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More from Hexa by Kuho S/S 14 Paris
fashionmag
fashionmag
Student turned French Model
The average Georgia College student does not attend school for one semester only to walk as a model in Paris Fashion Week less than a year later. Then again, Jade de Lavareille is not your average GC student.
Having been modeling for just more than a year, de Lavareille has already walked in Paris Fashion Week for world-renowned fashion designer John Galliano. She has met her fashion idol, supermodel Karlie Kloss, and has even been featured on the prestigious Vogue website.
But before the photo shoots and casting calls that now fill her schedule, the 5-foot-9 model attended classes, lived in the dorms and ate at The MAX just like any other GC freshman. Unlike her classmates, however, de Lavareille was living a Hannah Montana-inspired lifestyle: student by day and model by night.
“It was very funny to be in two completely different worlds at the same time, but it was always very important to me to stay focused on the studies,” de Lavareille said.
Not straying too far from the spotlight, the French international student studied with the Theatre Department on campus, taking acting classes and directing acting scenes. She even played a role in last year’s on-campus production of “The Birds.”
Karen Berman, the artistic director of Theatre Programs at GC, recalls de Lavareille in the classroom.
“Jade was a super spirit to have in class,” Berman said. “She gave off an aura, and I knew she would be perfect in my production because of her presence and movement skills.”
From her good poise and trendy style, one would think de Lavareille had been modeling all her life. However, her introduction to the modeling world was a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
A few months before she came to GC, de Lavareille was shopping in a mall near her home in France when she stumbled across a modeling competition and signed up as a participant.
The competition turned out to be Elite Model Look, an annual modeling competition hosted by Elite Model Management, which uses the competition to discover and launch the careers of unknown female fashion models. And for de Lavareille, that is just what it did.
She ended up being one of the 12 selected finalists out of the more than 10,000 women who tried out for the competition. Though she did not come in first place, her talent was recognized and rewarded nonetheless.
“It was one year ago that I realized I might have the potential to work as a model,” de Lavareille said, “and now I’ve signed a worldwide contract with the agency IMG and have been working full time ever since.”
On her success as a professional model, her GC friends, such as her former roommate Katie Stratton, have had nothing but kind words of encouragement for her.
“I’m beyond excited and happy for her, and I know she’s destined for supermodel status,” Stratton said.
De Lavareille said she plans to eventually return to school, but explained how she is receiving a different type of education that cannot be taught in a classroom.
“Modeling is like a real school in itself: You learn so much everyday, get to experience incredible things and grow as an individual like no school will ever teach you,” de Lavareille said.
Though her decision to leave GC in order to commit to her modeling career full-time ended up working out in her favor, de Lavareille said the choice was made with a heavy heart.
“Since I was little, I’ve always dreamed to live in the U.S. [GC] was a real haven for me. I had a great time and met amazing people. I really hope I can come back soon!”
By Nicole Krinsky- gcsunade.com
Editorial for Company magazine
Photographer - Cameron McNee
Styling - Oonagh Brennan
Make up - Athena Skouvakis
Hair - Jonathan Dadoun
Model - Jade De Lavareille @IMG
A Sunday smile: shopping and skating in Bondi with Jade De Lavareille from IMG.
PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Swallow