Daphne Groeneveld
Daphne Groeneveld, 21, is leading the New Supers. A different generation of working models whose success isn’t made in Instagram followings or pop star boyfriends. For them it’s all about being really, really ridiculously good looking and wearing clothes exceptionally well. Since being scouted in Amsterdam aged 16, Daphne’s résumé includes walking for Valentino, Chanel and Dior, fronting campaigns for everyone from H&M to Tom Ford, and dancing with Madonna for a Miu
Miu advert. Here are the 13 things you need to know about the 5ft 11in model we’re calling ‘The Face’.
1. I STARTED MODELLING YOUNG. People always go, ‘Awww, she’s a little baby,’ but this business makes you grow up fast. It’s not easy at a young age as you get a lot of criticism. At the beginning you take it personally. Only now am I getting more confident with my age and learning it’s just a job.
2. NOW I LIVE IN CHELSEA, New York. I moved there from Holland aged 18 and got homesick. I’m from a quiet village and it was super lonely, so I went back home. I moved back two years ago with three Dutch model friends, and it’s a lot more fun.
3. MY MOST ‘FASHION’ MOMENT WAS
Tom Ford’s fall 2015 show in LA. Rose petals fell from the air in the finale. Tom’s shows are always intimate.
4. I TOOK CATWALK TRAINING TWICE. It didn’t help. I used to be nervous on the runway, so the only thing I’d think was, ‘Just don’t trip!’ Now I just feel the beat and walk. When I was growing up, I would put on heels and walk back and forth during the advert breaks on TV. 5. I CALL MY DAD, JAN-WILLEM, FOR
ADVICE. He’s great for financial stuff because I don’t know anything about it. I call my mum for personal stuff.
6. MY FRIENDS ASK ME HOW TO stay healthy. I work out five to seven times a week. I feel lazy if I don’t. I also have a personal trainer and go to classes: pilates, running, yoga. I do it all.
7. I CAN ONLY DO 10 PRESS-UPS. My legs
are the strong bit, honest.
8. EGGS ARE ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE ready to scramble. Not the proper way, though: I don’t put milk or butter in.
9. I LOVE TO DANCE. I DID PROFESSIONAL
ballet until I was 16, but I don’t have time for classes now so it’s mainly dancing to Drake on a night out.
10. MY MOST TREASURED ITEM IS my black leather jacket. It’s from Maje and it goes with absolutely everything.
11. I PREFER INSTAGRAM TO SNAPCHAT.
I deleted my Instagram two years ago but my agents got mad; they were like, it’s a really important part of the job, so I’m back on it. I like to watch other models, designers and photographers.
12. I’M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR
sticking in this business. It’s not easy and people don’t always realise. My friends back home say, ‘It’s so fun, you just go to shoots, have your picture taken, blah, blah, blah...’ but you have to be strong to not take criticism personally. I’m proud to be healthy, and have a good mindset in this game.
13. I WANT TO MODEL FOR another five years, then hopefully have kids and a husband. I always thought I was going to end up back in Holland, but now I think about surfing in the sun in LA.