Rising Model Grace Epolo by Per Flordian Appelgren for Harper's Bazaar Vietnam

Rising German model Grace Epolo graces the pages of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, styled by Nina Fröhlich in Ganni, Gucci, Miu Miu and more.

Photographer Per Florian Appelgren [IG] captures Epolo against a verdant, drawing-room, artistic backdrop inspired by “the most brilliant times of Post-Impressionism,” she tells Harpers. “Women have a stronger voice in society. They wear pants like men . The comfort makes them more autonomous in life.” Read the interview in English using Google Translator. / Hair and makeup by Kerstin Hueges

Vegan handbag designer Melina Bucher interviewed Grace Epolo in January about her impression of the fashion industry from the perspective of the new Leverkusen, Germany model, a 19-year-old Psychology student.

Bucher also spent high-quality time probing Epolo’s activist role in the Black Lives Matter movement.

AOC shares the model’s position on how one develops an impression of fellow collaborators, based on their “of the moment” commitment to BLM or a longer-term, lifetime commitment. We constantly evaluate the activist credentials of talent we promote vigorously. And as part of every research on jewelry and designer brands, we search for their sustainability credentials. We may not comment directly — and we certainly post brands with low sustainability credentials. However, if no serious activism-related commitment to change is being made over time, the professional will probably slip away from AOC’s attention. This is also why AOC refuses offers of payment to be featured on our increasingly important, fashion industry website.

MB: HOW DOES THE BLM TOPIC ACCOMPANY YOU IN YOUR MODELLING CAREER? YOUR INQUIRIES HAVE SURELY INCREASED - HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE IN THE LONG TERM AND NOT JUST JUMP ON THE TREND?

GE: Since I haven't been a model for that long, I can't really tell whether the number of inquiries has increased for me personally, but I know from many girls that this was the case with them. What I always do before booking is, that I first look at the customer's Instagram account and see whether it is diverse. Can you see Asian, black or other models who are not blond with blue eyes? If so, then I'm happy. If not, I'm sceptical, but on the other hand, I would also like to give “the benefit of doubt”. The client may have hired a new casting director to ensure that it becomes diverse. What I always enjoy, however, is not only to see models who are Asian, black, Latin, etc., but also to see that the photographer, the make-up artist or the hair stylist is black, asian, latina / latino, etc. This shows that it's not just about image, but that the customer actually believes in diversity and wants to reflect that with its employees.

Read the entire Melina Bucher/Grace Epolo interview at MelinaBucher.com.