Meet the Model
Supermodel Lydia Hearst’s big break came in 2004 when prominent fashion photographer Steven Meisel shot her first magazine cover for Vogue Italia. But it was the long afternoons she spent as a child with her mother on John Waters’ film sets that opened her eyes to the possibility of a life in entertainment.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Hearst, 34, is the great-granddaughter of publishing giant William Randolph Hearst and youngest daughter of Patty. She studied communications and technology at Sacred Heart University and is a self-proclaimed lifelong “nerd” who obsessively collects film- and gaming-related memorabilia. (“People think it’s my husband,” she confides, “but it’s really me.” Hearst married talk show host and “Nerdist” podcaster Chris Hardwick in 2016, and the two split their time between New York and L.A.)
In addition to appearing on the pages of fashion magazines around the globe, Hearst portrays a glam-goth zombie named Pandora in the SyFy series Z Nation and can be seen as Abigail Folger, opposite Hilary Duff, in Daniel Farrands’ January-released thriller, The Haunting of Sharon Tate.
Next up is the drama The Downside of Bliss with Eric Roberts (June 10); Grace and Grit with Mena Suvari and Frances Fisher (later this year); and Beautiful, based on the harrowing autobiography of philanthropist and former model Katie Piper, who survived an acid attack that caused major facial damage and blindness in one eye (Hearst is adapting the story for film and producing the project).
Producer Emily Chavous • Makeup by Jo Baker • Hair by Giannandrea
Twist-neck midi dress, lurex knit top, and Petal boots, all self-portrait-studio.com; House of Etiquette Lydia harness, houseofetiquette.com; NMD Jewelry stone rings; Benitez jewelry shell rings; Nest gold and wood bangles, Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert.
Maria Lucia Hohan gown, mlh-shop.com; Minzkou Mykiza bustier, minzkou.com; NMD Jewelry collar, cuff, and rings; and Chloe Gosselin Louise mules, chloegosselin.com.
“I love Maria Lucia Hohan,” shares fashion editor Amy Lu. “She makes gowns with lots of movement. Her transparent canary yellow gown perfectly captures the magic [of the Indian Canyons].”
Maria Lucia Hohan Alanis dress; A.L.C. Mara sequin mini dress (worn underneath), Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert; Minzkou Mykiza bustier; Kat Ong beaded earrings.
Marchesa foil-printed tulle gown, bergdorfgoodman.com; NMD Jewelry necklace and cuff.
Marchesa illusion tulle gown; Chloe Gosselin Frida boots.
Greta Constantine gown, gretaconstantine.com; Nest charoite and tourmaline necklaces, amethyst bracelet, and mother-of-pearl earrings, all Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert.
Marchesa foil-printed tulle gown; NMD Jewelry necklace and cuff.
Zimmerman Corsage python-print pleated dress, Nest spotted horn earrings and gold and wood bangles, all Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert; House of Etiquette Lydia harness.
Puey Quiñones gown, pueyquinones.com; Genny fringed cape, genny.com; Nest malachite and black horn necklaces, Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert.
Model: Elite L.A. / Toronto
Hair & makeup: Forward Artists
VIDEO: Watch behind-the-scenes moments with model Lydia Hearst.