Sofia Mechetner
Born
Sofia Mechetner[1]

(2000-12-04) 4 December 2000
Holon, Israel
NationalityIsraeli
OccupationModel
Years active2015–current
Modeling information
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorBlue
Agency

Sofia "Sofi" Mechetner[1] (Hebrew: סופיה "סופי" מצ'טנר; born 4 December 2000) is an Israeli model and the current face of Dior. In July 2015, at the age 14, she was chosen to be the face of Dior.[3] In her first modelling job, Mechetner opened the Dior Haute Couture Fall Winter 2015/2016 Show at Paris Fashion Week, and in October of the same year she opened the Dior Spring Summer 2016 Show at Paris Fashion Week. Her 1 million Shekel (roughly US$250,000) annual contract with Dior was renewed for a second year in 2016.[4]

In 2017, she signed an additional contract to work for Chanel.[5] In 2017, she walked for Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Alexander McQueen, Mugler, Stella McCartney, Sonia Rykiel, Elie Saab, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and H&M,[6] as well as taking part in an international advertising campaign for Ralph Lauren. In 2018, she became lead model for Topshop's F/W 2018 and S/S 2019 international campaigns.[7] In 2019, she led the Tommy Hilfiger S/S campaign.[8]

Early life

Sofia Mechetner[1] was born and raised in Holon, Israel, to parents who immigrated from then Soviet Russia. Her parents Fyodor Sotnikov and Ksenya Mechenter divorced and her father left the family when she was 10.

In April 2019, Mechetner was enlisted to the Israel Defense Forces as a soldier, per mandatory military service, and opted not to move to New York City for more lucrative opportunities at that time.[9] She had an honorable discharge from the IDF in April 2021.[10]

Career

External image
image icon Sofia Mechetner for Dior

She was chosen to be Dior's leading model after she was spotted by Dior's lead designer Raf Simons in Paris.[11][12] In her first contract for Dior (her first ever modelling job), she was paid over $265,000,[12][11] which she shared with her family, saying of her paycheck, "I just put it on the table and they can use it."[13] She plans to use her modelling income to help her mother, who she considers to be her personal hero, saying: “She works so hard for the family. She always supports and takes care of me, my little sister, and my little brother. Together we all try to help so that it will be easier for our mom”.[14]

As part of her contract, she is expected to travel to Paris four times a year for modelling campaigns. But she will continue at school in Israel, saying, “It is very important for me to continue to go to school." While working as a model she will be accompanied by a chaperone from Israel at all times, until she is 18.[15] Her chaperone Rotem Gur makes sure she is accompanied for every moment while working.[16]

She is represented by VIVA Model Management in Paris and Roberto Model Management in Tel-Aviv.[17] In 2015, her story was covered by a documentary on Israel's Channel 2 news, which described her being discovered as a Cinderella story.[18] In February 2016, she won a second contract of NIS 1 million,[19] to lead Dior's 'Ready-to-wear' and international sunglasses campaigns – making her one of Israel's most highly paid models, while her Israeli best friend, model Dorit Revelis who is one year her junior, reportedly won a contract with Yves Saint Laurent.[4] In 2017, the 16 year old model signed an additional contract with Paris fashion brand Chanel.[5]

Despite her career, back in Israel she still helps her mother to clean houses. When not taking part in modelling campaigns, she lives the same life as before she was discovered: "I get up in the morning, help to organize my little sister Nicole (11) and my little brother Max (9), my mother goes to work as a cleaner and I go to school. When I get home from school, I'm sitting under a blanket and watching TV, talking with friends, go to the garden or to someone's house, return and do my homework and go to bed. Once the school principal said hello to me when she saw me in the hallway, but other than that I really feel normal in school, like everyone else."[16] The modelling income has allowed the family to rent a more spacious apartment in her hometown of Holon, Israel.[16]

In 2017, she walked for Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Alexander McQueen, Mugler, Stella McCartney, Sonia Rykiel, Elie Saab, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and H&M,[6] as well as taking part in an international advertising campaign for the Ralph Lauren Autumn/Winter campaign.[20] In 2018, she was cover model for Elle France in April, cover model for Telva magazine, cover model for Russh, editorial model in Vogue Espana, walked for Lacoste, and led the international campaign for Marc Jacobs Daisy fragrances alongside Kaia Gerber, she also led the Fall/Winter campaign for Elie Saab signed to take part in an international campaign for H&M, and for Ralph Lauren Polo. In her international campaign for H&M, her image was projected onto New York's Times Square.[21] In 2018, she became lead model for Topshop's F/W 2018 and S/S 2019 campaigns.[7] In 2019, she led the Tommy Jeans S/S campaign.[8]

Personal life

She was in a relationship with Israeli model Tomer Telias from 2017 to 2021. They resided together in Yehud, Israel.[1]

In 2019, Mechetner who as the daughter of non-Jewish mother is not halachically Jewish, said that she undoubtedly will convert to Judaism, stating that, "I feel as Jewish as ever. I light Shabbat candles, and I totally belong to this country [of Israel]."[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 סגל, עדי (6 September 2021). "הסופר מודלס הישראליות: סופיה מצ'טנר ודורית רבליס מדגמנות התחלה חדשה". Ynet.
  2. ↑ "Sofia Mechetner - Model".
  3. ↑ Ruth Eglash (July 12, 2015). "How a 14-year-old Israeli became the new face of Christian Dior". The Washington Post.
  4. 1 2 מי תהיה סופיה מצטנר הבאה? חמש המועמדות בנות ה-15
  5. 1 2 Israeli Teen Escapes Poverty to Become Runway Sensation Created: February 01, 2017
  6. 1 2 On the map: Sophia in H & M, Dorit in Calvin Klein By Michal Israel, 19 October 2017, Mako
  7. 1 2 Dilone, Duckie, Anwar: Topshop Recruits An All-Star Model Line-Up For AW18 Friday 12 October 2018
  8. 1 2 TOP 10 DENIM CAMPAIGNS FOR SPRING/SUMMER '19 March 01, 2019
  9. 1 2 "חודש לפני הגיוס לצה"ל סופיה מצ'טנר מצטלמת ולא נחה". ATmag.
  10. ↑ "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  11. 1 2 "14-year old Israeli to be the new face of Christian Dior". Al Arabiya News. July 11, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Israeli teen is the 'new face' of Dior". i24news. July 11, 2015.
  13. ↑ Israel's rising supermodel: Meet the new face of Dior Jerusalem Post, By TAMARA ZIEVE, 07/16/2015
  14. ↑ Janelle Okwodu (July 16, 2015). "Meet Raf Simons' New Dior Muse". Style.com.
  15. ↑ Dior's pretty new face? An unknown Israeli teen model, By Itay Stern, Haaretz, July 13, 2015
  16. 1 2 3 Hadas Bashan (November 26, 2015). "I'm not Cinderella".
  17. ↑ "Sofia Mechetner". Roberto Model Management. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  18. ↑ Adva Dadon (July 11, 2015). "From Housecleaning to the Summit of World Fashion" (in Hebrew). Israel's Channel 2 News.
  19. ↑ החוזה סופי: סופיה מצ'טנר תוביל את קמפיין משקפי השמש של דיור Walla יום ראשון, 21 בפברואר 2016, 12:40
  20. ↑ POLO Ralph Lauren Autumn-Winter 2017
  21. ↑ Miri, this is for you: Watch Sofia Mechetner occupies Times Square From Fashion Forward 7 June 2018
Model Directories
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