Ajah Angau’s upbringing has shaped both her aesthetic and her outlook. Though her ascent in the modeling world has been swift, she has resisted the pressure to define herself too quickly. “I didn’t rush to define myself. I arrived with faith, patience, and a clear sense that my journey was bigger than a single season.”

Three years after her debut, Angau has already walked all the major houses and earned her place on the Models.com “Hot List.” Her rise mirrors the energy of spring: a season marked by blooming resets and designer firsts. Wearing Prada’s latest collection on the cover of our V159 issue, she reflects on fashion’s current turning point: “It’s exciting to see new creative ideas that respect a brand’s heritage while designers stay authentic in their vision and look confidently toward the future.”

V: Many of the Spring 2026 collections were debuts for certain designers, opening up a larger conversation around fashion’s need for renewal. How are you feeling about the recent creative shake-ups at these fashion houses?

AA: I think it’s a great thing. Fashion needs renewal, and it’s exciting to see new creative ideas that respect a brand’s heritage while designers stay authentic in their vision and look confidently toward the future.

V: What excites you most about the current state of modeling today?

AA: I’m excited by the idea of diversity, inclusion, and the possibility of real longevity in this industry. I’m also excited by the doors that have opened. But I’m most interested in seeing those values exist beyond words, in casting rooms and real opportunities, not just in campaigns and speeches. There’s still work to be done. It shouldn’t feel exceptional in 2026 to see true representation and equal opportunities, or to allow models who look like me to exist fully as we are. I’m hopeful, but I’m also aware that progress has to be lived, not just advertised.

V: A designer’s debut collection is often a statement of identity. Do you remember what you wanted your first major season to say about you? How did you personally manage the pressure of being “introduced” to the industry?

AA: I wanted to be seen as grounded and present. I didn’t rush to define myself, I arrived with faith, patience, and a clear sense that my journey was bigger than a single season. I believe in consistency, right timing, and trusting that what’s meant for me will naturally unfold. Even amidst the excitement and pressure of being introduced to the industry, I stayed true to myself and focused on my path.

V: What do you see as the parallels between a model’s first runway moment and a designer presenting their first collection? 

AA: I think both are acts of vulnerability. You endlessly prepare, there’s nervousness in not knowing if you will fully deliver what’s expected. You step forward trusting your instincts and understanding it’s only the beginning, not the end.

V: Have you ever felt like you were growing alongside a designer who was just starting out? What was that experience like?

AA: Yes I did, and those moments feel very special. There’s a quiet sense of belief. learning, trusting, and finding confidence together.

V: Are there any designers in today’s fashion landscape whose work you feel especially connected to?  

AA: Yes, Anthony Vaccarello. He’s the reason I truly accepted that I could be a fashion model. I first saw a Saint Laurent dress he designed on television when I was still in school, and something just clicked. I wrote the brand name down in my notebook and kept watching Saint Laurent shows in secret, imagining myself in those clothes. Years later, I found myself in Paris, walking into a Saint Laurent casting and seeing him sitting there. I ended up debuting for YSL and closing the Fall/Winter 2022 show. It felt surreal, like a full-circle moment between a dream and reality. Coming from a refugee background where fashion felt impossible, that connection means everything to me. It taught me that belief can travel further than circumstances. Since then, I’ve been blessed to work with designers I deeply admire Matthieu Blazy, Miuccia Prada, Pieter Mulier, Ralph Lauren, people I once thought I’d never even be in the same room with. Those experiences still feel sacred to me, as well as many others who have supported me along the way.

V: Do you think it’s better for a debut—whether for a model or a designer—to feel perfectly polished, or slightly raw? 

AA: I feel like it’s better slightly raw. That honesty creates space for growth, and with a clear vision, self-belief, and trust in the process, polish comes naturally over time. That’s where the most powerful stories begin.

Photography Chris Colls
Fashion George Cortina
Model Ajah Angau (The Lions)
Editor-in-Chief / Creative Director Stephen Gan
Makeup Mark Carrasquillo (Streeters)
Hair Bob Recine
Manicure Honey (Exposure)
Casting Goran Macura
Executive Producer Dana Brockman (Viewfinders)
Producer Max Bonbrest (Viewfinders)
Production Assistant T. Harper
Digital Technician Jeanine Robinson
Movement Director Marly Phillips Nicol
Director of Editorial Film Mynxii White
Location Untitled Studios
Equipment Alex Bova
Photo Assistants Daniil Zaikin, Ben Carhartt
Styling Assistants Moses Moreno, Trevor McMullan,
Jared Benhart, Mary Reinehr Gigler
Tailor Yaqi Sun (Atelier YQS)
Makeup Assistants Shoko Sawatari, Yuui Vision
Hair Assistant Shinya Iwamoto
Set Designer Happy Massee (La La Land)
Set Design Assistant Kevin Murphy