Wonderland

LA LA LAND

Photographed in Los Angeles and New York by Drew Vickers for Wonderland’s AW26 issue, this portfolio brings together a cross-generational cast of dreamers: models, actors, musicians, artists and skaters from his orbit.

FRANKIE RAYDER

The nineties model with three decades of cool, in conversation with Kate Moss.

Hey Frankie, I have a nickname for you, how many other nicknames do you have?
Hey Kate! Your nickname for me makes me laugh every time. Frankie is an easy name to riff on, so on any given day I’m Frank, Frankfurt, Franklin, Freaks or Dad, the last being an ode to my sports obsession.

You are something of a wine connoisseur. What is your favourite white? What is your favourite red?
I’m certainly no connoisseur, just obsessed. It’s too hot in LA for red, so I’ll split the difference and say that, purely for nostalgia, a crisp bottle of Domaines Ott gets me every time.

And if money were no object, what would you be drinking?
I’d just open bottles like that and leave them speechless.

Knowing all the words to “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan is a really good party trick of yours. I’m sure you have more party tricks, what are they?
Darling, magicians never reveal their secrets!

If you were going to a really posh night out, what would be your dream dress?
Ughhh, the dress you wore to the last Met Gala. I hate you.

I’ve known you for almost 30 years, and I’ve never asked you what your favourite animal is.
Wolves. A pack of wolves is one of my favourite things in the world. And, in case you also don’t know my favourite colour either, it’s green.

If you weren’t living in America, where would you live? Because you know I’m coming with you.
Don’t worry, I’ll come to yours for a while first. After that, no cities!

ROXXY PARK

The enigmatic model on her own wavelength.

Tell us the story of how you were cast in Drew’s portfolio.
My friend Ryan hit me up when I got back from Berlin and was like, ‘Wanna be in a shoot?’ And I said, ‘Sure, why not!’

What does ‘making it’ look like to you?
What are we making: a movie, a cookie? We can make whatever we want.

Where do you go when you need to feel inspired?
Home.

Who would be your dream next-door neighbour?
An accountant.

What song takes you somewhere else?
“uan1h. ing2y.uang1g.in2l” by No.006.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A mum.

What do you romanticise?
Life.

What’s something you’d love to learn?
The flute, are you kidding? I’m going to be the flute player that beckons the end of society.

What changed everything for you?
Rehab.

Who or what is impressing you right now?
My friends, lowkey. They’re locking in.

What could you never live without?
Toe spacers.

What’s something you hope your future self gets to do?
Join a commune at one point.

What makes something beautiful to you?
Information.

When was your last real pinch-me moment?
When my new roommate moved in.

What book, film or artwork altered your reality?
The book The Disappearance of Rituals: A Topology of the Present by Byung-Chul Han. Really emo guy.

What would you like to be remembered for?
Being kind.

RUTH DENG

The Miu Miu debutante with presidential-sized ambition.

What does ‘making it’ look like to you?
Walking in my full purpose alongside my family and friends, with no stress or worries in the world at all.

Where do you go when you need to feel inspired?
I go somewhere quiet where I can hear my thoughts and reconnect with myself.

Who would be your dream next-door neighbour?
My best friend, Sumeye.

What song takes you somewhere else?
“Drifting” by Khamari.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
The first African American woman to become president and, of course, a model!

What do you romanticise?
How bright my future will become.

What’s something you’d love to learn?
How to properly speak French.

What changed everything for you?
Walking in faith and believing in myself. That truly opened a lot of doors for me.

Who or what is impressing you right now?
Forever and always, my mum will continue to impress me. Through all the ups and downs she’s faced, she always uplifts me.

What could you never live without?
My family.

What’s something you hope your future self gets to do?
I pray that one day I’ll have the opportunity to return to Africa and minister to the little kids back home.

What makes something beautiful to you?
The passion and art behind it.

When was your last real pinch-me moment?
Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to shoot a story for Vogue with my family, and to this day, I cannot stop thinking about it.

What would you like to be remembered for?
Being myself and staying true to who I am.

THE WOMACK SISTERS

Three Sisters making soul a family affair, in conversation with Amber Mark.

If you could have one musical ability from either of your sisters, what would it be?
Zeimani: I would take Kucha’s songwriting ability and BG’s pitch. BG: I would take both of my sisters’ songwriting abilities. Kucha: I would take BG’s vocal range and Mani’s gritty vocal delivery.

You’re on a really bad first date and desperately need to get out of it. Which sister are you calling to bail you out?
BG: I’m calling Kucha. Mani will be out as well [laughs]. Z: I’m calling Kucha. BG doesn’t answer the phone [laughs]. K: Both are good options, but I’d say BG.

What’s on your rider? And more importantly, what’s the weirdest thing on there?
Lemon, honey, ginger, ginger ale and water. The weirdest thing is Tiger Balm, a soothing balm for sore muscles.

What’s a song you love so much that it actually pains you to think you had nothing to do with making it? Mine is “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson.
BG: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. Z: “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. K: “Ex-Factor” by Lauryn Hill.

Which one of you has the strongest case of demo-itis?
The Womack Sisters: Mani for sure.

The three of you (and maybe me) are getting matching tattoos tonight. What are we getting?
TWS: Musical notes 🎶.

You’re allowed to add one completely unnecessary person to your entourage. For example, a personal chef, psychic, masseuse, comedian, astrologer or bartender. Who are you hiring?
TWS: A masseuse, but that’s very necessary [laughs].

If you had to adopt a fourth sister from any artist, alive or dead, who are you choosing?
TWS: Aaliyah.

Daytime writing sessions or late-night writing sessions?
TWS: Late-night writing sessions.

I have to ask because you come from such an incredible musical lineage [with Sam Cooke as your grandfather, your parents forming Womack & Womack, and Bobby Womack as your uncle]: what’s one piece of advice you’ve inherited from your family that you would pass on to another artist?
TWS: Always keep a great lawyer by your side.

And last but definitely not least: would you rather own a dragon you could ride anywhere, or actually be the dragon?
TWS: We’d like to own the dragon!!

ABBY CHAMPION

The supermodel who learned to love fashion, in conversation with Jordan Daniels.

When and how do you feel most like yourself?
When I’m at home surrounded by my friends and family, just in my normal routine with the people I love and doing the little things that make me feel happy and grounded.

What’s the best and worst thing about fashion week?
The worst part for me is definitely the chaos of it all. It’s so different from my day-to-day life and can be really overwhelming, especially with so many people touching you and being in your personal space all day. On top of that, you’re usually tired and hungry, so it can definitely take a lot out of you.

The best part is getting to see all the designers, stylists, hair and make-up artists and other models that you don’t get to see consistently throughout the year. There’s also nothing like seeing your confirmed look on the board and realising how grateful you are to be a part of these shows over and over again.

What is the best catering experience you’ve ever had on set?
Oh my goodness, there have been so many good catering experiences over the years. I have to say, I love a coffee cart because there’s nothing better than good coffee on set. Another one that really stands out was on a shoot I did in Italy, where they had all this fresh pasta, cheese, fruit, meats. Everything was so delicious.

If you didn’t work for a whole year, what would you spend your time doing?
I’d probably be pregnant and growing a child, spending lots of time at home with my friends and family, and really enjoying that slower pace of life.

Do you care about fashion outside modelling? Would you be invested in it if you weren’t a model?
If you had asked me this before I started modelling, honestly, I don’t think I would have cared that much about fashion. But since I started modelling, my love for fashion has grown so much. Now, I couldn’t imagine not helping my friends with their looks or giving them fashion advice.

If you had to choose to be on one reality show, what would it be?
Probably some kind of great baking show or something like that. I honestly don’t watch that much reality TV, so I’m not sure what I would actually be good at, but it would definitely have to involve baking or cooking just for fun. Or maybe I’d be on Vanderpump Rules, but that’s just because I’m a huge fan of the show.

Do you have any weird hotel rituals?
Oh my gosh, when I first started travelling, I was terrified to travel alone, so I would bring door jammers and all these crazy things with me. Now that I’m staying in similar or the same hotels more often, I mostly just bring my own silk pillowcases. That’s probably my only weird hotel ritual now.

What was the craziest purchase you’ve ever made? Do you regret it?
I’ve never really had a purchase that I regretted. I much prefer spending money on experiences, like travelling to see family or going somewhere new. I will say, I got very lucky when I first started modelling because, during show season, a lot of the designers would give you a bag, so I ended up getting like 10 for free in my first season. I never really felt the need to buy one after that. But I think this is finally the year I’m going to buy myself my very first bag, so stay tuned to see which one I pick.

Amiah Miller

The actress with a taste for the uncanny.

Tell us the story of how you were cast in Drew’s portfolio.
I manifested it.

What does ‘making it’ look like to you?
Having the freedom to keep dreaming bigger – every dream I’ve reached has somehow made room for another.

Where do you go when you need to feel inspired?
Somewhere I’ve never been before. I become even more observant when everything around me feels unfamiliar.

Who would be your dream next-door neighbour?
My mama! She’s my bestest friend in the entire world.

What song takes you somewhere else?
“Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, when that song comes on, I’m dancing!

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I was a company ballet dancer throughout my childhood, so for a long time I was convinced I’d be a ballerina. I think in another life, that’s the path I chose. There was also a time I dreamed of being a news anchor, but looking back, I think I probably just wanted to be on TV.

What do you romanticise?
Literally everything. I have an entire closet full of boxes of birthday cards, love letters, childhood diaries, dried flowers, old boarding passes… I could go on. There is so much magic in life. I think there’s romance everywhere if you’re looking for it, and I definitely am.

What’s something you’d love to learn?
To develop my own film. I shoot film all the time, and understanding the process beyond just taking the photo has always really fascinated me.

What changed everything for you?
Learning how not to talk myself out of my intuition changed everything for me. I think we pick up on so much before we can logically explain it, and if I couldn’t justify it, I’d try to ignore what I was feeling. But over time, I’ve truly learned that when you have that gut instinct, it’s almost always there for a reason.

What could you never live without?
Aside from my family and my cat, of course, I could never live without my childhood blanket, ZB. She’s zebra print and has travelled everywhere with me for as long as I can remember.

What’s something you hope your future self gets to do?
Direct. I’ve spent so much of my life in front of the camera, I feel like along the way, I’ve been quietly taking notes and collecting pieces of what kind of director I’ll want to be. I’m really excited for the day I finally get to put them all together.

What makes something beautiful to you?
Beauty is whatever makes you want to look twice. There’s a curiosity to it, something you can’t quite explain. I think the most beautiful things always leave you wanting more.

When was your last real pinch-me moment?
Very recently, actually, on a job I can’t talk about quite yet. I kept having those moments where I looked around the room and asked myself, “How is this actually my life?” It was one of those days I wish I could bottle up and save forever.

What would you like to be remembered for?
There’s a lot I’d like to be remembered for… Most of all, I want to be remembered for how I made people feel. I hope I was someone who loved deeply, lived fully, made things that mattered, and never stopped being grateful that I had the chance to experience any of this at all.

Ella Angel

The vampy model with a serious mane, in conversation with Tyrell Hampton.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
You know I’ll be at the ranch, babe, but here if you need me.

What do you think about when you’re in front of the camera?
I’m not thinking at all, actually, only singing Tate McRae or Charli xcx. But if I am, I’m probably thinking, ‘Hello? Are you gagged or…? Are we loving?’ Let me know.

Hair routine? SugarBearHair?
Shhhh I thought that was our little secret! No but really, it’s all genetics, babe. P.S. Stop washing your hair so much. Thank me later for that one.

What’s your Roman Empire?
The Saddle Club. Horse girls will get it.

Horse walk or catwalk? And why?
Ask me again in the fall…

Your supermodel Mount Rushmore?
Adriana Lima, Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen, and Linda Evangelista. Why, of course!

Why you? Why Ella? Why now?
How much time do you have? I mean, why not me? Why not now? One life, honey! But truly, it’s been almost a decade of hard work that’s gone into this dream. You’re just seeing it all unfold now, and I’m so very grateful and excited.

You have a day off in NYC. What are we doing?
We’re most definitely doing some damage and going shopping, then I’m probably begging you to hang out with me longer and go for a little reward spritz after.

Favourite song right now?
Omah Lay is on repeaaatttttt. You’ve been in my car, you know the vibes.

Jacob Ace

The filmmaker building a world of his own.

Tell us the story of how you were cast in Drew’s portfolio.
I was visiting LA for a group show I was in, and, on my last full day, my friend asked if I could do this shoot in two hours without much information. Naturally, I said yes.

What does ‘making it’ look like to you?
Making it, for me, looks like growing old and continuing to make the films I want, unbothered.

Where do you go when you need to feel inspired?
I lock myself in my room.

Who would be your dream next-door neighbour?
Marilyn Monroe.

What song takes you somewhere else?
“(I Know) A Girl Called Johnny” by Rowland S. Howard.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker.

What do you romanticise?
Death.

What’s something you’d love to learn?
I don’t need to learn anything new right now.

What changed everything for you?
Love – maybe for the worse.

Who or what is impressing you right now?
Nothing.

What could you never live without?
All I really need is a pair of my favourite skinny jeans and my motorcycle boots.

What’s something you hope your future self gets to do?
Stay alive.

What makes something beautiful to you?
Confidence.

When was your last real pinch-me moment?
Once a year, I host a screening in New York called X. Film Society. Recently, I screened my film, His Body the Battleground, at Village East by Angelika. Seeing all the people pour into the theatre, fighting for seats, with some just settling for the floor, really ignited something in me and made me feel on top of the world. I’m extremely grateful.

What book, film or artwork altered your reality?
The Sluts by Dennis Cooper.

What would you like to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for my films and for never compromising my creative vision to fit some box. I mean, I hope that translates now, too – I’d rather not have to wait until I’m dead to know it did.

Jace de Tomasso

Florida skater with faith on his side, in conversation with Ryan Sheckler.

What has skateboarding taught you about yourself that you couldn’t have learnt anywhere else?
It’s definitely taught me a certain type of grit and determination for things that, most of the time, hurt.

When nobody is watching and there’s no camera, sponsor, or social media involved, what keeps you skating?
When I’m in my room with my thoughts, my faith, family and friends keep me going. Trying to make my friends and family proud is very important to me. I want to represent them well, regardless of when the whole world’s watching or when I’m alone.

Street skating is brutal: injuries, slams, fear, and uncertainty. What do you tell yourself on the days when you genuinely don’t feel like skating?
It’s true, sometimes it’s hard to skate when you’ve been dealing with an injury or a month full of slams. Fear and doubt start to creep in. Sometimes I start to question my ability, but I have to stay focused on my goals and where I want to be when it’s all said and done. Skating doesn’t come easy and the streets don’t owe us anything. You always have to remember that.

How do you balance wanting to make it to the next level with staying true to the reason you fell in love with skating in the first place?
That’s a really tough one because it’s hard not to get trapped in the comparison game, trying to keep up with everyone, and all the tricks people are doing. For me, I try to stay in my lane and do what makes me smile when I land on my board. When things get tough in the streets and I’m feeling like I’m in a rut, I like to go back to the skatepark and find some ramps to fly over and remember why I love it so much.

Has your faith ever changed the way you handle failure, fear, success, or pressure in skateboarding? If so, how?
It plays a huge role in skateboarding for me in particular. When I’m scared at a big gap or a crazy rail, fear quickly turns into trusting the Lord and realising I’ll be all right, no matter what I decide to do in the situation.

If your skateboarding career ended tomorrow, what would you hope people remembered about you?
I’d honestly hope I had inspired kids and adults to hop on their boards and go skate, always wanting to go big or go home, and to never give up on what they love.

Gus McCowan

The leftfield artist and 6’1” class act.

Tell us the story of how you were cast in Drew’s portfolio.
Well, to be totally honest, I did save his life back in the day but we don’t need to get into it, let’s just say he owes me.

What does ‘making it’ look like to you?
I would say that making out basically just needs to include tongue – otherwise it’s really just kissing.

Where do you go when you need to feel inspired?
Anywhere with nice houses and trees.

Who would be your dream next-door neighbour?
Ellen DeGeneres or ‘Becky with the good hair’, I can’t pick.

What song takes you somewhere else?
“Love Song” by Sara Bareilles.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A real estate broker.

What do you romanticise?
Million Dollar Listing New York.

What’s something you’d love to learn?
The piano.

What changed everything for you?
Kumiko, my hairdresser.

Who or what is impressing you right now?
Forma Pasta Factory.

What could you never live without?
Maldon Sea Salt.

What’s something you hope your future self gets to do?
Have really gorgeous long hair.

What makes something beautiful to you?
Laughter.