Esther Canadas' Ageless Beauty by Nico Bustos for Vogue Spain October 2020

Before COVID-19 uprooted the fashion universe this spring, 42 older models had walked the fall 2020 shows, compared to 30 for the spring 2020 collections, and 31 for the fall 2019 season, reported the New York Times. Among the returning to the catwalk models was Spanish model and actor Esther Cañadas, who was in the Balmain show.

Designer Olivier Rousteing also used Caroline Ribeiro, Erin Wasson, Helena Christensen, Julia Stegner and Liya Kebede besides Cañadas.

“I think we are living in a moment where we need to push examples of strong women to the front of the pack,” Mr. Rousteing said in an interview. “There is something wonderful about putting models of different ages and from different eras who previously defined runway fashion up alongside the younger girls today who are half their age.”

Besides, he continued, “in an industry where there is a lot of change and uncertainty, it is nice to surprise people with a bit of continuity.”

Esther Cañadas covers the October 2020 issue of Vogue Spain, featured in a sensual elegance fashion story ‘Volver A Empezar’, (Starting Over). Juan Cebrian styles Cañadas, famous in the early 1990s when athleticism, natural beauty and distinctive personalities were highly-valued. Photographer Nico Bustos captures pre-waif beauty who projected a “powerful femininity” — a term no longer appropriate in our androgynous, genderless world.