Stella Maxwell’s day job normally consists of jetting around the world for work as a model and Victoria’s Secret angel, but COVID-19 has put that on pause. Weeks spent indoors have provided her with a moment of reflection. “There is nothing like a month’s long quarantine to make one confront themselves,” she shared via email from Los Angeles. In between appearing on international Vogue covers and serving as an ambassador for Pride Live’s Stonewall Day events, Maxwell, who identifies as sexually fluid, reaffirmed her commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights. Thanks to social media and the public’s unwavering interest in runway stars, she has been able to use her visibility to signal boost organizations like GLAAD and serve as a high-profile example of a queer model. “I think within any civil rights movement, everyone has their role,” she explains. “I believe living my life within the public eye with confidence is a way of honoring pride, not just during isolation but always.”
A model since her teens, Maxwell, now 30, grew up immersed in fashion, a privilege that helped shape her perceptions. Inspired by the standards of tolerance set by the designers, photographers, and her team at The Lions, she understands fashion’s cultural influence. The acceptance Maxwell found on set and with her modeling peers allowed her to feel valued right from the start. “I have [always] felt comfortable and welcome,” she says. Still, she acknowledges that others have faced different situations. “You never know, maybe a client has brought up something behind a closed office door, but I don’t want to assume,” she says, noting the importance of placing integrity before personal gain. “If a brand or individual ever had a problem with accepting someone, whether it be because of gender, race, or because they’re LGBTQIA, I don’t think that would be the right brand for me to be representing.”