de vries, camille i.

[camille de vries]

CAMI ON TAYLOR: Taylor was almost as young as I was when we first met. I still know that shock of blonde hair, it was very hard to miss. He was also my infamous counterpart in the Calvin Klein campaign that dragged my name straight to the press - what the stories forgot to publish, however, was what he did for me on set. The photographer is...well, let us just say he no longer gets bookings. Taylor caught on to something I was naive or desperate enough to ignore, and wouldn't leave my side. Wouldn't let anyone past my changing room door unless it was a woman, wouldn't let the photographer get too close to me, wouldn't let his hands wander. It's important to look back and acknowledge he was doing the work early, or maybe just saw a young soul in front of him he could make a difference with. Either way I never forgot that moment, and we remained steadfast supporters of one another in our new different industries. He chose to pursue music in the end - I think the photographer, before MeToo caught up with him, had a hand in his career losing its spark - but I managed to make big strides. And have remained strict with my set protocols and procedures, holding brands and teams accountable for our wellbeing. I have him to thank for a lot of that conviction. It feels silly to mention now, but I kind of convinced myself I had a big crush on him. The eve of my 18th birthday it was a big celebration in New York - lots of people, of course - and I worked up the nerve to kiss him as a bold birthday gift to myself. We made out for most of the night but the next morning ended up laughing about it over the phone and breakfast cereal. It just wasn't right...not that the press did not have a field day with it! We were giggling over the headlines, the wildness of them! I blew up one of the photos as a joke for his birthday a few years ago, along with our original campaign image - and now they've booked us to return to recreate it 10 years later! Full circle - but very different photographer this time. Trust me, I put in the request. TAYLOR ON CAMI: Modelling was never for me. In my brief stint in the industry I lived in a shitty apartment with like five other random guys, most of whom didn't speak English, and I'd show up on set to be treated with either total indifference or outright hostility, usually for not much more than minimum wage. Having said all that, it was my ticket out of Indy and I'd do it all over again if it meant getting the hell out of there and starting the rest of my life. Every so often I'd go to set and I'd be with a model who was so the opposite to me, someone who seemed born for this job, who made standing around wearing clothes that cost more than our monthly income look like the most impressive job in the world. Cami was one of those girls, even though when we first met she was only sixteen and completely green. As soon as I'd heard the photographer I'd been scheduled with my back was up, but when I saw that there was a sixteen year old newbie on set I decided there and then that I did not care about anything other than making sure she was ok. Two things became obvious very quickly; one, that he was angling to be in a room alone with her, and two, that I was not going to let that happen. His frustration with me racked up over the day and before we'd even finished I had texts from my agent asking why she was getting reports that I was being difficult on set, but I didn't care. Something clicked into place that day and I knew that I wouldn't be a model for much longer, and I knew that I wanted Camille to be part of my life moving forward. That job was almost career ending as it was, except that it went super viral. Overnight Cami was a known name and she deserved that, and since then we've been thick as thieves. I can't say I was a mentor to her, she was already better at the work than I was on her very first day, but I was a sounding board, maybe? Someone she could lean on. We've been through some crazy points since that day but at the end of it she's become one of the most important people in my life. I used to scoff at the idea of found family, but with Cami that's exactly what I have. We're recreating that infamous shoot sometime soon, she's the only person who could get me back on a modelling set. Maybe we'll just have to recreate it once a decade for the rest of our lives, can't wait to see it at age eighty. MODELS ON CAMI: Look - I will speak for the others, and we can all agree that Camille is one of those girls. She doesn't come from a reality television household, her parents aren't famous...she inherited nothing but a dangerous combination of genetics that catapulted her to the stratosphere. But what they won't say is that she's become a little...too much to handle. I get an option on a shoot, my agent hears she's additional talent...suddenly the glam teams are different, the tailors are different...it's like she has to install who she likes at all times, and the books will bend over backwards to do it for her. And then she waltzes onto set...late, often...and never hears it. Because people are just that obsessed with her. She's pouty on nights out, all eye rolls and pursed lips, and will still snag the guy at the bar you'd been talking up for the past two hours. And she doesn't even feign apologies - just grabs their hand, shimmies away, and leaves you in the dust. It's like the sun shines out of her ass and we all revolve around it - throw money at it, worship it...it's exhausting. God forbid you go on a trip with her - she'll change her flight six times, show up with way too much luggage and the Alaïa dress you've been lusting after that's impossible to find, and have the indecency to ask whoever's in the vicinity for a frozen margarita. Who even drinks those anymore?? CAMI ON MODELS: Celos. It means jealousy, which is all these women know sometimes. Or they are too busy comparing their life to mine to realize the power that they, too, hold. Modeling is a numbers game, and the numbers tighten every season - it's a herculean effort to climb to the peak of it, and once everyone's on top they look for the weakest soul to shove off. Instead of working together to build it higher, to summit to places long thought impossible to reach. I see their eyes, I know the scoffs when I hear them...but if they want it, they should ask too. Find the people who they know will take care of them and stick with them to the death. Reward good work and strong conviction and those who can make you laugh on an 11 hour day in -4C. I don't know why people approve of anything else, especially those that have the voices to change it. As for men, for love...if they chase me, how is it my fault? They're behind me, after all. I try to stare ahead. CAMI ON BENICIO: So you know how artists throw those MSG listening parties these days, right? Fans gather in the round, hear an album front to back for the first time, experience the highs and lows of the music together? That was where I met Benicio. A friend had invited to me to it last minute, something unlisted but private. Special. I didn't know the artist at the time, one of her friends from home, but was curious enough to not say no. I was dizzily swept backstage for introductions and remember one dark stare, tipped down over tiny sunglasses, before we all made our way to the floor. I'll always remember that night for the crazy screams from a crowd so small, echoing amongst the venue seats and amplified so perfectly it was as if the place was full. For the simple stage in the middle of the floor, the muted lighting and the haunting, mesmerizing notes. But I also remember it for the orbit I spun into, catching Benicio's eyes so often from that stage I knew it wasn't a coincidence. Wondering if he could sense my curiosity, watching us all from the stage but not touching an instrument. Just observing, absorbing, unintentionally giving away the parts of the songs he looked forward to most with the bob of his head. It took me a minute to realize he knew the music before all of us. It took me a few months to understand that he produced it. We were ships in the night, for a while. My dating style has always been described as...eclectic, and a bit...erratic, I think is best? I won't settle, and I won't stand for trying once I understand that is what it is. Travel for me is also demanding and often unrivaled, but he had this way of finding the loopholes, how our paths would cross, and seamlessly fit into them. Almost as busy as I was but so comfortable in it I could only rise to meet that understanding, dancing in Miami clubs, writing in midnight dinners. He speaks passionately about anything and everything of interest, listening with the same intensity that makes a girl feel understood. We share curiosities about the world, embrace its vibrancy and spontaneity. We fell very into stride, and it felt like a natural step when he mentioned recently he wanted it to be exclusive. Is it fast? Maybe, sure - but we live in a fast world. I don't see why it can't meet us where we are. BENICIO ON CAMI: I met Camille at a very interesting time for myself, personally and professionally. It’s not easy to make real connections with people when you don’t stay in the same place for long, and I’m at a point in my career where I can’t hide. The more I do the more I’m wanted and seen and heard, nothing like her though. But Cami? She’s rare and real – she talks, she feels, she expresses. Even after all the crazy parties and fashion shows and fame drama, years of this way of life, she’s still down-to-Earth. I like to find those people in industries like ours because I see how easy it is to slip away and forget where you came from. For me it’s important that I don’t. Of course she’s beautiful, it’s like she adds gravity to any room she’s in. When she looked back at me for the first time? Ay bendito I thought all the music stopped. It was easy to talk to her, and then we kept seeing each other—coincident at first, then on purpose—even with the traveling. My favorite thing is sending each other pictures of sunsets or sunrises from where we are. I’m of the belief that you try hard for the people who matter to you, especially if you aren’t there. Our conversation never really ends, just keeps going from a new city or timezone. She travels even more than me, an understanding I didn’t really realize the importance of until recently. She also speaks my language and appreciates my music. It’s the best when we can combine it all – somewhere new, trying new food, having new conversations. Experiencing each other somewhere or some way else. I had to tie up some loose ends before I knew I could commit to a relationship but I’m excited for it all, I like her. I can't seem to stay away from Spanish girls.

OFF THE CLOCK: Early riser, drinks black hot coffee, snapchats her younger sister, bike rides or runs, learns new card games, sings in the kitchen, online shops, takes midday naps in the sun, strolls parks, peruses markets, enjoys crisp white wine, dresses casually, is amenable to plans, lets the night take her, chugs pickle juice as a hangover cure, doesn't wear make-up, plans new vacations, takes long phone calls, flips between languages, often has to pack, updates her google cal, ignores her agent, whatsapp's her boyfriend, pouts when things don't go her way, organizes social content, burns cherry blossom candles, will ask to be the DJ, craves frozen slushes, makes traditional gazpacho, sleeps with a silk eye mask. CALL TIMES: Won't make it to set on time, will drive her agency crazy with flight changes, has an insane day rate, asks her agency to book her friends flights, only works with Nina Park and Bryce Scarlett, will get the shot within 7 frames, never complains about the weather, takes instruction, isn't fond of chit chat on set, compliments craft services, has a signature latte at Pier 59 studios, has an extensive skin care routine, goes to bed early, reduces screen time, reads arrival instructions, never wavers in her measurements, has the respect of major designers, knows daggers are often being thrown at her back, never lets them see her sweat...physically or mentally, writes personal thank you notes to editors when she gets another cover, is highly coveted during fashion weeks, has impeccable model off-duty style, can manage 6 hour fittings, gets the best table at loulou, only drinks espresso in europe, prefers bikes over cars, starts off-duty trends, documents sunrises and sunsets, forgets phone chargers, remembers every moment.

jill . kendall . famous