Jordan Hickman

<div>Iconic fashion designer and Creative Director of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing sat down with Vogue to recount a life changing journey to South Africa, to film a fashion film and documentary debuting the visionary collection with Disney for The Lion King.</div><div><br /></div><div>Olivier speaks candidly about the journey of self-discovery, tracing his roots back to Africa and what it meant to him to connect with the continent of his birth heritage.</div><div><br /></div><div>In an emotional interview, he shares a moment with our very own Carmen Hickman that resonated deeply with him and which he will carry with him forever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carmen is not only a model, she is a mother and inherently maternal figure; and so it was a natural improvisation in a tender moment with Olivier that led her to share words that shaped his experience whilst filming.</div><div><br /></div><div>Herewith a few exerts from the interview with Vogue.</div><div><br /></div><div>&quot;The Disney x Balmain: The Lion King collection has been immortalised in a short film by Nigerian director Femi Oladigbolu. Shot across the Western Cape region of South Africa, Rousteing takes on the leading role. The film stars a selection of models wearing his designs that were cast from all over Africa; countries including Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda and Tanzania. As Rousteing puts it, this furthers the cultural impact of the collaboration, “giving local people the chance to shine”. The film itself focuses on the concept of destiny - and in a similar vein to the narrative of The Lion King - Rousteing experienced a personal full-circle moment while filming.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Actor Carmen Hickman, when playing the wise older Black woman who’s supposed to reveal his future, decided to improvise on set. “She said to me: ‘Don’t forget this is your continent, this is where you come from, and you are loved here. You will always be loved,’” Rousteing explains, hand on heart. “It was magical.”</div><div><br /></div><div>We are incredibly proud of Carmen, not only for a career defining campaign, but for sharing a part of herself with Olivier, adding depth and purpose to his experience in Cape Town.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carmen&#39;s daughter and Future Face Jordan Hickman also features in the short film and campaign images, as well as accomplished fashion model Sisipho Ntsabo.</div><div>A client of this calibre shooting in our Mother City was not only uplifting to the careers of the models at ICE, but also to the film and fashion industry in Cape Town as a whole.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For the full article please visit https://www.vogue.co.uk/bc/disney-and-balmains-the-lion-king-collection</div><div>As well as the Balmain website https://us.balmain.com/en/experience/disney-x-balmain-the-lion-king</div><p>This project was proudly cast by Cape Town based casting director Iain Milne of Casting Co and facilitated by Groundglass production company.<br /></p><div><br /></div>

Iconic fashion designer and Creative Director of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing sat down with Vogue to recount a life changing journey to South Africa,  to film a fashion film and documentary debuting the visionary collection with Disney for The Lion King.

Olivier speaks candidly about the journey of self-discovery, tracing his roots back to Africa and what it meant to him to connect with the continent of his birth heritage.

In an emotional interview, he shares a moment with our very own Carmen Hickman that resonated deeply with him and which he will carry with him forever.

Carmen is not only a model, she is a mother and inherently maternal figure; and so it was a natural improvisation in a tender moment with Olivier that led her to share words that shaped his experience whilst filming.

Herewith a few exerts from the interview with Vogue.

"The Disney x Balmain: The Lion King collection has been immortalised in a short film by Nigerian director Femi Oladigbolu. Shot across the Western Cape region of South Africa, Rousteing takes on the leading role. The film stars a selection of models wearing his designs that were cast from all over Africa; countries including Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda and Tanzania. As Rousteing puts it, this furthers the cultural impact of the collaboration, “giving local people the chance to shine”. The film itself focuses on the concept of destiny - and in a similar vein to the narrative of The Lion King - Rousteing experienced a personal full-circle moment while filming. 

Actor Carmen Hickman, when playing the wise older Black woman who’s supposed to reveal his future, decided to improvise on set. “She said to me: ‘Don’t forget this is your continent, this is where you come from, and you are loved here. You will always be loved,’” Rousteing explains, hand on heart. “It was magical.”

We are incredibly proud of Carmen, not only for a career defining campaign, but for sharing a part of herself with Olivier, adding depth and purpose to his experience in Cape Town.

Carmen's daughter and Future Face Jordan Hickman also features in the short film and campaign images, as well as accomplished fashion model Sisipho Ntsabo.
A client of this calibre shooting in our Mother City was not only uplifting to the careers of the models at ICE, but also to the film and fashion industry in Cape Town as a whole. 

For the full article please visit https://www.vogue.co.uk/bc/disney-and-balmains-the-lion-king-collection
As well as the Balmain website https://us.balmain.com/en/experience/disney-x-balmain-the-lion-king

This project was proudly cast by Cape Town based casting director Iain Milne of Casting Co and facilitated by Groundglass production company.

Olivier Rousteing Balmain Lion King Collection in Cape Town with models Carmen Hickman Jordan Hickman Sisipho Ntsabo featured in Vogue

Olivier Rousteing Balmain Lion King Collection mentions C...

BALMAIN // LION KING COLLECTION | Carmen & Jordan Hickman; Sisipho Ntsabo

Talisa Du Bois

Ana Joubert

Alise Jordaan

Andrea Andersen

Alicia Herbeth

<div>We caught up with our beautiful Kyla Spykerman after her incredible shoot with photographer Mhamed Ace Amir Meraou, to get her outtakes from her first 2 months on stay in Los Angeles, with prestigious model agency The Industry.</div><div><br /></div><div>&quot;Q: Tell us about your time in Los Angeles so far?&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>My experience moving to LA was a bit&nbsp; overwhelming due to its size and the competitive nature of the entertainment/modelling&nbsp; industry. After a few weeks of settling in, the city starts to reveal its charm and inspiration.&nbsp; Driving past iconic places like Universal Studios can stir that inner sense of wonder and excitement, making LA feel like a place where dreams really do come true.&nbsp;</div><div>The city also pushes you to constantly strive for excellence because of the ambitious atmosphere and the many people chasing similar goals. It’s a place that can be tough but also deeply inspiring.</div><div>My biggest thing in life is if it doesn’t scare you or push you out of you’re comfort zone you’re doing something wrong and I knew coming to LA would be that place for me, because this is the stepping stone in the industry where all the big clients are and for you to be seen and achieve the highest of the high in the industry.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Q: Has this been a dream of yours to travel to LA?</div><div><br /></div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>My 18 year old self would be so proud , I’ve dreamed about coming to the states since I was 18 years old and I&#39;m happy to say i turned my teenage dreams into a reality. I wrote in my diary each year about going to LA /NY to pursue modelling and being here finally has made me feel so proud that the determination and vision that I had as young girl has turned into a reality. It took me some time to get here, but looking back I am so proud of my determination and ambition to have come so far in my journey. I&#39;m still on a long path to reaching all my goals, but ticking them off one by one is a testament to the hard work and dedication all over the years of ups and downs . I tell myself when it gets tough to keep going—you’re making that young girl proud every day!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp;Q: How have you adapted to the modelling industry there versus South Africa and Europe?&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>South Africa and LA I feel are alike regarding this California beach girl effect which I did a lot of back in SA, you basically live in a bikini which I&#39;m would never complain about. The difference is LA is just huge and you need a car or uber to travel and get to castings and jobs, which can feel super overwhelming as LA is very spread out .LA is also very hustle and grind to achieve you’re goals and I feel like no one is slacking which is a good motivation to not slack. What I do miss about Europe and the biggest difference I can see between LA and Europe is the easy public transport and the European culture of elegance and tradition.&nbsp;</div><div>LA is very fast paced so everyone is doing their own thing.&nbsp; Same with South Africa and working there, there is always tradition and culture that comes through while being on set and working with international clients. All over the world, I feel people love South African culture and humour.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Q: What is your dream client to work with in America?</div><div><br /></div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>Aghhhh everyone who knows me and my ICE family in SA can back me on this , but my dream client list is quite huge as the longer you are in the industry the more that list grows.&nbsp;</div><div>But one client that has been on the list from the beginning is to work with Victoria&#39;s Secret and walk in the fashion show.&nbsp; When I watched the show on Youtube many years ago and the story of South African born Candice Swanepoel - how hard she worked to achieve her success and really showed her determination to achieve the highest level -&nbsp; I was hooked and that&#39;s where my interest in the modelling industry really started.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>&nbsp;Q: Tell us three things you do to keep motivated, humble and prepared while you are on stay in LA?</div><div><br /></div><div>My 3 things to stay motivated are:</div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>Keep your eye on the prize, remember why you started!&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>Motivation won&#39;t always be there so you have to have discipline&nbsp;</div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>One thing I always remember when I feel demotivated or I slack is that there is someone else that wants exactly what you want so be the hardest worker and the&nbsp; kindest person in the room.</div><div>•<span style="white-space: pre;">	</span>Also something I go by as well is I don’t think that the model is the most important person on a shoot. A successful model career is based on a few elements like your agents who believe in you and how you treat people on set, your work ethic on and off set.</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Every single person on set is needed to create a successful campaign/commercial. From the photographer all the way through to the person holding the light scrim and leaf blower!!!! (pro&#39;s will know the importance of that leave blower).</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I&#39;m extremely determined and once I have something in my mind I need to achieve it even if it takes me my whole life to achieve it.&quot;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for speaking from the heart Kyla, we are so proud of you!</div><div><br /></div><div>Photographer: @spadestudios2&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Styling: @brendnalexander</div><div>H&amp;M: @hairbymarkima</div><div><br /></div>

We caught up with our beautiful Kyla Spykerman aft...

Kyla Spykerman South African international model in Los Angeles with The Industry 

Savannah Maree

Savannah
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