How Lebanon’s Romy Nassar Made Her Mark on the Global Modeling Scene

A Lebanese model, fashion influencer, and founder of the vintage reseller Romyni, Romy Nassar is a creative force led by instinct. Splitting her time between New York City and Toronto, she moves through the world as both an artist and curator, sourcing rare vintage treasures, styling herself with artisanal layering and bohemian influences, and leaving her mark on the global fashion scene.

For Nassar, fashion is about attitude. “I never felt like I have one style,” she tells Scene Styled. Her wardrobe is eclectic and non-trend-based, shifting between structured blazers and statement accessories to retro prints and nostalgic silhouettes. Some days, she embodies effortless chic in a tank top and jeans, while others, she leans into high fashion with fitted corsets and polished gowns. She gravitates toward neutral palettes, often punctuated with metallic accents, vibrant prints, or unexpected textures. “I get clever with layering my jewelry for that ‘Romy touch.’ It’s how I stand out.”

Whether attending Miu Miu’s Summer Reads or Prada Beauty’s launches in NYC, walking the runway for Zeus+Dione, or styling herself, Nassar brings purpose and spontaneity to everything she does.

Scouted on Instagram in late 2020, she signed with a modeling agency and spent a year with little work before her career took off in 2022. At the time, she was stuck behind a finance desk job in Toronto, feeling drained. When the bookings started rolling in, she took a leap of faith, leaving the corporate world—and her law and economics degree—behind.

Since then, she’s worked with Tory Burch, Isabel Marant, Aritzia, Gap, Costarellos, Eliza Faulkner, and Okhtein, as well as artists like Frederic Duquette. Her breakout moment came through her first major shoot with Lebanese photographer Hadi Mourad. “His pictures put me on the map.” Other cherished collaborations include working with Justin Aranha and Nariman Janghorban in Toronto, whose documentary-style photography she admires, and NYC-based Ayumi Perry, whose lyrical, artistic approach left a lasting impact.

Beyond modeling, Nassar is the creative mind behind Romyni, an online vintage jewelry and accessory resellerbased in Toronto, which emerged from her love for statement pieces. “People always complimented my jewelry and asked if I’d sell pieces,” she recalls. “I thought, why not turn my passion into something tangible?”

For Romyni, she curates one-of-a-kind vintage treasures from designers like Alexis Kirk, Les Bernard, José Cotel, and Edouard Rambaud. The collections are an ornamental mix of pearl earrings, statement bangles, gold brooches, baroque necklaces, and vintage clutches. Her business approach is intuitive rather than structured. “I don’t follow a business plan or have deadlines. My rule is simple: work with what you have and build from there. I never let lack of funds, experience, or imperfections stop me.”

Nassar’s passion for fashion goes back to childhood, fueled by luxury wardrobes curated by her parents before she even knew what Dior or Moschino meant. “The women around me put so much care into everything—what they wear, their hair, nails, everything. Even the way they decorate their homes and set their tables for guests is so creative.”

She credits her Lebanese upbringing for her intrinsic sense of style, noting how Lebanese people take pride in their appearance, no matter the occasion. “I don’t know if Lebanese people overdress—but I love it.” Her fascination with archival fashion is also deeply inspired by classic cinema and black-and-white films.

Today, she’s drawn to Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Christopher Kane, Jean Paul Gaultier, God Save the Queen, and Armani, but her most defining fashion moments aren’t about labels. “I think joy and confidence are what make a woman really sexy.”

Her philosophy on style and jewelry is reflected in how she sees the Pyramids of Giza. “I see them as the Earth’s jewelry—golden, intricate, and full of spirit. That’s what I want my Romyni jewelry to express, a glimpse of my soul.”