Byron Bay-born Jordan Barrett touched down in Sydney for a brief visit home, along with some additional photo shoots, a casual dinner for Vogue and eBay and then straight to Fashion Week.
This 28-year-old’s schedule is booked and busy.
Moving from the quiet streets of Byron to the chaos and busyness of LA (and no seagulls to Barrett’s dismay), returning home was always a breath of fresh air.
Sadly, due to family loss, Barrett had to pull out of the Met Gala last minute, which is when he misses home the most, because as we all know, the plane ticket and the flight time aren’t fun.
When asked how he felt about returning home, he shared, “I haven’t been back for two and a half years. But now I’m hopefully going to be in a film that’s happening here in Australia, I’m just waiting to find out.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Jordan Barrett, who first stepped into the spotlight as a young teen. Discovered at just 13 in a Byron Bay convenience store, Barrett was quickly swept into the fast-paced world of international fashion.
With his striking features and laid-back Aussie charm, he soon became a runway and editorial favourite, walking for major designers and landing campaigns for global fashion houses.
What began as a chance encounter has since evolved into a career that’s seen him become one of Australia’s most recognised faces in fashion.
While escaping back home to Australia from the hustle of LA has always come with the comfort of family and familiar faces, 28-year-old Jordan Barrett admits that it hasn’t always been easy.
“Every time I come home I felt like there were just so many things to do, and a lot of pressure. It was almost easier to stay on the other side [of the world],” he shared honestly.
Back in LA, life hasn’t slowed down. The supermodel-turned-actor—and now, marathon runner—has been keeping pace in every sense. Currently training for the Norway Marathon, his fourth charity run, Barrett is embracing challenges far beyond the runway.
But it’s not all running and red carpets. Right after his appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, Barrett is heading to Vienna to begin filming his first short film.
“It’s kind of a Gothic-themed style of film, so if you think like Italian chapel Gothic,” he explained, describing the project. “Cinematically beautiful—absolutely like a dream to shoot and aesthetically pleasing on the eye.”
The upcoming project marks what he calls a “really nice slow transition out of the predominant kind of rat race of the fashion industry.” And with the film set to debut in September, Barrett is more excited than ever.
Living a life full of surreal moments, Barrett marked working with Donatella Versace and Kate Moss as a pinnacle part of his career—especially since Moss saw his potential from the very beginning, leading to Barrett collaborating with her on campaigns within her agency.
“Kate Moss has been incredible. She took me in, and through Kate Moss Management, has taught me so much,” he shared.
His journey has been nothing short of cinematic. “I have worked closely with Cara Delevingne, and I’ve done multiple covers with her. I used to draw her, and now we’ve become such close friends. It’s such a funny turn of events,” Barrett said, reflecting on the wild ride from fan to friend.
Even his earliest gigs were packed with pinch-me moments. “I’d get an address from an agent when I was 17 years old and be knocking on a door to see if they liked you,” he recalled. “I’d jump in a cab in New York, end up in Chinatown or at a studio, and Mario Sorrenti would open the door. It’s those moments—literally looking at my favourite artist in the eye.”
“I’d never imagined my life to be how it is, and I never chose any of the initial stages of my life; I was thrown into it.”
With his next flight booked for the Cannes Film Festival, the day after speaking with us, Barrett reflected on how all of it feels like a fresh beginning.
The hustle and chaos may be part of the ride, but for this Byron Bay local turned international supermodel, the best is still to come.
