These 16 Rising Stars Are Making MAJOR Waves in Film, Music, and More

Cameron Dallas, Alisha Boe, and more.
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Photographed by Matteo Montanari

When something or someone is coined iconic, it’s a big deal. Which is why you need to pay attention to the game-changers below. Representing what’s next in film, music, and extreme sports, the first half of our class of future icons, which we shot in Los Angeles, is fiercely talented. Its members are paving the way for those to follow in their footsteps. Meet 16 trailblazers who are leaving their mark on the world… for good.

Halle (left) wears a Moschino Couture trench coat; Saks Fifth Avenue. Chloe (right) wears a Rodarte jacket, price upon request; rodarte.net. Creatures of the Wind pants, $895; farfetch.com.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Chloe Bailey, 19, and Halle Bailey, 17, Musicians

Making a cameo alongside Zendaya and Amandla Stenberg in Beyoncé's lyrical brainchild Lemonade is nothing short of major, but joining Queen Bey herself on her Formation world tour? Unforgettable, according to the stunning sister duo Chloe and Halle Bailey, who opened the European leg of her 2016 tour. “Bey is not only an incredible musician, but an amazing human being,” they say practically in unison. “Seeing her work so hard every single day and night of the Formation tour, and giving her 1,000% meant so much to us. It taught us to work hard [no matter what].”

Beyoncé signed the talented twosome to her label Parkwood Records after discovering their powerful cover of “Pretty Hurts” on YouTube in 2015. Since then, the past few years have been nothing short of a dreamlike whirlwind for the girls, who’ve opened for Michelle Obama at SXSW and strutted the Dolce & Gabbana runway dripping in gold — yet the two have remained incredibly humble. Perhaps more paramount than their powerhouse vocals is the bond they share as sisters. “I’m so thankful to have my sister to look up to,” shares Halle, now 17. “She is my role model in every aspect of my life. It’s amazing to have that support system right beside you every single day.” The two enjoy a relaxed creative process, often riffing in their living room as a breeze blows in from the back porch, and together watch a melody turn into something much bigger. Chloe, 19, notes: “You’re in a vulnerable state [making music]. You share what’s in your heart. It’s like a diary — you [can’t] doubt yourself. I’m still learning that every day.” Halle agrees, adding: “Use your setbacks as fuel. Use underestimation as fuel. Use whatever it is that’s holding you back to propel you further!”

Chloe wears a Coach 1941 coat; similar styles at coach.com. Filles A Papa shirt, $390; fillesapapa.com. Andrea Crews overalls; andreacrews.com. Marc Jacobs boots, $1,300; Marc Jacobs.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Chloe Kim, 17, Snowboarder

In 2016, Chloe Kim not only became the first person under the age of 16 to win three gold medals at an X Games, but also became the first woman to land back-to-back 1080 spins in a snowboarding competition. Her performance at the latter event earned her a perfect 100-point score—she’s the second person to ever receive that accolade, after snowboarding legend Shaun White. In short? Chloe can shred. “When I was 8 years old I went to Switzerland and really got into snowboarding. I was competing and starting to learn a lot of new tricks,” explains the athlete, who trains with the U.S. team. “I could never have imagined that I would get this far; it has all been a crazy and exciting adventure.” Chloe was selected as Team USA’s flag bearer for the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, where she took home two gold medals and became the highest scoring snowboarder in the history of the games at the time. Unsurprisingly, she’s a favorite to take home Olympic gold in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. “I’m honored that people have such high expectations for me. I try not to feel too much pressure and instead try to focus on taking care of my physical and mental health,” says Chloe. “A big priority for me is to eventually start a foundation that works with sick kids. But right now, my next big goal is getting accepted to college.”

Kacy wears a Simone Rocha wrap dress, price upon request, shirtdress, $1,135, and shoes, $1,005; Simone Rocha.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Kacy Hill, 23, Musician

Before launching her solo music career, Kacy Hill had already performed in front of thousands of fans, just in a slightly different capacity: as a backup dancer for Kanye West on his Yeezus tour in 2013. “I had started making music right before that and had finished a few songs and done little videos for them,” reveals the cherry-haired ex-model. “After the first leg of the tour, I was like, 'This is really amazing, but I really need to do my own thing.'" Kacy left life on the road but, through connections she had made, her music made its way to Kanye, who signed her to his G.O.O.D. Music label five months later. She released her debut EP, Bloo, in late 2015, and toured the U.S. as the opening act for Jack Garratt. This June, she released her debut studio album Like a Woman, a project threaded with themes of independence, self-love, and sexuality. “There’s a lot [on the album] about being alone and being OK with being alone and feeling like you don’t need to be in love or with someone all the time,” explains Kacy, whose music video for her single, “Like a Woman,” covertly depicts her masturbating. “For the visuals, I wanted to convey that it’s OK to be a sexual being and not have to tell everyone that you’re empowered by everything you’re doing all the time — it’s just a normal thing. It’s really just about letting women talk about what makes them feel good.”

From left: Alisha wears a Mara Hoffman dress, $425; marahoffman.com. New York Vintage hat, price upon request; New York Vintage. Ashton wears a Calvin Klein Jeans Established 1978 shirt, $495, and turtleneck, $295; calvinklein.com. Odessa wears a Preen by Thornton Bregazzi blouse, $1,055; net-a-porter.com. Kelvin wears a Jil Sander jacket, $2,790; jilsander.com. Todd Snyder turtleneck, $278; toddsnyder.com. Margaret Howell pants, $710; margarethowell.co.uk. Bailey of Hollywood hat, $95; baileyhats.com. Kaitlyn wears an Ellery dress, $1,260; ellery.com. Bailey of Hollywood hat, $55; baileyhats.com. New York Vintage gloves, price upon request; New York Vintage.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Alisha Boe, 20, Actor

Most people wait until college rolls around to figure out what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing, but Alisha Boe knew that she wanted to pursue a career in the arts as early as her elementary school days. She balanced ballet lessons with drama classes back in her home country, Norway, before moving to LA at age 7. “I loved attention as a kid,” she divulges with a laugh. “I acted like a rock star because I was [young] and didn’t care [what people thought]."

Alisha has made a number of guest appearances on Modern Family, Teen Wolf, and Parenthood and had a role in Paranormal Activity 4, but her most recent role is as Jessica in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. In that role, her character is a survivor of a gruesome sexual assault. “The toughest part was making sure that I played Jessica to the absolute truth, as a girl growing up and navigating high school — not just as a victim,” Alisha says. “[It] forced people to look at the harsh realities of [sexual assault]. It’s really raw, but it opened an important discussion.”

Ashton Sanders, 21, Actor

If you watched pretty much any major cinematic award show last year, or even remotely paid attention to which film releases were generating buzz, you already know who Ashton Sanders is. The California native turned major heads last year thanks to his portrayal of teen Chiron in Moonlight, Barry Jenkins’ coming-of-age-drama that explores the struggles the main character faces with his sexuality, identity, and emotional and physical abuse. “The entire experience was kind of unreal; Chiron demanded my entire being, he required a soul,” says Ashton of working on Moonlight, which became the first film with an all-black cast and the first LGBTQ film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. “That film taught me the value of self-acceptance and self-love. Once we honor ourselves and love ourselves then we don’t have to worry about how society views us. We simply are.” Ashton’s next project, a sci-fi thriller called Captive State, will be out in 2018. Until then, catch him in Calvin Klein’s spring 2017 men’s campaign, or in the music video for The XX’s “I Dare You” alongside Millie Bobby Brown. “Different is Special. Special is original. Original is iconic,” he says. Words to live by.

Odessa Young, 19, Actor

“I’m pretty sure my parents just put me in drama club because I was too much to handle for them,” laughs Odessa Young, whose Australian charm and charismatic humor are palpable even over the phone. “It wasn’t even really acting class,” she continues. “It was more improvisation games just for kids who likes to talk and yell.” The class paid off; Odessa’s teacher notified her of a casting for a television show called My Place, which she ended up snagging a role on in 2009. From there, she went on to book a few other short films and television series before booking her first major film role as the titular character in drama Looking For Grace. “That role allowed me to tap into a reactionary part of myself that I hadn’t really paid attention to up to that point — I’m a quite measured person in the way I handle things,” reveals Odessa. “Grace taught me to just let go and succumb to my emotions.” Two days after wrapping the project, the actress headed straight into her next project, another drama film called The Daughter. “I was lucky to have been cast in both of those films. People tend to write young characters one dimensionally but as I’ve gotten older the writing has gotten far more dynamic,” says Odessa. “It’s also improving not in the sense of only young people, but also in the sense of women.”

Most recently, Odessa starred in the thriller Assassination Nation alongside Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, and Abra. The film follows the story of four teen girls whose personal information is leaked by an anonymous hacker, causing them to become the focus of global media attention. "That was one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had to do," she admits. “I was pushed to my limits. It was such a challenge, but it was also really supportive. We were all there together and we were all kind of going through this new method together. The girls and I became so close and such great friends.”

Kelvin Harrison Jr., 23, Actor

The child of two musicians, Kelvin grew up listening to Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald and practicing jazz piano and trumpet for 2 to 3 hours a day after school. But after scoring a role as an extra on the set of science fiction action film Ender’s Game, he knew he wanted to channel his creative talents into a more theatrical medium. “Being the curious kid I was, I asked Viola Davis [who was in the film] questions about acting while on set,” says Kelvin, who was ultimately upgraded to a principal player in the film. “I remember her telling me that acting was a craft and that if I was serious I should enroll in some classes. So I did and here we are!” After booking smaller roles in 12 Years a Slave and The Birth of a Nation, Kelvin was cast as a lead actor in two films that debuted earlier this year. One is Mudbound, a period drama about two men who return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi where they are confronted with racism and the harsh realities of life after war; the other is It Comes at Night, a psychological horror film set in a post-apocalyptic world. “As actors, our job is to understand human beings. By doing that, our work gives us a platform to effect change,” says Kelvin. “The thought of that gives me joy.”

Kaitlyn Dever, 20, Actor

Kaitlyn Dever has always known she wanted to be an actress. After begging her parents relentlessly, she was finally granted acting classes when she was 9 years old. Six months into them, she was signed to an agency after being scouted during a casting call at her class. She was promptly flown out to LA for pilot season, during which she went on countless auditions. “It was so exciting, but it also seemed so far-fetched. I was in California for about three months — that’s where it all started,” she reveals. One of the first major gigs that Kaitlyn booked was a recurring role on the FX drama series Justified, which ran for six seasons. “I grew up on that show, essentially. I loved it more than anything,” she says. “To this day, the [actors on it] are some of the best people I have ever worked with. They felt like my family.” No stranger to film either, Kaitlyn starred alongside Academy Award-winning actress Brie Larson in the 2013 American drama Short Term 12. More recently, she wrapped filming Beautiful Boy, a drama based on the memoir of the same name by author David Sheff that details how his family deals with his son’s (played by Timothée Chalamet) methamphetamine addiction. “It was a really intense story to tell and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it, especially because I got to work with Timothy," says Kaitlyn. "He’s one of the most incredible actors of our time.” Currently, you can catch her on the big screen in the new blockbuster crime drama Detroit. The film is based on the Algiers Motel incident that took place in Detroit in 1967 during the racially charged 12th Street Riot, and draws shocking similarities to the issues of police brutality and racism that we continue to deal with today.

China Anne wears a Fear of God jacket, $1,395; fearofgod.com. 6397 jeans, $295; 6397news.com. Lucchese Bootmaker boots, $1,050; (888) 582-1883. Simone Rocha bag (worn as hat), $530; Simone Rocha.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

China Anne McClain, 18, Actor and Musician

For China McClain, talent runs in the family. Her father is a bigwig music producer, while her mother’s gained notoriety as a writer, so it’s no wonder that China, who is a talented musician and actress, has followed in their footsteps to pursue a creative career of her own. After appearing in The Gospel at the age of 7, she told her parents, “This is what I want to do. When you know, you know.” More recently, she starred in Disney’s musical fantasy/action film Descendants 2 alongside Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and Cameron Boyce. In the movie, she plays the antagonist, Uma, who is the daughter of the iconic Disney villain, Ursula, from The Little Mermaid. “I have a really big song in Descendants 2 called ‘What’s My Name’ that introduces my character and tells everyone that they're going to know my name soon,” China says. "It’s a very powerful song." You can catch the starlet next in the upcoming CW superhero show Black Lighting, wherein she plays Jennifer Pearce, who is the titular character’s daughter. “I am so excited because playing a superhero has been a dream of mine for forever. I love playing powerful female characters, let alone African American female characters,” she says. A power girl, indeed.

Madison wears a Coach 1941 coat, $1,200, and hat; coach.com. Marc Jacobs shoes, price upon request; Marc Jacobs.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Madison Beer, 18, Musician

If you want to make it in music and your YouTube channel consists of vids of you nailing the notes of, say, Etta James’ “At Last,” there’s always the chance that someone like Justin Bieber may see it, fall in love with it, and sing his praises via Twitter. At least this was the case for Madison Beer, whose meteoric rise to fame sounds like pure internet myth. “He found me out of nowhere!” she laughs, before explaining: “He’s become a good friend — I think we’ve been able to connect because we were both discovered on YouTube and have a common understanding just from that."

Not long after, Madison signed to Justin’s record label, Island Records, and has since released a string of hit singles, including “Dead,” the song she’s most proud of. The next big project to tackle on her to-do list is recording a debut album — but since she practically grew up in the studio since the age of 13, she realizes how important it is to live like the average teen, too. “There’s a fine line between working hard, and being a workaholic and losing your craft,” she says. “I’m not in the studio everyday! I [didn’t get to go] to a real high school or middle school, so I like to allow myself time to be normal."

Even so, Madison already has a plan of attack if the Fame Monster ever rears its head: “People can get sucked in to fame. My fans help me stay grounded. I don’t take anything for granted.”

Cameron wears a Coach 1941 coat, $1,200, and shirt, $295; coach.com. Bailey of Hollywood hat, $95; baileyhats.com.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Cameron Dallas, 22, Actor, Musician, and Social Media Star

Six seconds isn’t a ton of time to make someone laugh hysterically, but Cameron Dallas has always prided himself on being a total pro — and rightfully so. While his hilarious Vine vids are what originally shot him to Insta-stardom, they also proved to be a life-changing career move for the 22-year-old. Cameron soon began planning pranks as a legit profession, producing and starring in his own Netflix show Chasing Cameron. “It was a lot of work, but I loved being able to bring my visions to life,” Cameron recalls. “Seeing everything through, from square one until the end, was amazing.” Now that he’s conquered social media and the silver screen, he’s setting his TV career aside to make some major moves in the music space. “I’ve been focusing a lot of my time on music — it excites me,” Cameron reveals. “I’m going to be hitting some Adele notes!”

Sophia (left) wears a Vika Gazinskaya coat; matchesfashion.com. Le Kilt top, $540; lekilt.co.uk. J Brand shirt, $228; jbrandjeans.com. Marc Jacobs pants, $295; Marc Jacobs. Clyde hat, $248; clyde.world. New York Vintage belt, price upon request; New York Vintage. Storm (center) wears an Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh coat; off---white.com. Elizabeth and James top, $475; Saks Fifth Avenue. Jil Sander shirt, $330; jilsander.com. Marc Jacobs pants, $995; Marc Jacobs. New York Vintage hat (in hands), price upon request; New York Vintage. Jaeden (right) wears an Apiece Apart coat; apieceapart.com. Dickies 1992 x Opening Ceremony overalls, $110; openingceremony.com. Jil Sander shirt, $330; jilsander.com. Clyde hat, $258; clyde.world.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Sophia Lillis, 16, Actor

When asked about being one of few women in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s It, Sophia Lillis responds coolly. “I don’t think [the boys] noticed,” she says. “They were a lot of fun.” In the hotly anticipated film, which hits theaters in September, Sophia plays Beverly Marsh, the sole female member of a teen gang that bands together when a villainous clown, played by Bill Skarsgård, begins hunting children. “Bill is great. He is so talented,” says Sophia. “He definitely stayed in the character of a murderous clown during filming, but after we cut, he would ask me how school was going.” For Sophia, a Brooklyn native who got her start doing independent films, this was her first big studio project. “It was completely different,” she says. “The sets, the crew — everything was just bigger.” Currently, she’s working on an HBO limited series called Sharp Objects with Jean Marc Vallée, wherein she tackles two younger versions of a character played by Amy Adams. “It’s amazing to work with such talented artists,” she says. Even though she likes studying other, more experienced actors (“I watch a lot of old French and Italian films. I feel like there’s a lot to learn [from them]”), she avoided the 1990 TV version of It. “A lot of people will compare the two, but I didn’t want to have it in my head. I wanted to do my own thing.”

Storm Reid, 14, Actor

When Storm read Madeleine L’Engle’s iconic young adult novel, A Wrinkle in Time, for a book report she was assigned in school, she had no idea that she’d one day be portraying the protagonist in its film adaptation. "I loved the story and I loved Meg Murry's character. When I booked the role, I was shocked,” says Storm, who’s first major film gig was in Steve McQueen’s critically acclaimed 12 Years A Slave. “Working with Ava DuVernay [who directed A Wrinkle in Time] was incredible. It was the first time I’d seen so many people of color and women on a set before. I feel very proud to be a part of it all.” Most recently, Storm was offered a part opposite of David Oyelowo in an upcoming thriller called Only You. Little information is out about the premise of the project, but it, fittingly, will involve time travel. “Sadly, there are not many acting opportunities for young girls of color in Hollywood, especially for lead roles,” says the actress. “It can be discouraging but I go into auditions, do my best, and hope that things will continue to change.”

Jaeden Lieberher, 14, Actor

Although he’s just shy of 15 years old, Jaeden Lieberher is no Hollywood rookie. After moving across the country from Philadelphia to Los Angeles at 8 years old, he was bit by the acting bug. “I  met so many people that were actors and decided I just wanted to try it out,” he explains. Luckily, it worked out for him, and Jaeden’s career took off almost immediately. After only a year of booking commercials, he graduated to the big screen, working on films including St. Vincent, opposite powerhouses Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy; and Aloha, with Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone. Later this year, Jaeden will make his horror movie debut in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s It. “The best thing about working on the film was that I won’t have to get so scared when I watch it because I’ll have memories of shooting all the scenes,” says the actor. “Otherwise, I would be terrified!” With additional projects in the works already (he’s shooting two different films this summer), we’ll certainly be seeing more of Jaeden soon. “I feel lucky that I'm already do something I love,” he says. "I just want to show kids they can follow their dreams if they work really hard.”

Alma wears a Fear of God denim jacket, $995; fearofgod.com. Unravel jacket, $1,625; Barneys New York. Bailey of Hollywood hat, $95; baileyhats.com. Roberto Cavalli scarf (worn as tie), $355; robertocavalli.com.

Photographed by Matteo Montanari

Alma, 21, Musician

Alma-Sofia Miettinen, known professionally as Alma, had her first taste of a professional music career at age 16 when she appeared on the seventh season of Finnish Idols in 2013. She placed fifth, and went on to record an EP, Dye My Hair, which she released in 2015. “It shows a good mixture of what I can do,” says Alma, whose neon hair and dark, punky style perfectly accompany her eccentric pop sound. “I wanted to put out all of the tracks I’d done so my fans could see and hear my musical journey.” Since then, she’s been traveling and playing shows and recently lent her voice to Martin Solveig’s song, “All Stars,” which was released in June. Look out for her debut album that’s in the works — Charli XCX is lending her hand to the project, so you know it’ll be a can't-miss. “Music has helped me realize many things, like who and what is important, and has helped me to understand others,” says Alma. “It’s therapy for me! Without it, I wouldn’t know myself at all.”

Production: Cassia Skurecki for North Six; Special thanks to Reptacular Animals Ranch.

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