LIFESTYLE

Joan Smalls Talks About What It's Like To Take Over The World On The Cover OF Glamour Magazine.

How do you know you’re on the brink of supermodel supremacy? When your perfect face is pretty much everywhere. Exhibit A: model Joan Smalls, the Puerto Rican beauty who can be seen in Estée Lauder ads, on designer runways across every major fashion city, and in magazine editorial pages too numerous to count. And let’s not forget Smalls’ eighth-place ranking on Forbes’ World’s Highest-Paid Models of 2013 list, and her online MTV House of Style hosting gig with beauty bestie Karlie Kloss. 

Glamour magazine team sat down with the super model and here are excerpts from her interview below.

It’s so great to meet you! Was modeling something you dreamed about when you were little?

"Oh no. I grew up on a farm in Puerto Rico and wanted to be a veterinarian. I was always playing with animals! But because I physically resembled some of the models on TV—tall and skinny—people would tell my parents that I should model".

So you knew it was a possibility, but it wasn’t a burning passion.

"Exactly. I wasn’t what the boys considered “pretty,” but in my house they always told us that we were beautiful. I never worried about my self-esteem. And I wanted to try out modeling. I wanted to see the world".

GBL: We follow you on Instagram—who doesn’t?—and you often post pictures of your mom and two sisters. Were they always supportive?

"Yes, they’re my biggest cheerleaders".

Love that. You seem really proud of your culture.

"Yes, “pride” in coming from such a beautiful, diverse culture is something that I think of in connection to Latin beauty. Regardless of what shade you are or where you come from, you still are beautiful".

In 2010 you were signed by Estée Lauder. How did you react upon getting such a major contract?

"Well, it’s funny, because I kept a journal of things that I wanted to accomplish in my modeling career. I always said I wanted a contract with Estée Lauder. I figured I’d dream big—that’s not going to hurt anybody! I got goosebumps reading those notebooks a few months ago. I couldn’t believe I had actually attained it".

Wow. And here you are!

"Yes, and it was an affirmation that Latinas were beautiful and worthy of being represented. I’m their first Latina model, and it felt like a sisterhood with [Estée Lauder models] Constance [Jablonski] and Liu Wen. I felt like the contract represented my beliefs".

When did you walk into an editorial photo shoot and realize, OK, this is really happening?

"That happened quite a lot actually. I look up to so many of the legends in this industry. I remember working with [photographer] Steven Meisel and being like, Oh my God, I’m gonna meet him. Or [Givenchy creative director] Riccardo Tisci, who is now like family".

What do you do on your days off?

"I like to do everyday stuff, like turning off my alarm and waking up whenever I feel like it. Cook, watch a lot of Netflix, and go to the gym".

We saw a lot of commentary on Instagram right when the record hit, with comments like, “That’s Joan Smalls! She’s Latina! She’s Puerto Rican!” They whittled it down!

"Aha. People want to claim you. And people don’t realize that when you’re Latin, you’re so diverse. I am black. I am Latin. I am Spanish. You know? It’s a little bit of everything, and that’s beautiful. So, everybody, claim me. I’m fine with that".