Issa Lish on Why There Aren’t More Models From Mexico, Working With Steven Meisel, and More

In the course of a year, Issa Lish has gone from promising new face to one of fashion’s most photographed women. Her distinctive look is emblematic of the current preference for beauty that represents originality rather than cookie-cutter perfection. Angular, androgynous, and ethnically ambiguous, Lish is a photographer’s dream, and has been embraced by several of the industry’s key image-makers—from Steven Meisel, who transformed Lish into a modern Shelley Duvall for Vogue Italia’s cover, to David Sims, who placed her alongside names like Adriana Lima and Kendall Jenner for his evocative Marc Jacobs campaign.
In person, Lish is far from the edgy persona she projects in editorials. Soft-spoken and upbeat, the Mexico City native is more inclined to chat about contemporary art than designer wares. Her passion for art informs her career in front of the camera, making her especially attuned to the needs of the artists she works with. Catching up with the charming Lish, we talked about her spectacular season, diversity in fashion scouting, and the interaction between fashion and art.