With porcelain skin, voluptuous lips and cheekbones that could cut glass, Alexander Stefano is certainly turning heads... and wait until you see his wardrobe! At just 18 years old, the young model and influencer has certainly made a big impact on the local scene, hot off the heels of Malta Fashion Week, in which he was an official influencer.
Fashion Week got Alexander noticed by foreign paparazzi who stopped to talk to the young model and muse, and along with quite possibly every other fashion lover who's eye he caught, we thought..."Who's that boy?!"
We met up with Alexander himself to find out a bit more about "The boy with the beret", as he's known on Instagram. Here's what he had to share with GuideMeMalta.
Hey Alex! You made a big impact at Fashion Week! What do you think defines being a fashion influencer to you?
"Making a difference in fashion for men, and making men more feminine through fashion, style, looks and body-wise. I use Instagram, mostly. At first I just started out as a young teen, posting pictures of my cat...I then realised that it can be used to help others and raise awareness about certain things. I was bullied a lot when I was younger and called "anorexic" and "unhealthy" because of my body shape. Some teachers even treated me differently! Male models are usually chosen because they're "built", but people come in all shapes and sizes, including extra small. I would like to see a more androgyny and unisex looks in the local fashion scene, and hope to see it normalised a bit more."
You recently modelled for famed photographer Kris Micallef. What was that like?
"It was amazing. He has such a great vision and he's making a big difference in Malta."
Indeed! What do you love about fashion?
"I love fashion because I can stretch myself and be who I truly am, and I can kind of define myself better with my style and makeup, and the colors that I wear. I love attending fashion events and would love to see more variety, especially menswear shows. My first was an invitation to a Charles & Ron event, which is where I met one of my best friends - make up artist Maya Zammit. They're a great way to meet new people with similar interests. At this year's Fashion Week I tried to make a bigger difference by showing men can rock anything that women can wear!"
And you looked amazing! Where do you source all your fabulous clothes?
"I get my clothes from various places, you just have to look properly. I use Pretty Little Things, ASOS, Nasty Gal, Dolls Kill...and, of course, I can’t live without some Louis Vuitton and Gucci! I also love makeup brands such as Jeffree Star and Urban Decay."
Your stunning makeup is another one of your defining factors. How do you feel it helps you to express yourself?
"I feel like makeup makes me enhance my looks as well as embrace them...I was told I looked too skinny in the past and too girly looking. Then, one day, I watched Top Model and saw various feminine models and realized I’m not so different; I just am who I am. Now I make the best of my looks, body and face."
Finally, what do you get up to in your free time?
"I spend time with my best friends shopping or looking out for places in Malta to take great photos. You have to be creative and plan beforehand, taking into account the lighting and timing to get photos of outfits in this heat! I also have a huge passion for music and photography, and secretly love to cook!"
Thank You Alex! It was great getting to know you and we can't wait to see what you get up to next!