Following on from the resounding success of their recent collaborations with British supermodel Kate Moss, which saw them unveil their last collection with a glitzy catwalk at Paris Fashion Week last October, all eyes were on who the Parisian haute joaillerie brand Messika would choose to front their next campaign. Now the wait is over, as the jewellery house has revealed that Kendall Jenner is the new face of the brand.
The brand’s founder, Valérie Messika, says that she had long ago set her sights on Kendall Jenner in her quest for the next Messika woman. Following in the footsteps of fellow supermodels Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls and Kate Moss, Jenner – who was dubbed ‘the fashion icon of the decade’ in 2017 and is often seen wearing Messika jewels – encapsulates everything the brand stands for. “Kendall Jenner embodies this new generation of fashion icons,” Messika reveals. “I wanted to illustrate a subtle alliance between grace and strength and capture an image of an alpha woman with a mysterious and hypnotic aura: Kendall perfectly embodied that for me.”
In the dazzling campaign shots, which were taken on location in the South of France, Jenner appears sun-drenched and sparkling as she emerges from a turquoise swimming pool wearing a sleek wetsuit or lounging in a shimmering blue lamé swimsuit, with slicked-back hair and covered in the brand’s signature gold necklaces, rings and earrings. Messika asked Australian photographer Chris Colls, who shot Kate Moss for their collaboration, to take the images, which were designed to create a sense of freedom through the way the deep blue of the water blurs into the sky. “I admire Chris’s work – when I feel confident with someone, I like to maintain a long-term relationship,” says Messika. The multitude of blues were also chosen because of their connection to the ideas of infinity and escapism, as well as being reminiscent of the different facets of a diamond.
The shots take a mix and match approach when it comes to the collections featured in the campaign, showcasing a range of different pieces including those from the brand’s signature Move Classic range, which represents the concept of the diamond in motion. For her part, Jenner is a long-time lover of the brand and cites her Glam’Azone Double Pavé Ring as her favourite everyday piece of jewellery.
Intimate behind-the-scenes shots show Messika and Jenner together in St Tropez, laughing, taking selfies and discussing the jewels. As well as working well on a professional level, it’s clear the two women enjoy spending time in each other’s company – one female powerhouse to another. “In recent years, I’ve been lucky enough to see big names like Beyoncé, Charlize Theron, Lady Gaga, Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lopez and Kendall Jenner sparkle when wearing our jewellery,” says Messika. “Deep within each of them, I always see daring, shining and empowering muses.”
