“Testing! One two, one two!,” Colin Jones says as she emerges onscreen, side-pouting as she tucks loose strands of hair behind her ears. “I need to say that we’ll all the time keep it 100 per cent authentic, that’s what we do here.” Doll-like, with a face that might have been plucked from an early 00s Versace lineup, the 19-year-old model is sitting in her latest apartment in East Williamsburg and her iPhone keeps sliding from the houseplant she’s using as a makeshift stand. Neither of us addresses this so we proceed to speak for the most effective a part of an hour while Jones intermittently veers out and in of frame. “I’m a Leo and I’m very performative. I like things that draw attention to me. I’m obsessive about my hair and I haven’t any shame about that! Being a Leo is where it’s at,” she says, with an infectious amount of braggadocio and sass.

Jones’ hard-won confidence comes from growing up in a Republican stronghold unacquainted with queerness, where trans children often risk censure, discrimination, and suspicion. “I faced plenty of criticism and hyperfocus on my external appearance,” she explains. “But I wouldn’t change my past for anything. It prepared me for where I’m now, and I feel fortunate to have built a thick armour.” Since meeting a psychic as a pre-teen (who accurately predicted that Jones’ future can be outlined to her in a dream) she is fast becoming one in every of fashion’s most in-demand faces. Within the space of 12 months, she’s worked for Prada, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Ferragamo, JW Anderson, and Maison Margiela. And her biggest gig – as one in every of Victoria’s Secret’s newgen Angels – will materialise later this 12 months. “It’s plenty of craziness.”

Below, we speak to Jones about her prophetic beginnings, Tesco club cards, and the realities of fashion week.

Hey Colin, what have you ever been as much as this week?

Colin Jones: So my roommates are round the corner so I gotta keep it a little bit quiet because I actually have a really loud theatre voice. But shit’s been insane since I got back from working with Victoria’s Secret in Spain last week. This week alone I’ve done a Fendi campaign, a Dion Lee swimwear campaign, and an editorial for V Magazine. It’s been numerous craziness, it’s been a hot mess. 

 You sound like Daphne Groeneveld. “Yesterday Gucci, today Fendi. So…” 

Colin Jones: Bitch. The perfect part about doing Fendi was that my hair was literally similar to hers. And I had those glasses. I wish I could send you a photograph, we were all dying. And ‘Gucci tomorrow’, ugh. I’m manifesting Gucci next. 

How would you introduce yourself to Dazed readers?

Colin Jones: I’m probably essentially the most butterfly human you’ll ever meet, just like the caterpillar to the butterfly. See what I’m doing here? Joyful Pride! I’ve all the time had such an odd attraction to butterflies because they’ve such flamboyancy and femininity and elegance and mysteriousness. I like that they’re consistently migrating and flocking off to different parts of the world. But on a less figurative level, I come from a little bit town in good ole’ Utah called Spanish Fork. Don’t let the name idiot you, though, it’s predominantly white, predominantly Republican, and predominantly Mormon. It’s a lovely place as long as you don’t open your mouth and speak to a different individual. I’m hoping that, because the years evolve, there will probably be more cultural diversity, but I wouldn’t trade my experience of growing up there with anyone. It’s nice to go to once I can since it’s such a unique environment to the chaotic world of fashion, it’s quite humbling. It’s cool to have a conversation with an area farmer or hit up a highschool friend and get a soda. 

What elements of your personality are very Utahn?

Colin Jones: Um, zero. I wish to tell people I’m a Latest Yorker born in Utah. I all the time knew that I used to be misplaced. I’ve all the time been a city girl. I don’t like camping and I’m not an enormous nature person. I preferred nail polish and princess dresses and curling my hair. I used to be definitely made for a more high-maintenance life. As LGBT+ people, we can’t be out here catching bugs! 

Was that whenever you first felt the ability of clothing?

Colin Jones: I realised the ability of fashion from as early as second or third grade, the way it could make me feel so authentic. I remember the sensation I got from stealing my sister’s dresses and trying them on, the way in which that made me feel so validated and seen. It aligned my external self with my internal soul and spirit. That’s what birthed my love of fashion. I all the time felt like there was something in misalignment between my body and my brain once I was young. From the minute I could articulate words, I used to be expressing that there was something ‘off’ about me. But because we were in Utah, and it was the early 2000s, there wasn’t plenty of exposure to trans kids. My father was really into the church and he grew up in a Mormon system, so he felt prefer it was his responsibility to boost me as a son. And once I began to verbalise my transness, he felt scared that he wasn’t doing his job as a father. Thankfully, I actually have a mother who has all the time tried to coach herself about different cultures and he or she helped me to grasp my feelings. 

Did you go to a spiritual school?

Colin Jones: I went to a charter religious school, so we had a strict dress code. We had church classes and all my peers were within the Mormon church. After I began to socially transition in middle school, I used to be met with plenty of lack of information and knowledge. That led to some inevitable shaming experiences, but I had the support of my mum and we were capable of change the dress code of the college to be gender inclusive. So despite the fact that there’s still a strict dress code, it applies to each genders. I’ve had students in younger grades thanking me for carving out a secure space for them. That’s why I desired to go into modelling. I need to pave latest paths and teach others the right way to love trans people. But Utah may be very setback, even still. It’s very hard to go to home as I’m often misgendered. They’re only just understanding what gay individuals are! 

It must feel strange to have grown up not being seen, and now your job is literally to be seen. You’re on billboards and runways. 

Colin Jones: It’s essentially the most insane contrast. I felt so misunderstood back then and now I’m celebrated and supported? That’s why I say I wouldn’t change my past for anything, I feel like that crucial time of development in Utah prepared me for where I’m at now.

Has your fashion sense modified since entering the industry?  

Colin Jones: For essentially the most part it’s the identical. I just think ‘What sparks joy?’ at any time when I’m picking out an outfit. That is perhaps a crazy sparkly top with ripped jeans or chequered pants and a feather boa, I just wear what I need. There are not any rules. That’s the great thing about living in a fashion capital, you pull inspiration from all over the place. After I first moved to Latest York I’d buy an enormous ass bag of popcorn and go to the park, and by the tip of the day, I’d have so many pictures on my phone of the best outfits. After I was younger it was obviously a little bit more low cost, we now have a little bit more resources to drag pieces I need to take a position in. 

Did you might have any embarrassing fashion phases?

Colin Jones: I can’t imagine I’m saying this but I definitely did a straight phase, simply to try it out. A bit little bit of Nike, a little bit little bit of adidas. But! We moved past that; it was three months, and I returned to the dresses.

And the way did you start in modelling? Were you scouted?

Colin Jones: Babe, that is one in every of my favourite stories. In sixth grade, my dad bought my mum a psychic session for all of us. I’m not a superstitious person but she told me that I used to be going to be a model and that I’d get dreams, which might tell me what to do and the right way to start. Fast forward a few months. I went to bed and I had essentially the most profound dream ever where I submitted photos of myself to an agency after which hopped on this old-fashioned carousel with other models that I looked as much as. I woke up, immediately threw on a pair of thin jeans, ran to my backyard and took some really shitty pictures of myself. 

There was one reputable agency in Utah and I submitted photos to them. I then was offered a Zoom meeting and, five minutes after the decision, they offered me a contract. But it surely was also around Trump’s election and I needed to maneuver out of Utah, so I slept on it and I had one other dream where I signed the contract! I used to be with them for 2 months they usually offered to bring me to Latest York to satisfy 18 agencies, but I needed to fund it myself and on the time I used to be working at Taco Bell. We were on that Taco Bell coin, babe. My mum took out some money to assist book my plane ticket and I got 16 offers back that week. Cheers to that psychic. Cheers to the universe.

How does it feel to be perceived as physically beautiful? Has being a model shifted the way you understand beauty? 

Colin Jones: It’s surreal to know that you might have a level of beauty that folks find worthy enough to placed on a billboard or a magazine. After I went through those moments of feeling so misaligned with my body and soul, I needed to do plenty of inner work. As a model, you might be so judged and criticised and that may bring out feelings of not-enoughness. I’m fortunate that I’ve built thick armour resulting from being trans. From a young age, I faced numerous criticism and hyperfocus on my external appearance. I don’t owe anyone femininity. If I shaved my head tomorrow I wouldn’t be any less of a girl than I’m today. That’s how my understanding of beauty has shifted. It’s an honour to represent so many trans women, it’s seriously essentially the most significant role I’ll ever fulfil. I can discover a lovely individual but what’s more vital is what’s inside and what that person’s morals are and the way they encourage others.

Our Zoom time is running out. Can I send you one other link? 

Colin Jones: Yes please, and within the meantime I’ll do my English accent for you. ‘So oftentoimes I vizzit landane lots fa wurk and oi get messef a pack o’ crisps anna Wisp Crunch. I exploit moy Tesco Clubcord an’ I roide the Piccahdillee lion’… 

So you might have a Tesco Clubcard? 

Colin Jones: Babe, I got one. She’s an actual Londoner. I actually have an Oyster card, too. I’m more London than you, babe.

What do you concentrate on whenever you walk the runway? 

Colin Jones: I believe concerning the younger version of myself sitting front row on a fat seat next to Anna Wintour and the way she’d feel watching her older self. I believe concerning the legends which have come before me and the legends which are going to return after me. It’s so sacred and that’s what helps me tap into that artistic reverence. 

That’s plenty of considering.

Colin Jones: She’s a blonde but I got you fooled. Look, it actually goes ‘Cunt, cunt, younger self, cunt, cunt, younger self, cunt, cunt’. It’s a combination. There are 1,000,000 things racing through my head. But all the time cunt! That’s a given. 

What models do you look as much as within the industry?

Colin Jones: Ariel Nicholson, Anok Yai. What’s crazy is that every one those models on the carousel are actually friends of mine. Paloma Elsesser, Goan Fragoso, Hunter Pifer, Valentine Alvarez, Alex Consani. They’re just really good people, not only for the modelling industry, but for the world. Their stories, messages, and goals are so deep and meaningful. 

What about designers? Are there any you’d like to work with?

Colin Jones: It was all the time a dream of mine to work with John Galliano and see his beautiful, creative process. It’s insane to me that I’ve been personally invited to, like, formal events with him. I’d have loved to have worked with Karl Lagerfeld, too. Especially when he used to do those shows where a fucking rocket ship would launch. That’s true cunt, babe. I’m a Chanel bitch at heart. I’ve not walked for Chanel yet, though. The brand is sort of traditional with the models they hire so I’m hoping there’s a little bit more diversity that might be integrated into their casting system soon. I’d like to summon Vivienne Westwood’s ass, too. Oh and Jeremy Scott, it made me so sad when he stepped down from Moschino since it had all the time been one in every of my dreams to do something while he was still there. And after all Casey Cadwallader and Mugler, I’m obsessed. 

I’m surprised you haven’t worked with Mugler already.

Colin Jones: Bitch, I’ve been so close! Every thing I placed on my vision board has come true except Vogue and Mugler. I’ve got six months to go, we’re working on it. But I’m fortunate with the profession I’ve had to this point. I mean, Victoria’s Secret! Walking for Prada was so insane and the Alexander McQueen shows, I like what Sarah Burton has done with the brand. 

Is modelling ever as glamorous because it seems? 

Colin Jones: It’s essentially the most fucked up Yin and Yang experience. Truthfully, it is rather glamorous, but there’s numerous non-consensual touching and pulling. There’s a crazy lack of sleep and I’ve learnt that blisters can actually be quite emotionally exhausting. You’re getting multiple hair and make-up looks, you’re getting things ripped out, you’re only a canvas, and you possibly can’t have any attachment to the way in which you look. 

For the McQueen show a few seasons ago, they gave us glue-in extensions (with glue that was not meant for the hair) which were then teased right into a beehive. After the show, the stylists had all gone off to Ann Demeulemeester so we were all left there like ‘What the fuck are we gonna do?’. It was 10 pm so we ended up going to a Sainsbury’s, finding a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and spraying the shit out of our hair until 5 am in Alex Consani’s hotel. The quantity of hair we lost was insane. 

It does get easier the more you do it and also you learn to articulate your boundaries when individuals are touching you a lot. But bitch, take your crystals, take your incense, be prepared to fly economy in a middle seat, and you then can benefit from the fun parts of it. After fashion month all of us should book one month off to curve up in a ball and just be by ourselves. 

What’s essentially the most reckless thing you do? 

Colin Jones: I’m such a goody two shoes, but I do sneak things from set. Not like fashion pieces or anything but good candles, robes, magazines, and snacks go within the bag. I have to be more of a rebel! 

What are you obsessive about outside of fashion? 

Colin Jones: I’m a musical theatre nerd. Possibly I’ll do Broadway after modelling? I like Kinky Boots, Waitress, and The Book of Mormon. That’s just like the Holy Trinity. A few years ago I discovered artistic pole dancing. Santa brought me an enormous fat pole once. It’s form of cunt to give it some thought in a stripper form of way nevertheless it’s really artistic. I’m super into herbs, crystals, and meditation. I smoke a little bit of pot, too. 

Who’s in your nightmare blunt rotation? 

Colin Jones: Devil. John Wayne Gacy. Mark Zuckerberg. 

And at last, what adjective would you least wish to be described as?

Colin Jones: Anything within the gross masculine world. Like babe, keep it cute, keep it pussy.