Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls Rodriguez  (born July 11, 1988) is a Puerto Rican fashion model  She is currently ranked the #1 model in the world according to models.com since September 2012.  She also ranks at number #8 on Forbes: The World's Highest-Paid Models, 2013  In 2011, she became the first Latina face of Estée Lauder Cosmetics history. In January 2014, Smalls graced the cover of American Elle, the issue was touted as "The Return of the Supermodel".

Joan Smalls Rodriguez was born and raised in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. She is the daughter of Eric Smalls, an accountant, and Betzaida Rodriguez, a social worker.

Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls Rodriguez was born and raised in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. She comes from a multi-ethnic/racial family. Her mother is Puerto Rican of Spanish, Taino Indian and South Asian (Indian) heritage; her father has African and Irish ancestry, from St. Thomas.

Education
Joan graduated Magna Cum Laude from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, then made the move to New York City to become a model.

Identity
On an interview with Fashionista.com Joan clarified how she identifies as.

“There’s been some debate in the media about what race you identify yourself as. Can you clear the air?

People always try to claim you, and I think that’s amazing —

Claim me all you want. I DON'T like specifically being in ONE category because I come from a family that’s diverse and multi-racial. My mother is Puerto Rican, she’s light skinned, but if you know what a Puerto Rican is, it has African, it has Taíno Indian and it has Spaniard, so I’m all of that. My father is West Indian from Saint Thomas. I’m just an island girl. I’m West Indian, I’m Puerto Rican, I’m African, I’m Taíno, I have some Irish in me, I have some Indian, so I’m just a