Each season brings about a new crop of trends, designers, front row crashing techniques, and our favorite — models. The days of go-sees and castings are upon us, and New York Fashion Week starts tomorrow, which is why we've tasked the city's agencies with giving us a heads up on the new faces we need to keep an eye on this season.Modeling agencies and their "boards" are organized by a myriad of things ranging from age to experience, and the girls in the slideshow ahead are in the development category, meaning most of them haven't walked a single runway yet and exist only on Polaroids taken by their agents. But, like last year's selection predicted, these are the names that are about to be everywhere, so now's your chance to catch them in their heyday — before they hit Naomi Campbell status.
Who: Adesuwa Aighewi
Agency: Silent Models NY
Instagram: @adesuwaaighewi
One look at half-Chinese, half-Nigerian model Adesuwa Aighewi is all it takes to see why the industry loves her. After being discovered at 17, she's starred in editorials and campaigns from Tom Ford to Glossier, while also adding a chemistry degree to her résumé. And she's rather outspoken when it comes to the ups and downs of the modeling industry. All of this makes for a girl to keep your eyes on.
Who: Shanna Jackway
Agency: Women Management
Instagram:@shannajackway
It's not every day that a model's first season is haute couture. But after walking the Chanel runway (not once, but twice) and shooting Louis Vuitton's cruise lookbook, Shanna Jackway is primed to handle NYFW like a pro.
Who: Rhiannon McConnell
Agency: Wilhelmina
Perhaps you've already spotted Rhiannon in Gucci's spring 2016 campaign video, or in the images for Calvin Klein x Opening Ceremony's underwear collaboration. But if you haven't, bookmark her now. In addition to making a name for herself in the high-fashion circuit, Rhiannon McConnell enjoys pizza and Paris, her fiancé, and Lush.
Who: Kira Fox
Agency: Silent Models NY
Instagram:@kirafox19
Kira Fox is the redheaded answer to the dark period that followed Abbey Lee Kershaw's short-lived modeling hiatus of recent years. The resemblance between the two is uncanny, which (probably) ensures Fox a successful future. Her presence in her hometown of Moscow is set to hit the states in a big way. Stay tuned for this one next season…
Who: Jay Wright
Agency: NEXT Models
In a nutshell: Wright's first runway was Marc Jacobs' spring 2016 show. Then, she opened Jil Sander, and walked for Dries Van Noten and Veronique Branquinho. A jewelry maker and crystal believer (but not of the Spencer Pratt variety), Wright is ready for liftoff.
Who: Olivia Anakwe
Agency: New York Model Management
Not much is known about Olivia Anakwe yet, but her Joan Jett-like debut in Baja East's spring 2016 show left us wanting more. Perhaps her debut to Instagram awaits us? Either way, we're going to bet she's just getting started.
Who: Julee Huang
Agency: Women Management
Instagram:@julee__h
When she's not introducing us to the latest in croque monsieur food couture, Julee Huang is prepping for NYFW from her bed. Just kidding, she's practicing her walk from Dior haute couture 2016. Get it, Julee.
Who: Elya Bobyleva
Agency: Women / 360 Management
Instagram:@elya_bobyleva
If you were one of the lucky 1,200 to score a ticket to Givenchy's spring 2016 ready-to-wear show in New York, you might have seen Elya Bobyleva on her first runway. Or, maybe you didn't, since she looked like this. But since then, she's walked Tory Burch and Oscar de la Renta, which can only mean one thing: We'll get to see her again this season.
Who: Raven Lyn Corneil
Agency: Women / 360 Management
Instagram: @theravenlyn
Raven is the perfect example of a seasoned model who knows how to work a camera. And if you don't believe us, see for yourself in her stunning portfolio. She just landed a campaign with Pharrell's RAW for the Oceans project with G-Star RAW, so we can only expect even bigger things in the works.
Who: Caroline Reagan
Agency: NEXT Models
Reagan's runway debut with Louis Vuitton last season introduced us to one of the industry's newest faces. And her follow-up at Dior couture only means one thing: Move over, Cara Delevingne. There's a new tomboy in town.
Who: Kira Conley
Agency: Women / 360 Management
Instagram:@kiraconley
Kira Conley is the quintessential model success story. At age 15, she sent her own Polaroids out to agencies, moved to New York and Paris shortly thereafter, and has since appeared in the pages of CR Fashion Book, Vanity Fair Italia, and more. But what makes her story even more special is her transgender identity — she began her transition at an early age, which her agencies had no qualms with. Conley represents a sector of the modeling industry that is only now just beginning to grow, and it's just a matter of time before this one hits mainstream — in a meaningful way.
Who: Sofia Sanoh
Agency: Women Management
Instagram:@sofiasanoh
We're calling it: Sofia Sanoh is the next Jourdan Dunn. Have you seen this picture? Sanoh has yet to hit the runways, but that's what makes her so interesting. For now, let's just agree with her that coconut water is the best, and loving yourself comes first.
Who: Huan Zhou
Agency: Elite Model Management
Instagram:@huanmodel
Very seldom do we see a model starting her career at London Fashion Week (no shade, London), but Huan Zhou did so at the coolest shows: Ashish, J. JS Lee, KTZ, and more. This season will be her first NYFW, and we're expecting her to make the rounds here.
Who: Masha Tsarykevich
Agency: Elite Model Management
Prada spring 2016 saw Masha Tsarykevich's runway debut, which could easily instill unparalleled fear in any model in their development phase. If you ask us, though, she nailed it. In fact, she crushed it so hard, she went on to walk in Miu Miu's Aoyama show in Tokyo shortly thereafter. Talk about guts.
Who: Dai Frazier
Agency: Women / 360 Management
Frazier hasn't walked a season yet and is already working with Vogue fashion editor Tonne Goodman. Do we have a Joan Smalls in the making on our hands? We think so.
Who: Brooke Nesbitt
Agency: Silent Models NY
Instagram:@milkandjuice
Okay. We're just going to come out and say it: Brooke Nesbitt is our new obsession. She's a favorite of L.A.-based brand Second/Layer, a regular in magazine editorials across the board, stays well-hydrated, but most importantly, is our new street style obsession. Can we just?
Who: Sydney Wright
Agency: Women / 360 Management
Instagram:@sydwright1
Excluding her debut at Jonathan Simkhai's fall 2015 show, Sydney Wright has otherwise remained under-the-radar. In an interview with her hometown newspaper of Newton, GA, Wright claims to not having the chance to enjoy her career yet. We have a feeling that's going to change really soon…
Who: Nykhor Paul
Agency: Wilhelmina
Instagram:@nykhor
As a self-hashtagged #RefugeeGirl, Nyhkor Paul hails all the way from South Sudan, Africa and wears her heritage on her sleeve — in the best possible way. From her stance on H&M's response to a customer's open letter on lack of diversity in their advertisements, to her walks on the runways of Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake, and more, Paul is the African bombshell the industry needs. And she couldn't have come at a better time.
Who: Skylar Tartz
Agency: Elite Model Management
Instagram:@skylartartz
Introduced just over a week ago, Skylar Tartz has a long career ahead of her. Here's what we know so far: She's got fantastic taste in music, enjoys long walks in Japan, and Tumblr, and understands the importance of a stress-free life. Models, they're just like us.
Who: Yasmin Wijnaldum
Agency: The Society Management
Instagram:@yasminwijnaldum
Without a doubt, Yasmin Wijnaldum is a runway girl. And the proof is on her Instagram, where she documents her every fashion move, from Chanel to Valentino to Kenzo and back. But at the age of 17 (we know), her first campaign — Prada, nonetheless — has to be her biggest accomplishment yet.
Who: Marga Esquivel
Agency: Women / 360 Management
Instagram:@marga_esq
A Topshop campaign, a cameo on Marc Jacobs' website, a spot in Gucci's spring 2016 show in Milan, a spread in Vogue Japan… Do we really have to keep going? Marga Esquivel and her hair have only just broken the legal drinking age barrier and she's already slaying the game. Oh, and she loves Frozen.
Who: Leela Goldkuhl
Agency: NEXT Models
Instagram: @leilss4reals
Now, it's no secret America's Next Top Model hasn't exactly been the best entry point to the modeling industry since Tyra herself, but Leela Goldkuhl skirted the curse. She's got an agency in every fashion capital of the world, is a regular at Givenchy (including their spring 2016 campaign), and the face of Costume National. The show may be over, but Leela's just getting started.
Who: Yuka Mannami
Agency: The Society Management
Instagram:@nijihan
First thing's first, if you're not following Yuka on Instagram yet, stop what you're doing and do it now. It's where she was discovered, after all, and she's so damn cute. Second, her first campaign was for Uniqlo, and her first runway was Fendi haute couture in Tokyo. Basically, she's a boss, and whatever's next for her is going to be big.
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