These Are The Most Unique Models In The Industry

Model and musician Darius Vernon is a seriously sexy guy. With Vernon's chiseled abs, lilting British accent, and collection of bold tattoos, it's hard to imagine that he once thought any differently about himself. But Vernon has a skin condition called vitiligo, which causes his skin to lose pigment, resulting in patches of lighter skin on his lips, hands, and elsewhere — something that got him severely bullied by people. "One day I was walking down the street and three girls started heckling me and saying how ugly I was," he recalled in an interview with Barcroft TV. He continued, "I remember going home and soaking the pillow with tears." Some people are just so ignorant and cruel.

At his lowest point, Vernon considered taking his own life. But meeting a stranger who also had vitiligo at a party helped Vernon open his eyes, and his perspective began to change. And over time, he was able to see himself in a whole new light. "I used to hate my skin but now I'm proud of it," he said, "it's part of who I am." Now he's a part-time model, and we definitely hope to see more of him.

Sabrina Karlsson's look is unmistakable. She has a gorgeous mane of red ringlets that spills over her shoulders, a smattering of freckles across her face, and a honey-colored complexion that anyone would be envious of. She's also long since left the world of "straight" sized modeling behind her, and she embraces her size 12 or 14 curves, which is definitely a good look for her. And given that she walks in shows for Michael Kors and appears in ads for Gap (with her adorable little baby), our girl is obviously in high demand. 

Transitioning to "plus size" modeling wasn't easy at first, as Karlsson was afraid she wouldn't be pretty enough to get work — something that turned out to be false. "Eventually, by working with curvy girls, I realized that that is exactly where I wanted to be," she shared in an interview with Elle. "So it took some time for me to accept it, to be kind to myself." Been there, girl.

Karlsson hopes that people realize that being "plus sized" isn't a trend. "This is a change that should have happened way back, and it's here to stay," she continued. Damn straight.

It's not often you see unique models on the runway, especially those who use a wheelchair. But IMG model and FIT-educated Jillian Mercado, who has muscular dystrophy and thus relies on a wheelchair to get around, is changing that with her groundbreaking look. She's been in campaigns for brand juggernauts like Target and Diesel, and she's worked behind the scenes writing for magazines and working on photo shoots. So you know she knows what she's doing.

Initially, Mercado didn't expect to do her thing on the catwalk, especially in the capacity she does now. "I never actually thought I would have a full-blown modeling career," she penned in an article for Today. "It wasn't until I saw an online open call Diesel was having that I bit the bullet and gave it a shot. The rest, as they say, is history." Indeed it is!

Being in the industry wasn't always easy for Mercado, but she knows it was the right career move for her. "I love that being a model is a way to exercise my creative juices, but also a way to inspire and give hope to girls like me," she continued. We love it too, boo!

If you don't know who Winnie Harlow is, chances are you either have been traveling out of Earth's orbit for the last several years or have eschewed all forms of social media and communication. The Canadian-born model slays wherever it is that she strikes a pose, be it on America's Next Top Model, on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, or on Beyoncé's masterpiece visual album, Lemonade. Lest you forget that she has over 6 million followers on Instagram, Harlow is truly one of the most famous and unique beauties out there.

Harlow had a dream realized when she was selected — finally — to walk the runway for Victoria's Secret. "It's the pinnacle of my career," she gushed in an interview with Vogue. "I told anyone [who] asked, 'I want Victoria's Secret!'" Well congrats, girl, 'cause you owned that ish.

Harlow, like many of her unique contemporaries, hopes to see differences celebrated instead of weaponized against people. "Why is there a stigma around being different when we're all different?" she asked. "Representation is so important, and I want to [stand for] all women. Every single woman." Louder again for the people in the back, Winnie!

Some people are so unique and groundbreaking that even President Barack Obama wants to meet them. That's a bragging right that the gender-bending model Rain Dove can claim, who got to do just that at Capitol Pride in 2016. Lucky!

Dove is known for modeling in both male and female shows due to her androgynous appearance, which apparently seems to bother some people. "Sometimes when castings look at me, I feel like they see some kind of token for their show. But you know what? I'll take it," she explained in an interview with Teen Vogue. "It's my goal to make sure that it's wildly successful that they have me in their show." And that, in turn, opens the door for other models down the road, which Dove appreciates.

Additionally, while the modeling industry can be really tough on some people's confidence, Dove has flourished in it. "Modeling is also the first job I've ever had where it's my job to love myself," she continued. "While many people think that modeling would chip away at your self-esteem, it's actually bolstered mine tenfold. It's been a very interesting journey." That's some pretty incredible stuff right there.

It's been over two decades since Alek Wek started working as a fashion model, with her gorgeous dark complexion and trademark gap-toothed smile. Born in South Sudan, Wek has been on everyone who's anyone's runway, including Gucci, Yves St Laurent, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and Givenchy. The veteran model is still slaying looks wherever she goes, proving that her career is showing no signs of slowing down.

Even though Wek has been doing her thing on the catwalk for a long time, it was only in 2018 when she was in her 40s that she got her first solo magazine cover (Vogue in Ukraine) — something she attributes to evolving beauty standards. "To see diversity finally kicking in and being embraced is amazing," she gushed in an interview with The Guardian. But she also added that there's still a long way to go.

Over the years, Wek has truly blossomed, and she's acquired wisdom that's helped her become both super confident and self-embracing. "The things I used to worry about are now the things I love about myself and make me who I am," she continued. Look to see more of her in the future, for sure!

IMG model Marquita Pring is a smoldering beauty in the "plus size" fashion industry. Her caramel complexion, deep brown eyes, attractive curves, and disarming smile have definitely served her well as she's walked on runways for Christian Siriano, Prabal Gurung, and Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few.

Pring has seen the power of social media play out, as it's widened the diversity of what people see. "Where for so many years we've only been able to see images that the media or retailers are showing us, now we've entered a new era of speaking up for ourselves instead of just taking whatever is given to us," she shared in an interview with Elle. "Women are embracing their bodies more, loving themselves more, and in turn putting it out there more." It's about time, too.

Additionally, Pring is happy that both the media and people are talking about the "plus size" industry more. "For the longest time people were resisting the idea of curvy models but there's no denying we have come so far," she continued. And she feels it's only going to get "better and better." We hope so! We need more unique models in the business!