Model

Designer Bio:Originally from Cali, Colombia, Akima made her debut with an editorial in Vogue and has since become a sensation on the international circuit.

She has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Paper Magazine, Marie Claire, and InStyle, among other global publications. In 2024, Akima starred in the hit Netflix series One Hundred Years of Solitude.

A passionate lover of literature, she studied creative writing and is currently working on her first novel. She is currently filming the second season of One Hundred Years of Solitude and anticipating the release of her second series for Amazon Prime.

Designer Bio: Bárbara Valente is a Brazilian model from Salvador, Bahia, known for her powerful presence and striking beauty. She made her international debut as a Prada exclusive and quickly rose to fame, walking for major brands like Givenchy, Versace, and Fendi. With campaigns for Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, and Balmain, Barbara has become one of the most prominent Brazilian faces in fashion today.

Represented by agencies such as The Society NY and Elite Paris, she is celebrated not only for her career but also for championing diversity and representation in the industry.

Designer Bio: Hiandra Martínez is a Dominican model born on December 21, 1996, in Azua, Dominican Republic. She is known for her outstanding career in the international fashion industry, particularly on high fashion runways.

Hiandra was discovered in 2016 during a casting in her hometown. Her striking appearance and talent quickly caught the attention of modeling agents, and she soon joined the prestigious agency Next Management.

Her true breakthrough came in 2017 when she debuted at Paris Fashion Week, walking for Saint Laurent. Her performance on the runway marked the beginning of a successful career in the fashion world.

Since then, Hiandra has worked with numerous renowned brands, including Saint Laurent, Prada, Miu Miu, Chanel, and Valentino.

In addition to her runway presence, Hiandra has appeared in editorials for major fashion publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle.

She has been praised for her distinctive look, versatility, and professionalism. Her success has made her one of the most recognized Dominican models on the international scene, serving as an inspiration for many aspiring young models in her country and around the world.

Beyond her modeling career, Hiandra is active on social media, where she shares aspects of her professional and personal life with her followers. Her presence on platforms like Instagram has increased her visibility and allowed her to connect with a global audience.

Through her work, Hiandra Martínez has contributed to the representation of diverse beauty in fashion. Her success is a testament to the talent and capability of Latin American models to thrive on the world’s most prestigious stages.

Designer Bio: Jennifer Matias is establishing herself as one of the leading names of the new generation of Brazilian models on the international scene. Her journey in the fashion world began in 2021, and since then, her career has taken off with both speed and consistency. Represented by Singular Management in São Paulo, Jennifer has built a strong presence in both the national and global fashion markets.

In a short time, she has captured the attention of the world’s top fashion houses, walking for brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Tom Ford, Alberta Ferretti, Etro, Courrèges, Twinset, 16Arlington, Proenza Schouler, and Bottega Veneta — the latter selected her in 2024 to front its global campaign under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy and casting by Anita Bitton.

Jennifer shines beyond the runway. She is a prominent presence in major advertising campaigns and acclaimed fashion editorials, with features in British Vogue, Vogue Brazil, Numéro France, and Another Magazine. Her image embodies sophistication, strength, and a captivating authenticity that resonates with photographers, stylists, and creative directors around the world.

With a remarkable rise and a reputation for professionalism and elegance, Jennifer Matias symbolizes a new era for Brazilian fashion. Her story is both an inspiration and a promise of an even brighter future on the world’s runways.

Designer Bio: Juanel Hernández becomes the first Dominican model to appear in a global Louis Vuitton campaign under the artistic direction of Pharrell. Born in Ingenio Consuelo, a municipality in San Pedro de Macorís, Juanel comes from a humble, Christian family—both of his parents are evangelical pastors. At the age of eight, like many Dominican children, he discovered a passion for the national sport: baseball. He joined the baseball academy of Major League star Fernando Tatis, quickly beginning to pursue his dream of becoming a professional player. He dedicated himself to becoming the best center fielder, training for a decade and emerging as a top prospect for signing. At 17, Juanel’s world seemed to fall apart when he suffered a serious injury to his right ankle, forcing him to abandon the sport he loved.

But life had a different plan. The pastor of his parents’ church saw great potential in him as a model and shared this with the family, sparking a new hope. Juanel did his research and reached out to Sandro Guzmán’s modeling agency, which promptly scheduled a meeting and began preparing him for the international market. Just six months later, he made his debut in Milan for Emporio Armani. He has since walked in Milan and Paris for Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, Dsquared2, Moncler, Philipp Plein, Todd Snyder NY, and Bode, among others. He has starred in campaigns for Emporio Armani, Dsquared2, Solaris, and Benetton, and worked for numerous clients across Europe.

Juanel has modeled in the world’s leading fashion capitals: Paris, Milan, Spain, and New York. His greatest dream is to build a church for his parents, who have always guided him spiritually. From his very first modeling earnings, he set aside 50% to begin purchasing building materials—and he says he won’t rest until he makes it a reality.

Designer Bio: Lineisy Montero Feliz, born on February 8, 1996, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is a prominent fashion model known for her distinctive beauty and natural Afro hair, which has set her apart in the fashion industry.

Montero’s breakthrough came in 2015 when she debuted at the Prada Fall/Winter show, where her unique look and confident presence caught the attention of the fashion world. This debut was particularly significant because she was one of the few black models featured in a Prada show, a brand historically noted for its limited diversity.

Following her debut, Montero quickly rose to prominence, walking for numerous high-profile designers including Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy. Her success on the runway led to her being featured in major fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and W Magazine. She has also appeared in campaigns for brands like Prada, Dior, Chanel, Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, H&M Beauty, Proenza, Oscar De la Renta, Kenzo, Dior Beauty, Douglas Cosmetic, Elie Saap Fragance, Gucci and Willy Chavarria.

Montero is celebrated not only for her modeling achievements but also for her role in challenging and expanding beauty standards within the fashion industry. Her natural hair has been a significant part of her brand, inspiring many and contributing to a broader conversation about diversity and representation in fashion.

Throughout her career, Montero has continued to be a trailblazer, using her platform to advocate for more inclusivity in the modeling world. Her impact on the industry remains significant as she continues to work with top designers and influence future generations of models.

Designer Bio: Paloma Elsesser is a trailblazing supermodel who first rose to fame after being hand-selected by beauty maven Pat McGrath to feature in her namesake beauty line, Pat McGrath Labs. Since, Elsesser has gone on to grace the covers of global magazines including i-D, Puss Puss, 10 Magazine, Unconditional, Muse, and multiple international Vogue editions.

She has starred in major brand campaigns for Balenciaga, Victoria’s Secret, Supreme, Marc Jacobs, Fara Homidi, Coach, Ferragamo, and Marni and walked for Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Fendi, Burberry, Alexander McQueen, and more. Elesser has established herself as a leading voice in the industry and is an outspoken advocate for body acceptance and mental health awareness.

She spoke at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion conference and continues to push the envelope in her role as a global contributing editor to i-D magazine and host of their chat show, The Squeeze. Paloma also holds an esteemed position as part of the selection committee for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

Elsesser was a 2024 Models.com “Model of the Year” nominee and was recently deemed one of “The New Supers” by British Vogue.

Designer Bio: Valentina Sampaio is a Brazilian supermodel, actor and activist who believes in using her voice, position and platform to create change within the fashion industry and beyond. Born and raised by her mother, a lacemaker and father, a fisherman, in a small fishing village in northern Brazil, Valentina always dreamed of becoming a model as a child. In 2016, Valentina walked her first runway at São Paulo Fashion Week. Since then, Valentina’s career has been marked with important historic milestones such as becoming the first transgender model to be featured on the cover of the iconic fashion publication, Vogue Paris in 2017. Entitled “Transgender Beauty”, the cover propelled Valentina to new heights within the fashion industry. Later that year, she appeared on the covers of Vogue Brasil and Vogue Germany, also as the first transgender model to be featured on both magazine covers. Other magazine cover appearances include Vogue Taiwan, Vanity Fair Italia, Elle Brasil, Elle France, Elle Mexico, L’Officiel Brasil and L’Officiel Turkiye.

In 2019, Valentina broke more boundaries and became the first transgender model to be signed by Victoria’s Secret. Of the signing, she said: “Being appointed the first transgender model for the brand is a hugely important moment not only for myself but for my community and beyond. I hope this can be a huge step toward more inclusivity and representation for everybody.” In addition, Valentina has been featured in international advertising campaigns for brands such as Moschino, H&M, Balmain, L’Oreal, Marc Jacobs Beauty and Dior Beauty.

A committed activist, Valentina is vocal about the challenges facing the trans community as well as her desire to use her voice and platform to implement positive change. In Fall 2019, Valentina took part in the Teen Vogue summit where she gave an emotional and inspiring speech drawing attention to her community and the need for equality and acceptance. Most recently, Valentina was an ambassador for GLAAD x Pride Live’s third annual Stonewall Day alongside Barack Obama, Talyor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres.

Valentina currently resides between Brazil and New York City.