Coco Rocha is Celebrating 100 Years of Reitmans

Coco Rocha’s influence has never been limited to the runway. Over the last two decades, the B.C-raised supermodel (and former FASHION The Ones cover star) has evolved from a breakout teenage star to an unstoppable force in the Canadian fashion industry. From commanding the catwalks of Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier to fronting countless international magazine covers, her instinctive, highly physical approach to modelling has expanded into a career that spans mentorship, education, advocacy and hosting, all anchored by a true appreciation for the art form.

That perspective perfectly aligns with her latest role as a brand ambassador for Reitmans’ 100th anniversary. The milestone marks a century of the Canadian retailer’s focus on accessible, confidence-driven womenswear, and positions Rocha alongside Quebec actress Catherine St-Laurent as the face of its next chapter. For Rocha, the partnership reflects a forward-facing view of Canadian fashion rather than a solely retrospective one, a notable stance in an industry often ruled by nostalgia.

“I think it’s beautiful that Reitmans is really talking about next steps. You think they’re going to reminisce about the 100 years, but they’re actually saying this is just the beginning,” she says. “You haven’t even seen the best part yet—and I think that’s important.”

Rocha’s desire for industry innovation mirrors how she’s come to view her own career. Alongside ongoing modelling work, she runs a model camp, mentors emerging talent and hosts Project Runway Canada, which she filmed in Toronto this past summer. Her influence also extends into advocacy, particularly around protections for young models. In 2013, she helped push for changes to New York labour laws that introduced new safeguards for child models, work that was recognized this year with the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards’ Changemaker Award.

“That was a pinch-me moment,” she says. “It’s important not to forget the rights of models—we have to continue pushing for diversity and progress.”

Discovered at just 14 years old, Rocha’s strong convictions are easy to understand. Long before she became an international star, she developed a distinctive approach to posing shaped by years of training in rigid Irish dance—a background that set her apart from a sea of fresh-faced models, helped establish her signature kinetic precision and eventually earned her the title “Queen of Pose.” Movement, for her, is always considered and comes to life through sequences of controlled transitions rather than static positions. Case in point: her recently viral, free-flowing poses at the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere earlier this week.

Beyond her signature transformative poses, Rocha’s sartorial eye has helped her stand out as a true fashion darling, often spotted wearing bright hues, unique silhouettes and distinctive textures. The supermodel credits her taste to her mother’s influence, recalling how she’d dress the two of them in matching extravagant fascinators and carefully assembled outfits for church conventions and special occasions.

“She didn’t introduce me to fashion in terms of Gucci or Prada—I didn’t know anything about that—but through her desire to put herself together,” she shares. “Looking back, she really made an effort, even on a budget.”

Besides her love for fashion, Rocha’s been invested in another, more personal passion project lately. Over the past four years, she and her husband, James Conran, have been constructing their dream home from the ground up, a process she describes as deliberately unhurried as they happily obsess over every detail. “Each week something new arrives and I get so giddy,” she says. The project reflects a shift in pace for the model, too, who spent the first several years of her flourishing career constantly on the go.

“A lot of people ask what’s next in my life, but I really love the simpler things. The beginning of my life and career was so over the top that moments like this feel especially meaningful,” she says. “Building a home that the kids will grow up in is so special.”

From leading a historic campaign for one of Canada’s most beloved brands to raising three young children, hosting one of the industry’s most-watched reality competitions and much more, it’s clear that Rocha’s ever-evolving career resists a single definition—and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for her next chapter.

“I want to show balance,” she shares. “You can be a creative, fun, fantastical model, have your rights, and still do it your way.”

A version of this interview originally appeared in HELLO! Canada, and was conducted by Kaysey Davis.