This feature appears in V139, Supermodel, Superhero issue, now available for purchase. 

 

V MAGAZINE: Making your grand return to the pages of V, sporting the best of the Cruise collections this season, what did you enjoy about the experience?

KAREN ELSON: I always love the element of collaboration on set between the model and photographer. That never gets old for me! Playing, creating, and seeing if we can make memorable images has always been the joy of my job. The looks had a very feminine and almost witchy feeling to them. There was also a preppy yet glamorous spirit with a [dash] of suburbia edge. (Laughs)

V: Did you find it easy to pull inspiration from the varying ethos of each look to get into character?

KE: In short, that’s [the] job [of] a model. You’ve got to give it your all, and that is what I enjoy the most about the process. The aspect of getting in my head, creating a character for a shoot, and then getting lost in that character for a while.

V: And that is not something all models have the ability to tap into. It just shows how seasoned you are in your craft. You were discovered at age 16 and have been in the industry for nearly three decades, what keeps you inspired as someone who has seen it all?

KE: The art of it keeps me going. As seasons change, I love the new ideas that come with new designers who find a refreshed way of approaching [design]. There will always be editors, photographers, and models who define each generation for very specific reasons, and that’s the fun part of witnessing it all.

V: As you continue to evolve along with the changes in the industry, what other elements of the business are you inspired by? Do you see yourself moving further away from modeling to nurture any other endeavors?

KE: I love photography and it has become a mode of self-expression. That will never get lost on me, I truly find it so inspiring. Always and forever, my motivation is to be a model. There is something about not only being in photos but also bringing those photos to life that feeds my soul.

V: Leaning into that notion of modeling being forever embedded into your DNA, in what ways have you grown and evolved since you started?

KE: I was a child when I started modeling. I was too young to go out on my own, but starting so young also taught me to be resilient. That resilience has definitely guided me over the years. You need resilience to survive fashion, that’s for sure. These days I’m much more protective of myself and what shoots I do. I rarely do nude [shoots] anymore because they often feel a bit pointless and exploitative. I know now that I have the right to feel safe on set and when I was young that wasn’t always the case.

V: It’s beautiful that you found your voice and a sense of power in those experiences. I want to talk a bit about the essence of being a multi-hyphenate. You have such a strong presence in music, philanthropy, and of course, publishing with your recent book Red Flame, which you released two years ago. Why is it important for you to have these creative “playing fields” outside of modeling and fashion?

KE: Ultimately I’m a creative person. There is a lot I want to do and a lot I want to say in this life. I don’t feel like any creative person should be limited to the perception of others. Most models I know have multiple hobbies and interests. For me, it’s a form of relief to dip my toes in something different every now and then.

V: I want to talk a bit about the essence of being a multi-hyphenate. You have such a strong presence in music, philanthropy, and of course, publishing with your recent book Red Flame, which you released two years ago. Why is it important for you to have these creative “playing fields” outside of modeling and fashion?

KE: Ultimately I’m a creative person. I’ve got a lot I like to do and a lot I’d like to say. I don’t feel like any creative person should be limited to the perception of others. Most models I know have multiple hobbies and interests. For me, it’s a form of relief to dip my toes in something different.

V: In your opinion how are the realms of fashion, music, art intertwined? You shared what you love about modeling and fashion individually, but what do you enjoy most about that marriage of all of these things?

KE: I’ve found that fashion, art, music, and film are all intertwined. Each realm pulls inspiration from each other more than ever. Each of these creative realms inform one another, and I think that is the beauty of creating art in the world today.

This feature appears in V139, Supermodel, Superhero issue, now available for purchase.