KATCHING MY I: Joan Smalls stands out from the crowd in a plunging white dress with edgy zip detailing at CFDA Fashion Awards

Tuesday, 2 June 2015

Joan Smalls stands out from the crowd in a plunging white dress with edgy zip detailing at CFDA Fashion Awards

PUBLISHED: 10:06, 2 June 2015 | UPDATED: 11:03, 2 June 2015

She's one the world's highest-paid models, who has worked for everyone from Chanel to Marc Jacobs and Cavalli.

And Joan Smalls proved why she's one of the most in-demand girls in the industry when she attended the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards on Monday night in an edgy white dress.

The 26-year-old stunner looked sensational upon arriving at the Lincoln Centre in New York City in her daring number, which featured a dangerously low neckline and a backless cut.

Scroll down for video

Turning heads: Joan Smalls cut a fashionable figure in a white dress with a zip running down the front as she arrived at the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards on Monday night, held at the Lincoln Centre in New York City

The halterneck garment was embellished with a silver zip running down the front, which stopped just above the knee to form a centre-split.

The eye-catching dress boasted a thin, belt-style strap running around the back.

Joan toughened up her image with a heavy smoky eye, defined brows and a nude lip.

Joan Smalls smoulders in plunging white gown at CFDA awards

Runway-ready: The Puerto Rican beauty looked stylish thanks to her heavy eye make-up and sleek ponytail

Backless beauty: The dress was cut extremely low at the back and boasted a belt-style strap

Joan Smalls jokes around with Karlie Kloss in instagram video

She wore her dark locks pulled back in a severe, sleek ponytail with a centre parting.

Like many of her model pals, Joan was picked on at school for her statuesque height and struggled with her self-confidence.

'I was so awkward-looking - tall, super skinny, gangly. The boys at school made fun of me,' she recently confessed in an interview with Lucky magazine.

Who's laughing now: Joan recently revealed she was bullied as a teenager for being tall and gangly

Smoking hot: The 26-year-old star ringed her eyes with deep blue shadow and heavy kohl

Split: The zip finished just above her knees, showcasing just a hint of skin

The star is now one of the most in-demand models in the world and is the face of Estée Lauder, a Victoria's secret regular and has countless top campaigns under her belt.

She revealed it was the original crop of supermodels like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell who inspired her to pursue her dream.

'I’d see those girls on TV and I’d think, 'Oh, they have my same body type',' she said. 'These were women who got to travel the world.'

Fashion friends: Joan struck a pose alongside jewellery designer Jennifer Fisher and Derek Blasberg, the Editor-at-Large of Harper’s Bazaar and V magazine