Photography by Thomas Whiteside; Styling by Sean Knight.
Model Ali Michael wearing Prada
For the Fall issue of Bal Harbour, we headed to the studio with photographer Thomas Whiteside and the super-chameleon Ali Michael, who donned key looks from the Fall collections for our cover story, “Your Move.” Styled by Sean Knight, the story unfolds in a dozen looks, each embodying a character artfully portrayed by Michael. Following the shoot, we caught up with Michael in Los Angeles to chat about music, shapeshifting, and finding the right aura for the job.
Thomas Whiteside described you as a chameleon. What’s your goal in front of the camera? Where do you find that source of fluidity?
I appreciate that. I don’t have a general goal per se because I like to stay present… but an interesting thing about modeling is that every job does call for a different aura. I enjoy shape shifting and ultimately becoming and experiencing many things while still inside my own skin. I feel like my ability to stretch has become (and will continue to become) more and more possible as I truly know and accept myself.
Michael wearing Stella McCartney
Do you have a favorite character from the shoot?
We definitely went to a few different places energetically on this shoot…. I really liked wearing the McQueen suit; I don’t think I was given a different name in that one, but that look was fun. I loved Portia, too. And we all agreed that the Chanel hat shot really channeled our mutual friend Evangeline who is an absolute Chanel muse—even if the brand doesn’t know it yet.
At 34, you’ve spent at least half your life in front of the camera. What drew you toward modeling in the first place and what continues to drive you?
To be honest I fell into modeling as it seemed like something people thought I would be capable of, which I otherwise felt at a loss for at 14. I feel like I boarded a boat and sailed away on a path I could not have consciously imagined being on as a teenager in Texas. As much of a stormy sea it’s been I am eternally grateful to the journey because it’s taught me so much about my self and my essence. What drives me now is expression and resonance and I love the opportunity to conjure something in an image. I don’t know that I ever would have discovered my passion for performance and embodiment had it not been for modeling.
Michael wearing Saint Laurent
You’re also a musical artist. On set, what kind of music gets you into character?
I don’t often put in music requests on set because I don’t want to subject everyone else to my preference, but luckily the music chosen on this day was perfect for the energy… it was essentially Brat on repeat and it was very effective for generating lots of movement.
What gets you going in the recording studio?
Collaboration and magic.
Any artists you’d like to turn our attention to?
Avery Tucker, I’m in a big Depeche Mode moment right now and I always recommend watching the music video for Bittersweet Symphony over and over again partly because Richard Ashcroft is so gorgeous in it… and of course, and for Eternity, Björk.
Michael wearing Chanel
What’s a recent destination that really blew you away? Anywhere on the horizon?
I’m planning on spending some time in London coming up, which is one of my favorite cities. I am looking forward to the rain and the green and the gargoyles. My dream is to do a stop-over in Iceland on the way there or back because I find that to be the most magical land on Earth!
