Joan Smalls is a Puerto Rican model known for being the first Latina model to represent Estée Lauder. She was ranked Models.com’s #1 model in the world in 2012 and was listed on Forbes magazine’s “World’s Highest-Paid Models” list in 2013. 

Smalls was born on July 11, 1988, in Hatillo, PR. As a teenager, she started modelling in local competitions. She graduated from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico before moving to New York City to start her modelling career. She signed with Elite Model Management in 2007, appearing in ad campaigns for brands like Nordstrom, Liz Clairborne, and Sass & bide. 

In 2009, she signed with IMG Models and began focusing on her runway work. Smalls has since had the opportunity to work with Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Versace, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and many more. She has appeared on numerous magazine covers and was a co-host on MTV’s House of Style show.