How does a small-town girl from Brazil find herself in the backseat of a G Wagon next to music superstar Doja Cat on the set of a Steven Klein shoot? To even attempt to process how a moment like that can come to fruition would puzzle any regular civilian, but therein lies the mystique of fashion, the global effect that music possesses, and Daiane Sodre’s power of manifestation. Growing up in the town of Baixa Grande in Brazil, with a population of just over 20,000, it’s not hard to imagine that access to high fashion was scarce for the 32-year-old. (For reference, the nearest bookstore for a fix of high fashion would be in Rio de Janeiro—a 23-hour drive.)

But like any true budding beauty trying to break into the business and have a taste of a world beyond the four walls of her childhood bedroom, she turned to arguably the greatest resource in the world: the internet. “Growing up, I didn’t have access to fashion magazines, so I wasn’t exposed to much of the industry early on,” explains Sodre. “But when I started working as a model, the internet became more accessible. I became obsessed with learning everything I could about who the top designers, stylists, and photographers were. Seeing all the stunning Brazilian models blowing up on Facebook and later Instagram, especially with Victoria’s Secret, was so inspiring. It felt like they were opening the door to this mysterious, glamorous world of fashion.”

The World Wide Web’s birth by fire over 30 years ago, and in turn, social media, has undeniably ushered in the beginning of a digital age that has become both a blessing and a curse for most humans. Although a double-edged sword for many creatives, the internet has harnessed a power to further connect people from every corner of the globe, exposing them to art forms explored through the medium of fashion: the impact of a photograph, the coded messaging that lies within the design of a garment, and the findings of faces and personalities that awaken self-discovery of one’s identity. It’s the kind of access that kids of a new generation like Daiane have been able to benefit from. Through Google searches like “What is Tom Ford?” to “Who is Linda Evangelista?”, any curious user with an interest in this world would inevitably find themselves mesmerized by a photograph by Steven Klein, much like Daiane was once she had a sampling. “I couldn’t get enough of Steven’s photography,” she explains. “I dreamed of working with him, and now that dream has come true!”

From dream to wild reality, the unexpected for Daiane found itself on the set of the three-day shoot. “Before the day of the shoot, I didn’t know what was going to happen. When I got there and saw the project, I felt butterflies in my stomach.” The flutters of those butterflies were thanks in part to the wicked stylings of Nicola Formichetti and bold beauty creations of Pat McGrath and Akki Shirakawa. With a bleach-blond victory roll wig, a graphic cat eye with Pat’s favorite porcelain doll eyebrows, and sharply collared looks, the makings of a classically Klein shoot were all ready for play. “The feeling of being transformed into a character for a high-level fashion editorial was a thrilling experience. I loved [being there with Steven and his amazing team. He was incredible to work with, so gentle and calm.” The missing ingredient? A bit of pop prowess. Enter music sensation Doja Cat and reality TV darlings turned supermodels Amelia Gray and Delilah Belle. And the visual experience through Daiane’s eyes? “It was awesome! Such a crazy, creative vibe and free spirit all around. It was impossible not to get inspired and embrace the moment. You could feel how we all connected. What model doesn’t dream of being on set with a music star?”

While Daiane’s experience with the merging of music stars and fashion’s fiercest faces took form as she stepped foot on set, the effect that music has had on her—and on the culture around her—was felt long before during her upbringing in Brazil. “Besides artists like Michael Jackson and Madonna, I grew up mostly listening to Brazilian music, [through artists] like Luiz Gonzaga, Marisa Monte, Cazuza, É o Tchan, Bell Marques, Ivete Sangalo, Vinícius de Moraes—I love ‘Garota de Ipanema’!”, says Sodre. Now settled in New York City, it’s only natural that her playlist and understanding of new sounds have expanded quite a bit. “I think Brazil and New York are like night and day. In Brazil, I think the vibes are a bit different. It’s a big country with a lot of different cultures and [it] gets a little inspiration from the others. It’s about the beats, rhythms, and feelings of the music. It seems to have a more sensual vibe than most other places,” she explains. “In New York, you get music from almost every corner of the world: Pop, Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz. Everything happens very fast and in the moment. New York City is like a catalog of what’s happening on the scene globally.”

Although the pairing of the four girls for one story could be a head-scratcher, it’s the united visual force of music and fashion that just makes sense—and has made sense for decades within pop culture itself. George Michael’s video for “Freedom! ’90”—featuring the original supers: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford. The long-standing creative relationship between Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier that defined itself with a cone brassiere. A then-burgeoning pop star by the name of Lady Gaga securing a fresh off the runway look from Alexander McQueen for her “Bad Romance” video. A collision of creativity within the merging of the music and fashion worlds has created a track record that speaks for itself. “There’s such a deep connection between music and fashion,” notes Sodre. “Both are powerful forms of art, and the only limit is your imagination. They constantly push each other forward. In a way, musicians and models are similar—we’re both performers expressing emotion and identity.”

From V155 Fall Preview 2025 Issue: now available for purchase!

Photography Steven Klein

Fashion Nicola Formichetti

Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan

Makeup Design Pat McGrath

Makeup Jenna Kuchera using Pat McGrath Labs

Hair Akki (Art Partner) using Hair Ritual by Sisley

Interviews + Editors Kev Ponce / Mathias Rosenzweig

Manicure Maki Sakamoto (The Wall Group) using CHANEL

Production Ted and Jane

Retouching NoizBlur

Executive Producers L.E. Seydel, Mara Weinstein

Producer Caroline Gluck

Production Designer Jack Flanagan

Location PIER59 Studios / Megaverse Studios™ with Virtual Production

Studio Manager (Steven Klein Studio) Chris McCoy

Photo Assistants Dylan Garcia, Ari Sadok, Rowan Liebrum, John Manuel Gomez, Stiven Lopez, Hunter Sketch 

Digital Technician Gregory Wikstrom

Graphic Designer Theo Donen 

BTS Evan Rogers

Fashion Associate Nick Gaga 

Fashion Assistants Hunter Clem, Arut Arustamyan, Erika Bennett

Tailor Carmen Gee

Makeup Assistants Masako Fuyama, Ryan Burke,

Dmitry Kukushkin, Michelle Coursey, Zane Chen

Hair Assistants Rei Kawauchi, Vanessa Li, Christina Rendall 

Art Assistants Karl Moore, George Delacey

Production Coordinator William Manague

Production Assistants Caroline Bates, Tyler DeMauro, Chancey Bridges, Evan Reiter, Jordan Gairey 

Photo Interns Natasha Peterson, Hunter Sketch 

Fashion Intern Angelina Khachaturyan

Special Thanks PIER59 Studios Virtual Production Team