Bekah has never confided in me why she chose to model, and I have never asked because it was always besides the point. But it is obvious that it is something she takes very seriously and works very hard at. Patient, attitude free. Sweet and calm, she inspires in the people she works with an intense feeling of protectiveness and pride.
Last November as every magazine was calling for her, as she was whizzing back and forth between London, Paris and New York, her Mom pulled back on her schedule because she was missing too much school. Six campaigns was enough she decided and that very shrewd decision keyed me into an interesting fact.

 

Photos: Mario Sorrenti for W

 

At 14, Bekah is still too young to work in most markets. To do a full runway season in Paris and New York, one must be at least sixteen. Milan is a little bit more lax, but even that is beginning to tighten. It means Bekah has another two years before she can have a full fledged modeling career. And if the girl is this fashion savvy at fourteen, at sixteen that savvy could be show stopping.
But whatever happens, Bekah Jenkins, a quiet, down to earth fourteen year old from upstate NY has already changed the eye of the industry. She has left behind pictures which are new, now, intelligent, provocative and most importantly of all original.
For this reason alone she is inspiring and fashion without inspiration is just a bitter and boring business. Bekah Jenkins is 14 and she is about to create a whole new look.


Photo: Elaine Constantine

 

-- Wayne Sterling