Breakthrough star Meredith Mickelson is one of the cover faces of DSCENE Magazine’s Design Under Pressure issue. Fashion photographer Mylena Saza captured the story inside the headquarters of Villa Albertine, the Payne Whitney Mansion on Fifth Avenue. Its presence is unmistakable, giving the feature the feeling of stepping into a living archive of New York’s cultural history. Styled by Amandha Gaio at AG New York, Mickelson models a BA&SH look for the cover, with hair styling by Takayuki Umeda and makeup by beauty artist Lau Pantoja.
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Design Under Pressure takes its title from the conditions surrounding creative work today: pace, scrutiny, expectation, money, and the demand to remain visible. The issue looks at what that pressure does to artists, actors, designers, musicians, and cultural figures as they continue to produce work under public attention. It asks what survives under that weight, from craft and imagination to the human side of making something that still feels honest.
In the interview, by DSCENE Magazine Editor Ana Markovic, American model, actress, and social media influencer Meredith Mickelson, represented by Wilhelmina New York, reflects on three very different projects: her Sports Illustrated debut in Botswana, The Beauty, and Euphoria. She says she managed the shift between them by taking each project day by day, trusting her preparation, and staying present. Sports Illustrated gave her a space to embrace individuality and self-acceptance, while The Beauty placed her inside a character shaped by the pressure to meet an unrealistic ideal.
She also speaks about the physical reality of filming The Beauty, recalling over 30 screaming takes and stunt rehearsals, while crediting the cast, crew, and and production team for bringing the project together. The conversation then turns to beauty, which Mickelson defines through kindness, energy, self-love, and the way people care for one another.
Euphoria brings the discussion to visibility and validation. Mickelson says joining the cast for its final chapter felt inspiring, especially because she could learn from the actors around her. She also reflects on the pressure young people face when trying to be seen, and how easily that performance can affect a person’s sense of self. Looking ahead, she says she wants to stay open, keep challenging herself, and trust the right opportunities as they come.
Photographer MYLENA SAZA
Stylist AMANDHA GAIO at AG NEW YORK
Styling Assistant DANIEL JACINTO at AG NEW YORK
Makeup Artist LAU PANTOJA
Hair Stylist TAKAYUKI UMEDA
Photographer’s Assistant MANUELA LOURENÇO
Fashion Assistant DEBORA MEDEIROS
Retoucher MARCOS NASCIMENTO
Talent MEREDITH MICKELSON at WILHELMINA NEW YORK
Location VILLA ALBERTINE – AMBASSADE DE FRANCE AU ETATS-UNIS
