We had the pleasure of catching up with boy of the moment Ben Allen from Select, who took the modelling world by storm after opening for Prada last season. Now he's hanging out with A$AP Rocky & casting for David Sims – and it all started with a friend spitting in the street.
Age: 16
Hometown: Brockley
Where I was scouted: Six months ago, on Portobello Road. My friend was messing around in the street and accidentally spat on some guy's shoe. Whilst the guy was having a go at us, the girl he was with interrupted and asked if I'd ever modelled. Two days later I was at a casting for David Sims.
Current obsession: Peep Show.
Pet peeve: Overpriced transport, unoriginality and generic hash tagging.
Guilty pleasure: I have so many! Nicki Minaj, trashy reality TV, Twitter.
Last lie I told: What time I'd be coming home tonight.
Dream job: The cliche answer for me would be footballer, but as a kid I wanted to be an inventor. I was always pretending to make potions.
Favourite childhood memory: I really loved going to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. I always used to go from one to the other as they're so close to each other. I liked the games at the Science Museum.
Favourite London hang out: My garden. I've got a log cabin with a sofa and huge sound system so I pretty much live in there.
Going out or staying in: Going out, I'm always up for a party!
Favourite place in the world Before NYFW I went to a private Caribbean Island with my friends. It was the most amazing holiday I've ever been on. It's depressing I probably won't ever go on a holiday somewhere like that again.
Dream dinner date: Mila Kunis, not just because she's unbelievably hot but I like her sense of humour and that she's the voice of Meg in Family Guy. I think I would laugh a lot with her.
I like my eggs: With no attitude.
Favourite movie: Friday with Chris Tucker and Ice Cube. It's so bad it's good.
Favourite cartoon That's so difficult, it's a toss between Avatar: The Legend of Aang or Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Those are the winners for me.
First gig: It was either the Underage festival or when Babyshambles played at Wembley. Dizzee Rascal was the support act which I thought was a weird choice but I really enjoyed it.
Favourite song: At the moment Juicy J, Stoners Night Part 2.
Most treasured possession: My cat. I call her Babes.
Last thing I bought: Fifa 13, a coat, hat and I got some photos developed.
Shows I've walked: Prada, Jonathan Saunders, Hugo Boss, Hackett, Acne, Dries Van Noten, Nicole Farhi and Richard Nicoll.
Career highlight Opening the Prada show and meeting A$AP Rocky. I had a really nice conversation with him, which was cool.
Future plans: I'm currently doing my A Levels so finishing them, also I'd like to keep doing this and see where I end up!
Am I happy? Extremely.
Photographer Daniel Thomas Smith
Fashion Editor and words Francesca Prudente
Hair & Make Up Lara Himpelmann using GUERLAIN A/W 2012 (ROSE AUX JOUES BLUSH DUO, PARURE DE LUMIERE) & BUMBLE & BUMBLE
Model Ben Allen at SELECT
Ben wears jumper by CHRISTOPHER SHANNON