Kimberly Drew, 27, Social Media Expert and Art Curator
Kimberly Drew sprung onto the scene as the brains behind the art blog "Museum Mammy." Now the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Social Media Manager and a New York social fixture, she is a champion for the beautiful, an outspoken critic of the unjust, and an influence on the influencers. “I feel the power of my visibility and I’m trying to make it count,” Kimberly says, “but I know that I still have a lot of learning to do. Icon status is a long sprint.” As a kid, Kimberly “constantly” changed what she wanted to be: astronaut, veterinarian, and lawyer were all answers at one point. But today, the social media phenom wants to be remembered as “a connector.” “I plan to spend the rest of my career connecting with brilliant people, exchanging ideas, and making the world a better place.” – Melanie Mignucci
Tyler Ford, 26, Writer and Speaker
At 26, Tyler Ford is not the next somebody — they are blazing a trail all their own. Tyler is known for their writing, public speaking, and activism on behalf of the trans community, but with their adroit fashion sense, on-point Internet presence, and high-profile friendships, Tyler has become a new, queer, agender face of the community. Yet for them, the work of being an icon comes first — always. “I’m honored that anyone would think of me as an icon,” Tyler tells Teen Vogue. “I’m not concerned with a legacy – I’m more focused on doing what I can for others while I’m here.” - Melanie Mignucci
Ellie Bamber, 20, Actor
Whether in historical comedy horror Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals, chances are you’ve seen Ellie Bamber on the silver screen. The British actress, who started off in theater acting before transitioning to film, is currently working on a new and decidedly less gory project called Taipei, which is based off of the romantic novel of the same name by Tao Lin. “It’s about a modern relationship and how the digital world and substances contribute to its growth,” explains Ellie, who traveled to Brooklyn and Taipei to shoot the film. “I hope it reminds viewers of a time before social media when there wasn’t always a third person in a relationship,” she continues. “I hope it reminds them of traditional romances where a connection is made through spending time together without the need of electronics and other substances. And that it stresses to women that you don't need to be tied down by a man and can pursue a career on your own terms.”
Halima Aden, 19, Model
Born in a Kenyan refugee camp after her parents fled their home country of Somalia to escape the Somali Civil War, Halima never even considered a career as a model until roughly a year ago. “I never knew that a woman wearing a hijab could be a model,” explains the 19-year-old, who currently attends St. Cloud Statue University in Minnesota where she’s a member of the student government. “I moved to America when I was 6 years old and I and as I grew older, I became more aware of others and how they viewed my race and background. When I first started wearing the hijab, I felt happy. It felt right and represented who I was! But when I started middle school, I remember that joy and satisfaction turning to resentment. I no longer was proud of who I was in the hijab because other students would frequently tease me."
But when she competed in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant in November of 2016 in hopes of receiving a scholarship, and subsequently became the first person in the history of the pageant to wear a burkini and hijab on stage, things started to turn around. “Although scary to be the first at anything, I was happy to pave the way for other young women,” says Halima, who placed in the top 15 in the pageant. “After the pageant, IMG Models reached out to me and I signed with them in February. At the same time, Carine Roitfeld’s team at CR Fashion Book invited me to New York to shoot for their magazine.” From there, she went on to walk at New York Fashion Week for Yeezy Season 5 and recently covered Allure’s July 2017 issue. “Having representation in the fashion industry of all backgrounds gives little girls and boys, who don't see people that look like them represented, hope,” says Halima, who wants to one day be a UN Goodwill Ambassador. “I yearn for that opportunity to represent my country as a public figure to create positive change and celebrate the importance of acceptance.”
Winnie Harlow, 23, Model
If you’re a pop culture junkie, then Winnie Harlow is definitely already on your radar. The Canada native first made waves when she appeared on Cycle 21 of America’s Next Top Model, where she placed in the top 14 contestants. Following her stint on the show, Winnie, who has been outspoken about her experience living with the skin condition vitiligo, continued to build her personal brand by developing an online presence. “Utilizing social media to build my following and share my personality and life stories really helped my career get started,” she reveals. Her work paid off: She’s been an official brand representative of Desigual since 2014, and has walked for everyone from H&M and Philipp Plein to Marc Jacobs and Baja East. In 2016, Winnie made a cameo in Beyoncé’s now iconic visual album, Lemonade, alongside Amandla Stenberg, Zendaya, and more. Also a respected activist, she regularly works with Me to We, a charity that aids in building and supporting communities around the world. “They do a lot of work educating children about what is going on in the world and teaching them about the needs of others who aren’t so fortunate,” Winnie says. In 2015, GQ Portugal gave her their “Role Model” award, and in 2016, she was included on the BBC’s “100 Women” list — but she wants to set the record straight: “I always correct people when they call me a role model. A role model, by definition, is someone to be imitated, and I don’t think anyone should be imitated because no one is perfect. I do think we can pull the positives from each other and be inspired by each other, though. So I prefer being called an inspiration.”
Selah Marley, 18, Model
She may be 5 feet 3 inches, but Selah Marley would never let that hinder her modeling career; instead she’s crushing outdated industry stereotypes about petite models after getting her start at 17 years old. “My mom [Lauryn Hill] taught me that I am capable of overcoming all fears and limitations,” Selah says. She made the decision to sign with Next, and has since rapidly ticked off a number of career-making accomplishments in the modeling world — from walking the Chanel runway and snagging a spot in Kanye West’s Yeezy lineup, to posing for a major Calvin Klein ad campaign. “Things took off from there,” she remembers. “[Modeling has given me] so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I'm really so blessed.” But what’s Selah most grateful for? The opportunity to meet new people and travel to different places. “I've literally been all around the world in 80 days!” she laughs. “I also can’t deny the dope clothes I get to wear!”
Making the transition from high school hallways to high-fashion runways was life-changing, but Selah prides herself on staying true to herself, not unlike her legendary mom. “I like to get in tune with my self and really give myself the time to just be,” she explains. “I spend so much time running around and traveling, being present in the current moment is good enough for me.”
Ekaterina Samsonov, 14, Actor
Ekaterina Samsonov got her start, as many actors do, in the modeling world. "I’ve been modeling since I was a little kid, so acting just came naturally,” explains the starlet, who’s appeared in campaigns for DKNY, H&M and Gap. “I’ve loved it since I first stepped on set.” Her first project was the film Anesthesia, which was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015. Earlier this year, the New York native travelled to Cannes for the premiere of You Were Never Really Here, a thriller in which she stars opposite Joaquin Phoenix. The film, which violently addresses complex issues including human trafficking and PTSD, was tremendously well-received. “Once the screening ended there was a 10-minute ovation,” Ekaterina remembers. “The whole crew deserved it, so getting to experience it was unbelievable.” Although she’s a full-time high school student, Ekaterina looks forward to continuing her career. “I have a lot of meetings with casting directors in L.A., New York, and London, and we are going to see what happens from there,” she explains. “I definitely want to keep acting. It’s the best feeling in the world being on set!” - Christina Holevas
Harris Dickinson, 21, Actor
Harris Dickinson’s first big film premiered at Sundance in January of this year and has already proven to be a must-see, having won four different awards at various film festivals. Called Beach Rats, the dark drama follows the story of a teenage boy from Brooklyn who spends his days hanging out with his friends, smoking weed, and flirting with girls, and his nights flirting with older men online. It’s a story of self-discovery and sexual becoming, and one that Harris feels is so important to be told. “It’s so fundamental to see stories like Moonlight and Beach Rats coming out of places that aren’t necessarily as accepting,” says the British actor, who learned how to speak and act like an East Coaster by spending time with his street-cast costars. “They will help open minds.” Harris is currently filming his follow-up project, a film called Darkest Minds, which “is about a society where 98.2% of the world's population and children die, and the remaining 2% have special abilities but are kept in internment camps.” Gwendoline Christie, Mandy Moore, and Amandla Stenberg are all part of the project as well, so you know it’s going to be good. “I want to continue to do diverse projects that are culturally accurate,” reveals the actor. “I want to continue working with quality directors and filmmakers that strive for greatness.”
Prop stylist: Eli Metcalf; Production: The Production Factory NY.
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