“I just got directed by Baz Luhrmann!” What else could a young, up-and-coming model dream of than the opportunity of working with an iconic film director, debuting on the runway in a room full of editors and celebrities, and getting the Vogue stamp of approval? Mars, the Los Angeles native who was recently selected as part of Vogue’s Open Casting class of 2023, crossed all items off their bucket list in one night at Vogue World: London.
In this latest episode of “Diary of a Model,” Vogue followed Mars through this career-defining day, which kicked off with some light skin care and wrapped with a backstage cheer postshow. Sandwiched in between was a trip to a coffee shop to grab a quick breakfast (“I think there’s this idea that models don’t eat anything, which I think is ridiculous,” said Mars), a bit of backstage bonding (it was fellow Vogue World cast member Precious Lee’s birthday), some hair and makeup (“a lot of people talk about how it’s not as glamorous as it might seem, but getting your hair and makeup done surrounded by a bunch of models is very glamorous”), and a quick rehearsal.
Mars also recalls the moment they heard that they had been picked to be part of this class of Open Casting—they fittingly made their parents listen to Madonna’s “Vogue” three times. “I am nonbinary and that’s a unique perspective in the modeling world,” said Mars, ruminating on how they arrived at this moment. “They were looking for diversity and a new perspective, and that is a diversity I can offer.”
Just three days before the filming of this video, Mars was working in a restaurant. “I feel like I’m living in two different worlds a little bit,” they said. Make that two planets—join Vogue for a day on planet Mars by watching above.
Director: Talia Collis
Director of Photography: Charlotte Croft
Editor: Katie Wolford
Assistant Director: Gaia Livay
Senior Producer: Jordin Rocchi
Producer, On Set: Anisa Kennar
Audio: Andy Watson
Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds
Post Production Coordinators: Holly Frew, Jovan James
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Associate Director, Post Production: Nicholas Ascanio
Production Coordinator: Ava Kashar
Production Manager: Natasha Soto-Albors
Line Producer: Romeeka Powell
Senior Director, Production Management: Jessica Schier
Global Talent Casting Directors: Ignacio Murillo, Rosie Vogel-Eades
Director of Content, Production: Rahel Gebreyes
Executive Producer: Ruhiya Nuruddin
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Digital Video English: Thespena Guatieri
Filmed at: Zedwell Piccadilly Circus, 188-189 Drury Lane, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
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