Lindsey Wixson

She is one of those whose face is not easily forgotten. At a time when the top model look includes hollowed-out cheeks and chiseled faces, the chubby face and full lips of the oh-so-young Lindsey Wixson have what it takes to attract attention.

At the center of the modeling world, there are those with the "perfect"- bordering stereotypical - body that guarantees them shows and shootings. At the other end of the spectrum, there are the others with a less obvious but often more striking beauty, who can have a difficult time breaking through.

On the other hand, once accepted by the fashion world, the latter often enjoy a success surpassing all their expectations. Lindsey Wixson is one of those.

Originally from Texas, this young, almost-17 year old did not impress a talent scout during a beach volleyball match (i.e. like Gisele Bündchen or d'Abbey Lee). In fact, she may have dreamt of becoming a model since she was 12, but she spent a lot of time convincing an agency to give her a chance.

Wixson was rejected more than once (including by IMG) before landing a contract with Marilyn when she was 15. Whereas the other agencies only saw a girl who was too tall with a face that was too round, Marilyn saw a possible future top model: her porcelain oval doll-like face, very 19th century, could in fact prove to be very bankable.

That being said, it was out of the question for them to reveal their new recruit too quickly. They preferred to tease the public by showing her rarely, but well. Her first official appearance was a complete success: by posing for Steven Meisel for Vogue Italy, Wixson began her modeling career under the best possible conditions.

In September 2009, Wixson took her first steps on the fashion week catwalks. She did not walk much in New York, but her rare appearances were enough to attract the attention of Miuccia Prada, who then had her walk exclusively for Prada (Milan) and Miu Miu (Paris).

In less than one season, the young girl went from being just another model to one-to-follow. It should be said that in the fashion world, drawing the attention of the grande dame Italienne is equivalent to a papal blessing.

From that moment on, the magazines began welcoming the funny little Texan into their pages. In the following months, she appeared in Teen Vogue, Dazed&Confused, ID and even W.

It was not until 2010, however, when Miu Miu chose her to be their icon, that Wixson was truly accepted by the fashion world. The most prestigious photographers - e.g., Mert&Marcus and Craig McDean - were regularly solicited to shoot the tall and slender adolescent, whose smile revealed a wonderful gap between her front teeth.

With her atypical physique, Miss Wixson either irritates or subjugates, but she leaves no one indifferent. It was not surprising, then, that she was selected by Life magazine as one of the 10 aspiring top models to follow during the New York fashion week last February.

The numerous images from that report reveal a young woman barely out of childhood, whose rare photogenic quality and range of expression indicate the promise of a brilliant future.

Wixson may have just signed a contract with Jill Stuart cosmetics and may have been reselected by Miu Miu for the fall/winter 2010-2011 season, but she is also missing a little normality in her adolescent life; e.g., to her great chagrin, her increasingly busy lifestyle makes it hard for her to find a boyfriend.

This being said, this young beauty does realize that despite everything, she is living a veritable fairy tale on a daily basis, which merits a few concessions...