Malaika Firth

[Milkita]

I think she just became my new fav black model, she is so sweet & funny based on her YouTube video

 

[UrbanFashionista]

She looks very exotic. What's her ethnic background?

She's biracial. Born in Kenya. raised in UK. I'm guessing African, & European descent.

 

[Fiercification]

I really hope that her agency keeps her selective this upcoming season. A certain exclusive from youknowwho might help in Milan of course .

I just seem to be noticing two trends. One is that the '50 show per season stomping, all-editorial and ad consuming' concept isn't really adding up to long-term success for new models.

The other thing is that if Malaika becomes the 'token black model' of next season then she could very much end up with half-***ed print success, as Cora, Jasmine and Grace have.

So in the interest of long term success I would hope that she takes the next season or two slowly. Let's see at any rate .

 

[anlabe32]

I wonder if exclusivity will help her to be honest... Jasmine Tookes was really exclusive in S/S 2012 and she had no success... same goes for Roberta Narciso.

But things might work out differently for Malaika since she already had two huge deals before doing a full fashion week.

 

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Yeah Roberta and Jasmine kind of selectively hit the runway without Prada campaigns under their belts. I also kind of think height will be a bit of an issue if her cards aren't played right, but who knows, it's really hit-or-miss. Would honestly kind of like to see her with Women in New York and Paris as she's with them in Milan..but we'll see what NYMM and Nathalie can do with her.

 

[nrllaless]

Loving all these 'new' faces coming from this runway season. Hopefully her career has some longevity and real substance.

 

[Fiercification]

Another Prada shot


Digital Edition Elle UK via Mat_Cyruss

Love her poise here, think I prefer it to the initial image.

 

[ad31214]

Her eyes absolutely kill me, so glad she has two shots.

 

[liralita]

Really love her in the Prada campaign. I agree that they lightened her skin to an unnecessary degree, but one of the first steps of altering an image like that is to illuminate the shadows to increase the amount of detail shown. Anyway, awesome for Malaika.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

I honestly think IMG is going to sweep her away soon. Unless NYMM has some extreme tight contract now she will probably be poached as all new girls who score major campaigns with smaller agencies do.


This new shot is breathtaking. I was reading an online article on her and it says she shot with i-D Magazine. Has it been posted or will that be new?

 

[pellucid]

Prada F/W 13.14

 

[simplylovely]

She could've done more in the clip, but she looks stunning, for the quick second she was in it lol

 

[ad31214]

Model Call: Malaika Firth | By Lauren McCarthy

Just two years into her modeling career, 19-year-old Malaika Firth is being hailed as “the new Naomi” — and for good reason. The Brit’s starring role in Prada’s fall campaign — alongside Christy Turlington and Freja Beha, among others — marks the first black model to be featured in the house’s ads since Miss Campbell in 1994.

While Firth, who was born in Kenya, describes the honor as “amazing,” she might prefer a different claim to fame. The next Julia Child, perhaps?

“I love cooking,” the Premier-repped model says. “[My speciality is] rice and curry.”

Back in London for a stretch of editorial castings, Firth called WWD to chat Prada and more.

WWD: What made you pursue modeling?
Malaika Firth: Basically, I watched the program “The Model Agency” on Channel 4. And I’m very fond of Premier models and I really wanted to join the agency, so my mom called up. I was 17.

WWD: Has your mom always been supportive?
M.F.: Yes. My mom took me to all my castings. She would still take me to them now, but I told her, “It’s enough, mom.”

WWD: Is it hard to be away from your family?
M.F.: It is, because with such a strong family, we’re really bonded together. For me to go away the first time to New York by myself, I was so nervous. After a couple of weeks, I found it easier.

WWD: Tell me how you first hooked up with Prada.
M.F.: I had a casting in New York, and the next day I was called in to shoot [the fall campaign]. My agency took me into a room and told me, “You’ve got the Prada campaign.” I was, like, ecstatic. I was so excited.

WWD: What was it like to be on set?
M.F.: Oh my gosh. It was the best. When I went in there, everyone was so nice and friendly. I felt completely different — like a changed person when I put the jacket and big heels and the bag on. I didn’t feel like Malaika. I felt like someone else. When I shot with Steven Meisel, he was very humble and very straightforward. It was amazing.

WWD: Who else was on set that day?
M.F.: There were a couple of models. Christy Turlington, Catherine McNeil…

WWD: Did you know that these were major models?
M.F.: On set, I was just speaking to them and they didn’t tell me, so I didn’t realize. They were very down to earth. When it came out, and I searched myself on Google, I saw their pictures and heard that Christy Turlington is a big model. I was like, “Wow! I didn’t realize that.”

WWD: How did Christy act on set?
M.F.: When she was having her hair and makeup done, I was watching her and how she is to other people, and she is very nice. She’s very genuine and focused.

WWD: Where were you when you first saw the campaign?
M.F.: I was in IKEA. I was buying a sofa and I heard my phone ring. My agency was like, “The pictures are out.” I was so excited. I screamed in IKEA. I couldn’t help it.

WWD: You are the first black model to be featured in a Prada campaign since Naomi Campbell in 1994. How does that feel?
M.F.: I’m proud that I’m the second black model, but also, I’m mixed. I’m biracial. I find it really good that I’m not white and I’m not black. It’s amazing. Naomi Campbell is so big, so for me to be compared with her is wow.

WWD: Who do you look toward as role models within the industry?
M.F.: I look up to Jourdan Dunn and Joan Smalls. I met Jourdan in Oxford Circus two years ago when I just started modeling. She was supersweet. I thought she was going to be a diva, but she was so friendly.

WWD: After you did the campaign, you walked in the Prada men’s show. How did that come about?
M.F.: I just got a call from my agency saying I’m doing the men’s show. I didn’t believe it. I was like, “Really? I just did the campaign and now I have to do the men’s show. Wow!” It was my first show.

WWD: Were you nervous to work with so many male models?
M.F.: Actually, I wasn’t. All the guys were very nice. I found it quite exciting and less stressful because you’re not wearing heels and the main focus is for the guys, not the girls.

WWD: How does it feel to be booking these major jobs so early in your career?
M.F.: It didn’t just happen like that. I’ve worked so hard for myself. I’ve done a lot of editorial shoots to get this Prada job and stuff. I feel like I’ve worked so hard to be where I am right now.

wwd

 

[fashionlover2001]

Hopefully she'll have a good future ahead of her.
More diversity in this industry is definitely a step in the right direction.

 

[simplylovely]

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us.asos.com​

 

[simplylovely]

same source​

 

[simplylovely]

same source​

 

[nrllaless]

Looking at the ASOS pics, is appalling how much they lightened her skin for the Prada ads.

 

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LOVE #10 The Sweetie Issue : Minnie Mouse by Miuccia Prada
'The Collections' by Solve Sundsbo. Styling by Panos Yiapanis.
Exclusively for LOVE.

 

[simplylovely]

^ Really, she wasn't even in the clip a second!