Venezuelan beauty América González tallied up the highest number of model runway appearances this season, but walking in 30 shows wasn’t always a reality for this 26-year-old. After being scouted via Instagram in 2019 and hitting pause on her plans to become a doctor, González, whose career switch-up received little support from her family, started a fundraiser to get her from South America to Milan. She made $200.
No matter. Her mother softened and lent her $300 – enough to reach Miami where she campaigned for her East Coast relatives to help her along her way. A “really long intervention week” followed, says América, who stood her ground as some tried to fly her home and others rallied to make her dream come true. “It wasn’t easy, but without their help, I simply wouldn’t be here today,” says the talent of her four-year journey to get to the top of her game.
América’s Instagram now is all back-to-back appearances for the biggest brands in the world, from Michael Kors to Fendi, but it’s not all glitz and glamour. “I’ll be completely honest; sometimes I’m so exhausted I just zone out,” says the young woman, who swears by yoga, meditation and a rigorous beauty routine to keep her feeling grounded. All that hard work and mindfulness paid off for autumn/winter 2022. She feels like she “unlocked a new level” of modelling success. Getting lost in the underground passages at the Fondazione Prada and visiting the Musée d’Orsay for the Louis Vuitton show are her seasonal highlights, for the cultural nourishment they gave her.
When pressed, González says she’s proudest of her Versace walk because she gave it her all, while Dior was her most poignant runway turn. She told her followers she didn’t think representing the Paris house would be possible, because she didn’t have it in her. “When you haven’t accomplished something yet, it’s easy to look from the outside in and self deprecate,” says the Nintendo Switch fan, who is clearly wise beyond her years. “In reality, it wasn’t my turn yet.” When she hit Maria Grazia Chiuri’s runway lined with images of powerful women throughout history, it felt awesome.
González’s Instagram dispatches have become her signature in an industry more often associated with rivalry than people’s willingness to big one another up. Thanking her heroes for casting her is second nature, because América is a firm believer that “what you put into things is what you get out of them”. Fashion, for her, became home once she learned to “recognise the difference between a tired person and an unfriendly person”. Oh, and the catering table is always a safe space. “Nothing beats not having to worry about where to eat and having a beautiful spread of high-quality food,” says América, who only has one bugbear about the industry: “Honestly, the ill-fitting shoes.”
As her star rises, it’s only a matter of time before González becomes a new street-style favourite. The tailoring fan, who describes her wardrobe as “very masculine”, prioritises timeless pieces that won’t go out of style. Translation: catnip for editors who zone in on anyone with a great capsule wardrobe built around suiting. There’s surely a beauty influencer in her, too. As well as her lucky mug, the non-negotiable items she packs for the long road of shows are her masks, moisturisers and cleansers. This polite, ambitious and intriguing face is one to watch.
