This Queer Modeling Agency Is Defying Gender & Beauty Standards and We're Obsessed

Photo: Paul Brickman

For the past decade, modeling agencies have consistently claimed that they’re attempting to showcase more diversity, but when you look online and in magazines, the vast majority of models still fit the typical model mold: light-skinned, sharp and angular facial features, tall, lean for women, muscular for men, etc. While positive change is happening in the right direction, the media and modeling agencies can absolutely do better.

Zand Wagon is a prime example of a modeling agency that is doing better. It is a new agency that’s going above and beyond to break beauty standards, showcasing all races, ages, shapes, sizes, and genders. The agency encourages its talent to embrace being themselves. To embrace being gender-bending, queer, punk, goth, or anything else.

I spoke with Kayvon Zand, the creator of Zand Wagon, asking him what he hoped to achieve with the agency. He replied, “We hope to not only lead our talent to more opportunity but a larger audience where they can share their stories and personal beauty. We hope to inspire clients, people, brands, and others who feel different to always celebrate their uniqueness.”    

Here are just some of the talent at Zand Wagon!

 

Introducing Josh! ZW: "Your look inspirations?" Josh: "The early 2000s skater scene meets the Halliwell sisters." #effyourbeautystandards #zandwagon #breakingbeauty #personalstyle #nonbinary

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jul 6, 2017 at 8:00am PDT

 

Welcoming Jace! ZW: "Do you identify with labels?" JACE: "Labels I identify with: Stemme, Femme, Lipstick Lesbian, Gender Fluid, Gay, Antisocial Social Butterfly, Androgynous Girl, Day Dreamer, Sarcastic Nutball, MoodyBish, Outgoing Introvert. How ever someone wants to be labeled or not labeled, I roll with. I can be an oxymoron- or maybe it's called being a hypocrite and I'll happily own up to it, all I know is that what ever I'm feeling today, tomorrow, or in a month from now- it feels good and it feels right. It feels like me. I welcome strangers to label or stereotype me. I may shed some tears, knock out a few laughs, or maybe have no response at all, but in the end- what you choose to believe about others says a lot about who you are, and hey- a little self reflection never hurt anybody." #zandwagon #breakingbeauty #effyourbeautystandards #personalstyle

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Aug 4, 2017 at 1:18pm PDT

 

Loving this new test of Jess (@grossbeyonce ) taken by Brian (@brianbrigantti)! #factory #zandwagon #effyourbeautystandards #personalstyle #tagteam #breakingbeauty #model #photographer

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jul 20, 2017 at 8:19am PDT

 

Introducing Jose. ZW: "Do you identify with labels?" J "Only with luxury labels… Otherwise I hate being labeled." #personalstyle #effyourbeautystandards #breakingbeauty #zandwagon

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jun 30, 2017 at 1:10pm PDT

 

Julia of Zandwagon on the @lovagenyc rooftop for @outmagazine. Your look inspirations: "Pearl from Drag Race has inspired my drag a lot. Also dolls. I like huge heavy lidded doll eyes. My out of drag looks are sometimes still inspired by drag and very glam, other times I am inspired by clean skin, and simple makeup." Article in bio by @rkurtosenlund photo by @mrwhite_ ...................................................................................................................................... #effyourbeautystandards #breakingbeauty #zandwagon #personalstyle #model #disabledmodel #mua #mua #mua #nyc

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jun 21, 2017 at 1:55pm PDT

 

“I have a background in the fashion industry as a stylist, and even when I look at my own Instagram and see projects I’ve worked on, I’m like, ‘Wow.’ Because it’s mostly all white models we’re shooting. Or straight guys. Even I need to be more mindful of it. Like, what about people with dreadlocks? I have dreads, but I’ve never shot a model with dreads.”-Airik of Zandwagon on the @lovagenyc rooftop for @outmagazine. Article in bio by @rkurtosenlund photo by @mrwhite_ ...................................................................................................................................... #effyourbeautystandards #breakingbeauty #zandwagon #personalstyle #model # #nyc #blackmodel #dreads #gay #biracial

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jun 23, 2017 at 8:51am PDT

 

“People will see our looks and be like, ‘Costumes!’ And it’s like, ‘No, we’re pulling looks.’ We have to let people know what we’re about. That’s been the most important thing for me.”- Grisel of Zandwagon on the @lovagenyc rooftop for @outmagazine. Article in bio by @rkurtosenlund photo by @mrwhite_...................................................................................................................................... #effyourbeautystandards #breakingbeauty #zandwagon #personalstyle #model #nyc #possessed #postpunk #queer #goth #blackmodel

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jun 23, 2017 at 3:58pm PDT

 

"Change is impossible without diversity. Without it, we never have the opportunity to see the world through any other lens than our own." - Ammo of Zandwagon on the @lovagenyc rooftop for @outmagazine. Article in bio by @rkurtosenlund photo by @mrwhite_...................................................................................................................................... #effyourbeautystandards #breakingbeauty #zandwagon #personalstyle #model #nyc #Queermodel #gender #nonbinary #sexrebel

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Jun 23, 2017 at 12:59pm PDT

 

Indigo always cool and fresh! Shot by @lord_horatio for #zandwagon #transmale #effyourbeautystandards #personalstyle #breakingbeauty

A post shared by Zand Wagon (@zandwagon) on Aug 18, 2017 at 11:13am PDT