If you attended Fall 2011 LG Fashion Week you probably noticed Renee Thompson doing double duty stomping down the catwalk and running around the CNE’s Heritage Court with videographer in town. The Jamaican-born Canadian model—she was born in St. Anne’s Bay, Jamaica and moved to Canada (Brampton to be more specific) when she was four-years-old—has added web series producer to her ever-expanding resumé. The web series in question, called Reel2Runway, gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the fabulous life of the international model whose passport sports stamps from South Africa, Taipei, Germany, Milan, Paris and New York, just to name a few.
Though Renee is an extremely busy lady she took the time out of her busy New York City schedule to answer a few questions about her start in modeling, memorable fashion moments and why she decided to appear in the mini documentary The Colour of Beauty.
Tell me about your modeling career.
I was discovered by Elmer Olsen at the age of 15 when he used to be with Elite model Management in Toronto. I was working for clients like Holts and Sears and eventually doing Toronto Fashion Week consecutively to date. I started travelling to Milan and Paris at the age of 19 and have been to Asia, South Africa and the United States throughout my career. I have worked for the likes of Giorgio Armani, Jenny Packham, Gai Mattiollo and Hermès, to name a few. In my print resume: Harper's Bazaar with photographer Jean Paul Goude and Alber Elbaz, Essence Magazine, Lux Beauty Soap and Marthe Aimé's Spring/Summer campaign.
Why did you decide to go into modeling?
I didn’t really decide to go into modeling. Really it was my cousin Marc's idea. The long straggly arms and legs and awkwardness was proving to be the makeup of most models he was seeing in magazines. He thought I would be a great fit. I did Model Talent Search Canada, then the Elite Model Look contest and won for Toronto, but not for the finals in France. There I met Susan Boyd, the former editor-in-chief of Flare at the time, Susie Sheffman, editor-in-chief of Toronto Life Fashion, and got to work with noted photographer Alvaro Goveia. It was a great experience, great training and great preparation for the business. And it kept me out of trouble!
Who has been your favourite brand, designer, magazine, photographer, etc. to work with?
I would say my favourite shoot was the ELLE Magazine shoot from South Africa where I landed the cover. It was a classic Renee story: I sneak into a casting I was not requested for. I followed a friend to the casting and ask the photographer just to look at my book (the photographer was a woman named Gerda Genis and she was also very renowned in South Africa). That same day, my agency got a confirmation and no idea how I got it!
Which brand, designer, photographer, etc. living or dead would you love to work with?
I would love to work with Jean Paul Gaultier and Tom Ford! I would simply faint. They are the risk takers and believers of real fashion and presentation. It’s about shock value and it’s about personality with those two designers. They are also known for putting on the world's top ethnic models in the industry: Stacey McKenzie, Liya Kebede and Omahyra Mota, just to name a few. All the girls no one would give a chance. They inspire me and these two designers inspired the world to accept them.
What was your craziest fashion moment?
Last Spring/Summer at New York Fashion week, I went to the Lincoln Center to watch my friend in the Richie Rich show. I saw Richie and said, "I am very pleased to meet you but I have a bone to pick with you!" He said, " Well what's that girlfriend?" and I said, "I have casted for your show three times and I have yet to walk in your show." He then sent me to hair and makeup with a bikini on 15 minutes before the show. I had manicurists, makeup artists and all kinds of people working on me at once. Worse, I hadn’t done my "landscaping" as I had no intention to show that day. The makeup artist just simply covered it up with some glitter! Besides Ellen Degeneres being in the show that was the 2nd most popular topic of Fashion week at Richie Rich. It was great!
What is your most memorable modeling experience?
When Giorgio Armani himself took me by hand after I waited for three hours and would not leave until he saw me walk at his casting, and said, "Que bellissima. You are gorgeous. Never give up!" He never knew me, he never knew why I waited but he looked me dead in the eyes and said all the right words to a girl who had no business being at yet another unrequested casting. And he booked me.
If you weren't a model what would you be doing?
Before I was a full-blown model my dream was to be an interpreter in the United Nations. Completely different but I thought it was another way of learning a variation of different languages and I really took to languages, it was natural.
How did you get involved with the Colour of Beauty documentary?
The director of this short film is Elizabeth St. Philip and she approached Norwayne Anderson (formerly of NAM) and he suggested her to speak with me as part of her field research. After a lunch meeting and recounts of all my stories and the ins and outs of my challenges [as a Black model], she then decided to follow me to New York where she could witness and record the ‘day in the life’ idea of this Black model on the verge in a new market facing institutional racism every day. I put together a day of castings, photoshoots and all my closest colleagues speaking on their experiences as well. Ultimately, it had its backlash and its commendations. The film was recognized after a viral overtake by CNN producer and actor Hill Harper, the National Film Board of Canada and World Star Hip Hop, to name a few. The outreach was amazing.
Why did you decide to do the mini documentary?
I have always wanted to speak out on my experiences as a model as well as being an ethnic model. I trusted Elizabeth enough to paint an accurate picture and she did. I felt the film was the only way to bring the "REAL" model life to the forefront. It was necessary to have one rogue model besides Naomi [Campbell] speaking out on something that was affecting all Black models everywhere.
Were you worried your participation with the documentary would affect your chances of success in the fashion industry?
Well, it has in a lot of ways. But I think it’s more important to understand who you are and what you're about, even if it piss people off. I just look at it as "if it's worth complaining about, its worth doing something about."
Tell me about Reel2Runway? What is it? What do you do?
Reel2Runway is a production team that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry. I, as Runwayrenee, am the model in most cases: walking in a show, modeling in a photoshoot or interviewing other fashion figures, event hosts and various personalities we meet on the fly that are fashion driven or fashion lovers. My team of videographers, PR, social media managers, graphic designers and editors all make up the movement which is Reel2Runway.
[W]e want to give viewers the feeling that they are there catching the real moments of the runway life. Reel meaning film is a play on words that gives you the direct idea between showing you in film and showing you reality. The real side of a runway model's life as she takes you into her world in front of the cameras and behind the cameras. All the people we interact with, work with, and have met all make up the true idea of what it’s like and how it’s not really all glamour. It's a lot of work, it's a lot of transforming and sometimes it gets so crazy that you got to show people how models really just go with the flow. It’s also showing you how we are developing Reel2Runway through our interactions within the team and how we are all in a real show and want it to do well. It’s passion, it’s drama, it’s real life then fast track to runway and film life. Real people with extraordinary roles in both worlds.
Part of what inspired me to do this was The Colour of Beauty documentary. I wanted to show people how it really is for me as a model and not just what they read or what pictures they see come out. A lot of people need to understand we as models are real too. My team is an all-girl team of very talented women. Julie Hong is my director and videographer, Cynthia Spitz is my publicist, Meagan Jett is my social media manager, Lind Akri and Jennifer Lim edit and do graphics for Reel2Runway footage, Chelsea Clarke is my assistant coordinator and stylist and Isabel Lee is my director of photography. We want people to see that we all play a role in the success of Reel2Runway.
What is next for Renee Thompson? Campaigns, editorials, personal endeavours?
Well you're just going to have to tune into reel2runway.com and check out the webisodes for that part. We don’t want to ruin the surprise. But right now I am currently one of the new faces of L'Oréal's Dark & Lovely Hair Relaxer. I am also coming out in a Summer Spread for Kenton Magazine and I have just finished shooting my first morning show interview. Can't say when though.
To see more of Renee Thompson's fashion industry exploits visit reel2runway.com.
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