V153: LOVE THAT NEVER ENDS

V MAGAZINE

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AMELIA GRAY PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO.

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FRANKIE RAYDER PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO.

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ELLA MCCUTCHEON PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO. AND GIORGIO ARMANI SS25

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LARA STONE PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO.

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EVA HERZIGOVÁ PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO.

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CAMILLE OPP PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO. AND CELINE BY HEDI SLIMANE SS25

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SYDNEY WAITS PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO. AND GUCCI SS25

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VIVIENNE ROHNER PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO.

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ALEX CONSANI PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO. AND DSQUARED2 SS25

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IMAAN HAMMAM PHOTOGRAPHED BY INEZ & VINOODH STYLED BY GENESIS WEBB & HUNTER CLEM WEARING TIFFANY & CO.

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Cover 1 Amelia wears earrings TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Flame ear clips in gold and platinum with diamonds Cover 2 Frankie wears bracelets TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany HardWear large link bracelets in yellow gold with diamonds Cover 3 Ella wears necklace and brooch TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. brooch in gold and platinum with a tanzanite, diamonds and a pink sapphire Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. rope necklace in 18k gold Elastic ribbon braces and multi pleated silk blend trousers GIORGIO ARMANI Cover 4 Lara wears necklace TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Daisy necklace in 18k gold with diamonds set in platinum Cover 5 Eva wears earring and rings TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Flame ear clips in 18k gold with diamonds Tiffany HardWear small link rings in yellow gold with diamonds Cover 6 Camille wears necklace TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Ninety-two Stone necklace in platinum and gold with diamonds Trousers CELINE by Hedi Slimane

In this Issue: 40 V News 42 V Girls 46 V Trends 48 Heroes 56 Love that Never Ends 76 Pillow Talk 86 Back to Banks 94 The Fab and the Furious 102 A Stroke of Genius 106 The Lady is a Champion!

112 What V Want 34

Cover 7 Sydney wears earring and bracelet TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Apollo ear clips in gold with diamonds in platinum Bandeau top in all over GG tulle GUCCI Cover 8 Vivienne wears earring and bracelet TIFFANY & CO. Tiffany Lock earrings in yellow gold with diamonds (medium) Tiffany Lock bangle in yellow gold with diamond accents Cover 9 Alex wears clip TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Maltese Cross clip of diamonds in 18k gold Cover 10 Imaan wears earrings TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Twenty Stone hoop earrings in gold with diamonds

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To have a resurgence is to rise again. It calls to mind the image of a Phoenix, the Greek mythical creature that regenerates from the ashes—a visual that is particularly poignant given the ongoing rebirth of Los Angeles following the devastating fire that plagued the city’s entrance into 2025. V153 is a celebration of the renaissance. Many of our ten cover models shot by Inez and Vinoodh—Lara Stone, Eva Herzigova, and Frankie Rayder—for instance, are once again gracing the glossy front of V Magazine after several years conquering the world elsewhere. Inside, supermodel Abby Champion rollerblades back to V with a stunning editorial on the streets of the city of angels, whereas our HEROES section is full of reinventions—one of our favorites being Nicole Scherzinger’s, who went from Pussycat Doll to bonafide Broadway star, with the theater world absolutely mesmerized by her performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. Elsewhere, BANKS returns to our pages one decade after her V cover clad in some of the season’s chicest pieces ahead of the release of her fifth studio album, Off With Her Head. This issue isn’t about comebacks—it’s about returning to one’s creative self and the family that was here all along. Welcome home. MR.V 36

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EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief / Creative Director Stephen Gan GEN V Editor-in-Chief / Digital Director Mathias Rosenzweig Managing Editor Charlie Kolbrener Editor Kevin Ponce Contributing Editors Savannah Sobrevilla Lizzy Goodman Associate Digital Editor Christian Rosa Entertainment Editor Greg Krelenstein Weibo and Chinese Editor Meng Ji Contributing Editor-at-Large Derek Blasberg FASHION Fashion Director-at-Large Nicola Formichetti Senior Fashion Editor Anna Trevelyan Fashion Coordinator Liv Vitale Contributing Fashion Editors Davey Sutton Hunter Clem Paul Sinclaire George Cortina Patti Wilson Anastasia Barbieri PHOTO/ART Junior Art Director Clément Condat Art Director-at-Large Tobias Holzmann Photo Director Sameet Sharma Contributing Bookings Director Goran Macura Special Projects Producer / Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief Alyson Cox Inez & Vinoodh Alvaro Beamud Cortés

CONTRIBUTORS Petros Rob Rusling Genesis Webb Christian Stroble Jingyu Lin Grant Cornett Stephanie Gonot Amy Lombard Willyum Beck Max Tardio Mahboubeh Absalan Taylor Richards Penny Spiliotopoulos Stephanie Wong

PR & EVENTS Purple PR Jocelyn Cash jocelyn.cash@purplepr.com

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DISTRIBUTION MU Inc. David Renard david@muinc.com +1 (917) 207 6091 SPECIAL THANKS VLM Kim Pollock, Michael Gleeson, John Nadhazi, Marc Kroop The Lions Ali Kavoussi, Benjamin Goldberg Interlude Projects Elena Mereu, Elena Cimarosti Hen House Joanna Smirnova, Madi Swain DNA Samantha Alpert, Valerie Bullen IMG Daniel Naval, Julian Niznik The Society Lisa Barlow, George Speros CLM John Van Alstyne, Nick Drew Medina Home Robin Pacheco, Josephine Whittaker, Daphne Vargas, Christine Lavigne, Arden Napoli,Chloe Moal Marilyn Kristin Mautone Heroes Jonathon Reis Ford Georgia Makely-Schraeder Supreme Josh Bostwick The Only Agency Shara Fishman, Peyton Incollingo, Marcine Julia, Jonathan Fierro M+A Group Andy Macdonald, Julia Kazos Streeters Sonia Hamidi, Emma Davies Forward Carole Treuhaft Kade Russell Jones, Alexis Rupp, Allison Winter, Michael Kinnane The Wall Group Grace de Ville, Oliver James, Amma Amihyia, Emily Radice Saint Luke Artists Cathy Butterworth, Louise Porter-Judd Opus Beauty Steeve Foussard, Tori Aiello, JaCarlos Harris, Emily Koh, Shalom Sayada, Natalie Miller, Hannah Jones Kramer + Kramer Jay Sternberg, Leslie Kramer, Marco Zarczynski Jones MGMT Deana Spavento Fe Creatives Elle John, Fabio Mayor Paradis Jovita Lee, Lucy Sylvester Splashlight Taylor Hingston, Christian Breaux, Edward Wu Smashbox Studios Kennedy Shipley Amanda Cohen Rodney Richards Ikki Casting Nicolas Bianciotto, Ilona Wilczeck, Lylia Bokélé Image PR Adnan Chaugule Pitch Perfect PR Ahmad Asani, Claire Bernardo High Rise PR Jamie Sward, Lily Golightly Initiative PR Lauren Hozempa DKC/O&M Co. Aaron Meier See Management Leigh Sikorski, Laura Groudine The Manner Hotel Stephanie Cavallari, Lauren Ronquillo Laird & Good Company Erica Gannett Apostrophe Reps Michele Hung Interns AJ Grove, Ali Ye, Alice Almeida, Amanda Win, Amelia Murphy, Angelina Khachaturyan, Angelina Aliano, Araceli Olaechea, Dylan Gue, Elissa Dziersk, Ha Chu, Jaida Wamey, Mia Simmons, Mizu Matsuura, Nora Walid, Xiangyu Yang

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ADVERTISING & SPECIAL PROJECTS Eleni Gatsou Bureau (Advertising Office for France and America) Eleni Gatsou eleni@elenigatsou.com Marie-Loup Faggioli marie-loup@elenigatsou.com +33 (0) 1 42 72 02 19 Mediaberna S.r.l. (Advertising Office for Italy and Switzerland) Luciano Bernardini de Pace luciano@bernardini.it Grazia Mortari mortari@bernardini.it Mariolina Siclari mariolina@bernardini.it For inquiries about foreign editions or special projects, please contact charles@vmagazine.com or jared@vmagazine.com

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* The lights of Paris

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THE FRESHEST PICKS OF THE SEASON AREN’T JUST THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS GROWING IN THE GARDEN OF MOTHER EARTH. A RAINBOW-HUED SPECTRUM OF STATEMENT-MAKING HANDBAGS BRINGS A MUCH-NEEDED PUNCH OF COLOR TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAYS AHEAD

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Eva wears satin blazer with built in cone bra DOLCE&GABBANA B.zero1 18kt white gold earring set with pavé diamonds BVLGARI On eyes DOLCE&GABBANA BEAUTY Gemstone Eyeshadow Palette

V GIRLS Photography MAX TARDIO Fashion LIV VITALE Text STEPHANIE WONG 42

CRANK IT UP—THE SOUND OF SPRING IS HERE, AND IT'S GONE UNDERGROUND. FROM CALIFORNIA TO COLOMBIA TO NEW YORK CITY, V GETS TO KNOW THREE BUDDING MUSICIANS WHO WILL SOON TOP THE CHARTS

V Girls

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EVA GUTOWSKI (AKA MARISOL) THE INTERNET ICON INTENT ON BECOMING A GLOBAL DJ DIVA Eva Gutowski is an unstoppable creative force. She’s made waves in fashion, music, and content creation. Known to millions as MyLifeAsEva, she first rose to fame on YouTube, crafting DIY projects and dishing out advice (earning her a reputation as the internet’s favorite big sister). But these days, Eva lives a double life. By day, she’s a fashionista front-rowing at global fashion week shows. By night, she’s Marisol—a grungy underground techno DJ turning up the heat at Boiler Room-style sets.

“I grew up dancing competitively since I was 3, and I think all dancers can relate when I say that if you love dance, you throw yourself equally into music,” she says. “By age 12, I was itching to learn how to make my own music, sew my own clothes, and pretty much dedicate my life to something creative.” And so she did—whether it’s playing an afterparty for Fred Again or posting editorial-worthy fashion on Instagram, Eva’s creativity knows no bounds. But let’s rewind first. Growing up, Eva was

deeply immersed in “scene” culture (think Warped Tour, electro-indie beats, punk-screamo hybrids). “It was the Wild West of electronic music made by people at home with a laptop and a dream, and that inspired me immensely as a kid,” she explains. Fast forward to today, and that influence is palpable in her music. Her soon-to-drop EP, OUCH, blends dark, melodic electronic beats with introspective lyricism—the perfect balance of raw vulnerability and dancefloor energy.

The journey from YouTube darling to techno royalty hasn’t been without its hiccups. When Eva first entertained the idea of DJing, she wasn’t sure if she fit into the mainstream Vegas-style DJ mold. But then she hit up the clubs in Berlin and raves in Oslo, and it all clicked. “Traveling taught me that the electronic world is vast and diverse, and there’s a place for everyone to fit in,” she says. “That’s when I thought, ‘Wait…I’ve found where I’m supposed to be.’” Marisol has already made waves playing for brands like Tod’s and Sandro. She also stole the show at Fred Again’s afterparty in early 2023—and yes, the set was legendary: “I had literally just gotten LASIK eye surgery two days before, so I had to duck under the deck to put in my eye drops. But we ended up throwing down the most legendary two-hour set until 4 a.m. It was epic.”

With OUCH set to release this year and a summer of surf trips and tropical gigs on the horizon, Eva Gutowski is proving there’s nothing she can’t do. Whether she’s spinning tracks as Marisol or serving looks on the streets of Paris, Eva is redefining what it means to be a multihyphenate star. One thing’s for sure: she’s not just making waves—she’s creating a whole new tide.

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V Girls

MORGAN

Morgan wears double-breasted waistcoat, tuxedo shirt, layered skirt, cage sandal MCQUEEN

SAINT

Morgan Saint’s Out of the Blue isn’t just an album—it’s a pure reflection of who she is. The New York-born singer-songwriter has spent years crafting dreamy, introspective pop, but this time, she’s throwing out the rulebook. Out February 14, her debut album is a raw, all-in creative reset, built entirely on her own terms.

“It’s honestly hard to even remember what my intention was!” she laughs. “Life feels like a blur lately. I was living in NYC, I had just left a major label deal, and I finally had the freedom to make music however I wanted. My wife Carley and I just started messing around one day, and that eventually resulted in ‘Did You Lose Your Heart,’ which felt like the start of something special. After that, we just kept chiseling away, and this world sort of showed itself little by little.”

That world now exists in a body of work that’s as personal as it is hypnotic. The title track, “Out of the Blue”, became the lead single because, for Saint, it felt like a breakthrough. “It was the last song I finished, and it just felt like the most current version of me that I was most excited to shine a spotlight on,” she says. “It feels like that pivotal moment where something major clicks into place. In a lot of ways, making this album has felt exactly like that to me!” Saint has always been one

Round jacket and fitted low waist pants BALENCIAGA CH cross on leather braid and gunslinger belt CHROME HEARTS Bekett sneaker ISABEL MARANT

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to follow her instincts. She grew up in New York, absorbing everything from rock to hip-hop thanks to her dad’s stacked CD collection.

“I remember sneaking my dad’s Aerosmith CD into my room when my parents were at work, jumping on my bed, thrashing around,” she says.

“I remember so vividly feeling this crazy urge to perform.” Another major influence? Skate culture. “I was obsessed with skateboarding growing up—the rush of doing something a little dangerous, the fashion, the music, all of it! Even if I wasn’t skating, I was playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater, which had the best soundtracks.”

Beyond just music, Out of the Blue is a love-fueled creative collision.

Saint and her wife—Carley Ridersleeve—wrote, produced, and engineered every track collaboratively while also conceptualizing the visuals.

“Working together is a dream. She’s insanely talented, and we definitely come from the same star,” she says. “Where I’m lacking, she’s great, and vice versa. She’s my constant window of clarity when I’m feeling lost.” As she gears up for her headlining show at The Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles on March 6, Saint is already thinking about what’s next. “I’m so excited to play this album live! But I’m also eager to start working on new stuff,” she says. “I almost always spend my birthday in April in South Carolina with my grandparents and my family, and I’m looking forward to that. A big goal of mine right now is to live more in the moment.”

Hair Mark Alan Esparza (Kramer + Kramer) using R+Co Makeup Olivia Barad (See Management) using Dior Beauty Manicure Jazz Style (See Management) using Dior Beauty 1st photo assistant Takashi Soehl 2nd photo assistant Christean Kareem Fashion assistants Angelina Khachaturyan, Elissa Dziersk, Ali Ye Makeup assistant Chérie Fletcher Studio Splashlight

THE BEDROOM POP SENSATION INTRODUCING HER MOST AUTHENTIC SELF

V Girls

Ela wears cotton polo shirt, sweater, denim jeans UNTITLED&CO Neve crystal earrings JUSTINE CLENQUET Necklace TYLER ANTONEVICH Supervog classic lace up derby shoes JOHN FLUEVOG

ELA

Wool double breasted blazer, cotton shirt, silk tie, wool pants, wavy organic brass bracelet, leather, plexiglass slingback heels SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello

MINUS

THE SONGSTRESS BRINGING BOGOTÁ’S ELECTRONIC SCENE TO A NEW FRONTIER Ela Minus doesn’t just make music. She clears a path through sound, carving her own space in the electronic landscape with the same determination as the phrase she loved growing up: Abrir Monte, or “open the mountains.” The saying, which refers to people cutting a path through dense jungle, perfectly reflects her approach—fearlessly forging ahead and making space for herself where there was none before. Her music is meticulous yet imaginative, balancing pop accessibility with experimental edge. Each track is built with precision—analog synths, incandescent choruses, and hypnotic beats—but nothing is ever predictable. Her sonic world exists in a bilingual state, with lyrics often shifting between Spanish and English, just as she does in life. “I live a bilingual life. It’s my every day—I speak in both languages constantly, and so it naturally leaks into my songwriting. It’s honestly the way I even think now. My thoughts are bilingual.” Born and raised in Bogotá, Ela first found her footing in music as a drummer in a punk band. “My favorite artist back then was Fugazi,” she says. “The DIY spirit has stayed with me, my sound, and the

way I approach my career. There are no rules, and there is nothing that can’t be done.” The Bogotá music scene was small but tight-knit, bound together by a love of raw, aggressive sound. That passion followed her to Boston, where she studied music and expanded her sonic vocabulary. “I don’t know if I would say that I’ve ‘found my sound,’” she admits. “But a lifetime of music, in different countries, different genres, different times in my life—it has all made me who I am as a human and who I am as a musician.” For three years, she toted snippets of her new album DIA across Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S., recording in the Mojave Desert to Mexico City. But when she landed in Seattle, something shifted. “The instrumentals and the vocals weren’t speaking the same language,” she recalls. “I heard the record and it felt like the vocals were just sitting there, separated from the instrumentals.” I loved what the music was ‘saying,’ so I felt this very strong need to make everything serve that—the lyrics, the vocal performance, my delivery had to be in line with what the music was asking for. So, she scrapped it. What had felt finished was suddenly a work in progress again. The process was anything but easy.

“It takes more discipline and concentration to keep a routine that allows for creativity,” she admits. “A lot of energy is spent on that instead of on the music itself. I did it this way because I had to, but I won’t necessarily want to do it again.” Between acts of rebellion and DIA, Ela has expanded her sonic palette, her songwriting growing as vast as the landscapes she recorded in. “I worked from many different places and studios, which broadened the palette of instruments I used, therefore the sound grew wider, more expansive, and the songwriting with it.” But her biggest lesson? “I learned I’m enough—my being, my hands, my head, and my heart—to make music with whatever I have in hand.”

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Heroes

FROM THE BROADWAY STAGE TO THE STREAMING SCREEN, V GETS TO KNOW TWO LONGTIME FORCES WHO ARE FRESHENING UP YOUR WATCH LIST AND DEMANDING YOUR ATTENTION THIS SPRING

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Heroes

NICOLE SCHERZINGER THE WORLD RENOWNED POP STAR BECOMES A BONAFIDE BROADWAY DARLING

From film to stage, Sunset Boulevard has remained a constant classic in any die-hard theater kid’s heart, thanks in part to the legendary lineage of leading ladies who have dared to embody the being of the deliciously delirious Norma Desmond. From the meteoric landing of the original 1950 film starring Gloria Swanson (a role that single-handedly revived her career after a period of retirement, propelling her to goddess level in the eyes of Hollywood), to the Broadway show’s start in London’s West End in the summer of 1993 (lead by Patti Lupone, naturally), to its arrival in New York City with Glenn Close in 1994 and 2017, the story of Sunset Boulevard at its core has resonated deeper with audiences everywhere for touching on points of abandonment, fear of failure, and the fleetingly hollow nature of success itself. “What I truly care about is being a representative for anybody who’s watching to say that they aren’t alone, and to be as honest and truthful as possible, not by having some transatlantic accent. It’s our job to connect with the audience,” explains Nicole Scherzinger, the star of the latest revival of the hit show, now going by SUNSET BLVD. “I know what it’s like to feel alone, to feel abandoned or dismissed, to feel unseen, unloved, or unappreciated. My job is to get to the heart and soul of it and to tell that story so that I can connect with the people out in that audience. I feel that there’s a little bit of Norma in everyone.”

Once a member of one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, The Pussycat Dolls, the world has gotten to know Nicole as a pop star, singing songs like “Don’t Cha” and “When I Grow Up,” and through her stints as a judge on various talent shows. Throughout her many eras, her early love for theater remained unbreakable, having grown up attending performing arts schools and joining theater clubs in her local Louisville, Kentucky neighborhood. Now singing songs and carrying on the great show tunes by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Scherzinger has been able to reawaken a side of herself that had been dormant with the Jamie Lloyd-directed revival of the show—going on to win the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical just last year. “Coming from the pop star world, I just loved [Jamie’s] idea of a clean, modern [production].

From day one, the first thing he said was ‘I just ask you to be open. Open with your mind and in your heart, just remain open,” she explains. Lloyd’s minimal and expressionist approach to the legendary show housed inside the St. James Theater has wowed audiences with its stagemeets-movie concept, which involves a gargantuan LCD screen that projects a live feed from a steadicam that interacts with both the actors and the audience (both on and off stage, including the streets of Times Square for a thrilling sequence unlike what you’ve seen before). The format is so uniquely intriguing that Scherzinger herself has never seen what it looks like from the audience’s perspective.

“I’ve never seen our own performance. My director has never let me see a rehearsal or see any aspect of the show. I’ve never seen anything back,” she notes, citing Lloyd’s approach that allows the character to release itself. “The reason why he’s done that, as he says, is that this has to emanate from within Norma, and I can’t be looking at it from the outside as Nicole, and place any judgment on it or pick it apart. I’ve got to really live it and have it emanate from within me.” Even with Scherzinger’s modern-day Norma wowing showgoers, the message of the story remains the same at its core. “I’ve always felt like I just didn’t belong, and that has been my driving force,” she explains, her voice filled with emotion. “That’s why it’s so important for me that I really tell the heart and soul of this story, because I just don’t want people to feel that way. When you’re born into a world where you feel like you don’t fit in, it means you’re born to create a new world. It’s so important for us to come together, and to have kindness and grace with one another. Art will survive, thrive, and overcome, and it will bring people together. That’s the most important thing.” KEVIN PONCE 51

LIZZY CAPLAN Heroes

Lizzie wears wool double breasted blazer, cotton shirt, silk tie, wool trousers, jewelry SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello On lips YSL BEAUTY Loveshine Lip Oil Stick in #201 Rosewood Blush

Lizzy Caplan has come a long way from her first role in Freaks and Geeks. Leaps and bounds, in fact. The native Angeleno entered the macrocosm of Hollywood entertainment with an unyielding punch, bursting onto the scene as the sulking sidekick integral to Y2K cinema’s adolescently edgy histrionics. Her breakout role as Mean Girls’ Janis Ian, and her glorious portrayal of the misunderstood goth, elevated Caplan into that seldomly reached realm of quasi-supporting cast—an indispensable major masquerading as a secondary role.

And in the legend of Lizzy, history has proved to repeat itself. The charmingly sardonic ingénue possesses a very special, and very indelible, skill. Versed in voicing the sour sidekick, Caplan has amassed an impressive pedigree of secondary characters. Her iconic depiction of Janis needs no introduction, and her heartrending interpretation of Libby Epstein—a stay-at-home mom battling a midlife crisis—in Fleishman Is in Trouble, demonstrates just how adept Caplan is at posing as a grippingly skilled wolf in a sidelined sheep’s clothing.

“I’ve definitely felt the need to mourn certain characters I’ve loved when the job ends,” Caplan tells V. “I’ve felt that sadness in saying goodbye.” And so have her viewers, noting her exceptional ability to transform a seemingly supplementary character into an emblem representative of an entire culture. Whether it’s the snarky prepubescent goth or the housewife floundering in suburban isolation, audiences find versions of themselves embedded in each of her staggering spectacles.

Her latest project, however, is a striking shift. In Zero Day, a tensely wrought political drama laden with conspiracies and cyberattacks, 52

Caplan enlists in a role that strips that deadly humor of its farce. The daughter of a former U.S. president (played by the legendary Robert De Niro), congresswoman Alexandra Mullen (played by Caplan) remains steadfast in carving a path independent of her father’s political legacy.

Although tightlipped about her upcoming portrayal, the actress was able to divulge a characteristically cryptic quip. “I can’t really give much away,” Caplan says, “but I’d say all that is repellant about Alex Mullen is what drew me to her.” The limited series, a brainchild born out of Netflix’s insatiable appetite for historic(ish) thrillers, is chock-full of additional veteran performers: Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, Connie Britton, Joan Allen.

“I’ve always been a fan of political thrillers, so it wasn’t a hard sell,” Caplan tells V. “Plus, De Niro. I mean, who would say no to that?” She gets it. Nearly four years ago, Caplan welcomed a bubbly baby boy, and suddenly, work-life balance took on a whole other dimension. The trials and tribulations of a flourishing career in the arts were now compounded by the wonders and woes of raising a new child. And yet, life went on, the scales tipping back into place whether she liked it or not. “In some ways, this job is really tough for finding that balance, but in many ways, it’s easier than so many other careers,” Caplan maintains. “The truth is, as unremarkable as this is as an answer, I get to keep working at a job I love, that has shaped so much of who I am as a human, and then I get to go back to my ‘real life’ which includes my hot husband and hilarious son. I’d be an idiot to not appreciate all of that.”

PENNY SPILIOTOPOULOS

Hair Andrew Chen (Kramer + Kramer) using Stephen Knoll NY Makeup Kevin Cheah (Kramer + Kramer) using Charlotte Tilbury 1st photo assistant Heins Evander Stylist assistant Emma Nusbaum

Location The Manner Hotel

WITH UTTER VIGOR AND TOTAL VERVE, THE EMPRESS OF WRY HUMOR RETURNS

Heroes

Black mesh dress FENDI 53

LOVE

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Genesis Webb & Hunter Clem

8.07 am

AMELIA Amelia wears hat SCREAMING MIMI’S VINTAGE Aviator jacket VINTAGE Underjacket and trousers FERRAGAMO Gloves stylist’s own 56

THAT

NEVER

ENDS

A wise woman once said, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.” With the spring 2025 collections allowing women everywhere to explore all facets of their being, V invited ten timeless beauties, both familiar and first encounters, to come as they are and allow themselves to transform—proving that our door will always be open for new classics to shine through

8.49 pm “I’ve wanted to be a model since I was 5 years old. I think Cindy Crawford was my spark.”

Earrings TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Flame ear clips in gold and platinum with diamonds On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

9.03 am

IMAAN Imaan wears leather aviator jacket, wool blazer, cotton shirt, silk tie, wool pants, embossed leather belt, SL 558 sunglasses SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello

9.47 pm “Growing up in Amsterdam, I always felt like I looked different from the people around me, but I saw power in my uniqueness. When I was scouted, it felt like a chance to celebrate my heritage and inspire others to embrace theirs.”

Earrings TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Twenty Stone hoop earrings in gold with diamonds On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in #83 Cassis

9.20 am

ALEX Alex wears shoelace detail ribbed tank MOSCHINO Leather jacket and gloves stylist’s own

10.06 pm “[I wanted to become a model] after seeing the art and creativity that went into creating a collection.

[It] inspired me to be a part of the community—among other reasons!”

Ring and clip TIFFANY & CO. Tiff any T T1 ring in yellow gold with diamonds Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Maltese Cross clip of diamonds in 18k gold Leather lace up pants DSQUARED2 On lips CHANEL BEAUTY Le Crayon Lèvres Longwear Lip Pencil in #158 Rose Naturel

10.01 am

SYDNEY Sydney wears round nylon bomber BALENCIAGA Hat stylist’s own

10.52 pm “Honestly, I never had a desire to become a model. I grew up on a farm in Tennessee with horses, cows, donkeys, rabbits, and chickens—so it didn’t really seem like something within reach. I was always told I should model, but I stayed focused on school.”

Earring and bracelet TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Apollo ear clips in gold with diamonds in platinum Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. 36 Stone bracelet in platinum and gold with diamonds Bandeau top in all over GG tulle GUCCI On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Ombre Essentielle Multi-Use Longwearing Eyeshadow in #234 Beige Sable

10.26 am

LARA Lara wears wool blazer and cotton shirt VALENTINO Lace gloves VALENTINO GARAVANI

10.44 pm “[Modeling] just kind of happened. It was a series of coincidences, along with a lot of luck. It’s strange how life’s direction can change so suddenly and unexpectedly.”

Necklace TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Daisy necklace in 18k gold with diamonds set in platinum On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Le Liner De Chanel Liquid Eyeliner High Precision Longwear in #512 Noir Profound

10.43 am

VIVIENNE Vivienne wears coat HUSBANDS Suit I&V ARCHIVE Tie stylist’s own

11.27 pm “[Modeling] was a slow, inevitable pull—something I was always meant to do without fully realizing it.

Looking back, I see how much I have evolved creatively, how my confidence has deepened, and how I have learned to navigate this industry in a way that feels authentic to me.”

Earring and bracelet TIFFANY & CO. Tiff any Lock earrings in yellow gold with diamonds (medium) Tiff any Lock bangle in yellow gold with diamond accents On lips CHANEL BEAUTY Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche Luminous Matte Lip Colour in #06:00

11.10 am

FRANKIE Frankie wears shirt and shorts WILLY CHAVARRIA

11.48 pm “I grew up in a small town of 7,000 people in Wisconsin, and high school never felt like it was for me.

College wasn’t something I seriously considered either. I always had this feeling that there was more out there for me. I got scouted my sophomore year of high school, took a trip to NY, and never turned back.”

Bracelets TIFFANY & CO. Tiff any HardWear large link bracelets in yellow gold with diamonds On lips CHANEL BEAUTY Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche Luminous Matte Lip Colour in #04:00

11.23 am

EVA

Eva wears hat and belts stylist’s own Turtleneck POLO RALPH LAUREN Pants DIESEL

10.59 pm “Photography [made me want to be a model]. Working with the masters.

Transformation and role-play. Storytelling at its best!”

Earring and rings TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Flame ear clips in 18k gold with diamonds Tiff any HardWear small link rings in yellow gold with diamonds On lips CHANEL BEAUTY Rouge Coco Flash Hydrating Vibrant Shine Lip Colour in #116 Easy

11.55 am

CAMILLE Camille wears Françoise pinstripe wool fl annel jacket, Mia pleated plastron and knot in silk crepe shirt, bowtie CELINE by Hedi Slimane

8.28 pm “I remember this specific trip to New York with my parents when I was 13. I remember getting goosebumps looking around at the different campaigns with all the iconic supermodels. I was scouted with my first agency a couple of weeks after I got back from that trip, while I was playing in a volleyball tournament.”

Necklace TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Ninety-two Stone necklace in platinum and gold with diamonds Françoise pinstripe wool fl annel pant CELINE by Hedi Slimane On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Ombre Essentielle Multi-Use Longwearing Eyeshadow in #246 Bois Noir

12.17 pm

ELLA Ella wears jacket BOTTEGA VENETA Silk ribbed knit crewneck, elastic ribbon braces, multi pleated silk blend trousers GIORGIO ARMANI Hat stylist’s own

9.55 pm “People told me I should model, but I was trying—well, failing—to study for my final exams in high school at the time. I got very existential about my inability to study. I figured, if I’m not using my brain, then I might as well use my body instead—and here I am!”

Necklace and brooch TIFFANY & CO. Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. brooch in gold and platinum with a tanzanite, diamonds and a pink sapphire Jean Schlumberger by Tiff any & Co. Circle Rope necklace in 18k gold Elastic ribbon braces and multi pleated silk blend trousers GIORGIO ARMANI On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in Medium

Models Lara Stone (The Lions), Imaan Hammam (DNA), Amelia Gray (The Lions), Frankie Rayder (The Lions), Eva Herzigova (The Lions), Sydney Waits (The Lions), Ella McCutcheon (DNA), Camille Opp (Marilyn), Alex Consani (IMG), Vivienne Rohner (Heroes) Hair Eugene Souleiman (Streeters) Makeup Fulvia Farolfi (M+A Group) using Chanel Beauty Manicure Juan Alvear (Opus) Production John Nadhazi, Michael Gleeson Art Director Marc Kroop Retouching Stereohorse Lighting Director Jodokus Driessen Digital technician Brian Anderson Stylist assistants Amelia Murphy, Angelina Khachaturyan, Mary Joyce McFarland, AJ Grove Makeup assistants Robert Reyes, Jessica Marisol, Leisa Kanienberg, Taisha Paquiot Hair assistants Pamela Baumgartner, Christine Moore, Sevil Tai, Miwako Urasugi, Sergio Estrada, Tomoko Kuwamura, Jonathan M. Rackleff Manicure assistants Vito Pelleccia, Louise Corbet Bookings director Goran Macura

SP HE A R I N S L U DED G S Q U M B FO R T Y L WE I T E E R . A S E I S H ’ R E S T H E I N F A RTO S N ’ C O E E T S LIP O P A C T RIA T S E A L L E W I PING P O , I T ’ L U P S O C T I O T H T INT S I T E S B O ( A N D N A S N S H E O TH .

INT L D E S CO W E O F B E S E O C T L UPL D O T H T HAR O O E U U B E A C T K S T P) T L E ER O G HE WIT E T H

OW LL K PI L TA

Photography ROB RUSLING Fashion ANNA TREVELYAN

76

Lonneke wears mini square neck tiered ruffle dress and ruffled panties, light rosewood flower suede lambskin sandals CHLOÉ Gold plated Crush earring ANNELISE MICHELSON Rosanne wears Seatle top, Nissem fring skirt, Nensi sandals ISABEL MARANT Gold plated double Crush earring ANNELISE MICHELSON

Ine wears cotton long sleeved bodysuit, trousers with three-dimensional details, earrings, necklace MISSONI Polo Play leather large tote POLO RALPH LAUREN Pilouta Jane Spikes patent leather ballerinas CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Athiec wears back slit oversized shirt and cargo trousers AMI PARIS Sweater and mesh-leather pony ballerina sneaker POLO RALPH LAUREN Pistil heart earring HUGE KREIT

Gabriel wears wool knitwear, shirt, gabardine tweed trousers, collapse re-nylon and suede elasticized sneakers, Nappa leather shoulder bag PRADA Mami wears wool jacket, metal top, wool skirt, brushed leather shoes, eyewear PRADA

Breckyn wears faux feather trim waxed cotton parka jacket, metallic paillette fringed viscose jersey dress, Burberry Check chainmail Cabana Maille sandal BURBERRY Senem wears Nappa Trapeze jacket, feather cargo trousers, loafers LOEWE

Ece wears bodysuit and sneakers DIOR YOWYOW sterling silver earring CAMILLE SURAULT On lips DIOR BEAUTY Rouge Dior Lipstick in #999 (Satin)

Laura wears Virginia felt hat, André linen shirt, Genny linen double breasted jacket, linen Nyack pants, Sergio walk loafer LORO PIANA Naomi wears ripstop bucket hat, 3L plain weave technical GORE-TEX jacket, 3L GORE-TEX trousers, Trailgrip mesh suede leather shoes MONCLER GRENOBLE Flower ear cuff (used as belt charm) HUGE KREIT

Venus wears wool oversized trench, jersey tank top, denim pants, boots, bag GUCCI Leonard wears Lauretos denim jacquard shirt, Lauretos denim jacquard shorts, Himmel ascending moon hobo, fish key chain MCM Panthère de Cartier large model 18k gold watch CARTIER Loafers CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Gaspard wears Eco Finnley straight leg men’s denim GUESS Lily Rose wears Eco straight leg high rise tapered women’s denim GUESS Tiffany HardWear large link rose gold with pavé diamond earring, Tiffany T T1 yellow gold ring, Tiffany HardWear large link yellow gold bracelet TIFFANY & CO.

Models Yali Yang (IMG), Venus (Oui), Esin Bicak (Oui), Ece Bicak (Oui), Elise Marie (Oui), Mami Akol (Select), Naomi Apajok (Select), Laura Rudd (Select), Athiec Geng (Select), Lonneke VD (Select), Rosanne VD (Select), Lily Rose (See), Gaspard, Senem, Breckyn, Ine Michelmann (Supreme), Gabriel Nhial (16), Leonard Chirpaz (16) Hair Olivier de Vriendt (The Wall Group) Makeup Joey Choy Manicure Romane Martini (The Wall Group) using Manucurist Casting Ikki Casting Set design Lucie Morey Production Antoine Frugès (Paris Production Services) Digital technician Lorenzo Touzet 1st photo assistant Lucas Matichard 2nd photo assistant Robin Jeant Styling assistants Ruairi Horan, Ginevra Pesenti, Federico Pozzi Production assistants Matteo Sevestre, Téo Bondareff Hair assistant Alessia Mancini Makeup assistant Solenne Lebreton Studio Studio Apolo

Yali wears crêpe fabric gown and earrings VALENTINO Elise Marie wears high-neck shirt and layered skirt in pleated distressed ivory washed silk chiffon MCQUEEN Tiffany HardWear large link earring in rose gold with pavé diamonds TIFFANY & CO.

CK T NKS AB O BA Photography ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS Fashion CHRISTIAN STROBLE Text MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG 86

BANKS wears lambskin jacket, silk skirt, earring CHANEL Gloves DIOR On eyes CHANEL BEAUTY Ombre Essentielle Multi-Use Longwearing Eyeshadow in #246 Bois Noir

BEFORE RELEASING HER FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM— OFF WITH HER HEAD—THE MUSICIAN SHARES ABOUT THE JOY OF LETTING GO IN PURSUIT OF FEELING PLEASURE

BANKS has always been an artist to bank on.

Ever since the release of her debut studio album, Goddess—which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary—Jillian Banks has remained a singular force in music. With her haunting vocals, genre-blurring production, and deeply personal songwriting, she quickly carved out a space that was entirely her own. Her ability to blend electronic, R&B, and alternative influences into something darkly atmospheric yet emotionally raw set her apart from the beginning; a knack for gag-worthy visuals cemented her place as a cultural touchstone. But 10 years is a lot of time to be front and center, and BANKS has inevitably evolved, pushing artistic and personal boundaries along the way. Over those years, her music has resonated with fans worldwide, inspiring countless artists who have drawn from her unique sonic approach. Ahead of her album release last month, V spoke with the singer-songwriter about the euphoria of returning to oneself in the most sensual and instinctual ways.

Satin bra, lace bralette, satin midi length skirt with waistband DOLCE&GABBANA Juste un Clou 18k white gold earrings CARTIER Gloves DIOR

Mesh dress, knit bra, knit shorts FENDI Gloves DIOR

V MAGAZINE: Your new album is called Off With Her Head. Where does the name come from?

BANKS: I love when something isn’t what it seems—when something feels dark or almost demented, but actually holds a really light meaning to me. Off With Her Head sounds intense, like it’s about death, but for me, it’s actually positive. It’s about letting go of the past, cutting off negative voices—just “off with their head.” It’s about being present, in your body, and experiencing joy.

I don’t think you can create art, enjoy life, or truly experience anything if you’re not present—if you’re just stuck in your head, living in a fake world. So for me, Off With Her Head means cutting that off, getting into your body, and fully living.

V: I would never have thought that!

BANKS: I think it’s really positive. When I was younger, my nanny, Patty, helped raise me.

She’s like my second mom; she’s this incredible Colombian queen. She used to always say, “Cancel, cancel, cancel.” If you had a negative thought and couldn’t logically think your way out of it, you just had to cut it off. That was her thing. And for me, Off With Her Head is my “Cancel, cancel, cancel.”

V: So it’s very related to the art of meditation, in a way.

BANKS:: Exactly. Instead of thinking, “Oh, I’m BANKS bad at meditating,” it’s just, “Oh, I’m thinking again. Okay, let’s come back.” That’s what this album is—it’s about acceptance, joy, and presence. A song like “Move” is about taking not one step for granted. It’s about moving your body, being in it.

And “Make It Up”—that song took forever to come together. I started it with [Silva] in 2013.

We wrote the chorus and first verse, and then ten years later, we came back to it, and the chorus we had written a decade ago just fit perfectly: “Making up for lost time, making up with me. We didn’t quite make it last time, but this time, you and me.”

It was almost like we knew back then what the song would eventually mean. Sometimes I feel like my music brain is a fortune teller—it’s way ahead of me.

V: You recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of your album Goddess. What could current BANKS teach that younger version of yourself?

BANKS: Oh my god. I just want to pick up past BANKS Banks and mother her. The Goddess anniversary shows were magical. I was completely alone on stage—no band, no dancers, just me and a piano. And I realized I don’t need anything. I can hold people’s attention, energy, and love on my own.

V: Did you not feel that 10 years ago?

BANKS: Not at all. And honestly, it took me a long time to function healthily in this industry.

I wasn’t the type of kid who dreamed of being a famous star. Music was therapy for me.

I loved it so much, and I wanted it to be my life, but I wasn’t prepared for visibility. I went from making music alone to suddenly everyone knowing who I was. It was hard. There was a lot of mental warfare involved in overcoming that.

Cotton shirt, silk tie, embossed leather belt, wool pants, leather wedge sandal SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello Panthère de Cartier 18k white gold, emeralds, onyx, diamond earrings CARTIER Gloves DIOR

HEAD TO VMAGAZINE.COM TO READ THE EXTENDED INTERVIEW

D-Vinity earring and gloves DIOR Golden “M” embroidered ribbed knit tank MOSCHINO Leather pencil skirt MCQUEEN Shiny calf leather padlock pointy naked sandal TOM FORD

Hair Davontae Washington (Opus) using Wella Makeup Adam Burrell (Opus) using MAC Cosmetics Manicure Ginger Lopez (Opus) using Après 1st photo assistant Simone Triacca Lighting technician Paul Gilmore Digital technician Dillon Padgette Production Suze Lee Retouching Camillo Bernardi Studio Location Smashbox Studios Styling assistant Mia Nicolai Production assistant Makram Kettaneh

Triomphe metal 04 sunglasses CELINE by Hedi Slimane Jumpsuit LOEWE Gloves DIOR

THE FAB & THE FURIOUS Photography PETROS Fashion ANNA TREVELYAN

Tara wears cotton poplin top and panties MIU MIU Sculpted cable hoop earrings in sterling silver with diamonds DAVID YURMAN 94

TARA RAANI

ACTOR & MODEL

BUCKLE UP—EIGHT OF FASHION’S NEXT-GEN IT-GIRLS ARE READY TO GO FULL-THROTTLE THIS SEASON

ABÉNY NHIAL MODEL

Abeny wears dress LOEWE Pyramid hoop earrings in 18k yellow gold DAVID YURMAN Metropolis shoes GIANVITO ROSSI

JEANNIE SUI WONDERS FILMMAKER Jeannie wears shiny leather dress GUCCI HardWare extra large link yellow gold earring and Knot yellow gold ring TIFFANY & CO. On eyes GUCCI BEAUTY Stylo Contour des Yeux Eyeliner in #01 Noir

Meredith wears 3D printed bra top and pantelegging BALENCIAGA Millenia hoop earring SWAROVSKI

MEREDITH DUXBURY BEAUTY & FASHION CREATOR, MODEL, ENTREPRENEUR

Lulu wears satin calf length dress DOLCE&GABBANA Love earrings in yellow gold CARTIER On eyes DOLCE&GABBANA Eye Dare You! Multi-finish Eyes & Cheeks Palette

LULU WOOD

MODEL

YUMI NU

MODEL & MUSICIAN Yumi wears Moegi green beanstalk dress and sheer Georgette sleeve gloves ISSEY MIYAKE Juste un Clou earrings in white gold with diamonds CARTIER

GRACE LING

On lips PRADA BEAUTY Prada Monochrome Soft Matte Lipcolor in Tonka

Grace wears satin dress PRADA

Hair Panos (Home) using Oribe Makeup Jezz Hill (CLM) Manicure Jazz Style (See Management) using Dior Beauty 1st photo assistant Tom Maltbie 2nd photo assistant Talon Nathaniel Digital technician Dallas Reines Styling assistants Angelina Khachaturyan, Junjie Huang Hair assistant Harley Beman Makeup assistants Cyler Daigle, Chelsea Rachel Production assistants Ha Chu, Gabrielle Arriaga, Mizu Matsuura

FASHION DESIGNER Location Smashbox Studios

Alani wears pink Blouson jacket with zip closure and hood EMPORIO ARMANI Molten Gold XL Hoop earring ALEXIS BITTAR Sculpted cable hoop earrings in 18k yellow gold with diamonds DAVID YURMAN On lips ARMANI BEAUTY Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick in #109 Intimate

ALANI “WUZG00D” NOELLE FASHION CREATIVE

A STROKE

OF GENIUS Illustration Mahboubeh Absalan Fashion Anna Trevelyan

IT’S WIDELY KNOWN THAT THE TORSO IS THE MOST CENTRAL PART OF THE HUMAN BODY, HOUSING BOTH THE BACKBONE AND THE HEART. FOR FASHION HOUSES, THE BACKBONE AND HEART LIE WITHIN THE ATELIER— WHICH BEAMS WITH DESIGN TEAMS LOOKING TO CREATE TRUE ARTISTIC PIECES THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF CLOTHING. WITH SENSUAL CUTOUTS AND INTRICATE LINE DETAILS—AND A SPRINKLING OF HIGH JEWELRY— THE BEST LOOKS OF THE SEASON ARE REDIRECTING FOCUS TO THE TORSO LIKE NEVER BEFORE

High Jewelry Serpenti Earrings in white gold with 2 marquise diamonds, 28 buff-top rubies, pavé-set diamonds and High Jewelry Serpenti Infinito Bracelet in white gold with onyx elements, 37 buff-top rubies, pavé-set diamonds BVLGARI Black transparent contrast ribbed dress with fringe FERRAGAMO 102

Cartier Nature Sauvage High Jewelry necklace in 18k white gold, 18k yellow gold, emeralds, jasper, onyx, diamonds CARTIER Pink molded dress ALAÏA

Ethical 18k white gold earrings with two square-cut fancy intense yellow diamonds and set with pear-shaped, marquise-cut, and brilliant-cut diamonds CHOPARD High-neck draped dress in gathered pleated pale yellow washed silk chiffon with lace trim MCQUEEN

Titanium set with oval-shaped pigeon’s blood rubies, marquise-cut diamonds, diamond brilliants CHOPARD Encapsulated bead jersey evening dress STANDING GROUND

THE LADY IS A CHAMPION!

Abby wears ropped deep v-neck cardigan and denim mini short TOMMY HILFIGER

FROM THE FRENZY OF RUNWAYS TO THE PAVEMENT IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, MODEL ABBY CHAMPION HAS CONQUERED IT ALL. NOW, AS THE NEWEST FACE OF TOMMY HILFIGER AND BRIDE-TO-BE TO ONE OF HOLLYWOOD’S NEXT LEADING MEN, HER MOST EXCITING CHAPTER IS JUST ON THE HORIZON Photography ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS Fashion HUNTER CLEM Text KEVIN PONCE 106

Oversized boxy blazer, logo unlined bralette, logo bikini shorty TOMMY HILFIGER

“I THINK THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN MY PERSONAL LIFE FROM WHEN I STARTED MODELING IS THAT I’M TRAVELING WEEKLY WHILE TRYING TO BALANCE MY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WORKING CONSISTENTLY TO [MAKE] FASHION MY LIFESTYLE. WHETHER THAT’S EATING CLEAN TO PREP FOR A JOB, DRESSING UP FOR WORK, WORKING OUT ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD KEEP ME ALWAYS READY FOR A CALL TO LEAVE.” —ABBY CHAMPION

Cropped stripe denim jacket, jersey stitch crew neck top, stripe denim short, logo leather penny loafer TOMMY HILFIGER

Abby Champion has come a long way since her days as a small-town cheerleader from Alabama. Since first being discovered back in 2017, the fashion world has seen the statuesque blonde beauty dominate shows and campaigns as one of modeldom’s most versatile beings. Eight years in, with a resume that could make any new face on the scene swoon, Abby’s life has been made more colorful than ever with her recent appointment as the newest campaign star of Tommy Hilfiger. “I actually remember my dad having a [Tommy] sweatshirt that I would always steal from his closet that I loved to wear. One Christmas, he bought me a new one so we could match—it was a blue half-zip with the Tommy logo on the front.

I think it’s still in my room in Alabama!” she dishes to V on her excitement for being part of the heritage brand’s family. Recently, Champion modeled for Hilfiger’s lavish show for the SS25 collection, shown on a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat fixated on the water in Manhattan’s South Street Seaport and even got to meet the man himself for the first time (sans her OG blue half-zip). “Walking the runway on a boat was a new experience for me, and it was also my first time meeting Tommy during my fitting,” she explains. “He was so approachable and engaging, it made me so happy to be a part of the Tommy family!”

Just a few days prior to that momentous show, the brand debuted its Fall 2024 campaign with Abby and a very special someone: her fiancé, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger. “It’s so nice shooting together. Since it’s not something we do often together, when we do it feels very special!” she notes on the experience of shooting with the current VMAN cover star (and star of the latest season of HBO’s hit series, The White Lotus). “With Tommy being in New York, a city we love to spend time in, it just felt so natural and I really loved getting to be on set with him.” Now as her career becomes more bustling than ever, Champion must balance the frenzy of fashion with some very important wedding planning. “Wedding preparations are in the works, and we’re currently working with our wedding planner to get all the details finalized,” she notes. “Patrick is really involved and loves being a part of the planning process. On the day of the proposal, I was feeling so excited because my family had just arrived for Christmas so we had everyone all together! He proposed at 7 am on our morning walk, so there was no chance the surprise got ruined. It was the most perfect day!

We celebrated all day with family.”

HEAD TO VMAGAZINE.COM TO READ THE EXTENDED INTERVIEW

Hair Iggy Rosales (Forward) using Verb Makeup Samuel Paul (Forward) using Make Beauty Prop stylist Daniel Horowitz Producer Suze Lee Retouching Camillo Bernardi Studio 1st photo assistant Simone Triacca Lighting technician Paul Gilmore Digital technician Dillon Padgette Stylist assistant George Villalpando Prop assistants Sara Taylor, Jordan Odom Production assistant Apu Gomez

Slim rib tank top and gold button pleated mini skirt TOMMY HILFIGER

WHAT V WANT

Sandals CHANEL Chanel tweed sandals with jewels ($3,300, available at select CHANEL Boutiques Nationwide) On Nails CHANEL BEAUTY Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Faussaire

ANY SHOE LOVER KNOWS A GOOD PLATFORM HEEL BRINGS YOU OFF THE GROUND AND INCHES CLOSER TO THE FASHION GODS ABOVE US. STEP INTO A NEW STYLE REALM WITH CHANEL’S COVETABLE NEW FOOTWEAR FOR THE SEASON

As winter’s ice thaws, chirps of a luminary season begin to surface, leading footwear down a higher, less conventional path. This spring, the garden of CHANEL blooms a new platformed, heeled sandal, stepping beyond tradition. Spotted first, thirteenfold, on the pink pampered carpets of CHANEL’s SS25 runway, models flocked through an enormous opulent white birdcage in tweed heels and twinning ready-towear sets. As a perched Riley Keogh sang and swung from above, the collection recalled a moment when a young Gabrielle Chanel received such a cage from her seamstress—a memory previously referenced in a ‘90s CHANEL advertisement by Jean-Paul Goude starring Vanessa 112

Paradis. The platform shoe, seen above, embodies the house’s classic elements, translated into a freshly relatable language, to make way for an all-new contemporary Coco. CHANEL’s tweed fabric has been reborn from the 1960s suit, into a whimsy springing sandal, decorated with a collection of pearl-adorned button-esque embellishments and double-C jewels. In a dreamy, seasonally suited robin egg blue, the heels are enchanting and spirited with the essence of Coco, both youthful and timeless. Including a velcro fastened ankle strap and a myriad of heel heights and tweed fabrics for your preference, the Spring 2025 CHANEL girl is one of comfort and intention.

Fashion Editor Anna Trevelyan

Illustration MAHBOUBEH ABSALAN Text TAYLOR RICHARDS

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