Grace Mahary

[bluestar]

Grace Mahary: Inside the Top Model’s Vanity
Beauty comes naturally, but for Canadian runway regular Grace Mahary hair is no slam dunk. Go inside the top model's vanity.
BY RANI SHEEN
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

Grace Mahary has walked every high-fashion runway, from Chanel to Givenchy to Michael Kors, but she was once more scrappy point guard than Prada sophisticate. The Alberta-raised model was on her high school basketball team, and it took a tooth being knocked out mid-game to convince her to pursue modelling seriously.

Now 24, Mahary has her already-glowing skin and almond eyes primped by the world’s top makeup artists—from whom she’s picked up more than a few tricks along the way. But during the fashion month marathon (Mahary walked 32 shows in four cities during the Fall 2014 season), all that pampering can become painful.

Backstage at Alexander Wang, models’ brows were bleached with peroxide; the process left tears streaming down sensitive-skinned Mahary’s face. But like a true pro, she refused to complain. “What? Those were tears of joy,” she says when asked about the ordeal. “Bleach warriors!”

It’s Mahary’s masses of fine curls that take the brunt of the beauty beating. “My hair is subject to intense amounts of heat on a daily basis,” she says.

“To protect it I condition, use hair masks and try not to wash it very often.” Usually, every model in a fashion show wears the same hairstyle, which for Mahary means constant straightening.

Black models are still a minority on the runways, and Mahary, who’s of Eritrean descent, agrees that many stylists aren’t up to the task of working with her natural hair, and can leave it fried.

She’s in high-profile company: Model Jourdan Dunn has spoken out about makeup artists’ lack of ability to work on her as a reflection of the fashion industry’s dearth of diversity. “But thankfully,” Mahary says, “on most of the shows I walk, there are a couple of hairstylists on the team who are extremely versatile and talented.”

When she wants to style her own hair smooth, Mahary blow-dries it in sections from the bottom upward and preserves the blowout by going easy on product and sleeping with a silk head wrap at night.

As for her secret to a wash-and-go curly style that embraces her natural texture: “I’m still testing out new products,” she admits. “I haven’t perfected it.”

thekit.com

 

[_incognito]

It's so unfortunate, Grace was a runways staple just a couple seasons ago. It's a shame the industry is so fickle with these girls.

I don't understand how so many bookers/designers can decide not to book a girl at the same time. Or is there some type of domino effect?

 

[Gaultier_Bandit]

It's so unfortunate, Grace was a runways staple just a couple seasons ago. It's a shame the industry is so fickle with these girls.

I don't understand how so many bookers/designers can decide not to book a girl at the same time. Or is there some type of domino effect?

Is she even in Milan. She def was, but probably decided to skip it all together given the outcome.

 

[FND74]

Blame the casting directors. Ive a feeling there is also budget issues. Lots of newbies work for minimal (standard) pay just for credits of walking a top show. In NY a lot of newbies walk for free (paid in clothes even). Established girls maybe has a higher price so designers may budget for only a few stars to maintain their level. The rest all goes to new. Bad season for top models.

 

[2ou3choses]

Show Package - Paris S/S 2015: IMG



models.com

 

[nataliaapple]

I hope to see her soon. It's like Leila Nda has become the new token black girl. I love that's she's getting work but they need to spread the love. I miss Grace

 

[bluestar]

^ Grace is in Paris so hopefully she shows up at a good show or two (can't really expect more than that though - Casting directors are just not into her this season which is a shame because Grace lights up every show she walk in).

 

[nataliaapple]

It's not just her that they aren't into. I've barely seen Senait, Cora, Anais and so many others on the runway. I thought Spring was the season designers use more women of color. Not so much this time around. =\

 

[Gaultier_Bandit]

She is greatly missed. I will just wither away and die if she doesnt show up at at Chanel or Dior.

 

[bluestar]

Grace attended the Balmain After Party...if only she walked the show. Anyways, she looked gorgeous wearing Mikhael Kale.ink:

@mikhaelkale at Balmain

gracemahary/websta.me

Having fun with my girls @balmainparis after party! Love u

websta.me/sharamdiniz

Wish she walked a show already...hopefully Karl still has some love for her and books her for Chanel.

 

[Firefly216]

^ and Givenchy! Where it all started

 

[Bruce7Lee]

Let's hope that maybe she is a Europe exclusive of givenchy or something...

 

[FashionFanatico]

Karl will be her saviour - hopefully

 

[Gaultier_Bandit]

I will cry if shes not at CHANEL.

 

[FashionFanatico]

Chanel S/S 2015 Paris

style

 

[Firefly216]

^ Happy to see her there!

 

[bluestar]

I seriously cried when I saw her walk Chanel...so beyond happy that Karl stayed faithful to her and that she finally walked a show in a Europe.

 

[LagerfeldBoy]

OMG I read that she was a Chanel exclusive! YASSS, get it, gurl!

 

[Firefly216]

^ I have never heard of that before! Good for her, hope she can get the campaign and get editorials by Karl/Carine

 

[TheoG]

^ WOW! Great for her, I was wondering where she has been. It would be nice to see her star in the campaign its obvious Karl is quite fond of her.