Alexa Maingard — born Alexa Corlett — hails from Durban, South Africa, a city renowned for producing some of the continent's most captivating talent. Her journey into the world of modeling began when she was still a teenager, discovered through a chance encounter that would alter the course of her life. She was first scouted at the same time as her best friend, and the two embarked on their modeling careers together — a serendipitous beginning that set the tone for a career defined by both ambition and genuine passion.
What distinguished Alexa from the very start was her intellectual curiosity running alongside her natural presence in front of the lens. Rather than abandon her studies for the runway, she pursued a degree in Advertising and Marketing at Cape Town University — a credential that would later give her a sophisticated understanding of the commercial and creative forces that drive the modeling industry. This dual identity, as both a trained communicator and a sought-after model, has shaped her career in ways that set her apart from many of her peers.
Alexa's career gained serious international momentum as she built a reputation for versatility, professionalism, and a unique aesthetic that resonated with top-tier clients and creative directors alike. She became a familiar face within the modeling world, navigating the competitive landscape of model agencies across Europe and beyond with a quiet confidence that her education and natural poise afforded her.
Among the most significant milestones of her career was working with legendary American designer Tom Ford — one of the most coveted collaborations any model can achieve. Ford's exacting visual standards and cinematic aesthetic made working within his world both a testament to Alexa's professionalism and a major marker of her arrival on the global fashion stage.
Further cementing her status, Alexa walked the runway at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival — one of the most glamorous and globally watched events on the cultural calendar — where she brought the same composed elegance to the catwalk that she delivers in front of the camera. She also filmed a high-profile commercial for Moët, the iconic French champagne house, further broadening her commercial reach into the luxury lifestyle category.
Alexa Maingard has built one of the most diverse and geographically broad editorial portfolios of any model working across both the South African and European fashion circuits. Her editorial credits span multiple continents and publication categories, from high-fashion glossies to influential regional titles — reflecting a modeling career that has consistently crossed borders and cultural contexts.
Her appearance in Vogue Brasil stands as one of the crown jewels of her editorial career — a coveted placement that places her alongside the world's most recognized models. Equally impressive is her long-standing relationship with the ELLE family of publications, appearing in ELLE as well as ELLE Bulgaria. The prestigious French luxury title L'Officiel Paris selected Alexa for one of its celebrated editorial stories, and she also featured in L'Officiel Ukraine, extending her reach across the influential L'Officiel network.
Her work for Italian publisher D Repubblica Magazine included the critically noted editorial "Cowgirl Spaziale", a bold conceptual shoot that demonstrated her ability to fully inhabit a creative vision. Alexa has also graced the pages of Marie Claire South Africa on multiple occasions and appeared in Marie Claire Australia, Telva, Grazia, Stern Mode, D'Scene Magazine, Maxi Magazine, and Annabelle Magazine. The Diva editorial titled "Tropical Island" rounds out a diverse editorial portfolio that consistently demonstrates her ability to bring both high glamour and natural ease to any brief.
Beyond her editorial achievements, Alexa Maingard has established a strong commercial presence through campaigns for globally recognized brands. One of the most significant commercial associations of her career has been with H&M — the Swedish global fashion giant whose campaigns reach hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide. She has also worked with Net-A-Porter, Bikbok, and MRP Fashion, the latter being one of South Africa's most beloved and widely distributed fashion retailers.
Alexa Maingard is currently represented by METRO Models in Zurich, Switzerland — one of Europe's most respected model agencies with a longstanding track record of developing and managing international modeling talent. Within METRO Models' roster, Alexa sits in the Classic division, a category that recognizes models with established careers, proven editorial portfolios, and the professional maturity that comes with years of consistent work at the highest level.
Alexa Maingard is, by all accounts, more than the sum of her modeling credits. Inspired by the extraordinary sets and environments she has experienced throughout her career, she has developed a deep passion for interior design. She cites the work of brands such as Zimmermann, Celine, and Isabel Marant as personal inspirations, admiring their timeless and considered approach to design.
As a model, Alexa has long looked to Daria Werbowy as one of her idols — drawn to the Canadian supermodel's magnetic combination of look and vibe. Photography is another artistic pursuit at the center of her creative life, and travel is, by her own account, one of the most rewarding aspects of her modeling career. To maintain the physical discipline demanded by high-level modeling, Alexa practises both yoga and boxing — a combination that reflects a holistic approach to her wellbeing.
Alexa is engaged to Mike Maingard, whose surname she has taken as her professional name — a personal choice that has added an additional layer of identity to her modeling persona.
Alexa Maingard possesses a striking combination of brown hair and green eyes — a pairing that has contributed to the rare, memorable quality of her look across editorial and commercial modeling. Her green eyes in particular offer a versatility that adapts beautifully to a wide range of lighting conditions and styling choices.
Alexa Maingard stands as one of the more complete and compelling figures to have emerged from the South African modeling industry in recent decades. From her formative years in Durban to her international career spanning the catwalks of Cannes, the editorial pages of Vogue Brasil, and the campaigns of iconic global brands, she has consistently demonstrated that a model can be both a commercial force and a creative presence in her own right. Under the banner of METRO Models in Zurich, she continues to pursue a career defined by intention, aesthetic intelligence, and a breadth of experience that few models can match.
