Lexi Boling

March 12, 201510 yr

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March 17, 201510 yr

Miu Miu F/W 2015.16-Paris

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4 weeks later...

April 14, 201510 yr

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Dior And I NY Premiere After-Party on April 7, 2015 in New York City.

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April 14, 201510 yr

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Being Lexi Boling: The Top Model on Her Outspoken Personality and What She’s Learned From Steven Meisel

Lexi Boling may have spent fashion month jetting from city to city to appear on the runway for labels like Prada, Loewe, and Dior, but at heart she’s still a tomboy from Chicago. Preferring to spend her off time snowboarding and hanging with pals to escape the busy pace of fashion, Boling balances the rigors of public life with her fiercely protected private side. As a member of modeling’s rebellious girl gang, Boling—along with friends Binx Walton and Hanne Gaby Odiele—has become the face that represents a youthful, mischievous glamour.
High fashion has embraced Boling’s insouciant attitude and classic beauty, and in the two years since her debut, she has become the poster child for a certain devil-may-care coolness wrapped up in a pretty package. Industry power players like Steven Meisel, who placed her on the cover of Vogue Italia a record five times in the past year, and Alexander Wang, who launched her career with an appearance in Balenciaga’s Resort 2014 lookbook, have championed Boling and her brand of badass. Catching up with Style.com during the postseason, Boling was eager to talk misconceptions, Milan parties, and working with the creatives behind the scenes.

You’ve been modeling for a couple years now—what surprised you about the industry when you first got into it?
I never realized how much time and effort went into fashion. It blew my mind when I first started. So much work is spent on everything, and it’s amazing to see
everyone so into their work.

Is there anything you wish you had known when you first got into the business?
Looking back, I wish I would have appreciated being home with friends, doing absolutely nothing but talking about life and hanging out. We were all so young with nothing to worry about, and I miss it loads.

Do you feel there have been any misconceptions about you in the media?
I think people put models into a box personality-wise. A big misconception is that we aren’t all like everyone else. Crazy, weird, whatever, it just surprises people that we’re normal sometimes.

This season it felt like you were everywhere. Was there a particular show or city where you had the most fun?
Alexander Wang is always my favorite. It was my first show, and I love Alex, so it’s always a good time—amazing after-party, too!
And in Milan at my hotel—all of my friends stay there, and we all just hang out when we’re free. It’s loads of fun, and something crazy always ends up going down

What was the craziest thing to happen to you at fashion week?
Craziest thing that happened was at Valentino, when we all saw Owen [Wilson] and Ben Stiller backstage. I was with Hanne Gaby, who is a major fan of Zoolander, and she was losing her mind along with everyone else backstage.

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hat sounds amazing! I hear you’re an avid snowboarder, as well. When did you get into that?
I’ve been snowboarding since I was 4. It’s my favorite thing in the world! There’s something about it that takes everything that’s stressful away, and you just focus on the mountain. It’s amazing. Wish I could go more!

What keeps you excited about modeling?
Spending time with people I’ve worked with before is what I get excited for. I love catching up with people and cracking jokes during work—makes things fun.

Who is someone you feel has really influenced you?
Steven Meisel. Every time I am on set with him, I push myself and learn so much. He is such an important part of my career and an absolutely amazing person.