Meet Ruth Bell, the Model Everyone’s Talking About
SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 4:50 PM
by JANELLE OKWODU
With her platinum buzz cut and bright blue eyes, it’s pretty hard to miss Ruth Bell. On the Milan runways, she’s proven herself one of the week’s most popular commodities, booking Italian fashion mainstays like Versace, Gucci, Etro, and Max Mara. For Bell, who has been modeling since 2013 alongside her twin, May (the pair were discovered in a shopping center, competed in Elite’s Model Look contest, and have often appeared in shoots together), this Fashion Week has provided an opportunity to push herself further than ever—and on her own. The appeal of being a twin isn’t lost on Bell, though: “Being a twin is awesome because you have a best friend for life!” she says. “Also, if I ever need an organ, I know I will have a match.”
For Bell, branching out on her own meant a dramatic change, courtesy of hairstylist Paul Hanlon, who gave Bell her now-signature buzz cut. While others would lament losing more than a foot’s worth of mane, Bell found the transformation a no-brainer. “David Sims wanted to cut my hair for the Alexander McQueen campaign,” says Bell. “It was an easy decision!”
The daring cut somehow tapped directly into the Zeitgeist: Bell is now among a group of beauties proudly sporting the bold almost-no-hair style. Since catching the eye of Milan’s discerning casting directors, Bell has seen her career shift into high gear: She made her Milan debut at Alessandro Michele’s Gucci show. It proved daunting at first: “It was a bit nerve-racking because I felt a lot of pressure to do well,” says Bell, “but the chance to take part in such an awesome show was amazing.” The next thrill came courtesy of Donatella Versace, who tapped her for the label’s powerful Spring showing and provided an experience Bell considers the best of her season thus far. “The heels were insane, and the vibe and energy [of the collection] were amazing.”
As Milan came to a close and fashion editors headed to Paris, they were surprised by a brand-new campaign debut: Bell, sprawling in rock ’n’ roll form for Saint Laurent’s Cruise campaign. Describing the best part of the shoot as simply working with a legend like Hedi Slimane, Bell is now primed for a Paris Fashion Week to equal her successes in Milan. With even more thrilling work on the horizon, Bell is missing only one thing. “Sleep . . . I never get to do it when I’m working during this crazy fashion month!”
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