A lot can happen in five years. Love, loss, career milestones met and missed. Pandemics, political movements… and a lot of growing up.
Stella Lucia, still a tender 25, has certainly evolved in years gone by. It was 2019 when she fronted RUSSH’s SOUL issue, a heavenly moment in time she describes as “so much fun”. Now in our twentieth year of publishing, it feels fated to have her back as the April Face; model, CHANEL muse, creative and cool kid.
“I can’t believe it’s been five years… I’ve certainly become more confident, independent and grounded since. I also got married to my longtime partner — in Las Vegas, by Elvis!”
Left: CHANEL Coco Beach swimsuit and Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earrings. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Vital Beige used on eyes. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Red Camellia used on lips. Right: CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earring sold as set. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earring. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Lively Rosewood used on lips.
Born and raised in Austria, Stella is the salt of the Earth. “I left home for New York in my teens, so I think my upbringing has had more of an impact on me now, as an adult, than it did as a kid. I’ve been in this industry a while, but I appreciate Austria because it keeps me grounded; it’s generally made me more chill since fashion isn’t as big a thing over there.”
Stella was scouted at 13 on Facebook and a banner career ensued. Runways, campaigns… you name it, her ethereal face has graced it. Throughout her career, she’s also forged a special relationship with the House of CHANEL.
Much like CHANEL, Lucia is a master of nonchalance. With a sense of style that’s eclectic and fun, her Instagram is a rolodex of faux fur, patchwork denim, pageboy caps and really, really good shades — she is a Leo, after all. “Personal style means a lot to me; sometimes I just throw something together and it works like magic.” Mind you, she’s not immune to fashion heroes: “Carine Roitfeld and the Olsen twins are absolutely my style icons.”
Left: CHANEL Coco Beach swimsuit top. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earring sold as set. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earring. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Red Camellia used on lips. Middle: CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earring. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Revitalising Serum for skin preparation. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Lively Rosewood used on eyes. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Healthy Pink used on eyes. Right: CHANEL SS24 Pre-Collection top. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery Earring sold as set. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery Ear Cuff. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Vital Beige used on eyes. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Lively Rosewood used on cheeks. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Wakeup Pink used on lips.
Her approach to beauty however, is a little more pared-back. Raw but healthy skin, subtly stained lips and Nordic blonde have become a Stella signature. She loves a feminine wash of pink, as well. And with that face, can you blame her? “In general, I live by the motto that less is more… but every now and then I like to have a little bit of fun, makeup-wise.” Precise grooming, however, has never been her thing. “I think it’s flaws that make someone beautiful, perfection is boring.” As for skincare, she keeps it curated: “After a mild cleansing routine, my go-to product is the No.1 DE CHANEL Revitalising Serum. I follow it up with moisturiser and sunscreen.”
The No.1 DE CHANEL skincare line is, in a way, made for Lucia. Introduced in 2022, the discerning product range is just as focused on sustainability and sensorial appeal as it is results. Housed in recyclable or refillable packaging and formulated with red camellia extracts (of which are cultivated in house by CHANEL), it represents a new era for the category.
The product lineup blurs the line between skincare and makeup, with innovation at its core. There’s a Powder-To-Foam cleanser, Refreshing Serum-In-Mist and L’Eau Rouge Fragrance Mist (an incredible feat by in-house perfumer Olivier Polge, who based it on his interpretation of the hero red camellia, given the flower has no scent in real life). There’s also the Lip and Cheek Balm, a nourishing tint that melts into the skin, imparting a fresh flush of colour with the added benefits of red camellia oil. If you need further proof it’s a perfect product, Lucia is wearing it across her eyes, lips and cheeks in this shoot (she loves Lively Rosewood, Healthy Pink, Vital Beige and Berry Boost).
Left: CHANEL Coco Beach swimsuit top. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery Earring sold as set. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery Ear Cuff. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Vital Beige used on eyes. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Red Camellia used on lips. Right: CHANEL Coco Beach swimsuit top. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery Earring. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Revitalising Serum for skin preparation. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Lively Rosewood used on eyes. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Healthy Pink used on lips.
For Lucia, modelling has always been a means to share stories, collaborate with creatives, soak in the magic of fashion houses and the talented artisans within them. But at this point in her career – and the evolution of the industry – she’s carved additional space for her unique point of view.
Her introduction was actually under the guise of then CHANEL Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld, where she walked in the SS 2015 Ready-to-Wear show (the Grand Palais was reconfigured as a classic French boulevard; Lucia wore brightly coloured tweed and layers of pearls, swoon). “The connection Karl and I had from the start has always stuck with me; he was one of the most thoughtful people I’ve met in this industry… funny, witty and a real gentleman.”
It was a marked time for Lucia to come up in fashion. It was also the very beginning of the social media age, whereby fashion shows were broadcast to the world instantaneously, and models were known just as much for their walk as they were their opinions. “The influence of social media on fashion, modelling specifically, has been huge. It’s cool that models can now share their style, their voice and personality. It actually opens up quite a lot of opportunities.”
CHANEL Coco Beach swimsuit and pants. CHANEL Coco Crush Fine Jewellery earrings. Beauty notes – N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Vital Beige used on eyes. N°1 DE CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Red Camellia used on lips.
It’s a phenomenon we’ve chronicled at RUSSH — we’re one of the only titles that has exclusively shot models on our covers. It’s our long-time modus operandi: to showcase faces/models that are beautiful, dynamic, expressive, intelligent; they’re a source of inspiration, empowerment, aspiration and reverence.
The April timing for this cover was also fitting; Lucia has just wrapped another fashion month. “It was such fun, I loved every show, every moment. I’ve always been a huge fan of fashion, even before I started working. I'm grateful to have experienced it up close from such a young age.” Her survival tactics? “I’m used to the gruelling hours at this point, but I do try to nap a lot. I also love a hot bath, and a cup of bone broth in the mornings.”
Maintaining relevance in a fast-moving industry is no easy feat. It takes flexibility, guts, hard work and a certain sense of grounded-ness. But the 25-year-old has done so with grace. “I’m quite proud of my professional longevity, and the incredible people I work with,” Lucia shares. Her creative inspirations are also far-reaching and extend beyond the universe of fashion. “I love to read modern literature but also the classics. I love movies, as well. My relationship with my husband is also creatively stimulating. We inspire one another every day.”
Maybe her ability to thrive and survive, especially as a model-coming-of-age, has something to do with her simple upbringing, the sacredness of having a quiet place to return to. “The first thing I do when I get home? See my family, eat a schnitzel and enjoy a beer!”
It’s easy to admire Lucia. Her pedigree as a young model is because of her to-die-for face, yes, but also her softness, confidence and work ethic. But amongst her business, there’s always time for pleasure: “The best fashion party I’ve ever been to was after the CHANEL Cruise show in Havana. Everybody was salsa dancing, drinking frozen mojitos, getting around in 1950s cars. It was unforgettable.”
