When I was twenty I was asked to be part of the Perry Ellis Menswear campaign, with five other very well established models—like supermodel status. I was definitely the newbie!
The photographer was Bruce Webber—one of the best in the world. Think of Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie and Fitch, Italian, English and American Vogue in the 2000s.
We had a typical NY Pier 59 Studios spread for breakfast—bagels, cream cheese, fruit galore and corn flakes with whole milk. I had the fruit. There was no protein in sight. Did anyone think that we would eat that? The more experienced supermodels didn’t worry about it.
But I did. Good thing I brought my Knudsen cottage cheese! Only I and one other model were restricting.
That morning, we had a fitting of white gowns. None of them fit me! One of the models said, “Wow, you’re even bigger than me!”
Never a great start and definitely embarrassing. Shaming. The stylist kindly left the back of my dress open to make room for my shoulders and chest. I was aware of the fact that my body had changed. I’d grown up. I had no idea how to fit into this new woman’s body.
I wondered if I would be cut from the shoot.
But then—we changed into Perry Ellis white men’s dress shirts, and things moved along much quicker than expected. Bruce said he got all his shots. It was 11:45 am and we were done.
Shit!
Everyone gave their air kisses, and praise, and expressions of absolute perfection. And left.
Then Webber asked, “Estella. Would you hang back? We have some paperwork for you because you’re Canadian.”
“Of course,” I replied. I thought it odd. I had already been granted a green card.
They asked if I would be able to stay and continue shooting.
Webber came to me and said quietly, “Don’t believe what she said. You are a perfect you. Let’s have lunch, keep shooting and have fun.”
We did. And it was. We had pasta with chicken and salad for lunch.
For once, I ate well and loved it. He let me be myself!
That afternoon we shot the rest of the Perry Ellis campaign and, unbeknownst to me, the full Perry Ellis calendar. Webber had a way of shooting that was talkative, comfortable, dare I say—trustworthy.
This was one of the first photographers in this business that I felt truly comfortable with.
I kept a picture of myself from that shoot because it actually looked like me, and felt like me. Within months, there were billboards the size of buildings in Los Angeles, Miami, and the middle of Times Square, with me in only a Perry Ellis men’s white dress shirt. That one had to be taken down because it was causing accidents—really! It was replaced by a beautiful but less provocative shot.
Webber and I went on to work on various editorials for Vogue, V Magazine, and other campaigns. He invited me to his house in upper New York State, where I had a blast with his dogs, his family and friends. I don’t remember any scheduled photo shoot. We just hung out, and he took pictures—sometimes. I didn’t pose. I was never asked to.
I was free to be me.
I wish everyone could see themselves through someone else’s eye the way he saw me.
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