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Melbourne-based swimsuit model and social media star Steph Claire Smith has joined the ranks of supermodel Karlie Kloss as an official ambassador for sports fashion giant adidas.
It’s a prestigious gig for 23-year-old Smith, who has over 1.2 million followers on Instagram and has been a ‘friend’ of the German brand – meaning she’s been invited to VIP events and seeded product – for some time now.
Now that things are “official”, her first role was to front the campaign for a new high-tech women’s fashion range made from a super-stretchy, seamless nylon mesh fabric called ‘warp knit’, which was launched to media in Sydney last weekend before a high impact workout class fronted by celebrity trainer Tanya Poppett at Bondi Beach. Smith acted as MC and sweated front and centre at the event, along with a raft of editors, models and influencers.
Smith hosted her first official event as ambassador to launch a new compression range in Sydney
“[Fitness] is part of who I am, so taking on the adidas role was a no-brainer,” Smith told GRAZIA over breakfast afterwards. “I already loved the brand and I am into my fitness and health so it’s definitely well suited. And this new range is exciting.
“I love a high-waisted tight, personally,” she said of the new Warp Knit compression leggings she was wearing, before agreeing in part jest the $140 tights have similar properties to Spanx. “It’s kind of the right amount of compression, like a second skin that’s warm, but at the same time you don’t over heat in it, it’s breathable. It’s super stylish as well,” she said of the durable knit, which is also used for a matching white sleeved compression top that retails for $90.
Smith models the new warp knit pieces
While Kloss’s only appearance at the launch event was in the form of giant black and white posters around the room, Smith has been crossing paths with the Victoria’s Secret model, who is the global face of the company, for years.
“She’s so lovely. I met her a couple of years back when I was in New York, in the gym. I lived there for eight months and had the same trainer as her at the time, Justin Gelvand, and he introduced us. Then I saw her again last year when adidas took me to Germany to meet the global team and learn the history and technology behind the brand.”
Kloss is the global face of adidas’ performance ranges
Kloss in an official campaign image
One thing’s certain: Smith will have no shortage of performance-meets-fashion outfits when she hits the gym now. And for the record, should you want to know, her current regime involves four boxing sessions and Pilates every week, then “lots of long power walks – that’s my sort of meditation”. Being Australia’s answer to Karlie Kloss is no walk in the park.
The adidas warp knit range is available now.
Melbourne-based Steph Claire Smith
Credit: all images supplied
