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THE INTERVIEW

Antonina Petkovic

21 May 2018


Meet Antonina Petkovic, the 21-year old top model who has graced the catwalks and front covers of some of the fashion industry’s biggest names and publications, and remains the current face of Next. Here she talks about her big break, love of science and why her mum is her ultimate role model. 


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Antonina Petkovic is sitting in a make-up chair amid our latest Next shoot in London, wearing a colourful striped jumper and jeans. Her beauty is as striking in real life as the campaign imagery she has fronted: deep brown, Bambi-like eyes, flawless skin, effortlessly tousled hair and a warm, genuine smile that, as we begin to chat, is often accompanied by a semi-shy giggle – a subtle nod to the fact that despite her incredible success and maturity, this Serbian-born model is still only 21 years old.


Like most successful models, Antonina’s working life began when most of us were still deciding what GCSEs to take. “I was 14 when I saw an advert for Elite Model Look in Serbia,” she recalls. “I was so skinny and tall, my friends told me I had to go for it.” Antonina was placed third in the competition (Elite Model Look is the world championship, if you like, of modelling, which discovered Cindy Crawford and Gisele Bündchen), but despite not winning, she was quickly whisked off to Paris to meet casting directors during fashion week and the rest, as they say, is history.


“Paris was scary but it was an amazing opportunity – I can remember arriving at a casting and my agent and his colleague had 30 minutes to teach me how to ‘walk’ for the runway shows,” she laughs. Fast forward to today, Antonina has stormed the catwalks of some of the industry’s biggest designers: Stella McCartney, Lanvin, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloé, Georgio Armani – the list goes on. “I realised I’d truly made it when I walked for Tom Ford in London,” she says. “You step out onto the runway and the adrenaline hits you and you just think, woah – this is so cool.”

Has she always been into fashion? “No, science was my thing at school! I hated pink and would refuse to wear anything girly,” she laughs. “I was a tomboy and always going on adventures with my older brother.” After years in the industry, Antonina’s sense of style has inevitably evolved. “You definitely get inspired by seeing so many trends and well-dressed people,” she says. “Jane Birkin’s my style icon – I love the French way of dressing, it’s so effortless."

Based in New York, the city she’s lived in since the age of sixteen, Antonina is clearly a home bird at heart. When asked how she celebrated her 21st birthday, you might expect a celeb-filled party in one of the Big Apple’s most popular hot spots, but for Antonina, being back in Serbia with her family was all that mattered. “We are really close. I go back to see them often, but I’m hoping my mum will be able to visit me in New York soon too. She’s never been able to as I’m always travelling.”


“My mum is my role model in life,” she continues. “She taught me to stay true to myself and be grounded as you never know what could happen in life. It’s important to be nice to people.” This mentality resonates within just a few minutes of spending time with Antonina and it’s clear that her beauty is anything but skin deep.


Where does she see herself in the future? “I’d like to have my own business one day,” she reveals. “I’ve wanted to open a healthy restaurant for a really long time – but I have so many ideas.” Beauty and brains: watch this space.

The quickfire round:


Describe your style in three words:

Effortless, casual, playful.


Favourite SS18 trend?

Yellow – I’m so glad it’s finally on trend.


Favourite author?

Vladimir Nabokov – my favourite book is Lolita.


What’s your fitness routine?

Yoga, boxing or Pilates – whatever I’m in the mood for!


What’s your go-to look?

Biker jackets, jeans, sneakers and sweaters, I like to be comfy! For evenings out, I never wear heels – it’s either cool boots or shoes, but always flats.



Get Antonina's look

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Catwalk and street-style imagery credit: Getty Images. Runway designers featured left to right: Chloé, Alexandre Vauthier, Lanvin. The clothing shown within these images are not available from Next. 

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