Liberté, Stylité, VOGUEBYMALEK
Tribal Hotel knit, Benjamin Robin pants, Empty Behavior shoes, Model’s own glasses
Photography: Molly Rose Apple
Styling: Sica Thai
Assisted by Merin
Molly Rose Apple: Your aesthetic and presence challenge conventional beauty standards—what’s a part of your identity that you feel is still misunderstood or misrepresented?
VogueByMalek: It's an honor that my aesthetic and my presence challenge conventional beauty standards. That means it works and that my art advances things and ideas. I sing, I walk, and I create content. If it generates such a reaction and people like what I do so much, it's because it creates debate, and that's VOGUE!!!.
I'm lucky to have a competitive personality and spirit. I don't give up, and I believe that power isn't given, but rather fought for, so if I feel I'm being misunderstood, I go to any lengths to make myself understood. However, I'm happy to live in a new era where many new artists with multiple identities and creative genius exist and are increasingly represented in our generation
Kira Sander vest, cardigan and pants
MA: How do you navigate the balance between authenticity and performance when presenting yourself online?
VM: For me, authenticity is the essence of performance. I get an adrenaline rush every time I perform and/or post online. I love that feeling of pleasure and challenge. "Being me" on social media works, so it's cool. Plus, I don't know how to be anything but me, so that's good.
MA: Is there a version of yourself that exists only offline? If so, how does it differ from your public persona?
VM: Isn't there really a version of myself that only exists offline? Malek is the embodiment of VOGUEBYMALEK and vice versa. Of course, the offline Malek instead of performing a song on stage, he will + be in a calm space conducive to writing and inspiration. The offline Malek will let VOGUEBYMALEK walk in the Parisian metro at rush hour in front of thousands of people but will instead think about what outfit to wear for the next walk, what music to put on top, where to do it... maybe Malek is ultimately Miley Stewart in Hannah Montana and VOGUEBYMALEK is Hannah Montana ahah: why not!!!
MA: In what ways has your cultural background influenced the way you express gender and self-image?
VM: My Algerian cultural origins have definitely influenced the way I express my image to the world: I often play RAI music (a musical genre created in Algeria, old and very popular) on walks. I love the traditional/modern contrast that my fashion can bring and I find that the match works very well. I do a lot of covers of Algerian, North African and Arab artists: I love singing Fayrouz, oum khaltoum… the cover that has worked the most until today on my networks and which has accumulated 2 million views and a cover of a great Tunisian artist by the name of EMEL and the title is called “HOLM” (DREAM). What's crazy about this cover is that I watched a series on Netflix called "AL RAWABI SCHOOL" which tells the daily life of high school girls in Jordan and I was so touched by a scene where a student sang this song at the end-of-year show leading to her suicide following a scourge of our society: harassment. I was so upset that the next day I went to the studio and recorded this cover which was ultimately a hit. The Arab-Maghrebi culture is rich, I am lucky to be immersed in it and to have grown up with this richness and it inspires me a lot in my artistic creation.
MA: Have you ever felt the need to reclaim or redefine a label that was assigned to you?
VM: In my opinion, true freedom exists in the digital space despite algorithmic expectations because what works is innovation and the new. The algorithm is based on what makes people react. It is therefore about performance and performance is the expression of the artist. An artist must not follow trends. He must create them. Great singers are practically the most followed personalities on the networks and she doesn't really care about the algorithm. She shares their art with a freedom specific to each one and yet, it works and even very well haha.
MA: How do you define personal freedom beyond the aesthetic realm?
VM: Walking the runway makes me feel free. Whether it's conventional or not: I don't really care. Art and passion allow you to break down barriers and go beyond boundaries. That's what drives me every day. I love wearing clothes and bringing them to life through my walk and my attitude. I have my own way of telling stories through clothes and fashion is a celebration that I celebrate daily. I love Loli Bahia, Bella Hadid, Raya Martigny, Kaia Gerber, Naomi Campbell. When they walk, they transmit so many emotions to us that it becomes just... LEGENDARY.
MA: Is there a moment in your life when you truly felt unbound—mentally, emotionally, or physically?
The moment in my life when I feel truly liberated, mentally, emotionally or physically is when I create. I am in my comfort zone, I have my own creative process that makes me get up every morning. I trust myself, I am the embodiment of my childhood dream. I am very proud of it, I have a lot to accomplish in this world. I have already started and I intend to continue doing so: I want to be on stage all over the world, I want to parade for the biggest fashion houses and collaborate with the brands that inspire me and with which it can match. He who does not try does not evolve. & of course don’t forget to stay vogue!!!
Empty Behavior shoes