Marla Boehr

March 30, 2005

Marla Boehr

Models don't always seek out fame – sometimes fame comes after them. Such is the case of Marla Boehr. She didn't pursue modelling – it pursued her, right into a washroom at the Calgary Stampede where she was approached to enter the Mode Models' 2003 model search.

Recalls Mode's President Kelly Streit, "Marla was such a find at the Stampede, and when she was at the stage I just knew she had what it takes."

Despite having many people tell her to get in to modelling, the Lethbridge, Alberta native had never bothered to look into it. "It was something that had always been mentioned to me because I was fairly tall, but I was coming from somewhere where fashion wasn't something that was always on people's minds."

So when asked to enter the Mode model search, she still didn't take it too seriously. "I just thought I'd see where it goes. It's kind of how I've been with it all along, too."

Where it has gone, is global. Over the past few months, the 23-year-old has found herself in heavy demand on runways across Europe, and spectacularly made headlines in March when Miuccia Prada booked her to walk exclusively for Prada/Miu Miu, in Milan.


Marla Boehr IMG Models, which represents Marla in New York, London and Paris negotiated the "exclusive," and is now using her newfound clout to maximize her global potential. Sr. Vice President Ivan Bart says IMG is intent on booking Marla with the world's most prestigious designers, photographers, magazines and brands. And once those bookings are secured, "Marla will deliver because she is a superstar!"

The superstar label, however, is something Marla isn't entirely comfortable with. When asked how she felt about British Vogue's online comparison between herself and Canadian supermodel Linda Evangelista, Marla laughed somewhat nervously, saying "Those are pretty big shoes to fill. I don't think that's warranted yet."

That same level-headedness also kept Marla from getting too excited about her Miu Miu booking until she actually arrived at the show. "I was a little on edge because when you're at that level you can be cut at any time."

"But I was obviously excited, and when you actually get on the runway it's a surreal experience."

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