Raquel Marmello is making her mark in the UK fashion industry with elegance, versatility and a distinctive contemporary style.
Meet Brazilian model Raquel Marmello, from Rio de Janeiro to the UK, as she blends elegance, versatility and contemporary style across fashion, beauty and editorial modelling.
Originally from Rio de Janeiro and now calling the UK home, Raquel Marmello is the Brazilian model who effortlessly fuses elegance, femininity and a contemporary edge in every frame.
Her look? Distinctive, yes, but endlessly adaptable—making her the kind of model who simply refuses to be boxed in. Stereotypes may be a fashion cliché, but Raquel’s versatility sweeps past all that with ease.
Designers
Designers are quick to clock Raquel’s appeal: striking facial definition, poise in every glance, those balanced proportions and a versatility that lets the clothes—and the vision—take centre stage.
Raquel’s route to the runway wasn’t your textbook tale. After a serious spell in marketing and data analytics, she swapped spreadsheets for spotlights and found her calling in fashion’s visual playground. This unique pivot is at the heart of her signature style—creativity grounded by discipline, a tireless work ethic and the sort of eagle-eyed attention to detail that photographers adore.
Raquel Marmello – Portfolio
Since her first booking, Raquel’s built an eclectic portfolio, gracing everything from dreamy bridal editorials to punchy beauty campaigns, chic lifestyle shoots to cutting-edge fashion features. Whatever the brief, she’s drawn to imagery that tells a story—whether it’s soft and classic or bold and boundary-pushing.
Team Effort
For Raquel, modelling is never just about striking a pose. It’s a team effort—model, photographer, stylist, makeup artist, each adding their contribution to transform a concept into a visual story.
Next up? Raquel’s focused on editorials, pushing the limits of her portfolio and joining forces with creatives. We caught up with Raquel between shoots for a candid conversation about her professional journey, personal experiences and life beyond the camera.
Raquel Marmello – Career
You made the move from marketing and data analytics into modelling—what inspired you to take such a big career leap?
I wouldn’t say I completely moved away from marketing and data analytics, because it’s still a field I really enjoy and want to continue developing in. Modelling actually came into my life quite unexpectedly after I lost my job. It wasn’t something I had been actively pursuing at the time, but opportunities started appearing, and I decided to give it a chance.
Rio de Janeiro
Coming from Rio de Janeiro and now living in the UK, how have both places influenced your identity and personal style?
I would never deny my roots being from Rio de Janeiro is a huge part of who I am, and I think that warmth, confidence and expressive side of my personality will always stay with me. At the same time, living in the UK has influenced me a lot. It has exposed me to different cultures, styles and ways of thinking, which has made me see things from a much broader perspective.
I think my personal style reflects a mix of both places: the confidence and femininity I associate with Brazil, combined with a more diverse and experimental influence from living in the UK.
Portfolio
Your portfolio spans bridal, beauty, lifestyle and fashion editorials. What type of modelling or creative work feels most exciting to you right now?
I genuinely enjoy all of it, and that variety is actually one of the things I love most about modelling. Every type of shoot brings a different energy and allows me to show a different side of myself. It’s a challenge and a love challenge.
But if I had to choose what excites me most right now, I would probably say fashion and beauty. I really enjoy the creativity behind both the styling, makeup, concepts and the way a whole team comes together to create a strong visual story. It feels very expressive, and I love seeing how different looks can completely transform the final image.
Vision
What do you think makes a great photograph, and how do you approach bringing a photographer or creative director’s vision to life?
For me, a great photograph comes from a combination of attention to detail, strong communication and creating the right atmosphere. I think it makes a huge difference when the photographer helps the model feel comfortable and relaxed, because that confidence naturally comes through in the images.
I also think understanding the concept is really important. I always try to listen carefully to the photographer or creative director, understand the mood they want to create, and then bring my own expression and movement into it without losing their vision. Small details like posture, facial expression, hands, angles and even the energy you bring can completely change an image.
Versatile
You’re known for being versatile in front of the camera. How do you transform your look and energy to suit completely different briefs?
I see every different brief as a challenge, and that is one of the things I enjoy most about modelling. I love seeing myself in completely different ways and discovering sides of my personality or appearance that I might not normally explore.
For me, adapting starts with understanding the mood, styling and story behind the shoot. I think about the kind of energy the concept needs, whether that is soft and elegant, strong and confident, playful or more dramatic, and then I adjust my expressions, posture and movement around that.
I also try not to be afraid of looking different. Sometimes the most interesting images come from stepping outside your usual comfort zone, so I really enjoy experimenting and allowing the creative team to transform me.
Raquel Marmello – Modelling
What have you learned about yourself since entering the modelling industry that you didn’t expect?
One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I’m much more confident than I thought I was. I’ve always been a very shy person, and I still am in many situations, but when I feel comfortable and I’m in front of the camera, something changes. It almost feels like I become a stronger version of myself. Modelling has taught me to trust myself more, to stop overthinking so much, and to believe that I can do things even when they initially feel outside my comfort zone. I think confidence doesn’t always mean being the loudest person in the room sometimes it’s simply believing in yourself enough to try. That has probably been the biggest surprise for me: discovering that I can be shy and still be expressive, confident and completely present in front of the camera.
Next Chapter
Looking ahead, what are your ambitions for the next chapter of your modelling career, and are there any designers, photographers or publications you would love to work with?
Looking ahead, I’d love to keep growing as a model, building a stronger portfolio and working on more fashion and beauty campaigns, editorials and creative projects.
There are definitely some dream names I would love to work with one day. Vogue would be an incredible publication to be featured in, and brands like Chanel, Prada and Ralph Lauren are huge inspirations for me in fashion. In beauty, I would also love the opportunity to work with a brand like Rare Beauty.
Of course, I know those are big ambitions, but I think it’s important to have goals that excite you. At the same time, I’m also very open to discovering new designers, photographers and creative teams along the way. For me, the next chapter is really about continuing to grow, challenge myself and see how far I can take this journey. But i would say the most important thing is enjoy the process in the meanwhile.
“Fashion lets us become a different version of ourselves for a moment.” – Raquel Marmello
Raquel’s journey from marketing and data analytics to modelling is a great example of how unexpected opportunities can lead to new creative directions. What stands out is her versatility and the thoughtful way she approaches each collaboration, balancing her own identity with the vision of the creative team. Her story of bringing together her Brazilian roots with her experience of living in the UK adds another interesting dimension to her work. Certainly a career to watch as she continues to explore fashion, beauty and editorial work.
Credits
Publication Catwalk Diaries edition 11
Model Raquel Marmello @raquelmarmello
Editorial photography by Steve Fox / @TheCreativeFoxPhotos
Back cover photography by: Aravind Mohan @aravind._.mohan
Makeup by: Makeup By Milena @makeup.by.milena
Guest Instagram: @raquelmarmello
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