Models with Unconventional Features: It is a usual belief that you definitely need to have those blessed genes, great height, stunning skin and perfectly symmetrical face to enter the international fashion scene. However, the concept and definition of beauty evolve as the social-influenced and social-influencing fashion industry progresses.
The leaders in fashion may be the first to put the spotlight on to gorgeous perfectly proportioned mannequins but apparently, it is also the first to celebrate beauty that isn’t so stereotypical. The following are bizarre-looking models who are big names in high fashion today.
Top 10 Most Famous Models with Unconventional Features:
10. Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne’s eyebrows are almost as famous as her. That is probably why she does not let other people touch them. The supermodel’s bushy brows have engendered thousands of admirers and convinced lots of women to ignore the tweezers (Source).
The 29-year old far-famed supermodel was born in London, England. Her grandfather is former English Heritage chairman, Sir Jocelyn Stevens. When Cara Delevingne first entered the major fashion headlines, everyone was astonished by her unique, strong look. She has a famous pair of very bold, dark eyebrows and eyes that ooze with fierceness. Because of her beautifully-weird charisma and charm, she books major runway and editorial work one after another. Paired with her “killer” astonishing bold features is her quirky, sweet and sassy personality.
She also has an successful acting career in the big screen. Today, it is no wonder why she is so relevant in the modeling industry by her unusual look.
9. Ashley Smith
Ashley is a 31-year-old American model with a prominent teeth gap that made three modeling agencies fighting for her when she took a risk of going to New York after finishing high school. Blonde, buxom and beautiful, plus a really carefree and outgoing personality, Ashley is very likeable to modeling agencies who think her smile is worth a thousand bucks. Raised in Texas, she didn’t love her eye-catching frontal teeth gaps and she hated it when people look at her teeth every time she talks.
Teeth gaps were totally not adored before. Ashley was one of the first models with teeth gaps who is staging a fashion takeover. Having walked for Chanel, Balenciaga, Prada and many other famous designers, she could say it was a very good decision to let her dentally untouched.
8. Molly Bair
Six-foot-one model Molly Bair from Philadelphia has already worked with big fashion icons like Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs and Dior all before turning 20. At a young age, she is known for numerous editorial campaigns that highlight her pleasingly odd features.
This up-and-coming teen model confessed she was surprised by how people call her ‘weird-looking.’ In a CNN interview, she says “I never thought I was that strange looking, then I would look online and people would be like, ‘this girl’s so alien’ and stuff, and I’m like ‘what, I’m normal.’ I guess I’m embracing that alien-rat-demon-goblin-gremlin sort of vibe”.
We can’t blame those people, though!
7. Lily Cole
Having a perfect face is not exactly what today’s fashion modeling preference looks for.
Lily Cole is an English model and movie actress. At age 24, she became the youngest model to appear on the cover of British Vogue. She is known for her alien-like features that became one of the fashion editorial photographers’ favorites. Her large forehead, round face, tiny lips and wide eyes are totally weird but likeable. Lily, loving her own freaky look, also has the love for writing and theater play.
6. Lily McMenamy
Lily McMenamy is not an unfamiliar name in the industry. Her mother is Kristen McMenamy who was one of the world’s top models during the 1990s. The strange thing about her look is her involuntary big pout. Because of her professionalism and her singularity, she has worked for various huge brands like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Moschino, Balmain and Chanel.
She is known for her strange and outstanding physique presented by her copious lips she got from her mom. Her eye-catching, birth-given popping lips makes her international fame stupendous.
5. Kelly Mittendorf
Kelly Mittendorf is an American model discovered at age 11 while swimming at her local pool. She landed on massive jobs instantly because of her new and very unusual look that no one else is ever blessed with. Gap teeth, masculine physical characteristics, thin eyes—Mittendorf possesses the features none of us have been conditioned to think of as preferable.
However, her beauty is the interesting kind of strange. The strange blend of her feline-like look made her become a very successful high fashion model, making us realize that different and strange facial features can be very stunning when combined.
Her outlandish face with all the razor cheekbones is the interests of Prada, Chanel and other brands top models would love to work for.
4. Rick Genest
There is no way that this guy gets unnoticed by people. Rick Genest is a Canadian artist and model who tattooed skeletal images all over his body and became known as “Zombie Boy”. He survived brain tumor surgery and became a homeless hitchhiker before boldly deciding to cover his body with tattoos.
He used to be a circus performer in Montreal. His acts include lying on a bed of nails and other dangerous stunts. Genest often found himself homeless and no landlords were willing to take him because of his appearance. On his fortunate day, he was picked up by the world’s most famous and well-paid circus freak-show. When popstar icon Lady Gaga’s stylist hired him for a music video of Gaga’s “Born This Way”, his road to international stardom was concreted. His art is represented by his body and he is filled with no regrets for being “Zombie Boy”.
Genest now walks for runways in Milan, Paris, Los Angeles and other centers of fashion while doing photoshoots for renowned magazines of fashion, culture and art.
3. Diandra Forrest
She’s white but then she’s black. African American model Diandra Forrest breaks female stereotyping in the modeling industry when she appears in famous fashion mags. Her milk white skin and facial hair, green eyes, natural blonde hair and unusual features caused by her congenital albinism are things she is never ashamed of.
Living in a predominantly African American neighborhood and school where most people had dark skin, Diandra found it hard to fit in starting from her friends asking her if she was adopted. It was inevitable for her to be bullied and called ‘Casper’ and ‘white girl’. She decided to use the teasing as her strength and motivation in becoming an inspiration to people like her.
She was discovered when a young photographer who was mesmerized by her unique look scouted her when she was shopping. “You’re beautiful, you should model,” the photographer told her. Since then Diandra has become a significant name at fashion shows and fashion projects for MAC, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and many more.
2. Shaun Ross
Another iconic non-stereotype model in this time is Shaun Ross. He was named the first African American albino model to ever land on big fashion shows. His first taste of his modeling experience was when he walked the runway for Tim Hamilton in 2008. Shaun is also an actor and a dancer who was first seen on the YouTube dance videos of his group. He has been featured in photo-editorial campaigns in fashion publications including British GQ, Italian Vogue and Paper Magazine. He has modeled for Alexander McQueen, Givenchy and other major fashion companies.
Ross is also of African-American descent. Growing up in the Bronx, Ross handled a lot of discrimination for his skin condition. He was always bullied by his peers but it did not stop him in courageously pursuing his dreams. Ross believes that his condition does not define him or confine him in any way for it has just always been there. He thinks that the problem lies with others and with people’s perception.
1. Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow’s success in the modeling world is an inspiration for people who find a hard time to be comfortable in their own skin. She is the first female model with vitiligo, a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches. Winnie Young, also known as Chantelle Brown-Young is best known for being a former America’s Next Top Model contestant. Feeling like an outcast, she was bullied and called “cow” and “leopard” which made her early life terrible, as she mentioned in the modeling reality show.
She wanted to blow up the fashion world despite her very unique appearance which she undoubtedly already does by adorning the covers of known fashion magazines, endorsing top international products and gracing international fashion runways. Celebrating her skin the way it is, she stands as an inspiration for people with vitiligo who are dealing with depression and insecurity.