There’s nothing gritty about the fresh-faced True Grit star. But her ads for Miu Miu certainly rubbed some the wrong way after they were released in June 2011.
The actress was tapped to be the face of the brand’s fall/winter 2011 campaign in May 2011 when she was 14. She was a natural fit for Miuccia Prada’s more youthful line, especially after her delightful Prada gown at the 2011 SAG awards. “She is a girl who has the stature — in both senses — to carry these mature and elegant silhouettes whilst still remaining true to her youthful spirit,” stated a press release at the time. Steinfeld wholeheartedly agreed. “I had such an amazing experience working with the Miu Miu team on this new campaign,” she said in a release. “It’s so much fun to have the chance to work with such a gifted designer and wear these incredible clothes.”
Steinfeld’s ads dropped in June 2011. Some, like this one, were innocent enough; others were a bit more problematic. The U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority banned one of Steinfeld sitting on train tracks while wiping her eye, stating that it implied suicide. Prada defended the ads, but replaced her with 34-year-old Guinevere Van Seenus by that October for Miu Miu’s resort collection.