Vogue.com puts the spotlight on rising star, Rhiannon McConnell!
7 Things to Know About Rhiannon McConnell, Gucci’s Southern Belle
Though typically Alessandro Michele’s Gucci runways are filled with his bohemian band of quirky waifs who match his notably eclectic aesthetic, the designer’s current muse is, as a Tennessee-bred Southern belle, a notable exception to the rule. Rhiannon McConnell has been a constant on Michele’s catwalk for the past year, recently landing a place in the label’s campaigns. A freckle-faced, pouty-lipped beauty with a love of writing poetry and hiking, McConnell is down home and refreshingly unpretentious. Splitting her time between Tennessee and her new home in New York City, she juggles a busy career and planning for her future with her fiancé. Get to know all the relevant facts about this rising star here.
Strict diets are easy when it’s for a worthwhile reason.
“I decided to become a vegetarian two years ago, when I first started dating my fiancé. I had always wanted to stop eating meat but never really knew how until he began to help. I do it solely for the animals, and I believe that if I love animals, I shouldn’t eat them.”
Models think that they have crazy travel schedules? Try the Navy.
“Not being able to come home to my fiancé is the hardest part about having him stationed [at a Naval base] in a different state. And then there are the time differences when I’m modeling overseas when it becomes a 14-hour time difference instead of 6 . . . . Mostly, his being in the Navy is hard, as we sometimes spend weeks not hearing from each other while he’s out at sea.”
It’s all about the down-home passions.
“I love to cook anything vegan or vegetarian; I usually pass on going out to eat so I can stay home and cook. My favorite dish is homemade potato gnocchi with a cashew cream sauce that I make all by scratch with raw cashews and lemons. I also love writing poems as much as possible!”
Gucci took her to the next level.
“Being able to work with the Gucci team has been the most wonderful and rewarding experience of my entire life and career. They helped kick-start my career. I became so close with the whole team while in Florence shooting for the Gucci Cruise 2016 campaign last summer, spending long nights getting to know everyone.”
Southern style? It’s all about keeping it country.
“Sundresses, cowgirl shoes, monogrammed everything—that’s as country as it gets.”
A preteen mall obsession paid off.
“I loved fashion even before I started modeling; I lived in the mall. I was 12 and obsessing about models I didn’t even know. And then I was discovered in Tennessee by my mother agent in a small mall in Johnson City.”
We can all benefit from a little body positivity à la Barbie Ferreira.
“I love everything Barbie Ferreira stands for—she is truly an inspiration for girls everywhere.”
