An Angel on the Lido
At 35, Stella Maxwell needs no introduction in the fashion world. Victoria's Secret Angel from 2015 to 2021, face of Max Factor, spokesperson for brands like Roberto Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Chanel, Balmain – her presence in Venice wasn't that of an influencer seeking visibility, but of an established professional who has earned her place in the firmament of international fashion.
Voted "world's sexiest woman" by Maxim in 2016, beating Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, Stella represents the category of top models who have transformed the runway into art and the red carpet into a natural extension of their work.
An International Journey
Stella's story is that of a true citizen of the world. Born in Brussels on May 15, 1990 to Northern Irish parents (father Maurice was a European Union diplomat), she grew up in Belgium until age 13, attending the European School.
The family then moved to Canberra, Australia, and then to Wellington, New Zealand, where Stella attended Queen Margaret College. While studying Psychology at the University of Otago, she was discovered during her first year and began her modeling career.
At 19 she left university, moved to Paris – where the Viva agency cut her hair in a short, funky style – and the rest is history. The family returned to Northern Ireland, while Stella conquered international runways.
From Modeling to the Red Carpet
Stella's career is impressive in variety and prestige:
- She walked for Alexander McQueen, Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Versace, Fendi, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger
- She appeared on Vogue covers (UK, Japan, Italy, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Thailand), and graced the covers of Marie Claire, Elle, Madame Figaro
- She created her own bag line with The Kooples together with Irina Shayk
- She participated in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show of 2014, becoming an Angel the following year
Her presence in Venice for the "Duse" premiere – biopic about legendary Italian actress Eleonora Duse directed by Pietro Marcello – wasn't coincidental: Stella has built a solid relationship with film festivals over the years, regularly appearing in Venice and Cannes.
Our Visual Twins Perspective
Photographing Stella Maxwell is photographing an absolute professional. After years of international runways, Vogue covers, and Victoria's Secret fashion shows, she knows exactly how to move in front of the camera.
There isn't the hesitation of the emerging influencer nor the artificiality of someone forcing a pose. There's the studied naturalness of someone who has made this profession an art form. Every angle is perfect, every movement calculated but never rigid, every expression calibrated to create the right image.
On the "Duse" red carpet, Stella demonstrated why international top models deserve to be in Venice: they bring authentic glamour, that presence that comes from years of work at the highest levels, from hundreds of editorials, from dozens of shows for the world's most prestigious designers. Follow @visual.twins to discover where international fashion meets cinema with credibility and substance.
