Lineisy Montero, a 19-year-old newcomer to the world of modeling, may be singlehandedly proving that Dominican models are on deck and ready to step up to the plate. For Spring 2016, Montero walked in 68 shows in New York, Milan, London, and France, earning her title of queen of fashion month. In comparison, for Spring 2015, Maartje Verhoef walked 66 shows.
Fashion thrives on trends, both in terms of style and casting practices. And the same wave that brought Brazilian models Gisele, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Adriana Lima to the forefront is now zeroing on Dominican models, according to Vogue.
Established models Arlenis Sosa and Omahyra Mota were just been the beginning; meet the five models taking plátano power to global heights:
1
Lineisy Montero
In March 2015, Montero, who was discovered at a Santo Domingo amusement park, walked her very first runway show for Prada, bringing some diversity to the Italian shows. While everyone around her wore slick ponytails, she sported a small afro. The same hair that caused her to be picked on as a kid was what made her stand out among the crowd.
As a newbie, Montero didn’t realize what a career-making moment it was. “I truly didn’t understand how important that show was,” she told The Guardian. “I had not walked for any designer, ever.” Now, with 68 shows under her belt in one season she’s a seasoned pro.
In August, Teen Vogue named her one of the three new faces to know.
2
Afrodita Dorado Dominguéz
Posted by Afrodita Dorado Domínguez on Friday, October 16, 2015
Afrodita Dorado Dominguéz wasn’t as visible as Montero, but walking for Stella McCartney, Acne Studios, and Balenciaga during Paris Fashion Week was all she needed to elevate her profile. The Spanish-Dominican Dorado had only participated in a few runway shows in Spain before walking for Balenciaga, Vice reports.
A few years ago, she met her booking agents, but nothing came of their first encounter. It wasn’t until Dorado’s agent moved to Traffic Models that the two teamed up.
Posted by Afrodita Dorado Domínguez on Monday, August 19, 2013
Having been shaped mostly by living in Madrid, Dorado says she mostly identifies with the European country, and she’s not a fan of reggaeton.
3
Luisana González
Luisana González exclusively debuted for French luxury brand Louis Vuitton. Represented by Ossygeno Models, González didn’t even have to go through the process of casting before she walked for LV. All it took was just one meeting with Nicolas Ghesquiere, but getting to that moment was not easy.
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“I feel very proud and thankful to God, because after waiting for a year to debut internationally, where I went through some difficult moments like the death of my father and undergoing three surgeries for a small tumor on my breast,” she said, according to Diario Libre. “God had this in store for me, and I am 100 percent going to take advantage of it.”
She and Montero belong to the same agency and are already building a solid squad.
4
Ysaunny Brito
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Having debuted in 2012, Ysaunny Brito has perhaps the most established career. Much like Kendall Jenner, Brito has Love magazine’s Katie Grand riding for her. Grand has cast Brito in many of the shows that she has styled.
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Fall 2014 was her breakout season, but she hasn’t slowed down since. She’s walked for Jil Sander, Akris, and Kanye West-approved Maison Margiela.
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Outside of modeling, Brito sings and plays the guitar.
5
Mily Reuter
The half-German, half-Dominican model has walked for Rodarte, Marques Almeida, and 3.1 Phillip Lim. In classic supermodel fashion, Reuter was discovered when she was 14 years old at a supermarket in Higüey by Sandro Guzman.
Though she doesn’t quite have Cara Delevingne’s brows, hers have become part of her signature look.