“The evolution in the modelling industry has been heartwarming. It’s great to see more inclusion on the runway.” – Yuri Pailman
Yuri Pailman’s modelling journey is a tale of opportunity meeting inborn talent and destiny. The 26-year-old fashion model and talent agent who has strutted the runway for acclaimed luxury vogue brands such as Wanda Lephoto and The BAM Collective surprisingly had no intentions of breaking into the industry – despite having a deep appreciation for the craft.
A telenovela enthusiast, Yuri revealed that in hindsight, watching a particular show about the fashion and modelling industries was a manifestation of his future because it nurtured his love for modelling.
“I started modelling in 2017. Ironically, I had only applied to be a wardrobe assistant at SA Fashion Week because I didn’t know that I had what it takes to be a model myself. I was then scouted in that same year and walked the runway for Wanda Lephoto’s Autumn/ Winter Collection”, shared Yuri.
Despite the fairytale spontaneity of his modelling career, the journey has come with its challenges.
At 18 years old, Yuri lost his hair to alopecia – an autoimmune disorder that can lead to unpredictable hair loss. The sudden change led him to doubt his path, but as they say: destiny doesn’t make mistakes. Yuri found himself back in modding after being scouted a second time.
Like partisans of any other career field, models also face rejection, which Yuri says he has learned to embrace and not take personally.
“When you’re starting out, rejection is quite difficult to overcome because you think there’s something wrong with you. However, I’ve learned that sometimes you’re just not the right person for the job and it’s not a personal reflection of your talent,” said Yuri.
The astounding model also shared that rejection has made his achievements and “yeses” all the more joyous.
“Rejection has made my milestones worthwhile. I’ll always remember the exhilarating feeling I got from receiving my first “yes.” It was remarkable”, he expressed.
Reflecting on the landscape of fashion modelling now as compared to when he started his journey, Yuri lauded the progression and inclusion of queer models.
“Being a queer model was quite challenging when I first came into the industry. My first casting was proof of this because we were either “too skinny or too feminine” for the runway. Today, my queer peers walk the runway a lot more,” expresses Yuri.
However, the model rightfully points out that there needs to be more inclusion, particularly of queer people.
“The evolution in the modelling industry has been heartwarming. It’s great to see more inclusion on the runway. However, I still think we have so much more to do when it comes to queer representation because we shape the global fashion landscape.”
“This is why I have expanded my horizons and became a booker. I want to push boundaries by fostering diversity and booking models I believe should be given more opportunities. Inclusion is a collective responsibility and I think we all need to play our respective roles”, shared Yuri.
A fashion fad, we asked Yuri a few fire style questions to brighten the mood.
Autumn/ Winter or Spring/ Summer?
Definitely Autumn/ Winter. I love layering. The designers play more when it comes to the collections. There are more pieces to explore and put together.
How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style is ever-evolving. I don’t like the idea of boxing myself. Whatever I feel like wearing, I wear. The Prada, schoolboy aesthetic is my current fashion obsession but I know I’ll move onto something else eventually. *Laughs*
There are many talented fashion designers in South Africa. Who are your favourites?
With my current style, I LOVE Muso Maxwell – their tailoring is just perfect! I’m also a big fan of the pioneers, Thebe Magugu, Wanda Lephoto, and Rich Mnisi. I also really like Viviers.
On advice he would give to young, aspiring models, Yuri had unconventional advice, encouraging the newbies to be bold and love who they are, instead of being too concerned about how the industry will perceive them.
“My advice to young models is to be unapologetic and bold. It is important to love yourself and your body – appreciate every inch. Don’t lose yourself when you meet other models. Just stay true to who you are and perform because modelling is performing an art, when it’s all said and done”, concluded Yuri.
