Paloma Elsesser

After being discovered by Pat McGrath to front her first beauty line, plus-size model Paloma Elsesser has become an outspoken voice for plus-size models through her vast Instagram following, fronting campaigns for Fenty Beauty, Glossier and Nike, and appearing in editorials for Allure, Elle and Teen Vogue.

Born in North London, to an African-American mother and a father of Chilean-Swiss descent, Elsesser then grew up in Los Angeles and attended private school. She moved to New York to attend The New School for psychology and literature, and waitressed at Jamaican restaurant Miss Lily’s. Her large social media following caught the eye of Pat McGrath, who tapped her to star in the launch of her namesake beauty line.

Elsesser has since appeared in advertising campaigns for Fenty Beauty, Glossier, Nike, ASOS and H&M, and walked the runway for the likes of Eckhaus Latta at New York Fashion Week. She scored the cover of Vogue Arabia alongside Ashley Graham, and the cover of British Vogue with Vittoria Ceretti, Halima Aden and Adut Akech. Elsesser’s Instagram following has resulted in an engaged audience that follow her life in New York. “The general commentary and discourse is about how the work that I do aids them, whether it be getting dressed or feeling better in their body and who they are, whether it be skin color, race, size, so I just want them to feel a part of my day in some way,” she told W Magazine about her Instagram account.

In March 2019, the CFDA announced that Elsesser would be joining the selection committee for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award. She is represented by IMG Models.