“您好！很高兴认识你。我有工作签证.”

Wang Xiao @ Wilhelmina
CHINA

Preston: How old are you?
Wang: I come from China. Are you a Japanese?
Preston: No, my father is Chinese. [points to the hair and makeup team] They are Japanese.
Wang: [smiles enthusiastically and begins speaking Mandarin that no one understands]
Preston: … [silence]
Wang: Beijing!
Preston: Sure.

“Hola, encatada de conocerte. Tengo una visa de trabajo.”

Magda Laguinge @ Next
ARGENTINA

Preston: Do you speak English?
Magda: … [silence]
Preston: No? Hola! ¿Hablas inglés?
Magda: [smiles enthusiastically and begins speaking Spanish that no one understands except the photographer]
Preston: … [silence]

“Hola, encatada de conocerte. Tengo una visa de trabajo.”

Marihenny Passible @ NYM
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Preston: So do you feel like home here in New York with all the Dominicans that live in the area?
Marihenny: No. I see many Dominicans. They do not know I am Dominican. I can understand them in the street when they talk.
Preston: Really?
Marihenny: I was walking and in Spanish they say about me, “Look at her. Look what she is wearing. She looks stupid!”
Preston: Oh, no.
Marihenny: It is ok.
Preston: Why are there so many Dominican women with very red or orange hair in the Lower East Side?
Marihenny: No, not Dominicans. Puerto Ricans like the orange hair.

“Olá. Prazer em conhecê lo. Eu tenho um visto de trabalho.”

Vanusa Savaris @ NYM
BRAZIL

Preston: How were you discovered?
Vanusa: I was never discovered.
Preston: Oh.
Vanusa: [smiles]
Preston: [smiles back]

“…”

Cris Urena @ NYM
USA

Preston: Your agency tells me you are from the Dominican Republic, too. Do you speak English?
Cris: I am from Boston.
Preston: So you understand everything we are saying about you.
Cris: Yes.
Preston: Oh.

“Hujambo! Nafurahi kukuona. Mimi kibali cha kufanya kazi.”

Flaviana Matata @ Next
TANZANIA

Preston: So you were a Miss Tanzania. Did you meet Donald Trump from being in the Miss Universe pageant?
Flaviana: Yes! That is how I started modeling. I came to New York as Miss Tanzania and met an agent.
Preston: Which do you prefer: modeling or pageants?
Flaviana: Modeling. In pageants you win, then what? Modeling is work. You can work everyday; something different.
Preston: How old are you?
Flaviana: My model age or my real age?
Preston: Hmmm. Want some coffee?

Credits

Photography Marco Roso
Casting Preston Chaunsumlit
Styling Lauren Boyle
Makeup Chichi Saito at B Agency NY for Dior Beauty
Hair Chelsey Pickthorn and Shinya Fukami
Models Wang Xiao at Wilhelmina, Magda and Flaviana at Next, Marihenny, Vanussa and Cris at New York Models
All clothes Under Armour

DIS met all the guidelines as recommended by the CFDA as issued for the season of Fall/Winter 2011:

• models at least 16 years old
• limited working hours and frequent and sufficient breaks and time for rest; work not extended to after midnight for those under 18
• nutritious snacks and non-alcoholic beverages provided
• a non-smoking set/backstage

Credits