Mikhaila Rocha (born September 10, 1988) better known as Coco Rocha, is a Canadian fashion model and the new top model chosen by Vogue.1
Biography
Early life
Coco Rocha was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but moved to Richmond, British Columbia at a very young age. She is of Irish, Russian, and Welsh descent.2
Rocha was discovered at the age of 14 when competing in an Irish dance competition, she went to Dixon Elementary School where she was enrolled in the French immersion program then transferring to Tomekichi Homma Elementary School. Later, she went to continue her education in Hugh McRoberts Secondary School. In 2002, agent Charles Stuart approached her and asked her if she would consider modeling for him. At that point, she had never thought of modeling before. When she did begin to model, her knowledge of fashion was limited.2 She eventually gained insight into the fashion world after her best friends crammed in fashion study sessions in between studying for exams.2
Rocha is one of the few mainstream models who has spoken out against the prevalence of eating disorders in the modeling industry. She has acknowledged the pressure she faced as a fledgling model and recalls becoming obsessed with food after a trip to Singapore where she lost ten pounds.3 In an email to the Associated Press, she gives an insight into the fashion world, saying: "I'll never forget the piece of advice I got from people in the industry when they saw my new body ... They said, 'You need to lose more weight. The look this year is anorexia. We don't want you to be anorexic but that's what we want you to look like." 3
Career
Rocha met legendary fashion photographer Steven Meisel in February 2006. Soon, she was featured in an editorial with Gemma Ward and Amanda Moore. The editorial kickstarted her career, landing her the cover of the February 2006 issue of Vogue Italia. The week after, she walked the Spring/Summer 2006 New York City runways for a handful of designers, most notably Anna Sui and Marc Jacobs. Backstage at the Anna Sui show, Rocha met supermodel Naomi Campbell, who held her hands and told her she was "her new favorite model".4 After the New York Fashion Week, she soon followed by taking part in the Paris Fashion Week as well. She walked for esteemed designers like Stella McCartney, Christian Lacroix, and Emanuel Ungaro, and was chosen by Marc Jacobs to open and close his Louis Vuitton show.
During Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall/Winter 2007 show in February 2007, Rocha famously opened the show by Irish-dancing down the runway, showcasing her talents outside of modeling. This event, along with Hilary Rhoda walking for Balenciaga in 2006, was cited in Vogue US as the indication that "supermodels" have returned.5
In the May 2007 issue of Vogue US she was featured on the cover with fellow models Doutzen Kroes, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmermann, Sasha Pivovarova, Agyness Deyn, Jessica Stam, Hilary Rhoda, Chanel Iman, and Lily Donaldson as the new crop of supermodels.
Coco has been on the covers of many top fashion magazines including Vogue, Flare, Fashion, Numéro, French, W, Harper's Bazaar, Dazed & Confused, i-D, Time Style & Design, among others.1
Since her debut, Rocha has been the face of a variety of advertising campaigns including Americana Manhasset, Balenciaga, Chanel, D&G, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, The Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Yves Saint Laurent.1
She is in the third place on the Top 50 Models Women list by "models.com".6
Personal life
Coco owns a puppy named Peekaboo. Coco is also friends with Namibian model Behati Prinsloo.
References
External links
