Who’s That Girl? Jourdan Dunn Edition
I haven’t done a model highlight since Wakeema, so I thought it was time and who better to put the spotlight on other than Jourdan Dunn.
Everyone has been giving the head nod to the UK model and they’re calling Fall 2008 Jourdan Dunn’s breakout season. The 17 year old model walked for a number of houses this season, racking up around 31 shows between New York, London, Milan and Paris.
Casting directors and designers all seemed to all fall in love with her simultaneously, sending her down the runways of Gucci, Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, and dozens more.
But you knew she was destined for big things when you saw her strutting down the Prada runway. Jourdan was the only black model to walk the Prada runway, ending a 10 year drought that had lasted since Naomi Campbell strutted for the house in Fall 1997. Yeah, it’s been that long.
Jourdan Dunn for Prada Fall 2008
It’s easy to see why everyone loves Jourdan. The former dancer has a very elegant look that the high-end houses eat up. Her high cheekbones, slightly upturned eyes and long neck combine to give her this other-worldly refined look.
Jourdan was discovered in her hometown of London by Storm Models (who also discovered Kate Moss) and is currently with Women Management in New York.
In a recent interview, Jourdan had these things to say about living the glamorous life of a 17 year old supermodel.
“It’s crazy backstage, with hair and makeup, especially because my hair is different to most other models’, sometimes it’s really difficult for them to do it.”
“They are always putting different products on your hair…and it is always damaged at the end of the season,” said Dunn, who relies on her cousin rather than expensive beauty salons to treat her dark brown mane.
And on the late-night parties that she’s invited to?
“I’m not really into after parties, I am only 17 and I feel like I’ll be with a bunch of people not my age.”
She sounds pretty down to earth, no?
So now that Jourdan is the next big face on the runway, I hope we can expect to see her booking some big print campaigns soon. Is that too much to ask?
Photo credits: Style.com, Style.it, Elle, Nathalie Paris, Dazed & Confused Magazine
April 25th, 2008 at 11:24 am
[...] who’s in the issue? Here are my obvious, crazy-if-they-didn’t guesses: Chanel Iman, Jordan Dunn, Liya Kebede. And my hopeful, fingers-crossed wishes: Wakeema Hollis, Kinée Diouf, Georgie [...]
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
[...] of my favorite models in one show — Jourdan Dunn, Chanel Iman, and Coco Rocha? [...]
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
hey ppl i guess that itz good that we have a black girl after naomi n tyra but i live in the u.k and its very hard for black girls to become the big it model like jordan and she seemed to have just scraped it by being a light skinned and not so curvaceous black girl but at least she is there representing for us.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
It is good that there are a few new black models out there — Jourdan Dunn, Chanel Iman, Arlenis Sosa — even if they are more light-skinned. And models are skinny…that’s just the way it is.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
i am a south african male model, yet a size zero male weighing up2 52kgs and am 1.85m tall. Jordan Dunn rocked Cape Fashion week a couple of months back. Not only is she a black beauty but also a powerful young girl with intelligence and a ‘brain’ for our industry. And to those who say that Jordan is the next Naomi Campbell…whats with that? Jordan has made her own mark and no1 can ever replace Naomi. She’s a legend on her own however Jordan is creating her own legacy.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
[...] course the ever gorgeous Jourdan Dunn made the list, appearing in numerous shows as well as opening and closing Oscar de la Renta. Dunn [...]
February 27th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Its a Dunn deal… Jourden is by far is the rawest talent in London fashion week. Also acknowledging Agyness Dean who is such a natural, she has the ability to capture the attention of everyone in the room, classic, chic sexy.
All rise to the new new.
Nathaniel McCarthy.
March 1st, 2009 at 8:54 am
she has stunning features, i remember her in high school when she started year 7 thinking she could model, who would’ve thought i was right