Before Rebecca Romijn starred in The Librarians, played Mystique in X-Men and hosted GSN’s Skin Wars, she was walking the Victoria’s Secret catwalk and landing Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers. So when she was recently asked what she thinks of the new crop of models filling her stilettos (including the likes of Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid), let’s just say she doesn’t care for them and didn’t hold back explaining why.
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In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight she was asked what she thinks of the new crop of models in the business who are “more famous for their social media presence than their runway experience.” For starters, she says there’s no proof social media followers generate more sales.
“No one has proven yet that numbers of followers translates to revenue. So it is frustrating,” Romijn explains.
In fact, she’s not the only one who feels that way. “I know a lot of people — legitimate fashion people — can’t stand it. Hate it that these, you know, social media stars are now the supermodels in fashion. They are not true supermodels.”
But these models continue to build hype thanks to features in prominent fashion magazines. “And the thing is, I have always looked to Vogue magazine to lead the way, not be a follower,” Romijn continues. “I rely on Vogue to set the standard, not follow what everybody else is doing. So I have been disappointed that fashion magazines have been supporting this trend of social media stars to set our style standards. But it will change; fashion always does.”
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Something in the modeling world she can get behind? Ashley Graham’s Sports Illustrated Swim cover (which she helped reveal with Nick Cannon!).
“Ashley Graham is one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid eyes on. She is incredibly healthy and I think it’s fantastic that SI is opening up our standards of beauty to include somebody that a lot more people in our country can relate to. Women don’t get sexier than Ashley Graham — she is just as hot as can be.”
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Despite working with leading designers in the fashion industry during her time as a model, she reveals it was really the late singer, Prince, that played a large part in her personal style.
“I feel like everything I know — everything I have learned — about style, sex appeal, attitude and generosity in performance comes from him. I can’t even believe it,” she expressed. “I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it still. I think we all are.”
She’s coping with the loss with something she thinks Prince would appreciate: a dance party. “My daughters [twins Dolly and Charlie] are already very familiar with Prince. My girls and I have been blasting Prince since we heard the news, which is what I think he would have wanted: For us all to have a party rather than to go into grief.”
What do you think of star’s stance on “social media” supermodels? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
— Colleen Kratofil
