Meet The Female Model Taking The Mens Shows By Storm

At the men's shows over in New York last week there was one model making a serious name for herself - Kris Gottschalk. She was the only female in the lineup at the Public School show, and she also posed up a storm at Theory's menswear presentation.

Signed to Elite Models NYC, Kris is the latest model pushing gender barriers in the modelling industry. With her dark, closely cropped hair and elfin features she's got a little of Orange Is The New Black's Ruby Rose about her and plenty of attitude, ensuring she stands out from the crowd in an otherwise all-male lineup.

But modelling menswear wasn't always top on Kris's list - she found her way into the industry after a serious motorbike accident which resulted in her shaving her hair.

“I was blonde and more commercial [early in my career],” Kris told Style.com when asked why she buzzcut her hair. “I took a little break and went away and did some travelling. I had an accident and shaved my head as a result."

"Having a shaved head changes the way people perceive me. It’s opened me up to new kinds of work, edgier clients. I feel much more comfortable in my skin now. I always gravitated toward clothing that was boyish and a little rock ’n’ roll, and now I’m being seen by those clients. Before I felt like I was trying to be someone I wasn’t, and that impacts your work — the clients can tell when you’re uncomfortable.”

Talking about the aftermarth of her accident, she added: "It was a new beginning, and I just felt so lucky that I’d survived. I was on a motorcycle, and I broke my collarbone, I broke my teeth, I had to get stitches on my face and head, but it could have been so much worse. Since then I’ve been trying just to live in the moment and enjoy each day."

Kris may be taking things day by day, but we predict she has a long, successful modelling career ahead.