Niall Horan Kicks Off His Modeling Career
The former One Direction star—now with a No. 1 album—has signed with Wilhelmina Models. Niall Horan—formerly known as “The Blonde One,” or perhaps “The Irish One,” in extremely popular boy-band One Direction—is now a genuine star in his own right. Even as several of his previous bandmates have pursued a more traditionally “pop” sound with their solo endeavors following the group’s breakup, Horan, 24, has traveled in a more folksy direction, his songs more Mumford & Sons or John Mayer in vibe than might have been expected. And audiences seem to be liking what they are hearing from Horan. Two singles from his first album—“Slow Hands” and “This Town”—hit the top 20 on the U.S. charts, and his album, Flicker, debuted at No. 1 after its release on October 20. Horan—who will soon tour the record—is also enjoying other benefits of solo pop stardom: Wilhelmina Models has signed Horan as a client, adding the singer to their list of other artists who now double as models (including Nicki Minaj, Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris, and more). Vanity Fair spoke to Horan about the new demographic of his fan base, which celebrities he sees as his personal style icons, and how he handles the incessant gossip items written about him. (source)
