See How Karly Loyce Went From Bio Student to Céline Campaign Star

Céline’s seasonal ads have always emphasized dynamic women, from perennial muse Daria Werbowy to iconic author Joan Didion. The brand’s Fall campaign centers on newcomer Karly Loyce, an elegant biology student from Martinique who made her modeling debut on Phoebe Philo’s runway. Few science majors trade textbooks for turns on the world’s elite catwalks, but Loyce long harbored dreams of modeling. A fashion enthusiast from an early age, Loyce was inspired by the trajectory of her grade-school classmate and fellow model, Cora Emmanuel. “I followed her career, and I dreamt of following in her footsteps, but I had no idea how to achieve that,” Loyce tells Style.com. “When I arrived in Paris and started my studies, I didn’t really think about it anymore, but then I was discovered by a model scout.”
Signed quickly to Women Management, Loyce soon found herself an in-demand commodity. “I was intimidated and excited in equal measure,” she says of her trip down the Céline catwalk. “As soon as I was on the runway, I felt like a rock star!” Her poise impressed Philo, who tapped her for the Juergen Teller-lensed campaign a few weeks later, a shoot that provided Loyce with her first experience in front of the camera. “The team was adorable and patient with me and gave me plenty of advice. It was such an honor to shoot with Juergen, who really put me at ease, and Phoebe Philo. I am also grateful to casting director Michelle Lee and to my agency for placing their trust in me.”
Since her Céline exclusive, Loyce has racked up an impressive array of work, shooting Kenzo’s Resort lookbook, appearing on the couture runway for Giambattista Valli and Viktor & Rolf, and shooting with Alasdair McLellan for i-D’s 15th anniversary cover. Though her success has happened seemingly overnight, Loyce finds herself continuously amazed by the opportunities fashion has presented her with, from meeting her heroes like Edward Enninful and Naomi Campbell to getting to experience the ins and outs of an industry she’d admired from afar. “When I was about 13, I pestered my mum until she agreed to buy me a dress and a pair of stilettos. She eventually gave in, and I would spend my days pretending to be on a catwalk,” the model shares. “It’s important to believe in your dream, since you never know what life has in store for you. All this happened so fast—a few months ago I was a biology student and now I’m a model. I still can’t quite believe it, and I’m excited to find out where this will lead.”