Aaliyah Buford, 17, modeled for Lacoste’s SKIMS line and Kim Kardashian with Fendi. She graduated early to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles and New York.
ST. LOUIS – From North St. Louis County to the Los Angeles fashion shows, 17-year-old Aaliyah Buford is making waves in the modeling world.
“I try to be as fierce as possible and just try to show the empowerment that I feel,” said Buford.
Buford commands the room with his podium. A bold move from someone who describes themselves as an introvert.
“It’s surprising to say that I’m in the modeling industry because it’s such a glamorous and outgoing industry, but I think it’s helped me a lot to open up,” she said. .
Growing up in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, the McCluer South Berkeley High School student discovered his passion for modeling at the age of 15.
“I was training in my bedroom when I built ease with myself, then when I had my first photoshoot, it was when I was like yeah, that’s what I wanna do” , said Buford.
Buford joined Mother Management at the age of 16, the same model agency that discovered model and St. Louis native Karlie Kloss at the age of 13.
“Practice my shooting tests, make sure I’m on time, practice my walk, critique my walk, so it’s just a lot of help I’m getting from them to help build what I’m doing. to become, “Buford mentioned.
She’s on the right track, landing gigs with Lacoste and modeling for Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS line with Fendi.
“It was like a spinning load that we were standing on so I was trying to use all my muscles so I didn’t fall so that was really cool,” said Buford.
She finishes high school early to pursue opportunities in Los Angeles and potentially New York.
“I have people who come to me at school and say ‘Wow Aaliyah, you are doing so well and you inspire me to do what I want to do!’ and stuff like that, ”Buford said.
Standing just under 5ft 11in, she said modeling has helped her love and embrace every part of herself; newfound confidence that has now influenced others.
“You look at others for inspiration, but I think now that I’m becoming this person that people feel inspired by, I think sometimes it’s always very shocking and it’s also very humbling,” said Buford.
It’s the last week of high school in Buford.
She will continue to take classes at St. Louis Community College in Florissant while pursuing opportunities in Los Angeles.
Once she turns 18 later this year, she plans to bring her talents to New York City.
