Eli Waddell
- beautyandavoice
- Aug 25, 2023
- 3 min read
Eli Waddell: Being Alone Without Being Lonely
It was in the midst of a multitude that Eli Waddell first became a model. Participating in the 2019 Montreal climate march, protesting alongside such important figures as Greta Thunberg and Justin Trudeau, as well as roughly 500 000 diverse dissidents, she happened to be scouted. Soon she signed the contracts that were to inaugurate her career, with both Montreal and Toronto agencies. Working local modeling jobs while she completed her college degree in criminology, Eli was planning to pursue further schooling immediately after graduating, but a sense of dissatisfaction crept into her. Suddenly it became clear that she had to expand her breadth and have a taste of the freedom and experience that only traveling affords. She canceled the first semester of her planned law degree, and moved to London, United Kingdom, where she signed with a prestigious agency.
2 years later, and Eli has walked shows in Paris and London for top fashion brands like Giorgio Armani, Richard Quinn, and Maison Mihara Yasuhiro. Her successes also include work with high-end designers such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Daniel W. Fletcher, as well as various fashion stories in renowned magazines, notably Harper’s Bazaar and Madame Magazine. The accomplishment Eli most prides herself on is her partaking in a YSL beauty campaign, and a YSL capsule, which is one of her personally favorite brands. Another staggering moment of pride came to Eli upon walking down Oxford Street, London, when she found her campaign videos for Warehouse being shown on immense billboards, seen by countless passersby. She is currently heading back to Paris for this coming fashion week, and anticipates working again with her favorite designers.
Despite this tally of achievements, modeling, and the life it carries along with it, has shown itself to Eli as far from the entirely glamorous fantasy she once imagined. “I think it is a very hard industry” She says, “and the glamour is often only a facade.” Behind this facade, Eli has unearthed a world both of difficulties and challenges, as well as creativity, diversity, memorable people and collaboration. “I have also learned a lot about myself.” She says. Rapid organizational skills, independence, rigorous work-ethic—all of these traits have become necessary for her health and well-being, her success, “in this new lifestyle where everything is changing and full of uncertainty.” And the most poignant lesson of all: “learning the skill of being alone without feeling lonely.”
Living and working abroad for a protracted period of time, has resulted in significant developments in Eli’s understanding of the world. Filled with varying perspectives and ideas, Eli’s views have become more nuanced and more wide. The small circle of media, sources of information and news, that underlie any attempt at understanding the world when one is contained within a limited cultural space, broke open abruptly to show Eli a brilliant diversity of images, ideas and ways of being. She has developed a particular appreciation for the abundance of cultures, different, amazing landscapes, and strong human element that define Europe: “Being able to live the European lifestyle for the past 2 years had me focussing on community, education, history, and cultures.”
Outside of modeling, Eli loves books, music, and art. She is also an avid sportswoman, with an especial penchant for skiing, surfing, and running. Happiness for her, is found most often in the small intricacies of life, its tiny pleasures and subtle joys: sunny days, being outdoors, reading, being active, and the presence of her family and friends, whom she loves spending time with.
Watch for the appearance of Eli Waddell in this coming Paris Fashion Week!
