Model Call: Hanne Gaby Odiele

Luis Campuzano
·3 min read
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Hanne Gaby Odiele hardly needs an introduction as her résumé speaks for itself. Approaching a nearly two decade-long career walking the runways for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Versace, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Calvin Klein (to name a few), the Belgian model has long been a favorite both on and off the runway.

Odiele’s career took flight at age 17 after being scouted while attending the Novarock rock festival in Kortrijk, Belgium. In 2005, Odiele signed with Supreme Management in New York City, which quickly led to her debut on the runways, walking for brands like Marc by Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, Ruffian and Thakoon in New York. The following year, Odiele became the face of Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti.

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Even though she’s since been the face of myriad brands, appearing in ad campaigns and on the runway for the likes of Zara, Alexander Wang, Gucci, Prada, Marc Jacobs and more, what mirrors her successful career is her cool sense of style that’s continually being posted on street-style blogs.

Fashion models nowadays have become the unlikely advocates for challenging the strict norms that pertain to gender, with trans models such as Andreja Pejić and Hari Nef making regular appearances in ad campaigns and on runways, where designs are becoming more gender-fluid.

In January 2017, Odiele stepped in front of the camera for a different kind of campaign, revealing that she was born intersex. She became the face of InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth and has utilized her high-profile position to become a champion for the intersex community.

WWD photographed the Belgian model and was able to chat to her about her beginnings and most memorable moment so far working in the fashion industry.

WWD: How did you first get into modeling?

Hanne Gaby Odiele: I was having fun with my friends at a music festival in Belgium, and a scout approached me and asked if I wanted to model. I didn’t think much about it at first, but I went to meet the agency, and a couple weeks later I was in New York. Now, almost 20 years later, I’m still here.

WWD: What surprised you when you first became a model? What is the biggest misconception?

H.G.O.: I was very young at the time and came from a small village. I didn’t know anything about fashion. So, pretty much everything was a surprise, or more so a learning curve.

WWD: How has your professional role as a model given you a unique platform to promote intersex awareness? Have you received any backlash from the industry because of it?

H.G.O.: I discovered I was intersex around the same time I started modeling. I think modeling helped me a lot in self-accepting, in a weird way. I learned from becoming different characters for shoots or shows that femininity doesn’t have to be just one way.

It also helped me to push harder in my career, because one day I wanted to have a platform and share my truth. It was very important to me that I was established enough before because I didn’t want my story to be a gimmick. Being intersex is just a small part of who I am, in the end.

WWD: What’s been your most memorable experience in modeling so far?

H.G.O.: Too hard to pick just one, but one that comes to mind first is that I was lucky to have worked with the great Alexander McQueen. I will never forget the magic from the shows.

WWD: What would you like to achieve in the modeling world and outside?

H.G.O.: After almost 20 years, I still really enjoy what I do. I love being around creative people and hope to continue doing so. I take life day by day and try to be in the moment as much as possible.

Launch Gallery: Spring 2024 Collections with Hanne Gaby Odiele

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