For Jourdana Phillips, the second time's a charm. After being scouted to model at a young age, she moved to New York to pursue a career in the fashion industry… only to struggle to find work during the height of the Great Recession. She decided to stop modeling. Instead, she earned a degree in child education and became an elementary-school teacher. Modeling, it seemed, was firmly a past-tense thing.
Sometimes, though, fate has a sense of humor.
While teaching in New York, she was scouted on the street (yes, again) and was convinced to give modeling another try. One newsmaking YSL exclusive and a few Victoria's Secret fashion shows later, she's now in demand by everyone from Marc Jacobs to Oscar de La Renta. Here, Jourdana reflects on her refreshed outlook on the industry, her minimalist beauty philosophy, and why being open-minded is the secret to creating opportunity.