Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the inspiring story of Joan Smalls — Puerto Rican supermodel, barrier breaker, and advocate for diversity. Explore her early life, career milestones, and memorable quotes.

Introduction: Who Is Joan Smalls?

Joan Smalls Rodríguez (born July 11, 1988) is a Puerto Rican model and television personality who rose from a small town in Puerto Rico to become one of the most influential faces in global fashion. Her journey is more than a tale of glamour: it’s a chronicle of perseverance, cultural pride, and breaking stereotypes. In an industry where representation matters, Smalls has used her platform to challenge norms and open doors for underrepresented models.

Today, she is celebrated not only for her runway presence and brand contracts, but also as a role model for authenticity, resilience, and advocacy.

Early Life and Family

Joan Smalls was born in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, raised alongside her two sisters in a culturally rich household. Her father, Eric Smalls, worked as an accountant and hailed from Saint Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) with African and Irish lineage. Her mother, Betzaida Rodríguez, is Puerto Rican of Spanish and Taíno descent.

Joan has also spoken about having additional ancestral threads—such as distant Irish and Indian roots—reflecting the complex tapestry of her heritage. Growing up, she was active in sports and often ran, played volleyball and basketball—always conscious of her body and movement.

Despite early interest in modeling, she faced doubts. At one point, a modeling agency told her she would need to “correct her teeth” to succeed, leading her to prioritize her education first.

Youth and Education

Joan Smalls pursued higher education before fully diving into modeling. She attended the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. After finishing college, she moved to New York to launch her modeling career.

This foundation in psychology, along with her academic discipline, later informed how she navigated the pressures of fashion, identity, and self-worth behind the public image.

Career and Achievements

Entry into Modeling & Breakthrough

In 2007, Joan signed with Elite Model Management and began with commercial bookings—brands such as Nordstrom, Liz Claiborne, and Sass & Bide. By 2009, she shifted toward high-fashion runway work and moved to IMG Models. Her big break came when she walked as a Givenchy exclusive in the Spring/Summer haute couture show in early 2010.

From there, her profile skyrocketed: she walked for top houses—Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Balmain, Louis Vuitton and many more—and featured in fashion weeks across New York, London, Milan, and Paris.

She also appeared in multiple Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows (2011–2016).

Milestones & Barriers Broken

• In 2011, Smalls became the first Latina model to represent Estée Lauder in a global cosmetics contract.

• By 2012, she was ranked #1 on Top 50 list.

• In 2013, she first entered Forbes’ “World’s Highest Paid Models” list, placing #8.

• Her influence extended beyond modeling: she co-hosted MTV’s House of Style, appeared in music videos (e.g. ASAP Rocky's “Phoenix”, Beyoncé’s “Yoncé”), and did design collaborations.

In 2015, she worked with Estée Lauder to develop 12 new matte lipsticks, lending her voice to product creation. She also designed a denim collection with True Religion, and later a lingerie and swimwear line under Smart & Sexy for Walmart, focusing on inclusivity across sizes.

Recognition & Impact

Smalls has graced covers of top fashion magazines—Vogue (various international editions), Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, W, GQ, and more. She has been shot by elite photographers like Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Annie Leibovitz, and Mert & Marcus.

Her contributions and visibility have helped push conversations about diversity and representation in fashion. She has also publicly addressed systemic racism, tokenization, and industry pressures.

Historical Milestones & Context

Joan Smalls did not emerge in a vacuum—her rise must be seen in the context of fashion’s evolving (but slow) reckoning with diversity. Historically, high fashion often prioritized Eurocentric beauty standards, marginalizing models of color or mixed heritage.

Smalls entered a period when some barriers were beginning to crack, yet the industry still resisted real change. Her appointment as Estée Lauder’s first Latina global face was a landmark signal that beauty brands could—and must—broaden their definition of beauty.

Her advocacy and transparency about racism in fashion also came at an era when social media and cultural movements demanded accountability. Smalls’ willingness to speak up—even when it risked backlash—places her among those models who not only walk runways, but also walk the walk for justice.

Legacy and Influence

Joan Smalls’ legacy is still in formation—but already it carries weight in multiple dimensions:

1. Representation
   As one of the few Afro-Latina supermodels of her time, she expanded visibility for women with multifaceted identities—Black, Latinx, and beyond.

2. Barrier Breaking
   Her success in high-profile campaigns, editorials, and business ventures helped dispel the notion that only a narrow “look” could succeed in high fashion.

3. Advocacy & Voice
   Smalls has used her platform to call out tokenism, push for inclusion, and demand respect for cultural identities.

4. Empowerment Through Business
   Her design ventures aim to give women access to stylish, affordable options—particularly in underrepresented size ranges.

5. Inspiration to Future Generations
   Young models of diverse backgrounds often cite Smalls as proof that multifaceted beauty is valid and attainable.

Her impact is more than visual—it’s cultural and emotional.

Personality and Talents

Behind the poised images is a woman of substance and complexity:

• Introspective & Determined
  Her psychology education, introspection about self-image, and insistence on boundaries reflect a grounded person navigating a dazzling but fraught industry.

• Resilient
  Growing through rejection, criticism, and pressure, Smalls has repeatedly stated how she continues to push and evolve.

• Multitalented
  Beyond modeling, she hosts TV, collaborates on product lines, designs, and participates in philanthropic causes.

• Authentic & Culturally Proud
  Smalls often affirms her Puerto Rican roots, her Black heritage, and the blending of identities she embodies. She rejects silencing her roots to conform.

• Vulnerable & Open
  She speaks candidly about insecurity—especially about her height, body, and identity in a fashion world that often judges relentlessly.

Famous Quotes of Joan Smalls

Below are selected quotes that reflect Joan Smalls’ values, identity, and mindset:

“I just want to continue to break barriers and to show the industry and the world that beauty is diverse, and you don’t have to be a certain stereotype to be beautiful.”

“Fashion is part of our culture, and it’s about more than just a pretty dress.”

“A career high was when I did a cover for ‘W Magazine’s July issue with Steven Meisel. So few girls shoot with Meisel in their career, and a lot of people had told me I would never achieve that, so it was a dream come true.”

“I was always very, very insecure about my height. Even as a 15-year-old I was a foot and a half taller than everyone.”

“When you look at the world, the world isn’t just one palette. It’s a beautiful rainbow, and why not have someone to represent that rainbow?”

“I also work out because I have scoliosis. I have to maintain certain strength in my core.”

“I try not to go to sleep with makeup, because I think it clogs your pores. I always wash my face with something that contains salicylic acid.”

These quotes capture her honesty about beauty, health, identity, and ambition.

Lessons from Joan Smalls

From Joan Smalls’ journey, we can draw several meaningful lessons:

1. Embrace intersectionality
   Identity is rarely one-dimensional. Smalls teaches us the power of owning multiple cultural, racial, and personal identities, rather than compartmentalizing them.

2. Education strengthens resilience
   Her academic background gave her tools—mental, emotional, analytical—that she’s applied in a high-pressure industry.

3. Success is more than looks
   Talent must be paired with authenticity, work ethic, self-belief, and strategic choices. Smalls’ expansion into design and advocacy shows growth beyond the stage.

4. Speak out with purpose
   In spaces that resist diversity, silence upholds the status quo. Smalls’ willingness to call out tokenism and bias adds moral as well as aesthetic weight to her influence.

5. Barriers don’t break overnight—but persistence chips away
   Smalls didn’t overnight become the “first Latina Estée Lauder face” — it followed years of incremental progress, resilience against rejection, and seizing opportunity.

Conclusion

Joan Smalls is a rare blend of beauty, brains, voice, and impact. Rising from a Puerto Rican town to international runways, she has reshaped expectations in fashion and redefined what a model’s power can look like.

Her life and career remain reminders that representation matters—and that those who step forward, speak boldly, and live their truth can shift entire landscapes.

Explore more timeless quotes and stories of trailblazers on our site—and carry forward the spirit of authenticity, courage, and inclusivity in your own journey.