Biography
Powerhouse casting directors Barbara Nicoli and Leila Ananna collaborate frequently with renowned stylists and top brands to select models for fashion editorials, advertising campaigns, and runway shows. The two have regularly cast the catwalk models for Burberry, Gucci, Versace, Saint Laurent and Armani Privé.
In addition casting for international luxury brands, Nicoli and Ananna have also chosen models to advertising campaigns for front high street and contemporary brands, including British boutique Jaeger. They have also worked on a number of magazine editorials, casting for the likes of Vogue Nippon, Vogue Russia, i-D and Flair magazine, and collaborated with renowned photographers such as David Sims , Peter Lindbergh and Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott .
Introduced to the industry when she worked as a dresser at university, Nicoli began to freelance for production companies in Milan, whose owner directed runway shows for high-end Milanese brands at the time, like Valentino and Salvatore Ferragamo. She began memorising the faces of the models she saw, and eventually became an assistant to the casting director.
The casting duo are based between Milan and Paris.