It’s undeniable that New York and Paris have some of the most interesting faces—and personalities—parading through town on a daily basis. Each a “main character” in their own rights, these law students, dancers, models, magazine editors, and so on are significant players in the game of life, making them the perfect canvases for a Warholian Factory-inspired beauty montage by Dior Beauty’s Creative & Image Director Peter Philips, photographer Richard Burbridge, and stylist Nicola Formichetti. Shot between both cities, these images encapsulate a new generation of rising stars in their respective fields.
NEW YORK CITY
Name: Ian Jeffrey
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: Albany, NY
Occupation: Model/Curator
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I absolutely adore the vast amount of opportunities as well as the different people I’ve been able to connect with over the years. On the other hand, the unreliable MTA as well as the cold winters, are definitely not my favorite.
What are you most passionate about? A good-fitting pair of pants, it’s harder than you think!
What words do you live by? Everything happens for a reason!
What is your most treasured possession? My vintage/designer clothing archive
What are you most excited about for this summer? Europe Fashion Week! As cliché as it sounds, I am very much looking forward to spending a month with all my favorite people from around the world.
Name: Alyson Cox
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Occupation: Creative Producer
What are you most passionate about? People! Being around culture, seeing history happen, being on the right side of it, and the artistic expression that comes from it
What do you love and hate most about NYC? The mania & the attitude.
What words do you live by? You are the 5 people you surround yourself with most
What is your most treasured possession? I’m so sentimental, so I collect and display the gifts my friends give me; I have a Venus oil my friend Em made when I went through my last breakup, tons of letters from my best friend Maren from each of my birthdays, and so much art made by my exes and friends all over my walls. It’s nice to wake up surrounded by love every day, a reminder I am cherished!
What are you most excited about for this summer? I made a bunch of new friends this year who live all over, so I’m really excited to see some new places like Puerto Rico, Mexico, and New Orleans with them. Other than that, I’ll be doing my annual waterfall swim, probably in Ithaca this time, with some road trippers
Name: Corrado Martini
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: San Diego, California
Occupation: Model
What words do you live by? “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
What are you most passionate about? Most passionate about films and wood-fired pizza.
What do you love and hate most about NYC? Love the Nova Lox bagels and hate being 3000 miles away from an In-n-Out.
What is your most treasured possession? My memory box [which is] full of pictures from over the years. It’s nice to look back at physical photos. Feels more special.
What are you most excited about for this summer? Excited to wear t-shirts, not be cold, and play beach volleyball. Planning trips to the west coast and Costa Rica for proper beach days.
Name: Mackenzie Thomas
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: Montclair, New Jersey
Occupation: Artist/Writer
What are you most passionate about? Making myself laugh.
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I think I’ll never get used to running into people, it’s something that I love and hate about living here. I like to hide, I like to be seen when I’m ready to be seen, I hate surprises, of course, sometimes there are good surprises, I love girling out with an old friend on the street, but sometimes I’m like holy fuck I can’t believe I just ran into that person looking like that.
What words do you live by? I really really really really really hate to say this, but I’ve been thinking a lot about “YOLO” a lot lately. We moved on too quickly from YOLO. We discarded it without allowing ourselves the proper time to ruminate on it and think about what’s being said there.
What is your most treasured possession? My brain.
What are you most excited about for this summer? Summer in New York is very magical, I didn’t really get to enjoy it last year because I was moving apartments, but I’m really excited to stay local and finally be warm again- my feet have been cold since October and I’m sick of losing eyelashes from sitting too close in proximity to my space heater.
Name: Ahmad Bakhoum
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Occupation: Medical Assistant/Student/Model
What words do you live by? “Memento mori” and “ تذكر الموت”, which means remember death. I believe that we are all here for a purpose. Therefore, being born into this world of distractions, it’s important to remember that life is temporary and our time is extremely precious.
What are you most passionate about? My family! Love them guys to death!
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I love how accessible it is; it’s so easy to get around in NYC. In Atlanta, you can’t get anywhere without a car, and the traffic is crippling! And even when you finally reach your destination, parking is at least $20.The thing I hate about NYC is the lack of fresh air. Like what is that smell.
What is your most treasured possession? Not sure if this counts, but my sense of humor. Life would be so whack without the power of laughter. That’s a quote (*laughs*)
What are you most excited about for this summer? I’m excited to graduate this summer and never write an academic paper ever again for as long as I live.
Name: Avantika Vandanapu
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Artist/Entertainer
What are you most passionate about?: My friends, my family, storytelling, and love.
What do you love and hate most about NYC?: I love the accessibility and stories the city holds. And I absolutely hate the rats.
What words do you live by?: “It is as if my life were magically run by two electric currents: joyous positive and despairing negative – whichever is running at the moment dominates my life, floods it.”
What is your most treasured possession?: My diary, my camera.
What are you most excited about for this summer? Do you have any summer trips/event plans?: I might be going to Europe. Cliche, I know. I’m really excited nonetheless.
What excited you most about working on the Tarot movie and seeing the script for the first time? Are you a big horror movie buff?: Horror is my favorite genre of all time. And I have a really avid fascination for the occult, astrology, and tarot. Both combined was, and is, a dream come true.
Name: Charles Matadin
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: New York, New York
Occupation: Sculpture Major at the Rhode Island School of Design
What is your most treasured possession? I think it’s an original pressing of Kruder and Dorfmeister’s album 1995. It’s an incredible project containing beautiful atmospheric textures and punchy trip-hop grooves.
What are you most passionate about? I am most passionate about my art. It’s something that lives within every free thought and moment within my life.
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I find my relationship with New York City in a general sense is pretty love-hate. It’s a beautiful chaos that drives you crazy.
What words do you live by? I think a phrase that plays a huge part in my life is “You are always looking but what do you choose to see?” Living in a place like New York City there is everything going on everywhere, and It’s easy to get lost within it. This phrase to me focuses on finding rhythm within shared chaos.
What are you most excited about for this summer? This summer a couple of my friends and I are planning to rent a studio space together in Manhattan and create a shared workspace. We hope to transform the studio space into a gallery at the end of the summer to show the work and celebrate.
Name: Mina Le
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
Occupation: Content Creator
What words do you live by? “It’s not that serious.”
What are you most passionate about? Films, books, the history of things
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I love that there’s always something to do and there’s always people to see. I hate the rats. I’m actually afraid of them. They’re so fast and monstrously sized, and I’ve heard about people accidentally kicking them while walking because they just shoot across the sidewalk.
What is your most treasured possession? My journals. I don’t write in them as often as I should but they’re a potent form of emotional memory.
What are you most excited about for this summer? It’s a summer tradition for a group of my (girl) friends and me to rent a house for a week together in the Pacific Northwest and just frolic in nature. We like to coordinate outfits, play games, and go to random antique shops along the drive. None of us live in the same place so it has the same magic as going away to summer camp (though I’ve never been, I’m just assuming!)
Name: Luca Biggs
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
Occupation: Model
What are you most passionate about? I love to model, and it’s so fulfilling, but I also have a part-time job at a coffee shop separate from modeling that just helps me to feel grounded.
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I love going out with friends in NY, but I hate the smell.
What words do you live by? Everything happens for a reason.
What is your most treasured possession? My dog, Rafferty.
What are you most excited about for this summer? I really like to travel, and I have a trip to Mexico this summer I’m so excited for!
Name: Achieng Agutu
Location: New York, New York
Hometown: Kisumu, Kenya
Occupation: Content Creator/Model
What do you love and hate most about NYC? I love the vastness and opportunity everywhere, but I also hate that because I have horrible FOMO.
What are you most passionate about? Living life, most passionate about self-growth (self-empowerment) empowering women, and living in their true selves, power, and energy. Passionate about education and finding ways to help other people get into higher places of education.
What words do you live by? “Live your best life” – Achieng Agutu
What is your most treasured possession? My parents, myself, my life – my relationships with my friends and family around me.
What are you most excited about for this summer? Excited to have a summer of yes for me, I am doing anything and everything that brings me joy and happiness. Working out, traveling, falling in love, life! Fun trips include Greece, Zanzibar, Bahamas.
PARIS
Name: Carmen Kassovitz
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Paris, France
Occupation: Actress
What is your most treasured possession? My dog Sam.
What are you most passionate about? I’m passionate about art like music and playing characters in movies, but what I’m really passionate about is nature
What do you love and hate most about Paris? I love the energy of the city, there’s always something to do. I hate summer in Paris when it’s too hot
What words do you live by? I live by a quote that my mom always says: when you hit rock bottom, there is only one solution, get back on your feet.
What are you most excited about for this summer? Do you have any summer trips/event plans?: I’m excited about trekking season! I’m going to walk in the mountains with my dog. I also have some film shootings which I’m really excited about
Name: Yeray de Luis Allgayer Medina
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Macaronesia, Canary Islands
Occupation: Manufacturer of art
What do you love and hate most about Paris? What I hate the most is being four hours away from the sea [and] being in such a capitalistic bubble. Otherwise, I feel blessed to be able to live in such a city like Paris—la ciudad del amor y el deseo!
What are you most passionate about? Right now all my interests are focused on self-analysis, what affects me, and why—emotional intelligence.
What words do you live by? Present, past, future & Yeray.
What is your most treasured possession? There’s definitely one I can’t tell, but my surfboards are one of my most precious pieces.
What are you most excited about for this summer? I’m at a point where the only season that affects my life is fashion week, the rest of my life is an endless summer. A trip that I’m planning is to Sumatra, one of the Indonesian islands. It would be the second time I have experienced life there, sometimes less is more and that’s what they taught me.
On skin Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in #3, Dior Forever Matte Foundation in #4N, Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer in #4N
On cheeks Dior Rouge Blush in #314 Grand Bal
On brows Diorshow Brow Styler in #05 Black
On eyes Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in #090 Black, Diorshow On Stage Liner in #091 Matte Black
On lips Rouge Dior in #610 Sunny Matte & #666 Diable en Rouge (Velvet)
Name: Dolly Baby
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Lixheim, France
Occupation: Model
What are you most excited about for this summer? I’m going to Japan for six weeks to work, and my boyfriend is accompanying me. He introduced me to Japanese culture and manga, so it’s a dream come true.
What are you most passionate about? Fashion and horse riding
What do you love and hate most about Paris? I love the Eiffel Tower, but I hate the unpolite locals.
What words do you live by? Enjoy
What is your most treasured possession? The love of my boyfriend and my grandparents.
On skin Dior Capture Totale Le Sérum, Dior Capture Totale Hyalushot
On brows Diorshow Brow Styler in #05 Black
On eyes Diorshow On Stage Liner in #001 Matte White, #091 Matte Black, & #851 Matte Pink
On lips Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in #000 Universal Clear
Name: Yvesmark Chery
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York (raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Occupation: Model/Content Creator/Actor
What are you most passionate about? I’m most passionate about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives whether it’s spreading awareness about vitiligo, supporting the homeless through food drives, offering guidance and advice to others, or any other way within my capabilities to help.
What do you love and hate most about Paris? I love the food and the connections I’ve made with the wonderful people here. However, I find the metro less appealing. It would be convenient if they introduced ApplePay as a payment option for the metro instead of having to wait at ticket booths for entry.
What words do you live by? “Do what others do, you’ll get what others get.” This mindset drives me to go above and beyond in all my endeavors.
What is your most treasured possession? Besides my phone, easily my chapstick/gum (*laughs*)
What are you most excited about for this summer? I have no summer plans since I’m traveling a lot for modeling. However, a spontaneous trip to Tokyo is bound to happen. I’m most excited to spend my summer in Paris since I’m based there currently.
On skin Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in #0, Dior Forever Matte Foundation in #1N, Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer in #0N
On cheeks Dior Rouge Blush in #028 Actrice & #449 Dansante
On brows Diorshow Brow Styler in #033 Grey Brown
On eyes Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in #090 Black, Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #099 Black, Diorshow Mono Couleur Couture Eyeshadow in #280 Lucky Clover & #530 Tulle, Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #529 Beige
On lips Dior Addict in #720 Icone
Name: Zélie
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Lille, France
Occupation: Singer
What words do you live by? Fake it until you make it, and trust your gut!
What are you most passionate about? Music, writing songs, dancing.
What do you love and hate most about Paris? It’s a very active place, always in motion. But I hate the noise.
What is your most treasured possession? My piano.
What are you most excited about for this summer? To spend time with my loved ones, and sunsets.
Do you have any summer trips/event plans? I’m going to Sète in the south of France with my best friends!
On skin Dior Capture Totale Le Sérum, Dior Capture Totale Hyalushot, Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in #9, Dior Forever Matte Foundation in #9N, Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer in #9N
On lips Rouge Dior Balm in #000 Diornatural (Satin)
Name: Mohamadou (“Mamod”)
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Paris, France
Occupation: Painter/Video Editor/Vlogger
What is your most treasured possession? Materially speaking, I would say the bracelet on my right wrist, was given to me by my mother years ago. Otherwise, my family.
What are you most passionate about? Human beings fascinate me a lot, I mean, when I meet someone with exactly the same energy as me for the first time, I observe how he acts, and then I confirm that they are EXACTLY like me, we know each other without knowing, we knew ourselves in an interior life? In short…humans fascinate me (*laughs*).
What do you love and hate most about Paris? The weather, surely
What words do you live by? Love, happiness, gratitude (read in order).
What are you most excited about for this summer? I’m excited and can’t wait for summer to come! I don’t have a vacation planned, I just know that I’m going to do vlogs, in lots of places in Paris, that I’ll post on my YouTube line like that, the models who follow me, who come for their first time in Paris, will know where to go, to kill time, to have a good time during their stay. (I would have fun personally “for them”.)
On skin Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in #1, Dior Forever Matte Foundation in #1N, Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer in #0N
On cheeks Dior Rouge Blush in #343 Panarea
On brows Diorshow Brow Styler in #05 Black
On eyes Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in #090 Black, Diorshow On Stage Liner in #091 Matte Black, Diorshow 24h Stylo Eyeliner in #646 Pearly Coral, Diorshow Mono Couleur Couture Eyeshadow in #763 Rosewood
On lips Rouge Dior in #400 Clover Matte
Name: Countess Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Model/Fashion Student
What is your most treasured possession? My journal. It contains my past, present, and future. I think writing things down makes them more real. That way, your past isn’t just lost in a memory. And when you go and re-read what you wrote a long time ago, you remember who you were, how you thought, and how you saw things.
What are you most passionate about? Designing fashion. I love fashion because it’s so much more than beautiful clothing, it can bring attention to important issues. fashion can be used as a weapon or a defense mechanism. like McQueen, I mean look at his collection “Highland Rape”, partially inspired by the abuse his sister, Janet, went through. With the ripped hems of the dresses, he wanted to bring attention to sexual assault.
What do you love and hate most about Paris? Mostly, I love my friends, the culture, the museums, and the history, you’re at the center of everything but it still feels like a small town. Maybe that’s just because I lived in New York before this.
What are you most excited about for this summer? I’m excited to work on my clothing line. I’ve been working towards it for years and while I’m not sure when it’s ready to launch, I love every minute of working on it. I’d much rather work all summer on a project I’m passionate about than go on vacation. (but on the other hand, I’m also going to Greece which I’m pretty excited about.)
On skin Dior Forever Glow Star Filter in #9, Dior Forever Matte Foundation in #9N,
Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer in #9N, Dior Forever Glow Maximizer in Rosy
On brows Diorshow Brow Styler in #05 Black
On eyes Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in #090 Black
On lips Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil in #007 Raspberry
Name: Hanabi The K
Location: Paris, France
Hometown: Paris, France
Occupation: Singer/Dancer/Model/Traveler/Teacher
What words do you live by? Freedom. Self-acceptance. Tolerance. Respect. Hard Work. Pain. Fight. Love.
What are you most passionate about? I think I am really passionate about all my art. I’m passionate about so much and different cultures in the world and I love to learn.
What do you love and hate most about Paris? Love will be the culture, the history but mostly the Fashion French touch. Hate will be maybe the traffic, and the metro!
What is your most treasured possession? My home, my legendary status in the Voguing Scene, and my special Love .
What are you most excited about for this summer? Omg, I can’t wait to walk on a beach in Spain and Listen to my Single “Sweet” because I have been waiting for a year now [to release it]! I’m judging a Voguing Ball and teaching a runway class there, then a performance in Cannes. I will also perform my new songs at the Milkshake Festival in Amsterdam on July 26th.
This story appears in the pages of GEN V5: now available for purchase!
NYC talents Mina Le, Avantika Vandanapu, Mackenzie Thomas, Achieng Agutu, Ian Jeffrey (IMG), Ahmad Bakhoum (IMG), Charles Matadin (IMG), Alyson Cox, Corrado Martini (Soul), Luca Biggs (Women)
Paris talents Hanabi The K (Success), Lara Cosima (Rua Management), Carmen Kassovitz (Ford), Dolly (Next), Matty Biayenda, Mohamadou Diakhité (Success), Yvesmark Chery (Rua Management), Yeray Allgayer (Success)
Photography Richard Burbridge
Makeup Peter Philips (Art + Commerce) using DIOR BEAUTY
Fashion Nicola Formichetti
Creative Director Stephen Gan
Hair (Mina Le, Avantika, Mackenzie, Achieng, Ian, Ahmad, Charles, Alyson, Corrado, Luca) Orlando Pita (Home Agency)
Hair (Hanabi, Lara, Carmen, Dolly, Matty, Mohamadou, Yvesmark, Yeray) Diego Da Silva (Callisté)
Manicure (Mina Le, Avantika, Mackenzie, Achieng, Ian, Ahmad, Charles, Alyson, Corrado, Luca) Eri Handa (Home Agency)
Manicure (Hanabi, Lara, Carmen, Dolly, Matty, Mohamadou, Yvesmark, Yeray) Nelly Ferreira (Majeure)
Editor + Casting Kevin Ponce
NYC Production Stephanie Ge, Mitch Baker, Samantha Robles (PRODn)
NYC Digital technician Nick Barr
NYC Photo assistants Jesse Russell, Jeremy Gould, Alex Johnstone
NYC Stylist assistants Brandon Brownstein, AJ Grove
NYC Makeup assistants Ayana Awata, Kaori Chloe Soda, Megumi Onishi
NYC Hair assistants Matthew Sosnowski, Sean Bennett
NYC Manicure Assistant Yoshimi Muranishi
NYC Location Highline Stages
Paris Executive producer Michaël Lacomblez (Louis2)
Paris Production manager Ambre Silvestre (Louis2)
Paris Production Coordinator Stanley Judge (Art + Commerce)
Paris Lighting technician Jesse Russel
Paris Digital Tech Tsuvasa Saïkusa (D-Factory)
Paris Photo Assistant Paul Jedwab
Paris Fashion assistants Merveille Malaki
Paris Makeup assistants Ayana Awata, Julie Camus, Sayuri Yamashita
Paris Production assistant Mathilde Barniaud
Paris Runners Othmane Bouassria, Houda Bemmassour, Lilou Thibaut, Enora Dubois
Paris location Studio Ross