From Pennsylvania to the UK and everywhere in between, Kristen McMenamy’s name has become synonymous with modeling stardom. Mentored by legends ranging from Karl Lagerfeld to Peter Lindbergh, the longtime muse has been setting the standard for fashion storytelling since she first arrived on the runway in the ‘80s to the present day. 

V: What does growth mean to you as a person and as a model?

Kristen McMenamy: Growth as a model is about wisdom and experience. Also, keeping the passion alive. Growth as a human being is tricky because you have to shake the praise and vanity and keep the honesty and spirituality. Two opposing worlds.

V: What do you want people to know about modeling that you don’t think they do?

KM: The psychological damage is immense, haha!

V: How do you think modeling will change moving forward?

KM: I think those idiots will keep advancing AI, and there won’t be any human models.

This cover story appears in the pages of V161: now available for purchase!

Photography Luigi & Iango

Fashion B. Åkerlund

Creative Director / Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan

Model Kristen McMenamy (The Lions)

Casting Maxime Valentini (2b Management)

Makeup Kennedy using Dior Addict Glass Lipstick

Hair Teddy Charles (Nevermind Agency)

Manicure Rachel Sun (OPUS Beauty) using Dior Le Baume

Fashion Market Editor Copelyn Bengel

Styling Support Elanur Erdoğan (Forward Artists)

Producer Louis Guillemain (2b Management)

Cinematographer Bell Soto

Photo Assistant Francisco Betancourt

Makeup Assistants Chloe Yang, Jack Titcomb

Fashion Coordinator Stacia Muse

Digital Technician Amanda Yanez

Lighting Director Tutu Lee

Production Coordinator Ashton Wilson

Hair Assistant Selina Boon

Executive Producer Alexey Galetskiy (AGP NYC)

Production Assistants Juliet Lloyd, Angelina Aliano, Maksim Doraev