Winter has well and truly arrived in Sydney. The air is crisp, coffee cups double as hand warmers and today's shoot calls for a serious dose of dopamine dressing to combat the chill. It's an especially frosty morning in Bondi, but our model, Allegra (or Micky, as she’s known by friends), brings an effortless warmth to set, donning some of our favourite new pieces from designers near and far (hello, pink Valentino sweater!). Once the final shot is captured and the layers are peeled away, we settle in to chat about everything from foreign policy and Australian brands to what she calls "Analogue Mode"—her nightly ritual of lighting candles, embracing creativity and switching her phone off.
It quickly becomes clear that Allegra is someone who comfortably traverses two worlds. The Indian-Australian model holds a degree in Politics and International Relations, balancing academic curiosity with a career in front of the camera. "One day I'm analysing foreign policy, the next I'm pretending to be someone else in front of a camera," she laughs. "They couldn't be more different, but I love living in both worlds."
That same duality extends beyond her career. While she grew up in Bondi and now resides in the beachside suburb once again, it's Bangalow, in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, that she truly considers ‘home’. "It's a very beautiful part of the world," she says. "I spent five years there after school and I think it'll always be the place that slows my nervous system down."
Ironically, it was while she was balancing in heels atop a bollard in front of the Eiffel Tower—while helping a friend shoot their first campaign—that sparked her own modelling career. "I remember thinking, 'I'd actually love to do this for a living.'” Upon returning home, she emailed an agency, they signed her, and the rest is history.
While becoming a canvas for someone else's creativity is one of Allegra's favourite parts of the job, her own approach to dressing is decidedly more understated. A quick scroll through her Instagram reveals an innate eye for curation, but off set she's more likely to be found in well-worn jeans and a T-shirt or an easy summer dress. "I'm suspicious of any outfit that requires too much thinking in the morning," she laughs.
Her wardrobe leans towards Australian labels that make simplicity feel luxurious, with St. Agni, Deiji Studios and Beare Park sitting at the top of her list. “I love mixing those pieces with vintage finds from Depop; Old Max Mara, Banana Republic and Anna Sui are always worth hunting for.”
And while the fashion industry is often accused of lacking substance, Allegra hopes to one day challenge that perception. “I love fashion, but I also want it to lead somewhere bigger than myself,” she explains, “I'd love to eventually bridge the fashion industry with the not-for-profit world. Billie Jean Hamlet's work with KAFTA is something I really admire.”
When she's not on set, life moves at a slower pace. Her ideal day begins with a walk or Pilates, followed by breakfast and coffee with a friend before heading to work. Evenings are reserved for cooking something comforting, lighting a candle and unwinding. It's all part of what she calls "Analogue Mode": "Once the sun goes down, the candles come on and the phone disappears. That's usually when I end up writing poetry, drawing, singing or attempting to teach myself guitar (the guitar is currently winning)." We don't know about you, but it sounds like a ritual worth adopting.
To wrap up our conversation, we ask Allegra what she'd tell her sixteen-year-old self. Her answer is a reminder that beauty often lies in the things we're taught to change. “I'd tell her to stop believing the constant messaging that says girls need fixing. At sixteen, I desperately wanted a rhinoplasty. I thought a tiny ski-slope nose would make me beautiful. Instead, I grew into the face I already had. I have my Indian dad’s side profile, and I’ll cherish it forever. He passed away 10 years ago but I still get to see him when I look in the mirror.”
Photography: Olivia Repaci
Fashion: Annabel Dickson
Beauty: Cat Smith
Features Editor: Amberley Colby
Allegra is represented by Precision MGMT
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional owners of the land on which this shoot took place.
