Ajani Russell Is the Cool New Model To Watch

At Allure, we love highlighting supremely talented women who not only happen to be cool af, but are also pushing boundaries in their respective fields. So it’s no surprise that we are completely enamored by up-and- coming model Ajani Russell. At 18-years-old, the Brooklyn-bred beauty is crushing the modeling scene and it’s easy to see why. With her luscious curly fro and goal-worthy thick brows, she immediately commands all of the attention. Russell has been featured on Vogue.com, Refinery29, and was recently tapped for an impromptu photoshoot with legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath at Kellogg's Diner (so major!).

And as if having Pat McGrath's anointing isn't enough for cool points, Russell is a member of The Skate Kitchen, a group of six fearless female skaters and best friends that were recently the subject of Crystal Moselle’s mini film, That One Day (talk about squad goals). Commissioned by Miu Miu as part of their Women’s Tales series, the film is a fictionalized depiction of the girls' daily experiences in the skatepark, warding off haters, and proving that women can shine in a male dominated arena.

When she’s not serving it up behind the camera, Russell can be found cultivating her passion for fine arts, sculpture, and ceramics at CalArts University in Valencia, CA. Yes, she is doing the damn thing and we can’t wait to see what more she has in store.

Below, Russell shared her beauty secrets, natural hair routine, and the importance of female skate crews.

Earrings: Robert Lee Morris Earrings, DKNY Sweater, Levi's Pants.

How did your modeling career take off?

I modeled a lot when I was younger, but I didn’t start modeling seriously until these past four months. In high school there was a girl a year ahead of me who was doing a bunch of film photography projects. I enjoyed shooting with her and liked being part of her art process. Through her I met Petra Collins who is a photographer as well. After that Petra would call me like, “Hey! You wanna shoot? I need you. I think you’d be really good for this!” It started progressing and I would model for artists that wanted to collaborate and friends. But then clothing lines started hitting me up. I’m not signed to an agency, I’m freelance.

Describe your look:

I can’t answer that! It’s very hard to be one person. I couldn’t categorize it if I tried.

What is your skincare routine?

My skin isn’t that oily. I use Frank Body Coffee Scrub for my face when I feel like I need to exfoliate. It works really well. I use a Korean phytoplankton wash. There’s a night cream gel that I use as well. It’s like a gel face mask. I love Korean beauty products.

I’ve seen you rock colorful brows on your Instagram. How do you get them that color?

I dye and bleach my eyebrows blonde. Then once it fades out I’ll put in eyeshadow or any kind of pigment like blush or lipstick. I get them threaded every four months or when they get very furry looking.

You were recently featured on Urban Outfitters giving a gold eye makeup tutorial. What is your makeup routine?

Gold eyes are my favorite thing ever. I never wear foundation. I don’t like the way it feels, plus I don’t like to clog my pores. I’ll put it on when I’m doing something special, but my regular routine is to make sure that I’m moisturized. Chapstick. Maybe highlighter. I’ve really been into the glossy lid since like two years ago. The Bratz doll look is back. The ‘90s stuff. I love glitter and lip gloss.

Robert Lee Morris Earrings, Necklace (Model's own), Altuzarra Pink Sweater.

The craziest beauty trend you’ve tried:

Bleaching my eyebrows (laughs). I look like a baby with the bleached brows. I love long, coffin, almond shaped nails with glitter. I used be into nail art, but ceramics and sculpting messes up my nails so I had to stop.

On meeting Pat McGrath:

She’s incredible. The collaboration came about through Petra Collins. She said, “You need to come, I'm shooting tonight for this thing." So I went and Pat McGrath was like, “ I love your makeup,” and I’m like, "What?! No I love your makeup.”

Your hair is frotastic. How long have you been natural?

I love afros. I straightened it a few times in high school, but I realized that natural is the way to go. I’ve never had a relaxer. My hair is thick and curly. Once you know how to do it it’s not that hard. You just need to know the proper ways to take care of it.

What is your hair care routine?

I use Devacurl, Shea Moisture, and Carol’s Daughter (the Black Vanilla Line). Straight jojoba, rosemary, coconut oil, and shea butter. When it feels dry I do a lot of deep conditioning. I do protective styles so it won’t get frizzy when it’s drying. Sometimes I’ll put in a bun to let it air dry--this helps create and maintain your curl pattern. Thankfully, there isn’t as much shrinkage out here because it’s not that humid. My hair is completely different hair.

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Watch Model Lula Kenfe's Pre-NYFW Hair Transformation

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Can you talk more about The Skate Kitchen and your experience working with Crystal Moselle x Miu Miu?

The base of the Skate Kitchen is Nina. She is the one who built me my first board. Some of the girls met Crystal on the train and they just started talking. She came to the skate park with us one day and eventually we began hanging out. I saw The Wolfpack and her other films--she has such an amazing eye and a vision. We got to wear the Miu Miu fall collection which was so beautiful.

On the importance of female skating squads:

It’s very hard to be part of skate culture in New York, especially because it’s so male dominated. It’s intimidating learning new tricks while boys are trying to push you off to the side like you learning is less important than them learning. It’s very frustrating and that’s why I wanted to keep skating. I wanted to prove people wrong. Girls can skate!

It’s very important for girl skaters to stick together. Having a skate crew just makes it so much better. I’ve improved and gotten much faster because I have people to teach me, and I don’t have boys looking down on me. But you don’t skate because there is a female role model to look up to--you skate because you love it.

On being an artist:

I went to Laguardia High School. I did a lot of sculpture and ceramics, which I’m doing now at CalArts. Since I got here, a lot of people have introduced me to new video editing programs and mixed media installation artwork. I’m incorporating my sculptures and painting with digital media, which is really cool. I’m super excited.

If you could work with any designer who would it be?

Balenciaga emailed me for a casting. I didn’t get casted, but I want to work with them so bad. I was supposed to do Gucci for Vogue and I think someone else got that. I haven’t worked with any Japanese designers, but that would be cool too.

Current music obsession:

I’m an old Kanye fan. I like Homeshake, Herbie Hancock, and a band called Loaf Muzik. Mick Jenkins’ album just came out and it’s really good.

On bucket list traveling:

I want to travel the world. I would love to go to Berlin and see all of the art scenes there.

What upcoming projects are you working on?

I just did something with Volcom, Coach, and Super, the sunglasses company. I met the designer of Super and learning her creative process was so cool. Aside from that just being a student. I love to sit in my studio and make art. I like to be outside in the sun.

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