MODEL LIFE SOARS TO AMAZON BESTSELLER FOLLOWING STAR-STUDDED NYFW KICKOFF LAUNCH
Curated by international model and AURY Collective founder Anya Marcon, the groundbreaking anthology brings together 22 women from fashion, film, culture, business and media to reveal the powerful stories behind the image.
NEW YORK, NY — September 9, 2026 — Model Life, the debut anthology curated by international model, author and AURY Collective founder Anya Marcon, has become an Amazon bestseller less than 24 hours after its release, following an invitation-only launch celebration at Riff Raff at Virgin Hotels New York City on September 8, ahead of New York Fashion Week.
The high-energy evening brought together the book’s contributors, fashion and cultural voices, industry insiders and members of the media to celebrate a collection that moves beyond the runway—and challenges audiences to see the women behind the images.
Through deeply personal stories, Model Life gives 22 women working across fashion, film, television, media and business the space to author their own narratives. Their stories explore ambition, reinvention, grief, motherhood, identity, entrepreneurship, creativity and resilience, revealing lives far more complex and compelling than any single photograph could capture.
The book arrives at a pivotal moment for the fashion industry, as conversations around representation, authorship and who controls fashion’s narratives continue to evolve. Rather than presenting models simply as subjects to be photographed, Model Life positions them as authors, founders, artists, advocates and leaders whose experiences extend far beyond a campaign, casting, red carpet or runway.
“Model Life began as a book about modeling, but it became something much bigger,” Marcon writes in the collection’s foreword. “It is about extraordinary women—and what it truly means to live a life worth modeling.”
BEYOND THE IMAGE: A TIMELY CULTURAL CONVERSATION
With its celebratory New York City launch, rapid Amazon bestseller milestone and collective audience of more than five million, Model Life enters the cultural conversation with significant momentum.
The anthology presents a compelling story for fashion, culture, lifestyle, entertainment, beauty and business media—one centered on what women working in image-driven industries carry, create and become when they are given the opportunity to tell their own stories.
Its contributors represent an expansive cross-section of the creative and professional landscape, spanning global runways, film and television, beauty, finance, media, wellness, advocacy and entrepreneurship.
Early editorial attention includes Q Editorial, whose exploration of fashion, culture and identity closely reflects the book’s central premise: the woman will always be more compelling than the image.
SELECT CONTRIBUTOR HIGHLIGHTS
Yaya DaCosta — Actor, producer, speaker, model and trained doula who rose to prominence as the runner-up on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3. Her screen credits include The Lincoln Lawyer, Chicago Med, The Butler and Whitney.
Eugenia Kuzmina — Russian-American actress, comedian and international model whose work spans Yves Saint Laurent, Cartier, Dior, Vogue, The Gentlemen and Bad Moms.
Skye Stracke — Australian supermodel and actress whose career includes work with Chanel, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger and Lacoste, as well as multiple international Vogue covers.
Eugena Washington — Model, media host and creator known for America’s Next Top Model and as Playboy’s Playmate of the Year. She is also the founder of The Velvet Room.
Zarina Yeva — International model, actress and creator with credits spanning fashion, film and television and a global Instagram audience of more than 1.4 million.
Eva Sita — Ivorian-French model, actress, musician, creator and host, and the first Ivorian woman in history to graduate from Berklee College of Music. Her work spans New York Fashion Week, Miami Swim Week and international music performances.
Riley Woodell — Editorial and runway model whose work has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Purple Magazine and PAPER Magazine. She advocates for greater transparency in fashion while creating educational content for aspiring models.
Michaela Vybohova — Slovakian international fashion model and entrepreneur whose career spans editorial, commercial and luxury fashion. She is also a hands-on founder with a passion for travel, equestrian pursuits and creative ventures.
Anastasia Bogushevskaya — International high-fashion model, runway and posing coach, and founder of Model Flow Academy. With more than 15 years of global industry experience and more than 1,000 runway shows to her credit, she works to equip aspiring and professional models with the skills, strategy and confidence needed to build lasting careers.
MODEL LIFE
Model Life is a global storytelling anthology curated by Anya Marcon and presented by AURY Collective. Bringing together 22 models, actors, founders and fashion-world voices, the collection explores the humanity, pressure, possibility and power behind an industry too often defined solely by appearances.
More than a book about modeling, Model Life is an exploration of what it means to build a life worth modeling.
GETTY IMAGES
Event photography from the Model Life launch is available through the official launch gallery on Getty Images.
MEDIA CONTACT
AURY Collective / Model Life
hello@aurycollective.com
AuryCollective.com
FASHION WEEK FOREVER EDITORIAL NOTE
Fashion Week Forever recognizes Model Life as part of a broader shift in fashion storytelling—one in which the individuals who have historically been placed in front of the camera are increasingly taking control of the narrative themselves.
