For Rachel Marx, growing up in Frankfurt, Germany brought forth a relatively normal childhood, one filled with creativity and space for her to think about what she truly wanted from life. “I remember that I was already kind of interested in the [fashion] industry,” explains Marx. “I was working as a waitress [when] a local designer was [having] a small show and they were looking for a tall girl. From there, I went on to do a small photoshoot and the photographer was like, ‘You’re good in front of the camera. You should give [modeling] a try.’” 

“Modeling has given me the opportunity to be in this creative world, and meet other people that I could relate to that I feel like understand me and I understand them. It’s about being able to make these connections and create something together.” —Rachel Marx

Although it may seem like it would have been smooth sailing from there, in fact, Marx experienced the reality of what it’s like breaking into the industry. “I applied for like 10 different agencies in Germany and nobody wanted me. [But then], I went to a [talent] agency, and they saw potential, and half a year later, I booked my first show.”

“What happened on the day of this V Magazine cover shoot is what keeps me motivated. Working with people like Inez & Vinoodh, Paul Sinclaire…I felt like they saw me the way I am, and the way I also want to be seen. That doesn’t really happen that often.” —Rachel Marx

Gracing her first catwalk for Valentino’s Haute Couture show in 2018 and walking close to 20 shows that same debut season, Marx has been a mainstay in the industry–and intends to keep it that way. “I love the person that [modeling] made me, I love that I can be who I want to be. It’s given me this huge opportunity to step inside of a world that I don’t know if I would’ve been able to step into through a different way.”

“[Walking for Valentino Haute Couture] was really cool because I feel like Joe McKenna was the one who saw something that nobody had been seeing in me before. You just need one person to kind of understand you, [especially] when you’re the new face.” —Rachel Marx

This cover story appears in the pages of V144: now available for purchase!

Photography Inez & Vinoodh

Fashion Paul Sinclaire

Makeup Sam Visser (Art Partner)

Hair Jimmy Paul (Susan Price NYC)

Model Rachel Marx (Women)

Manicure Deborah Lippmann (Home Agency)

Producer John Nadzi (VLM Productions)

Production manager Michael Gleeson (VLM Productions)

Lighting director Jodokus Driessen (VLM Studio)

Digital technician Marc Kroop (VLM Studio)

Photo assistant Joe Hume (VLM Studio)

Stylist assistants Coco Knudson, Timothy Cheng, Jesse Pickel

Makeup assistants Shimu Takanori, Micka Omura

Hair assistant LaMesha Mosley

Manicure assistants Bojir Hasanov, Joelle Rodriguez

Retouching StereoHorse

Location Pier 59 Studios