Model of the Week

When you come from a famous family, it’s kind of hard to step out. You know what I’m talking about; do any of us really believe that Paris Hilton would be as famous with just the Paris and not the Hilton part of her name? We all think that they’re non-talented rich kids who try to stay in the light of a paparazzi’s flash just to have something to do. Sometimes though, you get those people who aren’t afraid to let their light shine, with or without the famous last names. They say, “Hello world! Watch me work! ” That is this Model of the Week, Danielle Riley Keough.

Her name may or may not sound that familiar to you. If Keough isn’t ringing a bell, I hope the word Elvis does. This striking beauty is the granddaughter of the king of rock and roll himself; Elvis Presley. Daughter of Elvis’s only known child Lisa Marie Presley, Keough is a dead ringer for a descendent of Presley. See the picture? Look at the chin, and the eyes? She has that cold, yet sexy stare that her grandfather was so famous for.

The day after I decided to choose Keough as my Model of the Week, I got my Teen Vogue issue in the mail. It was like a sign; whose face did I see on the horoscope page? Right in the middle, loud and proud was Keough. Danielle Riley Keough’s birthday is on May 29th and she’s a Gemini. Born in 1989 in Los Angeles, California to musicians Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough, who were married at the time of her birth and Danielle’s brother’s birth, Benjamin Storm. Danielle or Riley as she chooses to be called, is the oldest grandchild of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. She’s only 5’7″, which is pretty short for a model. Her famous family lineage may have gotten her foot in the door, but it’s definitely her talent that’s keeping her in the spotlight. Although her parents divorced in 1994, all involved have claimed that the family has stayed quite close; I hope so since Keough’s father Danny still lives on Lisa Marie’s property and plays in Lisa’s band.

Starting with IMG Models,at the age of 14 Keough made her modeling debut in Milan, Italy on the Dolce & Gabbana runway walking for their Fall/Winter 2004 collection. She has not only walked for Dolce and Gabbana but become great friends with them (hello freebies!). That same year she appeared on the August cover of Vogue along with her mother and grandmother, shot by world-famous photographer Annie Leibovitz. Of course that ignited her career; people wait years for a rock heiress like Keough who has real talent. In 2004 alone she appeared in a David Yurman campaign along with Kate Moss, walked the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2005 show in Paris, and was on the November cover of french Elle magazine. She has worked for Mango and Christian Dior campaigns, one in which she represented for four seasons.

In 2006 Keough’s talent wasn’t the only thing blowing up the blog websites. She started a very highly publicized relationship with Ryan Cabrera. Especially when the two of them moved in to a house in Los Angeles and exchanged commitment bands; keep in mind Keough was only 17 at the time and Cabrera was 24. A busy love life wasn’t the only thing occupying her time, especially when Keough walked for Victoria Secret in their annual show in November 2006. In 2006 it was announced that Keough would become the face of Christian Dior Miss Dior Cherie Parfum. Unfortunately the relationship fizzled in 2008, but Keough had a new modeling contract with Elite Model Management to dry her tears.

Always one to poke at the fun things in life, my favorite spread featuring Keough had nothing to do with fashion but comedy. In a 6-picture spread for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Keough posed along side Jonah Hill poking fun at MTV’s hit show, The Hills. The spread, entitled, The Jonah Hills, featured Keough as a Heidi Montag/Lauren Conrad character while Jonah Hill seemed to be a mix of Justin Bobby/Brody Jenner. In 2009 I guess Keough got sick of playing the characters and actually wanted to be one, because her acting career really started to take off. She started filming her debut movie Runaways, alongside Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. Keough played Marie Currie, sister of famed rock star Cherie Currie.

In 2010 Keough completed production on her first leading role in a major motion picture. The movie, called The Good Doctor stars Keough alongside Orlando Bloom. Keough plays a patient in the movie named Diane Nixon. The Good Doctor is a comedy based off of the Tony award-winning play. It’s set to be released in 2010.

She’s controversial, she’s an heiress, she’s funny, and she kicks ass on the modeling and movie scene. What more could you ask for?

Tags: 1989, benjamin storm, cover, danielle riley keough, danny keough, daughter, dior, dolce & gabbana, elvis presley, granddaughter, grandfather, italy, lisa marie presley, los angeles, musician, priscilla, riley keough, vogue