Joan Smalls Rodriguez | |
---|---|
Born | Joan Smalls Rodriguez July 11, 1988 |
Other names | Joanji, Joan, Joan Rodriguez |
Alma mater | Interamerican University of Puerto Rico |
Modeling information | |
Height | 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m)[1] |
Hair color | Brown |
Eye color | Brown |
Agency | IMG Models |
Joan Smalls Rodriguez[note 1][2] (born July 11, 1988) is a Puerto Rican fashion model.[3] Since September 2012, she has been ranked the #1 model in the world according to models.com.[4] In 2013, she ranked at #8 on Forbes magazine's "World's Highest-Paid Models" list.[5] In 2011, she became the first Latina model to represent Estée Lauder cosmetics in history. In January 2014, Smalls appeared on the "Return of the Supermodel" cover of American Elle.[6] [7]
Family and early life
Joan Smalls Rodriguez was born and raised in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. She has two sisters.[8] Her father, Eric Smalls, is an accountant and is of African and Irish ancestry.[9] Smalls' mother, Betzaida Rodriguez, is a social worker[7] who is Puerto Rican and of Spanish, Taino Indian and South Asian (Indian) heritage.[9] Smalls graduated magna cum laude from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor's Degree in psychology. Upon graduation, she moved to New York City to become a model.[10]
Racial identity
On an interview with Fashionista.com, Smalls clarified how she identifies as.
"People always try to claim you, and I think that's amazing — claim me all you want. I don't like specifically being in one category because I come from a family that's diverse and multi-racial. My mother is Puerto Rican, she's light skinned, but if you know what a Puerto Rican is, it has African, it has Taíno Indian and it has Spaniard, so I'm all of that. My father is West Indian from Saint Thomas. I'm just an island girl. I'm West Indian, I'm Puerto Rican, I'm African, I'm Taíno, I have some Irish in me, I have some Indian, so I'm just a proud mutt."[9]
On the cover shoot for W magazine, Smalls, who grew up in the countryside of Puerto Rico, said that she is frequently asked what race she is. She stated:
"I’m a little bit of everything. Sometimes people think I’m not Puerto Rican, because my name doesn’t sound Spanish. They put on Hector Lavoe, the famous Puerto Rican salsa singer, and I started dancing in my six-inch stilettos. I was fortunate enough to grow up with a global outlook on life."[11]
Career
2007–2010: Career beginnings
After graduating from University, in Puerto Rico, Smalls moved to New York City to become a model. She was immediately signed by Elite Model Management in 2007. In 2009, she left Elite Model Management and signed with IMG Models worldwide, where she changed her focus to runway work. This led to her breakthrough after being signed as a Givenchy exclusive for Riccardo Tisci's Spring/Summer Haute Couture show in January 2010.
2010–present: Success
Runway
Since working for Givenchy, Smalls has walked haute couture and ready-to-wear catwalks for numerous designers and fashion houses such as Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Burberry, Lavin, Missoni, Alexander Wang, Versace, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Fendi, Dior, Oscar De La Renta, and DVF. She has appeared in shows for fashion week in New York, London, Milan and Paris.
In 2010, Smalls began modeling for Victoria's Secret and has appeared in their 2011, 2012 and 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Print work
She has appeared in editorials for several international editions of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, i-D, GQ, Dazed & Confused, Elle, Industrie, Interview, American and Spanish V, Glamour, and W.
Her international covers include the Italian, Australian, Japanese, Turkish, Brazilian, Korean, Russian, Spanish and German editions of Vogue; the British, French, Dutch, South African, Turkish, and Italian editions of Elle; the South African, Mexican, and British editions of GQ; and the British, Brazilian, Bulgarian and Thai editions of Harper's Bazaar. She has also appeared on the cover of Pop, Glam Belleza Latina, Grazia, and Stylist. In September 2013, Smalls and fellow model Karlie Kloss appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair which dubbed them "The New Supers".[12] She also appeared in the 2012 and 2014 Pirelli Calendar.
Smalls has been photographed by the most noted and acclaimed fashion photographers such as Steven Meisel, Mert and Marcus, Steven Klein, Mario Sorrenti, Mario Testino, Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, Nick Knight, Karl Lagerfeld, Annie Leibovitz, Craig McDean, Hans Feurer, Terry Richardson, David Sims, Inez & Vinoodh, Norman Jean Roy, Camilla Akrans, Alasdair McLellan, Ellen Von Unwerth, Emma Summerton, Josh Olins, Mikael Jansson, Daniel Jackson, Tom Munro, Willy Vanderperre, Michael Thompson, Luigi Murenu, Daniele + Iango, Sean & Seng, Sebastian Faena, Sølve Sundsbø, Giampaolo Sgura, Cass Bird, Roe Ethridge, Richard Bush, Cedric Buchet, Henrique Gendre, Victor Demarchelier, Boo George, Matt Jones, Vivian Sassen and Cuneyt Akeroglu.
Luxury and commercial ad campaigns
Smalls has become the first Puerto Rican fashion model chosen by brands to front their advertising campaigns including, amongst others, Gucci, Gucci eyewear, Chanel, Fendi, Fendi eyewear, Calvin Klein jeans, Givenchy, Givenchy eyewear, Roberto Cavalli, Lacoste, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Neiman Marcus, Woolworth S.A, Ogilvy, Next, H&M, ICB, Giambattista Valli, David Yurman, Estée Lauder, Mercedes-Benz, Barneys New York, Ports 1961, Rag & Bone, Prabal Gurung, Hugo Boss, Hugo Boss Eyewear, Tiffany & Co., Stella McCartney, Versace, Versace Eyewear, Missoni and Missoni Eyewear.
Cosmetic contract
In 2011, Estée Lauder signed Smalls to its line-up of global beauty ambassadors. She is the first Latina to land a worldwide campaign for the brand. Richard Ferretti, Estée Lauder's global creative director stated, "The word supermodel is overused, but if there’s any woman of our generation who deserves the title, it’s Joan. She can go from looking girl-next-door to superchic-tough-strong—and she is all of that.” Plus, he adds: “She has the perfect face.”[7][13]
Aerin Lauder, the senior vice president and creative director for the brand stated that Smalls was chosen because she, "...[is] confident, happy, elegant, well-spoken, and grown-up—and it really comes through in her pictures. When we pick someone to represent the brand, it’s about her personality, too. It’s not just the face. You find yourself not being intimidated by her beauty, but drawn in by her warmth.”[14]
Television and media
Smalls served as co-host (along with model Karlie Kloss) of the MTV's fashion series, House of Style.
She was featured alongside singer Bruno Mars in the June 2011 edition of Vogue.[15]
Music videos
In 2006 she appeared in Ricky Martin's “It's Alright” music video.[16] In November 2013, she co-starred with actor Michael K. Williams in the music video and short film for the American rapper ASAP Rocky's track "Phoenix", written by Asia Argento and Francesco Carrozzini while directed by the latter. In 2013, she appeared in Beyoncé's "Yoncé" video[17]
Awards and recognition
In September 2012, Smalls was named "Model of the Year" at the 9th Annual "Style Awards". Supermodel Iman presented Smalls with the award.[18]
In 2013, Smalls ranked #8 on Forbes magazine's "World's Highest-Paid Models" list, earning an estimated $3.5 million.[5]
In September 2012, Smalls was ranked #1 on the "Top 50 Models Women" list by Models.com. She remained at the top of the list until August 2014 when the site named her as one of the "New Supers".[4] In January 2014, Smalls appeared on the cover of American Elle, the issue was dubbed "The Return of the Supermodel: It's Joan Smalls". According to the issue:
"[...] In an age where celebrities dominate the covers of glossy mags, putting a model on the cover makes a statement. Smalls is ranked as the world's number one model by Models.com, but we'd say this cements her supermodel status."[7]
In April 2014, supermodel Cindy Crawford posted an update on her Facebook page calling Smalls her favorite new model. Crawford wrote, "[...] She has great style—sexy and elegant with a touch of tomboy thrown in! And she showed off her great moves in the "Yoncé" video!"[19]
Philanthropy
Smalls is involved with a non-profit organization called Project Sunshine, where she helps children with medical needs.[20]
Note
References
- ^ a b c d e f "FMD Profile of Joan Smalls". Fashionmodeldirectory.com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ^ Remember this face. Joan Smalls is owning Fashion Week, Spring 2011 from batchplease.com 6 October 2010
- ^ Grinberg, Emanuella (February 17, 2012). "Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls breaks down color barriers, one runway at a time". CNN. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
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- ^ a b "The World's Highest-Paid Models, 2013 - Joan Smalls Rodriguez-No.8". Forbes. August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ model.com "Cover Star - American Elle Cover-Supermodel - Joan Smalls Rodriguez-Puerto Rican, Latina Supermodel". December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
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value (help) - ^ a b c d ELLE "Elle Magazine-THE RETURN OF THE SUPERMODEL: IT'S JOAN SMALLS RODRIGUEZ-Puerto Rican, Latina Supermodel". December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
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value (help) Cite error: The named reference "Elle" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Blasberg, Derek (September 22, 2013). "It's a Smalls World: My Interview With Joan Smalls". mrblasberg.com. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Latina Supermodel Joan Smalls Rodriguez clears the air and identifies as Multi-Racial and not Black". Fashionista.com. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ "Joan Smalls at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico". December 20, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- ^ "Latina, Multi-Racial Supermodel- Joan Smalls Rodriguez-". W Magazine. July 12, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ Carl, Michael (September 2013). "Two for the Mode". vanityfair.com. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ "CNN - Puerto Rican Model Joan Smalls Rodriguez first Latina face of Estee Lauder Cosmetics". CNN. September 7, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- ^ "Vogue - Breaking News: Puerto Rican Model Joan Smalls Rodriguez first Latina Signed to Estée Lauder". Vogue. September 7, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
- ^ "Bruno Mars and Joan Smalls in Puerto Rico". Vogue. January 16, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
- ^ "Ricky Martin and Joan Smalls Rodriguez in It's Alright Music Video". Mr. Blasberg. December 23, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
- ^ Busis, Hillary (December 24, 2013). "Beyonce gets down with grills and girls in new 'Yonce' video -- WATCH". http://music-mix.ew.com/. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
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- ^ "Style Awards, Model of the Year Winner - Joan Smalls Rodriguez-Puerto Rican, Latina Supermodel". prnewswire. September 5, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ^ "Cindy Crawford Model Monday: Joan Smalls - Joan Smalls Rodriguez-Puerto Rican, Latina Supermodel". Cindy Crawford. April 28, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
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at position 15 (help) - ^ "Multi-Racial Supermodel - Joan Smalls Rodriguez-". Latina Supermodel-Joan Smalls Rodriguez - Goes Big. July 12, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2013.