Fashion twins Ruth and May Bell on original career aspirations and why meeting Mario Testino was less daunting than it should have been
They are two of the hottest models in London and recently starred in Mario Testino’s latest Burberry campaign.
But twins Ruth, left, and May Bell, 19, could have embarked on very different careers - one considered becoming a paramedic and the other a pilot.
Born in Ashford, Kent, the sisters were approached by an agent on holiday in Paris aged 15. They entered the Elite Model London competition in 2013 and signed with the agency that year.
Since then, career highlights have included Ruth’s appearance in Alexander McQueen’s autumn/winter 2015 campaign - for which she shaved her head - and working with Topshop, Vogue Paris and Urban Outfitters.
May said: “We thought modelling would be a nice thing to do outside of school and it meant we could travel.”
Ruth added: “I wanted to be a pilot, she wanted to be a paramedic.” But “things just turn out differently”, said May, now lined up to work as a dentist’s apprentice.
Ruth told ES Magazine about meeting Testino, 61, at a Vogue Paris party in October. She didn’t hear his name over the music, but they had a 15-minute chat... and she only realised later who he was after he called her agent.
Read the full interview in ES Magazine available Thursdays and Fridays
ArticleRuth and May Bell on original career aspirations and meeting TestinoRuth BellMay BellMario TestinoBurberryThe twins planned to be a paramedic and a pilot before modelling took off
Fashion twins Ruth and May Bell on original career aspirations and why meeting Mario Testino was less daunting than it should have beenImagePublishedMedium width1Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 12:27Ruth and May Bell (Franchesca Allen for ES Magazine)OnEnable video endboard