There are more Latino designers than ever presenting at New York Fashion Week, from the fledging ones to the established fashion icons.
But finding a Latina or Latino model walking the runways of the world-renown shows is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
As the fashion season was underway, Fox News Latino was on a mission to unearth one of these rare finds.
Enter Cristina Piccone.
The uber-hot 25-year-old model calls her move at 19 years old to the Big Apple the “real milestone” in her career.
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She was born in Monterrey, Mexico. She’s walked in shows for designers such as Marc Jacobs, Nanette Lepore, Custo Barcelona, Angel Sanchez, Carven and Ruffian, opened the show at Bottega Veneta, and she’s graced the runways from London to Paris and Milan. This is her fifth season at New York Fashion Week.
The dark-haired beauty, who is 5-foot-10, told Fox News Latino while she was getting her hair and make-up done backstage that she’s grateful for good genes.
“I’m naturally skinny. My dad and brothers are super-tall and I don’t have to watch what I eat,” she told FNL. “But I do walk everywhere in New York.”
Travis Kipp of Fusion Models NYC, which represents Piccone, praises her professionalism and said she has staying power.
"Success in modeling rarely comes overnight and Cristina realizes this, and has put the work in to get where she is now," Kipp said to Fox News Latino. "Models come and go in this industry but Cristina has proven her face will outlast most. She's stays kind and humble and this is why clients continue to re-book her again and again."
Piccone has two brothers and two sisters, her mother lives in Monterrey, but her father died 11 years ago. She says she misses her family all the time. It’s the sacrifice she makes to be a budding supermodel.
“Being a model is about compromise," Piccone said. "I’d tell girls who say they want to do this, when you leave home to come to New York, you’re gone. You get home sick, but that’s too bad. If you leave, they’ll forget you and you’re done."
Although Piccone's graced the covers of Mexico’s Elle and Harper’s Bazaar magazines, there remains a dearth of Latina models.
"There is a strong movement toward having more black models on the runway which is great, but not enough people are talking about Latinas," Kipp said. "Fusion’s board is made up of at least 20% Latinas including Karime Bribiesca (in the new upcoming Sephora Campaign), Nohemi Hermosillo (Sports Illustrated), Hadassa Lima and more. We look forward to bringing more Latina models into the global market."
Piccone has been linked romantically to English musician Oliver Scott "Oli" Sykes, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Bring Me the Horizon. He also founded the apparel company Drop Dead Clothing.
Outside of modeling, Piccone enjoys listening to and creating music (she has the word “Echoes” tattooed on her forearm — an homage to the 23-minute long Pink Floyd song).
"I think each season the designers and casting people are always looking for a new look but in the end, a classic beauty like Cristina will always stand the test of time," Kipp said.
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