Graduating from high school is a major accomplishment for any teenager, but when you’ve been balancing schoolbooks with time spent on the runway for some of fashion’s premier designers, getting your diploma takes on a special significance. Molly Bair has made a name for herself modeling for Proenza Schouler, Chanel, and Marc Jacobs, but up until recently Bair did double duty as a buzzed-about model and Pennsylvania honor student. Many models choose to eschew school once they begin working in fashion, but for the studious Bair, that was never an option. “I’m not going to say that starting my modeling career while still in high school was my best decision because of the extra responsibilities,” Bair tells Style.com, “but I definitely don’t regret it.”
From the moment Bair debuted on Proenza Schouler’s Spring 2015 runway, her unique look became a talking point in modeling circles. With photographers, editors, and media outlets like CNN all focusing their attentions on her, Bair credits her classmates with keeping her grounded. “I think the best part was being able to go home after working in Europe or New York and just relax with my high school friends,” says Bair. Longtime pals like her tennis teammates provided her with much-needed normalcy and a few exciting milestones of their own: Bair counts going to compete in the state championships with her team as one of her best high school moments.
With her focus now on finding the right college—schools like UC Berkeley, Columbia, and NYU are high on her wish list—Bair looks back fondly on her high school days. “I will miss messing around with my friends all day, but mostly I’ll miss expanding my knowledge and all of the good memories.” Though her graduation was bittersweet, Bair feels the experiences she picked up in school will always stay with her. “Since I began four years ago, I have become more confident, better at dealing with sleep deprivation—and 5 inches taller!”