Slick Woods Is One Of The Coolest Chicks In The Modelling Game RN

Sick chick Simone — known on the interwebs as Slick Woods — is a cool-as-hell model and all-round good vibe who currently lives in New York City. Although she kicked off her career fairly recently, she’s already been killing it in campaigns for Calvin Klein and hit the runway for brands like Tyler, The Creator’s Golf Wang and Kanye’s Yeezy Season 4. We caught up with Simone in Brooklyn and fell in love with her realness and down attitude instantly.

Ava Nirui: Where are you from?
Simone Thompson: North side Minneapolis, MN.

Who/what inspires you?
Old heads, anything from Vietnam vets to retirees… I love old ways to style clothes. I feel like it was more about necessity then.

What’s the best thing about modelling?
That people that think you’re mad cool for just being you. It’s a beautiful thing being so accepted, and the ridicule for just being you is dope too because people care and that’s always a good thing.

What do you do for fun?
Hi, my name is Simone and I’m obsessed with people watching.

Can you describe your experience shooting for the unique “I __ in #mycalvins” Calvin Klein campaign?
It was fun, very few people can make me nervous. The interviewer was so bold, I loved it. It’s great to work with such talented photographers like Tyrone and Mark — I’m all about good energy especially when working.

What have you been listening to lately?
GUWOP.

What’s the best/worst thing about New York?
Worst thing is how everyone has tunnel vision and doesn’t really see how fucked up the city is. Best thing is how generous the people that have nothing are.

What was the sickest thing about walking for Golf Wang and working with Tyler, The Creator?
Man, he let me do me stupendously — no rules. I got to act an ass backstage and do my thing.

How do you think the term “model” has changed and is changing? 
I think model used to be a figure that purposely appeared unattainable. I’m changing that by answering your question in this moment. Man, I’m definitely an out-of-pocket pick for a model, I say what I want and do what I want. There’s definitely a Naomi Campbell in my Slick but I’m doing it my way.

How do you think social media has impacted the current and next generation of models?
My generation mistakably uses social media as a template for their lives, careers and romantic relationships. It’s so petty. Business-wise it’s a great tool for networking but I don’t advise letting it take over your soul. I feel like every time I’m at a casting it’s a room full of models staring at pictures of themselves. I’m here to tell you all, you look great.

What attitudes and ideas do you think characterise your generation?
Creatives, man, just misguided creatives the world isn’t ready for.

What’s the best thing about being alive in 2016?
It’s dope to be able to FaceTime your grandma, that’s pretty much it.

What’s one thing that you hope changes in the next 20 years?
Acceptance of each other as equal.

Where do you see your career going in the long-term?
I’m a model until I’m not.

What does the future look like to you? 
I have a revolutionary shoe showcase coming soon and a thread line that old people are going to kiss me twice for.

Originally published in Oyster #109