Jenny Shimizu Banana Republic “American Beauty” campaign, 1993 Photo by Bruce Weber In 1992, Ingrid Casares—who I had just met, sent over photos of someone she knew, a mechanic who had just appeared in Madonna’s “Rain”video, who she thought could be incredible in pictures. She was right. Bruce and I cast her from those photos (So, no fun first Polaroids to share) There was something about Jenny that didn’t fit any mold—and that was exactly the point. Bruce saw something in her early on and Banana put her front and center in Times Square- it felt like a real shift. Years later, she said: “The first time I saw myself as a model was when my friends woke me up at four in the morning and took me to Times Square. I saw the Banana Republic billboard… ‘American Beauty.’ It still gives me chills. Never in my life did I think I was beautiful.” | Jennifer Starr Casting