IMG model Jessica Stam covers the December 2024 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Turkey [IG]. Stam is being honored as the ‘Global Icon of the Year’ in the magazine’s annual Women of the Year issue. Photographer Daniella Midenge [IG] captures the Canadian model, a very successful member of the ‘doll faces’ beauties that rose to prominence in the early 00’s.

The all-Gucci fashion story is styled by Katie Mossman for the shoot at Daniella’s LA studio. / Makeup by Riku Campo; hair by Daniella Midenge

As always, Midenge’s images probe the essence of the sensual woman beneath the facade of fame and notoriety. She does it artfully and at times, almost reverentially.

I’ve never been with Daniella on a fashion shoot, but as someone who worked with many Victoria’s Secret models in the glory years, a top model like Jessica Stam knows when she’s in safe harbor with a photographer.

For someone with such an engaging personality of her own — as Daniella definitely has one — to inspire such trust with her subjects is a gift. Consequentially, Midenge images always go beyond the glare of the camera into the model’s protected sensual essence. . . her true self. And this photographer does it ALL the time. Others have also noticed and commented on this rare talent both to me and to Daniella.

I’m hoping that as fashion returns to a renewed embrace of female sensuality — emerging from the wasteland of recent years — brands and media understand the importance of these gifts.

AOC has never been one to abandon or deny the importance of sensuality in our lives and images. I recently took a strong position in favor of the ‘too long banishment’ of a talented photographer from our media. I found zero fault with the fashion shoot that created ‘the problem’ and wrote so at the time.

You either caught it or you didn’t. I assure you he caught it; and the matter is closed for AOC.

But any brand who embraces the unnamed ‘male gaze and more’ sexual renegades out there — as opposed to booking Daniella Midenge — will hear unvarnished words from me regarding why those images will not be posted on AOC.

In that case, we’ve made zero progress since the engaging, high-earner model Jessica Stam rose to prominence in fashion in 2003-2004. We cannot let that be the case. In response to this Bazaar Turkey fashion shoot, I already located the model’s early 2003-2004 Dolce & Gabbana ad campaign for AOC Renewed. We will link the two fashion shoots together later. ~ Anne