Precious Lee Created a New Supermodel Blueprint

When I talked to Precious Lee ahead of the Met Gala, she was rhapsodizing about ‘90s supermodels: Naomi, Cindy, Claudia, Christy, Kate, and Linda. They’ve been enshrined in fashion history, remembered mononymously. Precious is inching towards that level now, too, and her first name is often preceded by her new title of supermodel. Yet, while she's every bit as beautiful as those who came before her, it seems impossible for anyone to just leave it at that. People feel the need to add “curve” or “plus size” to her crown.

For a while her Instagram bio read: “In the business of making history.” When I remind her of this, she says, “As a model, I've done so many firsts!” This Met Gala marked another; it was her first time attending since being knighted as a rising super. “I've been a pioneer in this space! I am always grateful—and forever grateful—to be in this space and be who I am, and to be that supermodel. Hopefully, it’s inspiring for people.”

It feels particularly inspiring given that the night honored Karl Lagerfeld, whose career began in an era when models like Precious were never upheld as the examples of glamor and beauty they unquestionably are. “To be able to fully be myself without having to think of all the limitations…and to know that I surpassed that, too!” she marvels. “I’ve changed that for myself, and hopefully for so many others that'll come after.”

But maybe making history is also just what happens when you’re a Virgo. “Well, I'm obviously super honored to be going with Fendi, a brand and a house that's so close to Karl and his DNA and what he was about. Karl was a Virgo, I am a Virgo, Kim Jones—who I love and adore—is a Virgo! And I completely trust him.” The zodiac sign is known for being meticulous, almost to a fault, but she also attributes to it the ease with which her Met Gala dress decision was made. She tells me she and Jones were always on the same page, and when he showed her a custom variation of a Fendi couture fall/winter 2023 gown, she knew it was what she wanted to wear.

“I think it is such a great mixture of different timelines and different ways of presenting texture and color. And obviously, not compromising how glamorous and luxurious Fendi is naturally,” she says. Her hair was coiffed with the slightly undone sexiness of the ‘90s supermodel era, tucked under a large leather headband wrapped around her forehead.

“The beauty look is a nod to '90 supermodels and we know how heavily influential Karl was to that era in helping create that idea and solidifying what that means as a model. And for me, just looking at Linda, Naomi....I've looked at different runways! Chanel 1994 was one of my favorite beauty looks that I feel like I've seen,” she says.

Photos of the show feature the ‘90s supers strutting down the runway in tweed two-pieces, chunky gold Chanel belts fastened to their waists, almost every strand of their hair out of place. Even frozen in a photograph, their walks emanates the confidence of people who know they are worshiped like deities. Precious’s voice over the phone possesses that same confidence; it has a rasp that feels supernatural. It’s exactly how you’d think a supermodel would sound.

“It's just a far more expansive space now—and I love it here,” she tells me before hanging up to walk the red carpet. Looking at photos of her hours later, amongst icons like Gisele and Devon Aoki, I realize that fashion doesn’t need to be nostalgic for a bygone era of supers. The new set is already upon us—and just as gorgeous as the last.

Tara Gonzalez

Tara Gonzalez is the Senior Fashion Editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Previously, she was the style writer at InStyle, founding commerce editor at Glamour, and fashion editor at Coveteur.