These days the prevalence of social media within the fashion industry is indisputable, heralded by Instagram success stories like Gigi and Lucky Blue. But the poster children are a low hanging fruit and scouts searching strictly for ready-made models with colossal followings may be missing out on undiscovered gems in the more remote corners of the platform. So is the thinking of IMG Models’ @WeLoveYourGenes #WLYG Instagram scouting program, which has already launched a small club of rising newfaces. Alexis Primous for example won W Magazine’s #WmagModelSearch in partnership with the We Love Your Genes team. Or Allyson Chalmers, who went from a long-stemmed, 17-year-old girl to a S/S 16 Calvin Klein exclusive in the snap of IMG’s fingers, all thanks to the ubiquitousness of social media’s reach. Clara Nebeling rounded up five of IMG’s #WLYG discoveries and photographed their winning qualities abroad in Paris, styled by Clelia Cazals.
Photography by Clara Nebeling for Models.com / Stylist Clelia Cazals
Allyson Chalmers
Black jacket: Tara Jarmon Black pullover: Spring sioux Black skirt: Primark Shoes: What For
Beasley Nester
HarmonyBlue pullover: Harmony black collar: vintage black skirt: Harmony Shoes: What For Hat: Primark
Lameka Fox
Grey vest: HarmonyBlack veste: Harmony Pans: Ted Baker Shoes: Kris Van Assche
Kelsey Kruk
Black coat: Alain Figaret/ Leather Top: Springsioux/ Transparent Skirt: Springsioux Shoes: Kris van Assche
Alexis Primous
Black coat: Springsioux White blouse: Tara jarmon Black pans: Issey Miyake Shoes: lanvin
