Have you seen the newest face of Dior?
She’s flawless, elegant, and a total overnight success story – and she’s only 14-years-old.
Yes, at an age when most of us were awkward grade nine kids trying to look cool on the grass outside of school, Sofia Mechetner was opening and closing Christian Dior’s recent Paris Fashion Week show.
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And while your part-time gig may have offered a few extra dollars, Mechetner has reportedly signed a two-year contract worth the equivalent of $265,000, in what’s being called a “rags to riches” story.
Mechetner comes from a small town in Israel where she has lived with her mother, who makes about $1000 per month working three jobs, and two siblings.
She slept on a mattress on the ground and helped care for the household while her mom was at work. A bowl of Corn Flakes was a luxury.
Then, a chance encounter with Dior creative director Raf Simons at the Dior boutique in Paris catapulted Mechetner into the spotlight when he invited her to walk in Dior’s Haute Couture show.
It was her first modeling gig ever. And yes, the whole thing is totally “Cinderella.”
The decision, however, has raised some eyebrows from those who think she is too young to ensure such a high-pressure job. They point to the CFDA’s 2001 ban of models under the age of 16 from walking in any of the major fashion weeks on the United States.
The thing is, the same rules don’t apply in Paris.
While there’s no doubt that the stunning Mechetner – who has been compared to a young Claudia Schiffer – has a successful career in front of her, fourteen does seem a little young to deal with the demands, scrutiny, and pressure of the industry.
Not to mention, it seems a little young to be sexualized as critics claim is happening in the revealing clothing she wears (Dior or not).
Though Mechetner vows to continue her education, the deal with Dior will undoubtedly evolve into more deals and more dollars.
Either way, the only hope is that she’s smart with her young fame and that her story remains one of empowerment and of beating the odds rather than a tale of another famous-too-soon train wreck.
As for the industry, we hope it’s kind to her too.
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