Carmen Vars 
We recently caught up with Canadian model Medea Morton in Southern Europe. Looking very studious in black reading glasses, Medea had just returned home from a 3.5 hour language class. Although the brainy beauty is already fluent in 3 languages, she is working on adding another to her repertoire.
Since the untimely global pandemic slammed the brakes on International travel and modelling, Medea has kept busy with distance education, already halfway towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Archeology. (She recently did a “Dig” in Roman Baths near Braga, Portugal, where she discovered the base of a vessel and her classmate found human teeth!)
On this day, Medea bubbles with excitement as she packs her bags for Paris. In a few days, she will pick up where she left off in the world’s fashion mecca. Her biggest fans, her dog and cat and the rest of her family will be cheering her on.
“Paris has always felt like home,” she says. “I am super excited to be going back!”
Medea recounts the fateful November day in 2017, when she was approached at a career fair in downtown Vancouver. Then just 16 years old, she was scouting Universities, when she was scouted for a modelling career instead. A week later she signed with her mother agency, Vancouver Model Management, and 6 months later she was signed with IMG Models Worldwide.
“The whole experience has been surreal. I feel so lucky to be supported by the amazing people at my agencies and my family,” she beams.
Medea walked her first ever show for designer Elaine Healy in Spring of 2018 at Vancouver Fashion Week and her second show for Phuong My at V.F.W. that Fall. Dancing Flamenco since the age of 10, she was no stranger to the stage and took to the runway like a boss.
She describes her first fashion weeks in Vancouver as “thrilling,” adding,“the backstage buzz with all of the designers, models and beauty artists was so much fun.”
A few months later, Morton left Vancouver for Paris and her International career was launched. In her first season in 2019, she booked shows at London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks and was named by Samuel Anderson in V Magazine as one of “The 11 Fresh Faces of the Season.”
Between show seasons Medea travelled around Europe, shooting fashion editorials for esteemed International Magazines such as Dazed, IMGQuarterly, Unpolished Mag, New York Times (T Mag), Harrods Magazine, and landed her first cover on U.K.’s quirky-cool “Another Magazine.” She somehow found time to wrap up high school while travelling that year.
After walking in such prestigious shows as Lanvin, Jil Sander, Simone Rocha, J.W. Anderson, Rokh, Beautiful People, Maison Kitsune, Ralph & Russo, among others, the young Canadian model remains humble and grateful for all of the exciting experiences thus far. She laughs, recalling one awkward moment with a major casting director where she tripped on a stair as she entered the room, and humorously turned the less-than-graceful entrance into a “bow.”
Asked to advise up and coming new models, she imparts wisely, “Enjoy every moment. There is a lot of rejection, so you have to develop a thick skin. Don’t take anything personally. I tell myself, ‘For every 10,000 no’s eventually you will get a yes and that will be worth it.’”
Having already shot for luxury brands Hermes, Burberry and Red Valentino, we asked if she has any dream jobs. “The whole thing has been a dream, really! But one magazine that I would love to work for is Tatler. And Vogue, of course! And I would really love to shoot in some Greek or Roman ruins. Oh, and a beauty campaign!” she adds, smiling and crossing her fingers.
Asked if she has worked with any “famous” models, Medea reflects, then lists a few: “Kaia Gerber, Gigi Hadid, Karen Elson, Grace Elizabeth, Adut Akech.“
Her favourite job so far? “All of them!”
Latest read: “Murder on the Orient Express. I love Agatha Christie.” Adding, “She was actually married to an Archeologist and she went on some Digs herself!”
Our fingers (and toes) are crossed for the Canadian Model. Go Medea!!
Written by Carmen Vars
