Michelle Valencourt

[Mr-Dale]

A girl that is very much growing on me. Don't know if she's done runway, but here are some pics anyway:

From Traffic Models.

 

[Mr-Dale]

And from Why Not Models:

 

[Mr-Dale]

More from Why Not:

 

[yourbestfriend]

Yes she has done runway, back a few years ago and also a burberry campaign. She took a break to finish school but I think she has started up again, i remember someone posting an editorial from japan last week. Shes with IMG new york.


[font=verdana, arial, helvetica][font=verdana, arial, helvetica]Career includes:[/font]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica] Campaigns: APC, Burberry, Genny

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica] Covers: Dove, The Look

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica] Shows: Ann Demeulemeester, Blaak, Boyd, Clements Ribeiro, Emma Cook, Eplay, Gibo by Julie Verhoeven, Girbaud, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Markus Lupfer, Martine Sitbon, Nicole Farhi, Preen, Roland Mouret, Russell Sage, Boyd, Eley Kishimoto, Elspeth Gibson, House of Jazz, Jens Laugesen, Jill Stuart, John Rocha, Luella Bartley, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Maria Chen-Pascual, Paul Smith, Sophia Kokosalaki, Warren Noronha[/font][/font][/font][/font]

 

[yourbestfriend]

Former Model of the week when she was 14:

http://models.com/model_culture/model_of_week/michelle_valencourt/index.html

 

[yourbestfriend]

An edit by Michael Thompson in Sept2003 W

 

[Mr-Dale]

Fantastic thanks! And I will be looking for runway pics then, any time soon.

 

[Ginie]

here is the video of h&m's commercial with Michelle :

http://dl4.rapidshare.de/files/4472561/63488289/michelle_-_yasmine_h_m.asxhttp://dl2.rapidshare.de/files/4472299/63470324/caitriona_h_m.asx
(click right then "save target as...")

 

[yourbestfriend]

new pics from michelesintl.com

 

[sasseestefanie]

She has a really nice bone structure

 

[s'ngac]

new pics from michelesintl.com

Pictures deleted: Quoting a picture is not allowed.

Last 2 pics from recent Japanese magazine, I am glad to see her again. She has eyes with strong will, I think.

 

[yourbestfriend]

Shes in London now
article from modelresource.ca

Michelle Valencourt
April 11, 2006

Four years ago Liisa Winkler and Tasha Tilberg were flying the Canadian flag proudly, and Yasmin Warsame was beginning to make a serious impression. Obviously they weren't the first Canadians to make major fashion statements, but still this country's models were seen as wildcards at best.

It wasn't until names like Daria, Stam and Heather Marks started to resonate that the rest of the world recognized Canada was not a country of one-offs. Almost immediately scouts turned their gaze northward, searching from Victoria to St. John's for the next among this country's offerings, and signalling the beginning of a trend that still shows no signs of waning.

Although Marks, Stam and Daria have continued their assault on the fashion world, there was another model that also broke ground and gave early indications she would be a major force for years to come.

Technically Michelle Valencourt's association with the modelling industry started when she was nine years old. But it wasn't until she was 14 that her agent, International Model Management's Michèle Miller, started promoting her internationally.



Miller and Valencourt set off for Europe in 2002 and that's when things (like camera shutters) started to click. "When I first went to Paris and Milan with her the reaction was amazing," Miller recalls. "David Sims immediately booked her for POP magazine. Then Burberry followed, then TOP SHOP. In Paris she shot Jalouse, Marie Claire and she then booked the APC campaign two seasons in a row."

By November, influential fashion website Hintmag.com had taken note as well, writing:

"Canadian Michelle Valencourt has managed to make the successful change from child model to teen runway sensation. Recent appearances in British Vogue, The Face, i-D and Dazed & Confused ensure that she is on the right track. Michelle also shot the Burberry eyewear campaign and walked for Ann Demeulemeester, Martine Sitbon and APC in Paris. The Canuck won't stop here."​

That's true. She didn't stop. But her bookings slowed down dramatically.


It's not unheard of for hot new models to fall quickly out of favour. With Valencourt however, that wasn't the case. Rather, this model stepped away from the industry on her own terms.

An exceptional student, Valencourt didn't just enjoy her studies, she loved the classroom so much she planned on making her career as a high school teacher. "Michelle is a very bright girl academically," says Miller. "I fully understood her reasons and need to be in school. My feelings were mixed as I felt Michelle was on a good curve, however I totally supported that decision."

Valencourt still modelled in her spare time, taking regular turns at Toronto's L'Oréal Fashion Week, and finding regular work through designers like Joeffer Caoc.

Last summer Valencourt finished high school (her grad dress was designed by Caoc) and almost immediately went to Tokyo to restart her career. Following that she worked in Barcelona and Milan, and recently travelled to London, where I caught up with her.

Valencourt will be featured in IMM's 13th Annual Cover Model Search, April 30th in Barrie.


Modelresource (MR How are things going for you?

Michelle Valencourt (MV Really well... really well. It was kind of slow when I got here because it was show week in Paris and Milan, then clients had to recuperate. I didn't end up going to Paris and Milan, but I've been going to so many go-sees and meeting with photographers and stylists. I've had a really good response.

I've shot with a really great photographer here in London and I'll be shooting with her again on Wednesday for Nylon magazine.

MR: How is it different this time?

MV: The competition now is so much more fierce because there are so many new girls in the industry. When I was 14 and seen as the fresh new face people really took to me, whereas now it's more difficult because there are so many new girls and you have to re-introduce yourself. Other than that, London is London and it's my favourite place to be, fashion-wise. It's my home-away-from-home in the fashion industry.


MR: Why did you choose to come now?

MV: I came over for the shows and to meet clients - and what better time to meet with people and let them know you're back in it? London was always my market. When I was 14 I came to London when New York was a little bit iffy, and Paris was a little bit iffy - London I booked so much - I was just working, working, working. So I came back to London to see if I could get back into the market the same way I did when I was younger.

It's kind of been a different experience this trip. I'm just getting back into the industry and still meeting clients and meeting people I haven't seen in years.

MR: Do they remember you?

MV: Yeah, a lot of them remember me. They're like "Where did you go?" Because I just sort of dropped out. But a lot of them remember me and they're like "It's so good to have you back."

It's so different for me because when I was younger I never did these commercial castings, and some are really embarrassing.

I had one the other day for a video game, and I walked in to the casting and they said "Okay, cry! Just start crying, show deep despair." And I'm like "How do I do that?" They said they could do a couple of takes, and I actually did start crying. I was proud of myself. It's good experience - a little embarrassing - but now I know I can do it.


MR: Will you be heading back to London after returning home?

MV: I think so. It's so close to Paris and Milan, and I think I would rather be here. They asked me where I was going to be based and I'm like "In Canada?" They said that's not going to work. So I think I'm going to be based in London, but still live in Canada with my parents.

MR: What are your accomodations like here?

MV: I'm staying in a models' apartment here and I love it! A lot of people ask me how I can live like that, but I love my roommates. It's like having a bunch of sisters. You just chill out and go sightseeing together.

In my own flat I would be so lonely. I'm over here away from my parents and my boyfriend, and I would just be sitting by myself.

MR: How are things with your boyfriend?

MV: We've been together for a-year-and-a-half. I didn't want to be in a relationship, because it's so difficult with all the travel. We kind of got into it, and this is our first trip apart that's been more than a week.

It's been challenging but absence really does make the heart grow fonder, and coming home this time is so much more special.

MR: What are your roommates like?

MV: I'm actually living with four girls right now. Two are Brazilian, one is from Russia and one is from Paris. But we all get along.

MR: It must be fascinating to get a taste of so many cultures?

MV: It's interesting you would say "taste" because yesterday I went out with my two Brazilian roommates to a Brazilian restaurant and I'm looking at all this stuff saying "What's that?" Not only am I in London, England, but I've made Brazilian friends and had Brazilian food. I have an Arabic friend and he takes me out for Arabic food. If I was living alone in a flat I don't know that I would have experienced all that.

MR: So you really keep an open outlook?

MV: Oh yeah, I love experiencing new things. That's why I find modelling so beneficial and so fun. You just find so many different experiences that are life-changing. I just grasp and hold on to everything I learn from my travels.

MR: Education has always been very important to you. How does that figure into your future plans?

MV: I graduated high school in June and still have plans to go to university to become a teacher - it's still my dream. I want to teach history and English.

With university though, it doesn't matter how old you are. For now I want to model and see how far I can take that - make some money and get back to where I was when I was younger.

MR: Do you plan on doing your formal studies in a classroom setting, or over the internet?

MV: I've always loved school and a lot of people may not see it as an experience, but I see it as such a life forming experience. I would rather do it in a classroom.

 

[yourbestfriend]

Part 2

Modelresource (MR): What do models need to know when they move to London?

Michelle Valencourt (MV): The first thing is to get your work permit. I had such a nightmare with that. I was supposed to come over before show week, and I got my work permit - Premier (her London agency) organized that for me - it was going really well...

When I was younger I used to be able to just take my work permit to the airport with my passport, and I was gone. But now you have to apply for an entry permit which gives you leave of entry to use your work permit in London. It's just a real mess. So just give yourself at least six weeks to get it before you come over. It definitely delayed my trip.

But London is a phenomenal market - really friendly clients and you just need to be a really fresh face - just be yourself. It's a pretty chill market compared to other places. You can be yourself with clients here.

MR: What types of bookings can models expect?

MV: London is phenomenal for magazines. Pop, ID, Dazed & Confused... it absolutely is an excellent editorial market.

Right now the catalogues are going. I'm an editorial type of girl but I'm doing TV commercials and stuff, which I definitely was not expecting. I'm getting a lot of requests for catalogue and commercial, which when you're an editorial girl you don't expect to get requests for catalogue, but there's a lot of catalogue right now, and after show season the campaigns start. It's a little bit of everything, but I would definitely say London is the best for me.


MR: Do you find it easy to get around?

MV: It's pretty easy - there's no language barrier.

The tube (subway) is so simple and there are no express trains that blow past your stop like in New York.

I would saying that as far as getting around, London is the most simple city. Distances are far, like when you're going to castings you probably want to give yourself an hour in between, but it's very simple to get around.

When you have you London A-Z, it's like you're bible here. It gets you around so easily.

MR: How do you find the people?

MV: I think London's people are really friendly, they have a great sense of humour, you can tallk to anyone and everyone is interested in what you're all about. If you're in to the nightlife - I mean I'm not so much because I'm still underage at home... I'm not much for partying - but there's really great nightlife.

MR: What about the "tourist" thing?

MV: Oh, I'm such a tourist! It's phenomenal - the architecture... I do all the cheesy things like the London Dungeon. I've always been a tourist because if not now, I may never come back to London.

I know a lot of models that say "why are you going around sightseeing - you should rest." And I'm like "You're in London, England!" I always do the touristy thing.

I did the Tower of London this weekend. That was a phenomenal history lesson. It's expensive, but I would say it's worth it. I'm a history buff and I get into the history behind the Tower of London - all the medieval background.

MR: Have you had any technology issues?

MV: Money I never have a problem with because they take Mastercard, but here you have to have a PIN instead of a signature. A lot of tourists coming over here don't know their PIN. As far as debit machines, anywhere that has a PLUS sign, or INTERAC sign... the bank machines here often don't even have service charges.

My cell phone - there's a different frequency on mine, but a lot of cell phones you can get unlocked - I'm not sure you're supposed to - but a lot of places here are licensed to unlock cell phones and then you get a phone calling plan that costs 5p (roughly 10 cents) a minute to call anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. That's cheaper than to call in the U.K.

modelresource.ca

 

[yourbestfriend]

premier

 

[yourbestfriend]

Im hoping she'll break back in somehow because I always admire it when a model leaves when shes hot to go back to school....

michelesintl

 

[Atelier]

Thanks for posting that interview, ybf!

 

[s'ngac]

One of her new work can be seen in current issue of Nylon Japan.

 

[TheGlassAngel]

Yay, so she's coming back. She came out onto the runway around the same time as Stammy except I read somewhere that she took a break from modeling for a while.

 

[stefcia007]

img

 

[stefcia007]

img