Having walked for designers including Hedi Slimane and Tom Ford, Westling has caused a serious impact since her recent arrival to style circles in 2014. Despite any preconceptions that people may have about high-fashion models, Westling is a tomboy at heart, and has been skateboarding since she was 3 years old. To prove she’s not bluffing, she has ‘Skate’ tattooed on one arm, while the other wears a permanent Vans logo.
Showing such great brand dedication means that Westling is the perfect candidate for Vans’ campaign to celebrate the Sk8-Hi hitting the half-decade. Teaming the Sk8-Hi with camo, frayed denim and hoodies while still looking farshun-as-fuck, Westling tip-toes the line between her two worlds with a gentle confidence. See the awesome images shot by Olivia Bee above, and a big happy birthday to the Sk8-Hi! Thanks for the memories, old pal.
Natalie Westling is an international high fashion model who is changing the way people
view that particular vocation and what it takes to be accepted in the fashion industry.
She’s walked the runways and fronted campaigns for design houses such as March Jacobs,
Celine, Dior, Prada and more. Named “The Face of a Generation” by I-D Magazine,
she rarely wears makeup off the job, grew up skateboarding, and has a Vans Off The Wall
tattoo on her arm (which she posted, newly inked, red and raw, on her Instagram). Hailing
from Arizona, Natalie first picked up a skateboard at three years old and has been wearing
Vans her whole life. Surprisingly at home in the fashion world, she’s broken more bones
than she cares to mention and embodies a rough-and-tumble, boyish spirit and continues
to challenge the norms of traditional beauty and femininity.
