Thanks to her unique background and natural talent for movement, Canadian model Coco Rocha was propelled into the world of high fashion at a young age. Born Mikhaila Rocha in Toronto, she was discovered at 14 while competing in an Irish dance competition, a skill she put to good use for Jean-Paul Gaultier in 2007 when she famously opened a runway show with a mesmerizing dance routine. Signed to the Elite agency, the new model quickly made a name for herself, walking the runways for acclaimed designers such as Anna Sui and Marc Jacobs. Her ability to convey a wide range of emotions through her poses earned her the moniker “The Queen of Pose” and established her as one of the first “digital” supermodels, embracing social media to connect with her fans. Over the course of her two-decade career, Rocha has graced the covers of numerous top fashion magazines, including Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar, and has appeared in campaigns for prestigious brands such as Versace, Chanel, and Dior. Known for her advocacy on behalf of younger models, Rocha has been a vocal critic of the industry’s unhealthy emphasis on thinness and has worked to enact legislation to protect the rights of underage models.
