The spring 2018 runways were more diverse than ever. After surveying 94 different NYFW shows and 2,061 models who appeared in these shows, The Fashion Spot found that 36.9% of the cat-walkers were of color, an increase from Fall 2017’s 31.5%. 90 “plus size” models walked, along with 31 transgender or non-binary models. We’ve rounded up a list of the standout rising stars from the runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris. You’ll certainly be seeing more of them in coming seasons, so keep an eye out.
DUCKIE THOT
Australian-Sudanese stunner Duckie Thot got her start on cycle 8 of Australia’s Next Top Model in 2013. She recently came into the limelight for discussing the challenges and ignorant comments she’s faced, on Top Model and beyond, regarding her natural hair and deep skin tone. Her outspokenness regarding the industry’s inexperience in catering to afro-textured hair and dark skin landed her a spot in Rihanna’s inclusive Fenty Beauty campaign. During fashion week spring 2018, she walked eight shows for designers including Moschino, Ashley Williams, and Helmut Lang.
TEDDY QUINLIVAN
Two years before her 2015 Louis Vuitton runway debut, Teddy Quinlivan garnered buzz for a performance art video she made while at Walnut Hill School for the Arts that went viral. Since then, she’s continued to turn heads in the fashion industry as well as advocate for women and minorities via the social commentary she posts on Instagram. Less than a month ago, the 23-year-old Boston-born beauty recently came out as transgender (she transitioned at 16) in response to the Trump administration’s anti-trans politics. Since then, Teddy has received an outpouring of support and finished up the spring 2018 season with 27 shows under her belt including Dior, Versace, and Gucci.
SIMONE “SLICK WOODS” THOMPSON
From the Los Angeles bus stop where she was discovered to the Marc Jacobs runway, Slick Woods (a nickname her friends came up with) is on the rise and showing no signs of slowing down. After meeting photographer David Mushegain through Ash Stymest, the male model who discovered her, Slick signed to agency The Lions in New York. Since then, she’s walked for Helmut Lang, Jeremy Scott, and Fenty x Puma. She also starred in Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty campaign alongside Duckie Thot, another up-and-comer to watch.
ELFIE REIGATE
The first female model Kate Moss picked to join her very own talent agency, Elfie Reigate is taking the industry by storm. Just five days after signing with Kate Moss’s Agency, Elfie was picked as an exclusive for Alexander McQueen. It doesn’t hurt that fame runs in her family—Elfie’s mother is model Rosemary Ferguson, and her father artist Barry Reigate. For spring 2018, she secured several blue chip runway appearances at Burberry, Simone Rocha, and Preen by Thorton Bregazzi.
BETSY TESKE
Dutch newcomer Betsy Teske was one of two “plus size” models who walked Sarah Burton’s latest collection for Alexander McQueen. Betsy had always aspired to be a model but thought she wasn’t thin enough until last year, when she was scouted in Amsterdam. Since then, she signed with Linda Models and Milk Management. We have no doubts that we’ll see more of her in the very near future.
