Vogue’s 2023 Open Casting Finalist Rania Benchegra Appears in London’s Hottest Show—Vogue World: London

If you know me, you know

that I always go places with my glass.

My friends always get mad at me, but I'm like,

shut up, it's such a Rihanna moment.

[gentle music]

Hello Vogue.

This is Rania and you're following me today to go

to the Vogue World Show.

First we have to ice this face.

It's something I learned

from my mom at a very, very young age.

This is how it works.

I get a couple of tissue papers

and I order a big bucket of ice,

put some ice in there, make it nice and tight.

I even wet it some time so that the cold gets through

and boom, oh, this is my favorite part in the morning.

Trust me, it makes a big difference.

I'm from Marrakesh, Morocco.

I was born and raised there.

Now I live in the States

and right now we're in London getting ready

for the Vogue World Show, which I'm super excited about.

Yesterday I went to my fitting

and I have this incredible long Victoria Beckham dress

with a long train.

So I'm super excited about that.

So I keep it really simple

because I know I'm gonna have a lot of makeup on

so I'm just gonna do a lot of hydration.

Let's spray with this, which I love.

I found out about open casting through a friend

and I thought that this was amazing.

And again, it's for Vogue, so I'm like, great,

this is the perfect exposure.

I sent a video of introduction

and I sent some pictures and then I didn't know

if I was gonna hear back honestly.

And then couple weeks later I heard back

and I was in extreme disbelief.

I was like, wait, is this really happening?

All I could do is jump up and down and scream

and I was extremely happy.

First call I made was to my dad.

Very important part,

there's gonna be a lot of sweating

so do not forget this.

This is key.

It's 8:00 AM and call time is 9:00

and I still have to get a coffee, so let's get going.

[gentle music]

Funny fact about me, obviously I'm from Morocco

and there's something I just don't leave my house without.

And guess what it is?

Cumin. So I put it on top of my eggs,

so much, and then salt.

Take a bite.

Mm, delicious. I have cumin all over, but delicious.

[gentle music]

I grew up playing soccer in the streets after school.

All the kids, like in the old Medina

they gather in the streets

and just tossed the ball around and go for a little sweat.

And then, yeah, it's something we grew up doing.

Don't play soccer anymore.

But I did pick up a really nice sport a couple years ago

actually in the beginning of Covid, which is surfing.

And that has been life changing for me.

So this is how I submitted to the open casting.

I recorded a video of myself just talking

about myself and my story and my background.

And this is it.

[gentle music]

Enjoying few minutes of the sun before the chaos starts.

My advice for any new models is

honestly, you just gotta believe in yourself.

My dad always told me that all it takes is to say yes.

Wake up in the morning and say, yes, I can do this.

Yes, I am capable.

Yes I belong.

Yes, I deserve it.

And sky's the limit.

The day is yours.

The universe is yours.

All you've gonna do is say yes.

Hell yeah. Hell yeah.

I love that.

Okay, we're are delayed.

Let's go.

[upbeat music]

Hi, my name is Rania Benchegra.

Thank you.

We're here.

We are headed to rehearsal and to see where

we're gonna be walking, how it's gonna be.

So let's see.

Hi, new romantic.

You are number 17.

Remember that number for the rest of your day.

Okay, 17.

And you just join this line to speak to James.

Guys, it's number 17 as well.

Number 17.

Remember that for the day.

No, we are gonna start up there.

Everyone will leave.

This is to go back.

Yeah, to go back out.

So yeah, easy.

So basically we come in from there,

go all the way as we're walking out

go down the stairs all the way back the opposite door.

Perfect. Bingo.

Bingo. Thank you.

No worries.

Amazing. Easy, you know,

my dad used to put a book on my head

and he used to make me walk without dropping the book.

Well, it never gets old.

Always nervous.

But this sounds fun because like we're in a theater

and also there's gonna be a whole party happening around.

So that'll be fun.

A lot of epic people are gonna be walking the show

and I'm like really excited.

Okay, hair and makeup time.

Let's go.

[upbeat music]

Okay. Just started the first step of the makeup

which is bleached eyebrows.

So no eyebrows at the moment and this is the look.

So gradually we're gonna get there.

[dramatic music]

Welcome to the chaos of backstage.

Finishing up makeup here

and in about 20 minutes we're gonna head

to another rehearsal.

So see you in 20.

[dramatic music]

So they changed my number.

I was number 17 now 20.

So that means I'll be closing the show.

That's amazing.

[dramatic music]

[crowd cheering]

See you babe.

It's a wrap.

Thank you Vogue for following me today.

It was epic and see you soon.

[upbeat music]