These days, a model’s backstory is almost as important as her work. Renewed interest in the lives of models—and their occasionally famous parents—has led to the success of second-generation stars like Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, and Georgia May Jagger. With success like that, it’s only logical that more of the genetically blessed descendants of superstars will enter the industry in the coming months. The latest next-gen notable to snag a modeling contract is none other than Rose Gilroy, the daughter of Rene Russo and the director Dan Gilroy, who has just signed with Elite Model Management and is gearing up for her first Fashion Week. Here, everything you need to know about modeling’s newest face.
After a double major in political science and psychology, Gilroy wanted to try something creative.
“Growing up, my mother always told me that she wanted me to get my education, and I felt it was important, because it was something she’d worked so hard to give me. So I spent the last four years in college on a really traditionally academic path, but I still wanted to do something more creative. When I finished school, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to get involved in the modeling world, and I got that opportunity: I was having lunch in L.A. and my current mother agent walked by and scouted me and gave me a card.
“Right now I feel like I’m the one with so much to learn, I’m finally doing something creative and I have the opportunity to learn from people I consider artists. There are so many creative people in photography, hair, makeup, and it’s so nice to be a part of that.”
Her experience starting out has been pretty different from her mother’s.
“New York is so different from Los Angeles: There’s a lot more stimulus around you that I find exciting. I have family here, which I’m also really thankful for. When my mom started modeling she was 17, she’d left school and showed up in New York with a cardboard suitcase. Modeling was hard for her, she had no money and didn’t have a support system and things were very difficult for her. I’m glad that my experience so far has been so positive, and that I have people in my corner.”
She’s named after a 1970s supermodel, as a testament to her mother’s past.
“If [my mom] were here, she’d tell you that I was named in part for the model Rosie Vela, whom she worked with and loved. I always knew modeling was part of my mother’s story, but it’s interesting, as she’s really had two careers. I always knew her as an actress, but I always heard stories from her modeling days and it was always fun to look through her books.”
She shops smart.
“I feel like my style is really simple, I try to keep it as classic as I can. I invest in staple pieces that you can have forever and mix and match. Whenever I make a purchase I think, ‘How long can I have this for, and how many things can I wear it with?’ The most important things for me are having a great bag, sunglasses, and jacket because you can kind of wear those with anything and still look great.”
Don’t expect any attention-seeking selfies.
“You want to get followers for the right reasons. I don’t have an issue with the social media aspect of being a model, but I hope that my work is the thing that people notice first.”
She’s in it to win it.
“Being so new, it’s hard to say what the future holds. Obviously there are people out there who are just the best in the business, like Mario Testino and Steven Meisel, whom every model wants to work with—but I think things like that are earned. I have to work and see what happens. Right now it’s a dream. I’m still so new that I haven’t found my niche, and only time will even tell what people even want you for. Right now I’m just open to anything and everything; I want to be here, work as hard as I can, and see where I go.”