Most of us aspire to be really, truly great at one thing. We want to be a star athlete or a standout artist or the valedictorian of our high school class. But for a very special few, talent isn't limited to a single field. No, if you're someone like Mackenzie Drazan, you're great at pretty much whatever you try.
Approaching six feet, the California native has a look that screams "Model!" and a poise that belies her 17 years. It was a chance encounter during a family trip to London that got her discovered at the age of 12, though she initially shied away from the idea of life in the fashion spotlight. "I had never ever ever thought about modeling because I was really into horseback riding," she says. "My life revolved around school and horses. I was a total tomboy!" So she declined the offer of an agent and concentrated on riding, but soon got approached by scouts who saw her compete.
This of course brings us to one of Mackenzie's other skills: She is a seriously accomplished equestrian. You see, when she does things, she goes all out. More than a dozen years of riding under her belt, she's won tons of competitions and is currently working to qualify for Young Riders, an elite juniors championship that's a virtual Olympic breeding ground. Whenever she's home (and not flying across the world for a show or shoot), she trains for five hours a day.
Now back to that modeling career. How else does one make one's runway debut but by walking in a Valentino couture show? "It was an amazing experience!" she gushes. "The clothes were mind-blowing. Couture is incredible, and everyone was so nice." So there wasn't any of that competitive spirit she's used to with riding? "Not at all. Everybody is always willing to take someone under their wing and comfort their first-show nerves." An important thing when you're a 15-year-old catwalk novice.
Since then, Mackenzie has walked for everyone from Rodarte to Chanel, even jetting off to Scotland for Karl Lagerfeld's regal show at Linlithgow Palace in December. "It was held at night, and they had these little fire pits everywhere so there were actual sparks flying," she says. "The whole castle was lit up, and the show itself was in the courtyard. They obviously didn't plan this, but there was a blizzard and snow was flying all over the place!" Sounds pretty magical (if not a little cold) to us. She's also hit Louis Vuitton runways in Paris and Shanghai and snagged a coveted spot in the brand's locomotive-themed ad campaign last fall. And did we mention her Vogue Italia cover? "That was definitely my favorite shoot. Steven Meisel is amazing! I was on this swing set swinging back and forth in a big, flowy Gucci gown. It was super special." To say the least!
But if you think modeling and competitive horseback riding means Mackenzie's studies have taken a backseat, you would be very wrong. While her insane schedule means traditional schooling isn't feasible, she maintains a near-full course load through Stanford University's online high school, which has her Skyping with classmates from Sweden and China. This past semester she juggled AP Calculus, Physics, and Philosophy, and this summer she's filling out college applications. Her top choice is Princeton, though she plans to defer a year or two to extend her modeling career (and her riding). A pragmatist, Mackenzie knows the runway life isn't forever, but she's eager to stay in fashion. "I'm really interested in business and especially private equity," she says. "I'm fascinated with the idea of buying smaller businesses in order to grow and sell them. I'd love to incorporate my love of fashion with that, maybe buying and selling brands."
Mackenzie Drazan: model, equestrian, Ivy Leaguer, business mogul? Sounds about right to us.
