“Nobodies perfect.” But every Body is.

This is the philosophy of model Sonny Turner who, with her voice, wants to reach as many women as possible in the world, to tell them not to be afraid of who they are, how they are, that uniqueness is already in them.
She adores her modeling job because, as she says, a revolution has finally come, a time when the fashion and beauty industries are looking at all types of beauty, and all body types.

Graduated in Sociology with the dissertation on the plus-size modeling industry, Sonny has already conquered advertising campaigns including Savage x Fenty and H&M (of which she tells us as a cathartic moment of her career).

We took a stroll with her in New York where she now lives, and she told us about her beauty routine, how she takes care of her hair, the importance of blush, and how much she would like to book more and more beauty campaigns.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up and the last one when you go to bed?

The first thing I do is look at my phone which is a bad thing to do. And the last thing is to wash my face before going to bed even though it’s easy to forget yet I try not to.

What’s your current skincare routine? 

I use all of the tea-tree oil-range from The Body Shop which they send to me. And I like to scrub as well. I think scrubbing is quite important.

Do you have a favorite facial?

No, I never had a facial before because I am too scared. But I want to try the diamond facial. It’s 230$. My roommate did it, even though it didn’t really help her that much.

“I think scrubbing is quite important.”

Being a model and being always on set with makeup artists and hairstylists, is there any beauty secret you learned?

I would say, definitely using blush. I didn’t really know about using blush before I started modeling. And also, always making sure that brushes that you use are clean because dirty blushes can give you like spots, acne, and so on…

What are your holy grail products?

I have so many products, literally. I change them every single day, which is bad. But I would definitely say clear eyebrow gel because you can use it for eyelashes.

What’s the book on your nightstand?

I like to read history books. At the moment I am re-reading “The Diary of Anne Frank.” I’ve read it a thousand times, I just wanted to read it again.

“…definitely using blush. I didn’t really know about using blush before I started modeling.”

What makes you laugh the most? 

I like sarcastic jokes, maybe because I am English. Or when you really get to know a person, you just click with something and you can’t stop laughing about that.

Bath or shower?

Shower, because bath takes too long.

You have amazing hair. Do you have a favorite hairstyle product?

I like the collection called Cantu. They are good; They are quite affordable, and I think everyone with curly hair uses that because you can get it everywhere.

What’s your favorite fragrance? 

The Yves Saint Laurent “Libre” one. I think Dua Lipa is on the cover of it.

What was your first beauty product obsession?

Probably, Rimmel London mascara. I had like 10 of them when I was younger.

The top item currently on top of your beauty wish-list.

Benefit Cosmetics has these new bronzes I want to try especially the one called Caramel.

What do you have too many of?

Too many mascaras, hair conditioners for the shower, too many lipsticks that all look the same color. [laugh]

“Too many mascaras, hair conditioners, lipsticks…”

You travel a lot for your work. What are your favorite travel destinations and a travel destination you would love to go to?

I have too many. But for work, I would probably say Dubai. And for myself, I really want to go to Asia, I’ve never been there so I want to go to Thailand, Japan, Bali, all those places.

Your jet lag beauty cure?

Still trying to find it.

What’s the bravest thing you have ever done? 

I think the bravest thing I’ve ever done was to move to another country by myself. I first came to New York for a few months when I was 19 and I was in Harlem, I didn’t know anyone, nor I did the place, I knew nothing. I just winged it and made it happen. I think that’s quite right. Because a lot of people would be scared to do that.

“I first came to New York for a few months when I was 19 and I was in Harlem, I didn’t know anyone, nor I did the place, I knew nothing.”

What would you love to see more and more in the future, in the modeling world?

I would like to see more curvier people and more dark skin people or transgender people in beauty campaigns because I feel like beauty campaigns are what people look at and think “wow, she’s beautiful:” so I feel like we should have different types of people like at the front of the campaign.

What’s your motto right now?

I had the motto “here for a good time (not a long time).” But that’s not a good motto. I don’t know. I need to find out what it is. Work out and see.

Have you ever had an epic beauty fail?

Yes, probably like eyeliner, so much black pencil under the eye. I don’t know why I did that because it wasn’t even cute.

“I would like to see more curvier people and more dark skin people or transgender people in beauty campaigns.”

Do you have a favorite cinema or tv series beauty look? 

I haven’t actually watched all of “Euphoria,” but I love the diamonds they put around the eyes and everything.

What’s beauty for you?

Beauty for me it’s just like embracing who you are. And like I said before, you can change your look one day, and look different. Same with hair. I think you should be able to change one day, and be a new person the next day, and not just happen to be the same person if you don’t want to be.

What would you tell your younger self entering the modeling world?

I would say that it’s ok to be different and you don’t need to change to fit in.

We also love very much what you are doing with your Instagram, with the message you are sharing. Do you think it could also be a way to express yourself and to give power also to other people?

Yes, I think Instagram is such a great tool for bringing new people into the fashion world and give people a voice. Instagram has really helped so many different types of beauty and has shown the world that you don’t have to look a certain way to sell a product, I think it’s great for that, definitely.

Is there an editorial, campaign, something that you remember vividly or that you care the most for?

Yes, definitely. There are so many, but I would say a particular one was when I was shooting for H&M: we went to Palm Springs and I was like the only plus-size model so obviously, it was scary. Everyone else was so slim but no one pointed out, no one was saying like “oh yeah, plus size this or this”, giving labels. They were like “we are all models and we’ll just do a good job” and I thought that felt really good.

What are your next projects?

Keep pushing for more beauty campaigns. I was doing a campaign with Bobby Brown. So, I would love to do more of that.

The Film Wall

35mm & Fuji Instax

Photos and Video by Johnny Carrano. 

Follow Sonny here. 

Thanks to Jag Models.