Paris based newbie model Maja Radovanovic is The-Smiths-loving, brooding beauty from Serbia.
Originally from the small city of Zrenjanin in Serbia, Maja was discovered by a classmate and fellow model (takes one to know one) and was quickly snapped up by Fox Models. From there, she went global with Elite Paris, London and Milan. If she looks familiar it might be from the king of grunge glamour, Neil Barrett‘s AW12 look book, where she pulls off casual chic with aplomb. It’s her strong face and stunning colouring married with her Serbian intrigue that has made Maja a favourite with the high-end international labels. i-D met the Twilight looker to chat Alexander McQueen, astronomy and Radiohead. Baby’s got the bends.
When/how were you scouted? I was often told that I could be a model, last year my friend from school who is also a model, showed my pictures to her aunt who is a booker at Fox Models in Serbia. At first I was not interested, because I didn’t know much about fashion. Later a scout from Elite Paris came to Belgrade into the Fox model agency and they called me. I went there, they liked me and a week later I was working in Paris.
What music are you into? Anything that helps you get into the zone when you’re modelling. I’m often called a “musicopedia” by my friends. My favourite bands ever are The Smiths and Radiohead. Sometimes before castings it’s good to listen to something relaxing that can help you to gain self-esteem.
Who is your favourite designer? My favourite designer was Alexander McQueen, I will never forgot one collection autumn/winter 1999/2000 which involved a model in a robotic body.
Who is your favourite guy model? My favourite male model is Francisco Lachowski, he is so free and full of energy, it would have been so much easier if I had been like that at the beginning of my modelling career.
Who is your favourite supermodel and why? My favourite supermodel is Kate Moss, she is the one and only!
If you weren’t modelling what would you be doing? I can do a lot of things at the same time, so there is always space for something new, I’m a model who wants to become neurologist and I am in love with astronomy too!
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Text: Felicity Carter
Images courtesy Maja Radovanovic, Elite London, Neil Barrett and Marina Qureshi.
