Dutch “midsize” model Jill Kortleve has broken the boundaries that typically govern who European luxury brands cast for their shows and marketing campaigns. Kortleve has worked for everyone from Alexander McQueen to Versace, but made a splash in the spring of 2000 when she became the first non-”straight size” model to walk for Chanel since Crystal Renn 10 years before, a watershed for inclusive casting.
"There’s a much needed change happening on the runway and I’m proud and feel grateful to be a part of it,” Kortleve said at the time. “I truly hope that in the future I get to see and work with many more models who used to not fit the briefing.”
In July 2022, Kortleve and Chanel again attracted attention when the French luxury giant cast her as the “bride” for its autumn haute couture show. The following couture season, she was again the only midsize model cast by Chanel for its show. In February 2023, Kortleve was the subject of a major profile in The New York Times.
In addition to her runway work, Kortleve has appeared on the covers of several editions of Vogue, including the April 2023 issue of British Vogue which positioned her as one of the “New Supers” along plus-size models Paloma Elsesser and Precious Lee .
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