TOP 10 MODELS OF THE DECADE

During my hiatus from fashion to finish my debut novel Lost Boy, I kept thinking about how the decade was ending. Yet, at the back of my mind, I was still debating on which model was going to make this year's list for the model of the year. Subsequently, after 3 years, I decided this would be my last year making this list and then it dawned on me the perfect way to end the decade and bid my farewell. I carefully started to look at the last 10 years, the models that have come and gone, the highlights and biggest fashion moments, and the faces that have consisted in it all. It's not a revelation that there have been a lot of beautiful faces produced by the 2010s, but only a few really took the decade by storm. Some have been working for the full 10 years and some have just only appeared in the last couple of years, but they all hold in common, talent, impact and immense longevity. As there was no possible way to rank the impact of these faces on the industry and the world, it was only fair to make a list in no particular order.

Alton Mason (IMG MODELS)

Alton Mason has been somewhat of a spectacle since his arrival on the scene with the infamous all-black cast Gucci Campaign. I had often complained with all the efforts of inclusion that we had still not made an effort to give a black male model the pinnacle of success as that of someone like Tyson Beckford, the way we had done with other models and their alumni. However, I think Alton has been the industry's answer to that. Being a natural-born dancer, Alton has a talent for captivating the camera, whether it's in a campaign or on the street, the guy can work a camera. Which is why he has been able to make an impact so quickly. His multiple covers for Vogue and work for brands like Philip Plein and Paco Ruben have been the name on everyone's lips these past few years. Not to mention he was also the first black male model to walk a Chanel show for the late Karl Lagerfeld, an achievement we cannot comprehend the impact of. There was truly no way this guy could not make this list. I can only say that this new decade will likely see his career reach even bigger heights.

Kit Butler (NEXT LONDON)

I, unlike most people in the industry, am hesitant to throw around the word supermodel. It's a word that has to be earned, and that is about firsts, hard work and a strategic career. Kit Butler is a model I cannot deny has all that, he's an industry favourite but also a people's favourite. After this year I cannot pretend he is by any means in the same league as other top models, the guy is a baby supermodel now. Though Kit has a very ambiguous face that fits all brands, he is a face that still stands out. For me, Kit has had a career in these last few years that is more comparable to female models and the few untouchable male supermodels like Simon Nessman and Sean O'pry. This is one of the many reasons he is on this list. His works for brands like Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Cerruti, and his record-chattering runway count throughout the decade have made him a face we will have in no year soon forget. Mark my words, Kit will be the boy we all remember from this era of male fashion.

Lucky Blue Smith (IMG MODELS)

Lucky Blue for me, put insta male models on the map. Not only did social media status begin to count when he came along but he also brought legitimacy to having a big following. Lucky introduced high-end designers to the lucrative world of social media and still rested on none of it when it came to performance. Lucky kept up with the best of them since he started modeling and it didn't hurt that he had the face of a teen heartthrob. Over the past 6 years, Lucky managed to keep being a headliner in the fashion world, starring for countless luxury brand campaigns like Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Just Cavalli FW19 and Tommy Hilfiger, while never ceasing to be on every magazine cover there was, including Vogue Man Arabia, Rollacoaster. L'Officiel Hommes. Going into the new 2020s, I have no doubt Lucky will continue to rise and be the poster boy on our bedroom walls.

Noah Luis Brown (VISAGE MODELS)

I can't lie, when it comes to Noah Brown I'm a little biased. I love a model that looks like they were born solely to be a model. Noah is THE FACE for me. He looks like the future. Noah had one of the most flawless rollouts I had seen this decade and for that alone, I had to have him on this list. His short but rapid career has been nothing if not extraordinary. I love a strategic career and for Noah, it seems as if a series of perfect jobs just fell into place from the moment he was signed. Noah has worked for brands like Louis Vuitton, appearing in two campaigns FW18 and SS19, Versace, Clavin Klein, Dsquared, Iceberg and Moschino - while also being featured on the covers of Vogue Italia, GQ Korea, and 10 Magazine. The real reason Noah is on this list is that I predict he will lead the herd in the 2020s. He will be the face we will look to in order to define what it means to be a model in this new decade.

Erik Van Gils (WILHEMINA New York)

Erik is like the universally loved indie boy. He's the kind of face that is just classic enough for commercial brands and just obscure enough for indie magazines. Erik seems like an artist's dream in a sense, it's very rare you get a model that is still appealing to the public but can make a studio shot campaign feel unconventional. Since his arrival on the fashion circuit, we have seen Erik do exactly that while working in campaigns and on their runways with major brands like Tom Ford, Etro, Zara, Missoni & Coach. Erik also appeared on covers for the likes of Wonderland Magazine, Vogue MAN & Numéro Homme Netherlands. Erik, I can say is a wild card and what we'll see him do in this next decade is unpredictable, however, that makes him even more exciting to watch.

Jeenu Mahadevan (TEAM MODELS)

I remember the first time I saw Jeenu, it was on the runway of Burberry's FW17 collection, he was just as striking then as we all find him now. Jeenu is a testament to why we need more diverse faces in fashion. The layers and richness they can bring to fashion and high-end brands are endless. Jeenu has completely changed the game since he arrived on the scene, working with brands like Fendi and Ferragamo while featuring in magazines British Vogue, Vogue Hommes, Vogue Ukraine and GQ France, and also this year appearing in campaigns for Dolce and Gabbana FW19 and Polo Ralph Lauren. I want Jeenu to be the encouragement the industry needs to use more models that look like him and also ones that don't, but whose faces are needed in fashion.

Jordan Barrett (KATE MOSS AGENCY)

God knows I love a party boy aesthetic and this party boy has become our generation's male Kate Moss. I remember when Jordan was just starting out at the beginning of the decade, how he steadily crept up in the industry and became an overnight success. For the most part of his career, Jordan has been The Boy to book when it comes to edge and IT BOY status. He has brought his cool and rock-star elegance to campaigns and magazine editorials that have left us in awe. In these past few years, we saw Jordan work for brands such as Balmain, Paco Rabanne, and Tom Ford and even gracing the covers of GQ Portugal, ODDA, Dust and Vogue Australia to name a few. Jordan is not slowing down anytime soon, this new decade might see him expand past being a model and delve even deeper into his talents behind the camera.

Pietro Boselli (IMG MODELS)

What can I say about Pietro Bosselli that would make you want a refund on life, He is built like a Greek god but has the brain of Einstein, Pietro was definitely one of the most defining faces of this decade as his rise to fame came when the body boys were no longer the go-to for brands. He redefined what it meant to be a body model in the time of Saint Laurent boys. Pietro not only became one of the most talked-about models but in many ways a public figure. When he wasn't explaining Fermat's Last Theorem, we saw Pietro working with brands like Squared, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Moschino and Tommy Hilfiger, while appearing on magazine covers for Men's Health, V Man, Attitude Magazine and Harper's Bazaar. I feel as if Pietro will continue representing the body models in the 20s till the time they make a comeback (which we all pray is soon).

Filip Hrivnak (SOUL MODEL MANAGEMENT)

I think we can all agree that Filip's Versace FW14 campaign defined the decade. That gorgeous wet platinum blonde hair and his pouty face made that studio set campaign look like a million-dollar image. Filip has certainly been one of the most important faces of the 2010s, and his adaptability has proved year and year again his relevance and timelessness. Working numerous times with brands like Versace, Givenchy, squared, and Armani, and appearing in magazines like Vogue Czechoslovakia, Vogue Japan, GQ Portugal, and Elle, Filip always keeps us all tuned in every year. I think the 2020s will see Filip remain to be a standout act that continues to push what it means to be a leading male model.

Kohei Takabatake (IMG MODELS MANAGEMENT)

Kohei is like a bullet, you never see him coming until he hits. Kohei goes in my most underrated models list as much as models of the decade. Even with his recent start in 2017, I would consider Kohei one of the best runways models of the decade and the proof is in his work, the model had one of the biggest runway debuts since during the SS18 season, appearing in shows like Balenciaga, Prada, Valentino and Missoni to name a few. Kohei has all the while been featured in campaigns for Hermes FW17, Dior SS20 & FW19, Boss Cruise SS20 and Calvin Klein Watches & Jewellery, and appearing on the covers of Esquire UK, THE NY TIMES Style, 10 and Dazed & Confused. The boy has done an astounding job these last few years in fashion and in the coming 20s, I want to hear more about him.