Behind the Runway with Alisar Ailabouni
The brown haired, brown eyed, 5-foot-10 model, Alisar Ailabouni, has been traveling the world modeling for 7 years, walking in major shows season after season. With over 26,000 followers on Instagram, she's definitely making her mark in the fashion industry. Ailabouni is currently under contract with City Models in Paris, The Fabrica in Milan, Francina Models in Spain, Paris Management in Germany, and soon, Muse Models in New York.
Many know Alisar Ailabouni from her victory on Germany’s Next Top Model, Cycle 5 which aired in 2010, or from the infamous viral video during New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2017 Christian Siriano show. She caught her falling earring without missing a beat on the runway. I got the chance to interview Ailabouni while she was vacationing in Africa, last week.
MS. When did you start modeling?
AA. I started when I was 22 years old, actually when I was 21 but with traveling and stuff, it was when I was 22.
MS. When/where was your first fashion week?
AA. My first fashion week I did was in Berlin, but my first major fashion week was in New York. That's where I really started with the fashion weeks.
MS. Who is your favorite designer to work with?
AA. One of my favorite designers is Michael Kors, I just like the freshness, so it was super exciting to work for him.
MS. Do you still get nervous before a show?
AA. Actually, I don't really get so nervous anymore. I have done so many shows in my life that after a while you start feeling pretty relaxed, but I remember how nervous I was at the beginning and how my heart started beating very fast right before I had to go out. I didn't like this feeling because I thought I am about to faint...but after a while I got very used to it and it's very exciting.
MS. Has anything ever gone wrong while you were on the runway?
AA. Actually, yes. I remember one in particular when I was walking a show for Longchamp in Paris and I had to go up and down 3 stairs and I fell. I was so embarrassed and thought I did wrong but then they were all very carrying and everyone asked if I was okay. Now, I laugh thinking about it. And there was another time in Paris where I lost my heel and I smiled and just took off my other shoe and continued walking. Also, one time in New York, I was walking for another one of my favorite designers, Christian Siriano, and my earring fell off while I was on the runway but I walking fast enough that I was able to catch it. There is actually a video of my catch all over the internet.
MS. Who is your favorite model?
AA. I have a few models I really love to look at, and one of them is Coco Rocha. I just love the way she is, how nice she is and totally not arrogant. She's just so sweet and she's such a good model, I remember watching her videos of shootings.
MS. You've recently walked in Men’s Fashion Week in Milan and Couture week in Paris. Which shows did you walk in?
AA. I did the Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, which was my first fashion week for men, for Moschino, Daks London and for Frankie Morello. It was a very nice experience and right after I flew to Paris to do the haute couture shows where I walked for Giorgio Armani and for Ralph and Russo. Haute couture shows are very beautiful!!
MS. Were there any differences backstage?
AA. No, the backstage areas are basically all the same. People think it's all beautiful when you see the models on the runway, but don't really know what happens behind the scenes. You have to usually be there 4 hours before for preparing like hair and makeup. Then you have to do a rehearsal and then there are so many people backstage and there is a lot of screaming and rushing when you have to change to your second outfit. You basically have few seconds to change and it's a mess.
MS. What is the coolest thing you got to wear in a show?
AA. I actually always wear super cool things! But the coolest thing I remember wearing was actually a very, very, heavy outfit for Parson’s show in New York. (She laughs) Actually, I fell down the stairs too because my outfit was so heavy but I took it with humor and everyone was clapping, because I just got up and continued walking.
MS. Have you been working on anything now?
AA. I just did a job for L’Oréal last week, and I thought it was very nice, because I like these kinds of jobs for hair or beauty. It's super nice and easy and you feel very pretty because you get that perfect shiny hair, which I would love to have every day. So my face will be on their packages. I am pretty excited about. But right now, I took a vacation. I needed few days to relax and get away from the cold since I have been working a lot.
