MAGNETIC, AUTHENTIC, MODERN: ALI LATIF IS THE PROTAGONIST OF THE NEW DIGITAL COVER Vanity Teen 虚荣青年 Lifestyle & New Faces Magazine

MAGNETIC, AUTHENTIC, MODERN: ALI LATIF IS THE PROTAGONIST OF THE NEW DIGITAL COVER MAGNETIC, AUTHENTIC, MODERN: ALI LATIF IS THE PROTAGONIST OF THE NEW DIGITAL COVER Vanity Teen 虚荣青年 Lifestyle & new faces magazine

Magnetic, authentic, modern: Ali Latif emerges as a singular presence within contemporary fashion – a figure shaped by movement, cultural duality, and quiet determination.
Born in Tunisia in 1999, he moved to the south of France at a young age, carrying with him the layered identities of both North African heritage and European upbringing.
This intersection of cultures would later become central to his visual and artistic language.
At eighteen, he arrived in Paris driven by a dream far removed from fashion: acting.
Like many young creatives, he navigated survival through modest work, including long days spent behind the counter of a neighborhood bakery. It was there, in an ordinary moment of routine, that fate intervened. A talent scout noticed him — not for spectacle, but for something more subtle: presence. This encounter marked the beginning of an unexpected yet transformative journey into the fashion world.

Ali quickly distinguished himself with a gaze that feels introspective, almost cinematic.
Signed by Q Model Management in New York and later represented by prestigious agencies across Paris, London, and Hamburg, he began working with some of the most influential names in the industry.
His image soon appeared in campaigns for Gucci, Versace, Burberry, Balmain, Coach, and Issey Miyake, photographed by legendary figures such as Steven Meisel.

Yet Ali’s presence extends far beyond fashion.
Music and performance remain essential to his creative identity. His EP 520 and singles such as Roko c’est le Texas reveal an intimate side — raw, reflective, and deeply personal.
Through sound, he explores memory, displacement, and self-expression, echoing the same emotional depth found in his photographic work.
Ali Latif is not simply a model — he is a symbol of quiet revolution.
As one of the first Tunisian male models to achieve international recognition, he challenges traditional beauty standards and broadens representation within an industry long dominated by Eurocentric ideals.
He speaks openly about visibility, heritage, and the importance of seeing oneself reflected in creative spaces.
His story is not one of overnight success, but of resilience – shaped by labor, discipline, and belief in one’s own path.

From construction sites and bakeries to global campaigns, Ali embodies the poetry of perseverance. He stands as a bridge between worlds, between stillness and motion, between origin and becoming.

In his work, there is no dominance over nature, no forced narrative – only presence.
Ali Latif moves through images as if inhabiting a suspended moment, inviting the viewer into a space of quiet contemplation, where identity is not performed, but simply lived.

Ali is the protagonist of the January digital cover story, which will also be featured in the next print issue.

Hi Ali! What is your definition of art?

Art, to me, is a force. It can change lives, shift perspectives, and push you to evolve. It makes you question things, feel things, see things differently. And when you’re truly passionate about it, art doesn’t just pass through your Life , it walks with you for life.

When and how did your passion for acting begin?

I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid, but it took me years to fully accept it and allow myself to say it out loud.
In the environment I come from, dreaming of this kind of career isn’t really an option. For a lot of people around me, it’s not even seen as a real profession.

First of all, you are a model, let’s say a top model – one of the most
influential Tunisian one today.
What’s fashion?

It’s a difficult question, but to me, fashion is a form of freedom.
It’s the freedom to be who you want to be and to show it through what you wear. Sometimes, a jacket or a sweater can say more about you than words ever could.

How were you discovered?

It’s very original, but it’s real. It happened in a bakery in Paris, where I was working at the time.

What was your first modeling job?

If I remember right, it was for Champion in Los Angeles. I remember being totally lost on set, not really knowing what I was supposed to do.

What were you doing before modeling?

I was working in a bakery, saving money so I could pay for acting school.

You’re very popular on Socials, what does social media mean today?

Today, Instagram is our book as models.
It’s our demo reel as actors.
It’s a direct connection between us and the clients who give us work.

What’s the best thing about your hometown/country?

Going back to where I grew up is always a moment of rest and family. The best part is seeing the people I love and enjoying every moment with them, because once I leave, I never know when I’ll be able to see them again.

Favorite things you like doing in your spare time?

At the moment, acting is at the center of everything. Even when I’m not working or studying, I’m at the theatre, in a cinema, or reading about the craft. I’m deeply focused, almost obsessed, with becoming a good actor.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Lately, I’ve been listening to two albums that aren’t new, but still hit. Testing by A$AP Rocky while I’m waiting for his next project, and Don’t Tap the Glass by Tyler.

Favorite movie/TV show?

Rocco and His Brothers is my all-time favorite movie, and The Wire is my favorite show.

Place you would love to visit?

Mongolia, Iceland, and Peru are at the top of my travel list for the next few years

if you were an animal, which one would you be?

Definitely a lion.

Future projects?

I have some great projects coming out soon that I recently shot.
I’ll be on stage in several plays with my school in April, May, and June, which I’m really excited about.
And I’m hoping to direct my first short film this summer.