East runner turned model: Salt Lake teen skyrockets from student to star

Ali Stephens has gone from the run-way to the runway.

In a whirlwind five weeks, the East High School runner has signed a contract with Elite Model Management in New York, made her runway debut at the Prada Spring/Summer fashion show in Milan and walked for designers including Chanel, Miu Miu, Givenchy, Nina Ricci and Louis Vuitton as part of Fashion Week in Paris.

She was part of a private showing for Anna Wintour, the Vogue magazine editor-in-chief said to have inspired the book and subsequent film, "The Devil Wears Prada."

And now, Calvin Klein and Vogue magazine could be waiting in the wings.

Not bad for a 16-year-old who has had her eye more on marine biology than mascara.

"It's been so busy, and it's a lot of running around," she said, "but it's been really fun."

"What takes years for some girls took her a few weeks," said Roman Young, director of new faces for Elite Model Management and Ali's manager. "I think if she wants to and she has the determination, her chances of being a major, major model are very, very high."

Ali, who got her braces off last spring, and her sister Maddie, a senior at East, were shopping with their parents at The Gateway last summer when a man told their father they could be models.

"It's like, we've heard that before, but OK," father Marc Stephens said.

The man turned out to be a scout and invited the pair to an open call for Pulse Management, which works with Elite. It slipped their minds. But then the man called the family and invited the sisters to send in snapshots.

Shortly after, Stacey Eastman, who runs Pulse Management, called the family and asked to send a New York photographer to work with Ali so he could shop her portfolio to the big agencies during Fashion Week, her dad said.

On Sept. 13, the family learned designer Jill Sander had requested Ali for her show and that three agencies were vying for her.

"They sent me her pictures, and immediately, I was like, 'Oh, my God, this girl is amazing,"' Young said.

Her symmetrical face, health and athleticism — she's a ranked runner — set her apart, Young said. Her hard work and discipline — she takes Advanced Placement classes and maintains a 3.8 GPA — would serve her well during 13-hour days, often spent in fittings and waiting while remaining happy, friendly and personable, a task that is trying even for adults.