A new generation of supermodels are here. With maximum visibility, they’re dominating the world’s runways, magazine covers, social media feeds and iPhone screens. Digitally omnipresent in today’s modern and connected world, the new wave of top-tier models is virtually unstoppable. As summer rolls in, they prepare for some well-deserved rest and relaxation—even in the face of COVID-19.

Grace Elizabeth, a master of smize, the model-on-top appears on the cover V125, lensed by Inez and Vinoodh and styled by George Cortina. First grasping fame as the face of Guess and later skyrocketing her career to the forefront of fashion, Elizabeth now frequents fashion week runways, opening for the likes of Tory Burch and confidently strutting for none other than Miu Miu and Oscar de la Renta. V spoke with the legendary muse about her summer dreams, her taste in music, and her future goals. Pre-order your own copy of V125, here.

Read the full interview, below.

V MAGAZINE Where are you from?

GRACE ELIZABETH A small town in northern Florida called Lake City.

V How would you describe the summer of your dreams?

GE A carry on full of bikinis and film. No set plans, just following the sunshine and the smell of coconuts and salt water. Spontaneously ending up in ‘no where’ beach towns, hitting up every local grown farmers market, and the closest I get to an alarm clock is a rooster crowing.

V What is the ultimate summer song?

GE That’s a very difficult one… I love “Baby I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton or “Summer of 69” by Bryan Adams.

V What is on your summer reading list?

GE The Seasons of Life by Jim Rohan

V What is your favorite summer memory?

GE Hands down, canoeing down the Suwannee river with all of my family shoved into 4 canoes. We stopped off at nearly every sand bar we came across blasting Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock, eating peanuts and watermelon, jumping out of trees, playing volleyball. It was the most fun!

V When you’re not modeling, what are you up to? 

GE I love food. When I’m not working I’m usually finding new recipes to try. I even taught myself how to make sushi and spring rolls. I’m always coming up with new dessert recipes or putting a twist on old ones. One of my goals is to have my own restaurant and bakery.

V How would you describe the current wave of models?

GE I would say courageous and open. Fashion has changed a lot due to quite a few things but namely how connected the world is. Models are no longer these distant superstars you see in magazines, we are our own brand. People want to know our personalities and hear our voice, so we have been given a chance to represent more than the item we have on, we get to represent our individuality. I think that’s what the new generation, in general, is all about. Feeling free to be individual and bring our own creative space to the light. It’s all about love, acceptance, and the freedom to share with one another.

V How do you feel in front of the camera?

GE I feel comfortable. I spent the majority of my life feeling uncomfortable. Ridden with anxieties that I now realize where self-inflicted. When I’m behind the camera I’m excited and enthused because I have a challenge. Every person on set has an idea of how they want the story to be perceived, and I find it to be so much fun to transform into this storybook character and bring emotion to their image.

V What do you hope for this year?

GE Change. There’s something so beautiful about the evolution of a person, a career, or an idea. I hope to grow, become more educated, and thrive on experiences I would have run from in the past. I’m ready to be fearless.