I think its nice to know that people in the industry are paying attention to all of the hard work youve done throughout the years and rewarding you for it. It reminds you to keep doing it, to keep pushing yourself, and to always remain that way.
Joan SmallsPeople hide behind the word aesthetic. They say, โWell, itโs just that designerโs aesthetic.โ But when you see 18 seasons in a row and not one single model outside a certain skin colorโฆ? There are people in the industry who are advocates, who support diversity. And there are people who do not. I donโt get it. Beauty is universal. These doors have to open.
Joan SmallsA career high was when I did a cover for W Magazines July issue with Steven Meisel. So few girls shoot with Meisel in their career, and a lot of people had told me I would never achieve that, so it was a dream come true.
Joan SmallsPeople donโt realize that when youโre Latin, youโre so diverse. I am black. I am Latin. I am Spanish. You know? Itโs a little bit of everything, and thatโs beautiful. So, everybody, claim me. Iโm fine with that!
Joan SmallsI felt most beautiful on the red carpet in Givenchys sheer lace dress at a dinner hosted by Givenchy in honor of Marina Abramovich at the closing of her Museum of Modern Art retrospective, The Artist is Present, in 2010. It was the first time I had been dressed for an event, and everybody just fell in love with the dress.
Joan Smalls