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Meet the New Girl: Ylonka Verheul Wants to Fly to the Moon

Eighteen-year-old Ylonka Verheul has serious modeling chops. The stunning Dutchie signed with New York Model Management last year and booked top-notch editorials right off the bat. i-D magazine, known for its breakthrough bookings, had first dibs on Verheul for its winter 2009 issue, shot by Daniel Jackson; she also appeared in British Vogue’s December issue, alongside top model Hannah Holman. The Coldplay fan also modeled for Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Prada, and Karl Lagerfeld, among others, in her debut season (fall 2010). Verheul’s editorial chart then hit the heavens with requests from every significant international version of Vogue (Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, and British) — buying her face time with tastemakers like Steven Meisel and Sharif Hamza. Click ahead to read a brief Q&A with Verheul, and then visit her new model profile to see loads of on- and off-the-runway pics.

What’s one thing you have back home that you can’t find in New York, Milan, or Paris?
Speaking my own language and making weird Dutch jokes.

You’ve already worked with Meisel, Jackson, and Knoepfel and Indlekofer. Are there any other photographers or stylists you’d like to work with?
I would love to work with Mario Testino, and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. They’re so creative and amazing — I’m always inspired by their work — but mostly I’m just happy to have the opportunity to do something I love.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
[Having] built up an amazing modeling career with a lot of people that believe in me and love to work with me because of my skills and personality.

What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without?
My family and friends; I really need their support. [Also] Tjarda, my manager in Holland, because she believes in what I do and I can always call her. I can’t live without my laptop.

What’s your ultimate goal in modeling?
A contract for any leading cosmetics brand and the cover of all the Vogues.

Describe your picture-perfect day.
Fly to the moon! Then go back to a deserted island with my family and friends.

Explore other rising stars (plus all the big names) in our extensive Model Manual, featuring runway pics, glamorous editorials, model bios, career timelines, and more.

Meet the New Girl: Ylonka Verheul Wants to Fly to the Moon