Supermodel Shirley Mallmann. Photographer: Tom Marvel. Dress, Balmain. Boots, vintage.
Shirley Mallmann is Brazil’s first supermodel. She started in a small town, working in a shoe factory, but soon found her way to the biggest runways. With talent, hard work, and the right people by her side, she became a fashion icon.
Dress, Balmain. Boots, vintage.
A lucky start
Shirley Mallmann never planned to be a model. “I was discovered after joining a local model school in my hometown,” she says. “My friend asked me to join with her, and from there I had my first look into modeling.” That small step changed her life. An agency found her and sent her to São Paulo, where everything started.
Dress, Christopher John Rogers. Shoes, Saint Laurent. Necklace, Erickson Beamon from Showroom SEVEN. Gloves, vintage.
One of her first big jobs was with famous photographer Ellen von Unwerth. “It was for a Brazilian jeans designer, and Ellen and I really hit it off,” Shirley Mallmann remembers. “After a few weeks, she booked me for American Vogue in New York. I had to rush to get my passport and fly to New York to meet Anna Wintour.” This job made her a high-fashion model. “I booked the job, and this immediately propelled my career into the high fashion sector.”
Dress, Christopher John Rogers. Shoes, Saint Laurent. Necklace, Erickson Beamon from Showroom SEVEN. Gloves, vintage.
Shirley worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. “Ellen was like a godmother. We worked together really well and did a lot of amazing jobs.” Soon, she met Steven Meisel. “He booked me for a Dolce & Gabbana campaign and an Italian Vogue cover. Then I met Peter Lindbergh and so many of the most iconic photographers in the industry.”
Dress, Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garcons. Shoes, Saint Laurent.
A natural on the runway
Shirley Mallmann quickly became a top runway model. “Hand in hand with the print work came the fashion shows,” she explains. “I did my first collection of fashion shows in Europe and met John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Gianni Versace, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, and so many truly exceptional designers.”
Dress, Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garcons. Shoes, Saint Laurent.
She loved the experience. “I love walking the runway, and somehow it came very naturally to me. Although I was very young and inexperienced, it all seemed to fall into place.”
Top and skirt, Jason Wu Collection. Shoes, Narciso Rodriguez.
Working with top designers was a huge learning experience. “Meeting all these incredibly talented people, learning about them, and watching them work was so inspirational,” she says. “They were all so different, each with their own personality, work ethics, and approaches. For a young girl from a farm in Brazil, it was all so new and eye-opening. I learned about history, about fashion, about cultures, work ethics, and so much more. It was the best school I could’ve had for work and for life.”
Top and skirt, Jason Wu Collection. Shoes, Narciso Rodriguez.
A face to remember
One of Shirley’s most famous jobs was for Jean Paul Gaultier’s first perfume, Classique. “Jean Paul Gaultier is amazing! So intelligent, so much fun, so talented. Very inspiring,” she says. “He’s also a great person—positive, encouraging, and generous.”
She also worked with Jean-Baptiste Mondino, the photographer behind the campaign. “Jean-Baptiste Mondino is one of the most brilliant minds in fashion. Very daring, creative, and smart—he was always ahead of all the ideas and trends in the industry.”
Top and pants, Tom Ford. Shoes, Narciso Rodriguez.
Caring for the planet
Shirley Mallmann is passionate about the environment. She is an ambassador for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and takes sustainability seriously. “Coming from a farm, I grew up with a very strong sense of sustainability,” she explains. “We used everything, from the crops to the animal products. Everything was very well divided and made use of, with very little being discarded. We also grew everything organically, so the food was very fresh and healthy. Even the water came from our own well.”
Dress, Alexander McQueen. Necklace, Pluma. Shoes, Jimmy Choo.
She tries to live sustainably in fashion as well. “I think we all have a responsibility to keep our planet healthy. If every person did just a little something, it would help in this mission. I’m not a big shopper—I like to reuse items in my closet. I recycle, I stay away from harmful products, and I don’t buy anything that I know will just end up in the trash polluting our planet.”
She knows there is always room to improve. “As a flawed human, I can always do better. I try to learn a little bit every day and better myself.”
Trench coat, Laquan Smith. Top, Brandon Maxwell. Earrings, Pluma. Shoes, Vintage.
Balancing work and family
Being a model and a mother was not always easy. “My kids are all grown up now. It’s a lot easier to travel and work,” Shirley Mallmann says. But when they were younger, she had to make tough choices. “When they were young, I had to make some choices. They came first, and there were times when I couldn’t work or travel because they needed me at home.”
Trench coat, Laquan Smith. Top, Brandon Maxwell. Earrings, Pluma. Shoes, Vintage.
Still, she is grateful for her career. “I was very fortunate to have the choice. And to continue working even though sometimes I had to take time off for my family.”
Trench coat, Laquan Smith. Top, Brandon Maxwell. Earrings, Pluma. Shoes, Vintage.
Beauty and self-care
Shirley Mallmann keeps her beauty routine simple. “A very good moisturizer, sunscreen, cleaning the skin very well, and drinking lots of water,” she says. Now, she also uses modern treatments. “Today I also do some laser treatments to stimulate collagen.”
She has a favorite scent too. “I prefer cleaner and lighter scents. I don’t like sweet or strong perfumes. My all-time favorite is Parfum D’Été from Kenzo. Unfortunately, they no longer make it.”
When Shirley can find some relaxing time for herself, “I like reading, I like music, I do boxing, I love the beach. And I enjoy just being at home, watching something on television and relaxing.”
Dress, Oliver Tolentino from Flying Solo. Shoes, Narciso Rodriguez.
Still an icon
Even after so many years in fashion, Shirley Mallmann remains unforgettable. From her breakthrough with Vogue to working with top designers, she has left her mark. Whether modeling or fighting for the planet, Shirley continues to inspire with her honesty, grace, and passion.
Dress, Oliver Tolentino from Flying Solo. Shoes, Narciso Rodriguez.
Talent: Shirley Mallmann @shirleymallmann
at The Model CoOp @themodelcoop.
Producer/Photographer: Tom Marvel @tommarvelphotography.
Creative Director: Cannon @thecannonmediagroup at Ray Brown @raybrownpro.
Lighting Director: Pierre Bonnet @pierrebonnet.
Director of Video: James Webber @james_weber.
Production: Winnie Noan @winnie_noan.
Hair: Linh Nguyen @linhhair at SEE Management @seemanagement using REDKEN @redkenpro.
Makeup: Sandy Linter @sandylinter at Bryan Bantry Agency @bryanbantryagency using Tom Ford Beauty @tomfordbeauty.
Nails: Casey @caseynails at The Wall Group @thewallgroup.
Digital Tech: Olivia Wohlers @wohliviaa.
Photographer Assistants: Sarah Schneider @sarahbschneider and
Michele Wilhelmina @michelewihelminaphotography.
Video Assistant: Andre Hemmit Jr @vndrethe.ii.
Fashion Team: Maksim Mizgirev @lu3alo | Dazani
@dazaniprice | Charlotte Van Ingen @charvaningen | Kayla Guerrero @kaylabreanne_.
Digital Artist: Marilynn Hawkridge.
Shot at Hudson Yards Loft @hudsonyardsloft.
Harper’s Bazaar Việt Nam
