Elle Australia - 10.2018

50

Words: Lena de Casparis. Photography: Getty Images; Gilles Bensimon

my

life in

friends

WINNIE

HARLOW:

“NICK KNIGHTis my fashion

godfather. I wouldn’t have my

career without him. When I was

19, he asked me to shoot with

him in London. It was a magical

experience. It’s the reason I’m

still modelling today.”

“I remember watching

JOURDAN DUNNrip runways

before I was a part of our

industry and just admiring this

goddess killing it. Getting to

know her made me love her

even more. Having her cheer

on my career is everything!”

“BELLA HADIDis an inspiration.

It’s amazing to witness her

continue to master her craft.

When we walked the Tommy

Hilfiger show, we were hanging

out all day and then flew to Paris

together, which was a lot of fun.”

The old maxim rings true with

model Winnie Harlow. The

Toronto native is one of the most

recognisable faces on the

catwalk, walking for brands from

Marc Jacobs to Tommy Hilfiger.

But what matters most to ELLE

is that she’s boldly changing the conversation

around beauty, helping to broaden the industry’s

once narrow standards — see her TED talk (with

more than a million views) on her skin condition

vitiligo for proof. “There is a big shift happening in

the fashion industry in terms of beauty standards,

and I feel I’m part of that shift,” she says.

“I remember onAmerica’s Next Top Model,

Tyra Banks asked me if a photographer told me to

cover my skin for a shoot, would I do it? I said no.

I don’t care who it is, or who thinks I should. I’m

going to stay true to myself.” Of course, no

woman is an island, and a glance at Winnie’s

Instagram (she has four million followers, no less)

reveals a friends network that could be mistaken

forThe Business Of Fashion500 list. Here, she

thanks the people who have helped her become

the force she is...

“What makes you diferent

makes you beautiful”

ICON:

“I can rely onNICKI MINAJ

to keep it 100 per cent real.

She once called to tell me

that if I ever had a problem,

I shouldn’t hesitate to call

and talk it through, as so

much drama in our industries

could be prevented

with communication.”

“Style inspiration is easy to get

when hanging with [model and

actor]LUKA SABBAT, from the

way he dresses to how he

transforms from a New Yorker

to a Parisian with the flick

of an accent.”

“A whole new world of fashion

is opening with [model]

HALIMA ADEN. I’m so proud

of her. The other day, she asked

me what to do if someone told

her not to wear her hijab. I said

you have to do what’s right

for you, not because the industry

makes you feel like you have to.

If you don’t want to, then don’t.”

“SHANNON HAMILTON

is my best friend. She’s the

strongest, kindest, most loving

friend! She’s who I call when

I’m happy, mad or sad, or any

other emotion. Plus, we’re

both Jamaican and love to

wine up to dancehall.”E

With Shannon Hamilton

Tommy Hilfiger

@winnieharlow

With Bella Hadid

With Jourdan Dunn and Nicki Minaj

With Halima Aden