IN CONVERSATION WITH MEREDITH MICKLESON

interview by JANA LETONJA

Meredith Mickelson continues to carve out a dynamic career at the intersection of fashion and film. She first gained global recognition as a model, appearing on the covers and pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, CR Fashion Book, and Rolling Stone, while fronting campaigns for brands like Christian Louboutin and Maybelline. Now, she is expanding her presence on screen with roles in Ryan Murphy’s FX series The Beauty, the highly anticipated upcoming final season of HBO’s Euphoria, and season two of Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison. With additional film credits alongside icons like Jean-Claude Van Damme, and a forthcoming debut in Sports Illustrated, Meredith is steadily evolving into a multifaceted talent with both industry credibility and global influence

dress AKNVAS
boot CAROLINA HERRERA

You’re balancing a successful modeling career with growing acting roles. How do you navigate those two worlds? 

Honestly, the two worlds complement each other more than people might expect. Modeling taught me so much about presence in front of a camera and I think that’s carried over into my acting in a beautiful way. In the sense of projects and filming, I'm still learning it honestly. A lot of the times it’s wrapping a modeling shoot then filming a self-tape in my hotel. I try to make it work wherever I am. I like being busy so the more the merrier.

What drew you to acting, and when did you realize you wanted to pursue it seriously?

Acting was always something I loved from a distance. I was drawn to it, but honestly, I was scared. I didn’t think I was someone who could do it. My brother was the one who saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. He believed in me before I did, he’s the one who got me into classes. He was my biggest champion. I have texts with him when I was in class like, “Wow, I just absolutely blew that scene and sucked,” and his response was always “No you didn't. Everyone feels that way and you’re there doing the work. “ 

When I lost him, something shifted. I think his passion, his belief in me, it didn’t disappear. It just moved into me. Pursuing acting seriously became my way of carrying him forward. Like, I owe it to him not to be afraid anymore. So, in a way, it wasn’t so much a decision I made, it was something that chose me, through him.

full look BALMAIN
necklace ALEXIS BITTAR

You’re part of Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Beauty’. What was this experience like for you? 

It was a dream come true. Ryan is such an inspiration. The way his mind works, the worlds he builds, the stories he chooses to tell, there’s nobody quite like him in this industry. I cried when I got the call I booked the role. I dyed my hair and hoped they’d hire me because I had auditioned around 5 times. I knew I needed to switch something up. I felt such a high coming off set because I knew I’d given my all and my character was so fun to play. Surreal how is this real moment for me.

You’ll also appear in the final season of ‘Euphoria’. What can you share about that role, without giving away too much? 

She’s a party girl and she knows how to fill a room. That’s really all I can say, but I’m just excited to exist in that world for a moment, no matter how big or small. Regarding the rest, your guess is as good as mine.

body, shorts, and shoe DSQUARED2
bracelet ALEXIS BITTAR

Working with creators like Ryan Murphy and Taylor Sheridan is a major milestone. What have you learned from those collaborations? 

I mean, honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. Ryan and Taylor are both so singular, they’ve built these entire worlds that people are obsessed with, me included, and to get to exist inside of them, I don’t take that lightly. I felt like my job was to show up completely prepared and trust the process they’ve created. And working opposite Will Arnett on ‘The Madison’ was surreal. He’s so talented and so generous as a scene partner. These are people who make you want to rise to the occasion. I just hope I did.

top MISSONI
earring ALANINA
necklace and ring PIAGET

How does your background in modeling influence your work as an actress? 

Modeling gave me a foundation I didn’t even fully appreciate until I stepped onto an acting set. The biggest thing is camera comfort. In acting, the camera can’t exist. You must forget it’s there completely. Years of modeling trained me naturally, so by the time I got to acting, that part was already second nature. And then there’s the environment itself. Big sets, lots of moving parts, crews everywhere, a million things happening around you that can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it. Modeling prepared me for that too. I already knew how to stay focused in the middle of all that noise and just do my job. 

So, in a lot of ways, modeling was my training ground without me even realizing it at the time. Though the two are completely different, which is why acting is such a new challenge for me that I love. I spent years in acting classes before I started auditioning. Acting has pushed me to go deeper, to be more vulnerable and sit with a character in a way that modeling doesn’t quite require. And I love that challenge. It keeps me growing. I can tell you when I’m going to a modeling set, I’m super chill, but for acting, I’m super nervous. 

dress LAQUAN SMITH
bracelets L’DEZEN

Your upcoming debut in Sports Illustrated is a big milestone. What does that moment mean to you? 

This has been a dream of mine since I was twelve. I’m from a smaller town in Georgia, so this kind of life wasn’t exactly laid out in front of me, but I know I wanted it badly, even then. I remember cutting out pictures from the magazine and making posters, then sending it as fan mail to the women on those pages. Kind of creepy, but thought I killed it. Something about it just stuck with me. It’s been a huge dream of mine way over a decade, I never let go of it. So, to be in it now it’s a lot. To be honest, it was so unexpected. I kind of accepted it wasn't in my cards so when my agent called me, I was shocked. It means more than I can probably articulate. 

How do you maintain versatility in both your modeling and acting work?

For me, it’s always about chasing the unknown. If something feels too comfortable, that’s usually a sign I need to push past it. The best work I’ve done has always come from being a little scared or something completely new. I never want to get too settled. That’s where the most interesting version of yourself shows up. 

dress AKNVAS
earring ALEXIS BITTAR

The fashion industry can be fast-paced and demanding. How do you stay grounded? 

Honestly, my parents. I talk to them probably five times a day and no matter where I am in the world or how chaotic things get, that phone call happens. Anytime I feel like I’m losing my mind, like I’m doing too much or not enough, they bring me back down to earth. They’ve never let me get too lost in it all. This industry moves fast and it can make you feel like you have to move at that same pace all the time. My parents are my grounders. 

With a global audience on social media, how do you balance public presence with personal privacy?

I think about this a lot, honestly. Social media is an incredible tool. It’s how I connect with people and it’s super involved in my work, and that’s something I genuinely cherish. But I’ve had to be very intentional about where I draw the line. I share what I want to share. And I’ve had to make peace with the fact that giving people a window into your life doesn’t mean giving them the whole house. There’s a version of me that exists online, and then there’s the version that I protect that’s just mine. The mental health side of it is real too. The noise can get loud. I’ve had to learn when to step back, when to log off. Your peace must come before your presence. That’s something I have to remind myself of constantly.

dress MARC JACOBS

Do you see yourself leaning more toward acting in the future, or continuing to balance both paths?

Modeling has been my foundation, and I’ll always love it. But acting is newer for me, so it naturally takes up more of my headspace right now. I’m constantly learning, constantly growing into it. It demands a lot and I want to give it that. Right now, I’m just grateful I don’t have to choose. I feel like the industries kind of naturally mix themselves. 

How do you continue to challenge yourself creatively? 

I try to stay a student first. I’m still in classes, still working on the craft constantly. But beyond that, I look for things that scare me a little, be that roles or projects that don’t feel safe or familiar. I think comfort is the enemy of growth. And I try to stay emotionally honest, even when that’s uncomfortable. The most interesting work usually comes from the places you’d rather not go. I also am constantly watching work of other people I admire. Whether it’s acting or modeling, I pull a lot of inspiration from the 70s, 80s, 90s, etc. 

dress VALLIANT STUDIO
necklace PIAGET
boot CAROLINA HERRERA

TEAM CREDITS:

talent MEREDITH MICKELSON
photography DENNIS LEUPOLD
styling MIKE ADLER AT MONDAY ARTISTS
makeup MAKI HASEGAWA AT BRYAN BANTRY AGENCY
hair IAN JAMES AT THE WALL GROUP
production PRESLEE ADAMS
executive producer COURTNEY WALTER AT CW CREATIVE MANAGEMENT
photography assistants TOMMY BANCO AND WINSTON KINGSTRO
styling assistants ABBY WAN AND PRESLEE ADAMS
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA