Model of the Week

I’ve seen this girl for months and I can’t get her out of my mind. I’ve searched forums, online catalogs, blogs, EVERYTHING! I see her in advertisements, I see her at Macy’s and I can’t stop wishing that I knew her name. AARRGH! What is it about this girl? I know I’m going to sound like an 80s classic song with Molly Ringwald somewhere in the background, but it’s something about her eyes. This girl is a beast in the making (that’s a good thing), I know it. I just wish I knew who she was! Finally I found her today on the Rugby by Ralph Lauren blog. Whew! I give you the model I have wanted to make a Model of the Week since I saw her on an ad two years ago. I give you Selina Khan.

Khan was born on…uhhmm…well…no one is quite sure. Finding her age and date of birth was almost as hard as finding her name. Several things are for sure; she is from the island of Martinique in the French West Indies and she was a contestant in the 2007 Elite Model Look contest of France. So that would make Khan around 18 or 19 years old since most contestants in Models of the World or Model Look contests are between 13-15 years of age. Even though Khan did not win the 2007 Elite Model Look contest of France she was one of the 12 finalists that were flown to Paris. Just because she didn’t walk away with the grand prize didn’t mean that she would walk away empty-handed. Elite Model Management Paris scooped her up faster than you can say ice cream. Elite Model Management Milan and One Management New York soon followed suit.

Many supermodels in the industry have a person or a designer to thank for their moment of stardom. Marky Mark owes it all to Calvin Klein underwear. And where would Tyra Banks be without a little lace, a few wings, and a nipple pasty? I think Khan can thank one major designer and one major magazine; Teen Vogue and Ralph Lauren. Very soon after her Elite contest let down she got a call that many girls would’ve traded for the Elite contest altogether; an editorial spread in Teen Vogue shot by Bruce Weber. Weber has made Calvin Klein advertisements what they are today; a black and white melting pot of sex, homosexual nature, and awe. Maybe its a coincidence that two years before Weber shot a campaign for Ralph Lauren (who knows), but soon after that October 2008 editorial in Teen Vogue Ralph Lauren called Khan to walk for the S/S’ 2009 Ready-to-Wear campaign.

That definitely got her foot in the door. After her Ralph Lauren runway show many started to ask, “Who is this girl?” She didn’t look like any major supermodel at that time or of years’ past. Khan can thank her unique background for that. Khan’s mom is Indian, mixed with Arabic and Creole, and her dad is Vietnamese. ADAM, Lacoste, Nanette Lepore, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti decided to use Khan in their runway shows too that S/S’ 2009 season. In between her runway shows she did another editorial for Teen Vogue and was featured in an editorial piece for 10 Magazine about the blast of ethnic models now entering the fashion industry.

F/W’ 2009 was Khan’s time to shine. Teen Vogue chose Khan to be one of three models for their Next Top Models editorial piece. Khan was picked as a model for two now famous holiday campaigns; Ralph Lauren Rugby and Gap. Plus she modeled for Lacoste. That season alone she walked the Ready-to-wear runways of Charlotte Ronson, DKNY, Lela Rose, Nanette Lepore, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, TSE, Tuleh, United Bamboo, and Veronique Leroy.

Trust that yours truly likes a lot of research to go behind any and every post on this blog. So it was hard for me to find research for Selina Khan in 2010. Where did she go? Not that many editorials or magazine shoots. It seemed as if she just disappeared off of the face of the earth. It took me awhile to find that Khan was in 2010 where models should be; on the runway. In the S/S’ 2009 Ready-to-Wear runway season Khan walked for Charlotte Ronson, Malandrino, Milly, Tuleh, Vivienne Tam. Her catalog and editorial shoots may not have been as long as your arm, but the Nordstrom June (Twilight themed), Prom, and Holiday Catalog; a shoot for Vera Wang, and modeling for the Ralph Lauren Rugby F/W’ 2010 Lookbook isn’t too shabby.

We’re only three months into 2011 and already Khan has had more work than most run-of-the-mill models will see this year. Let’s see; she was in London’s F/W’ 2012 Fashion Week walking for KTZ and Jean-Pierre Braganza. She modeled in the Urban Outfitters early S/S’ 2011 catalog. She has a very glamour/sexy-esque editorial picture in the March 2011 issue of Allure Magazine. In the S/S’ 2011 runway season she walked for Band of Outsiders, Daniel Vosovic, Rachel Comey, and Rebecca Taylor.

I think the reason so many people are enraptured with this young woman is because she’s a real chick. You look at her interviews and she’s talking about iPods, laying on the beach, and her family. Because of her mixed blood she looks like the girl next door and can have many girls from many cultures relate to her. Not only that, but there are tons of pictures of her online posing with friendly fans and faces who saw her in the street. Most models wouldn’t be caught dead without some M.A.C.; but here she is, walking the streets of New York with no makeup and a smile on her face. She’s the girl you invite over to watch a movie and she’s an international supermodel. Who knew it could be possible? Oh yeah, and she loves Harry Potter. Five stars in my book.

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Model of the Week

Choosing my first Model of the Week for the year of 2011, I knew I had to pick someone special. Someone current, with pizzaz and flair.I wanted to pick someone who had the feeling I wanted to convey on this blog for this year; innovation. I went through several models and several drafts to get to this so I hope you all like my choice. My first Model of the Week for 2011 is Kendra Spears.

Kendra Spears was born August 5, 1988 in Seattle, Washington. Just to prove she’s not the regular stereotypical run-of-the-mill dumb model, she graduated from high school in 2007 with a high school diploma and an associate degree through a dual credit program with her high school, South Kitsap High School. That fall like most normal American teenagers Spears started to attend college. She enrolled in Portland State University as a sociology major.

Around that same time, rather remarkably Spears was discovered by someone working at Ford Models. Not on the street or in a casting call, but on Myspace. Believe it or not, Ford Models held a Myspace casting and even though the deadline had passed, so many fans wanted Spears in the competition that she became a write-in. Keep in mind that at this time Spears is a senior at Portland State at the age of 19 (thanks associate degree program) and she also had braces! Spears became a finalist in the international competition. Even though Spears lost the competition that year to South Korean model Seung-Hyun, Spear’s unbelievable connection to the camera and her uncanny resistance to models of past still got her a contract with Ford Models.

That September Spears made her runway debut at the S/S’ 09 show in the Trovata show in New York City. She also modeled for Isaac Mizrahi, L’Wren Scott, and Ports 1961 under the New York fashion tents that month. Less than two weeks later Spears found herself in Milan opening for John Richmond and walking for lines like Valentino, Gucci, and Hermès. Talk about taking a step outside of the college classroom! By Christmas 2008 Spears had scored not one, but two covers, Cover Magazine and Italian Amica respectively. Spears may have said that school was her priority and modeling was just a hobby until she got her degree, but by January 2009 it was clear that Spears had a full-fledged career. College might just have to wait for a little while.

In the fashion tents of Milan in February 2009 Spears held a coveted spot as she closed the F/W’ 2009 Moschino show. Everyone knows that the last model to walk down the runway holding the designer’s hand was something of an inspiration for the designer while they created the line. Shortly after that show Style.com featured Spears as one of it’s rising stars in the modeling world. With all of that going on who wouldn’t want to make the best out of their situation and get more cash? Spears left her contract with Ford Models to sign with Next Model Management Agency.

Or so she thought, in May of 2009 Ford Models sued Next Model Management and Spears herself in order to force her to complete the contract she originally signed! Spears was becoming a big name, some calling her the next Cindy Crawford. With titles like that walking through the door Ford claimed in the suit that “Kendra Spears is one of the shining stars of the Ford development system. Signed as a prospect while still a teenager in braces, for more than a year, Ford has painstakingly cultivated Spears – literally, taught her how to be an international fashion model. She is about to become one of a handful of the world’s most sought-after high fashion models” I think that last sentence means, ” We just realized how much money walked out of the door when we saw that she was on the cover of Vogue Italia in March 2009.” The feud between Ford and Next had been coming for a while. Ford had already lost three models and two bookers to Next that year alone, so the ‘Cindy Crawford look-a-like’ leaving too would’ve done nothing but stir some more drama into the mix. The case was never settled publicly, but as of right now Spear’s name and editorial shots are on the Next Model Management website as a model signed with the New York City agency.

In July of 2009 Spears was on the cover of Dazed & Confused Magazine, photographed by Mariano Vivanco. She was also in the Givenchy couture show in Paris that month. Spears got one of the best presents a model can get on her 21st birthday; the face of a campaign! Spears became one of the faces of Prada, photographed by one of my favorites in the business, Steven Meisel. Now, not only was style.com recognizing her talent but Teen Vogue claimed that Spears was a rising star as well; in my opinion they were kind of late on the band waggon, Spears was a threat. That fall she opened the S/S’ 2010 Badgley Mischka and Diane Von Furstenberg shows in New York and closed for Rochas.

In the fifteen months since Spears walked for Diane Von Furstenberg Spears has been on two covers, in seven editorials, walked for fashion greats like Prada, Fendi, Chanel, Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, and Miu Miu, plus she’s gotten herself one of the best gigs in the modeling world; an advertisement campaign with Calvin Klein. Spears closed the S/S’ 2011 Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti show in New York this past fall. At the time of this post Kendra Spears has already snagged herself a cover with the Japanese version of Vogue. Spears is definitely the type of woman who your parents will bring up in arguments saying, “Why can’t you be more like her?” Because she sets her goals high and her faith in herself even higher, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of or diminished. There’s honestly nothing she can’t do

Model of the Week

Believe it or not I was researching another male to be this Model of the Week when I decided to take a quick look at model.com’s Top 50 Male Models of the Week. When I saw this guy’s face everyone else was put out of the running and I knew I had to choose him. I know it’s bad to think sexy thoughts when you’re trying to choose a Model of the Week (You’re supposed to admire them for their talent), but good Lord! Have you seen those lips? I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about chocolate and whipped cream when I looked into his eyes…..ahem, excuse me. This Model of the Week, the gorgeous and smart, Nate Gill.

Nate Gill at 21 years old is all-American. He was born April 3, 1989 in San Fransisco. During his freshman year of college, while working at Starbucks, Gill decided to attend in open casting call in his hometown. He was signed with City Models in San Fransisco. In an interview I found, Gill says that his first modeling gig was with the store Mervyn’s and he made $500….I think Mervyn’s definitely could’ve coughed up some more dough for those abs.

Beyoncé (center) Nate Gill far right

In 2008, Gill also signed with Major Model Management in New York City. His first job might’ve been sub par but his second and third jobs in the modeling industry are unheard of for a first time model. His second job was an advertisement campaign for Polo; and his third job was a spread in the November 2008 issue of V Magazine with Beyoncé shot by world-famous photographer Bruce Weber. Gill did such a good job on that spread that Weber hand selected the model to do a campaign that same year for Abercrombie & Fitch. Talk about a good start…

January 2009 was the first time the fashion world saw Nate Gill work it on the runway. I would say he did a pretty good job, considering that he debuted as an exclusive model for two major fashion brands; the Calvin Klein show in Milan and the Givenchy show in Paris. In a Best New Designers editorial piece for GQ magazine in the February 2009 issue, Gill is modeling the sportswear of a soon-to-be big name on the red carpets of the world, Yigal Azrouël. He got his second stint in a GQ editorial four months later in the June 2009 issue, shot by photographer Paola Kudacki.Gill also modeled for the spring issue of GQ Style that year. Then came the advertisement campaigns; Gill will be able to look back and say, “Remember when I did my first advertisement campaign spread for Ralph Lauren Rugby?” Yeah, real small time. In between the advertisements Gill walked the S/S’ runways in June for such brands as Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Versace, and Vivienne Westwood in Milan. At the end of 2009, Gill posed in the advertisement campaign that catapulted his career even further than before, for the F/W’ 2009 DKNY Jeans Collection.

Nate Gill F/W' 2009 DKNY Jeans

2010 started off extremely well for Gill, he became one of the faces of Tommy Hilfiger S/S’ 2010 clothing line. Considering the fact that Tommy Hilfiger has blatantly stated in the past that “I don’t design my clothes for urban people” (people of color), it’s nice to see that since the brand was sold in 2006 people of color are popping up on the runway and in the advertisement campaigns more often. Gill is definitely not a ritzy model, in an interview with Giant Magazine Gill talked about how the lines of color were definitely changing slowly but surely, and how he was happy to be a part of it. 2010 seems to be the year of two for Gill. He did two campaigns for Esprit (Summer, F/W’ 2010), he did two advertisement campaigns for Y-3 ( S/S’, F/W’ 2010), and he walked down the runway twice for Tommy Hilfiger. Not to mention his Vogue shoot, his MaxMara F/W’ 2010 shoot, and his editorial spreads for Flaunt and L’Optimum. Nate Gill definitely has arrived.

One of the things that attracted me the most to Gill was his intelligence and his need to keep his life humble. It was so refreshing to see a guy who continuously praises God for each and every one of the blessings that he has received through modeling; a guy who realizes that no success comes without a strong foundation. In my research for Gill, I found several articles where he talked about the importance of eating right,staying active, and having strong faith. Gill makes no point to hide that he is a christian, and he hopes that through his success from modeling he can become an advocate for christian youth.

I can say honestly, I am proud to be able to write a piece about Nate Gill for this blog. Gill is one of those guys that you know could literally do anything that they put their minds to. He is one of the top male models in the leauge and after reading so much about him, I would expect nothing less. It makes me proud to know that there are smart, intelligent black men for young black boys to look up to that have their heads on straight. Someone to show young colored boys, from the brightest of yellows to the darkest of browns, that you don’t have to automatically become a rapper and talk about tricks and whores (excuse let’s use the ebonics term, ‘ho) and all the dope you smoked growing up in the ‘hood. There are other paths that lead to success and Gill has taken his path to success and run on it. Yes, Gill is an amazing commercial model, but my favorite shots of him that I found were the Polaroids and the moments caught behind-the-scenes; in those photos you see such an innocence and light flowing from him that I hope won’t fade with the bourgeois demeanor of the fashion industry. Even though Gill’s supermodel rap sheet is a bit short right now, I definitely know it won’t be this short next year; this guy is way too talented and too damn good looking.

Reference:

http://giantmag.com/culture/marcusscott/technicolor-male-models-giant-talks-to-nate-gill-about-the-fashion-world/

http://nymag.com/fashion/models/ngill/nategill/

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Model of the Week

I realized this week that I have never picked a model of Asian decent. What?! How could I do this? After all, I’m learning Mandarin Chinese and Asian models are the fastest growing race category in the modeling industry. So I decided to choose the Chinese ground breaker herself, Liu Wen. She’s one of the few models that can transition to and from The Three C’s of posing (Commercial, Catalog, and Couture). Which means, as my queens would say, she’s a beast. This Model of the Week is none other than Liu Wen.

Liu Wen was born in Yongzhou in the Hunan Province of China on January 27, 1988. In 2005, while working as a tour guide, she decided to enter the New Silk Road World Model Contest. Famous faces like Du Juan have gotten their spotlight due to this annual model search. Wen wasn’t in it for the fame and the pictures, she was in the contest to win one of its grand prizes; a laptop! Wen didn’t win the contest, but as one of the finalist she did receive a lot of local exposure. Good bye laptop, hello model. Due to her new-found fame Wen decided to move to Beijing and pursue her fashion career in the editorial market.

In 2007 Wen received a boost, she was chosen to be the May 2007 cover model for the Chinese version of FHM. Three months later in July 2007 she got editorials for the Chinese versions of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Wen started to become known among the elite in the fashion industry and was chosen for an editorial in the September 2007 Chinese version of Cosmopolitan where she was styled by fashion heavyweights like Karl Lagerfeld and Viktor & Rolf. She ended 2007 by gracing the December 2007 issue of Chinese Marie Claire, wearing nothing with only a handbag covering her long frame.

It was no surprise that 2008 started off with Wen signing with Marilyn Agency in Paris. Marilyn Agency works with models such as the legendary Kate Moss and Adriana Lima. By signing with Marilyn Agency Wen put herself in the international market. Wen made her European debut for the Fall/Winter 2008 fashion lines of Chanel, Hermès, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenzo, and Maison Martin Margiela shows in Paris. She was chosen to close the Fall/Winter 2008 Trussardi show in Milan. March 2008 gave Wen another cover under her belt, for the Chinese version of Elle along with Emma Pei. In September 2008 Wen made her American debut walking for the Spring/Summer 2009 runways of Ralph Lauren. That next month Wen was named one of Style.com’s Top Ten Newcomers of the Season; a list that has consistently predicted which models to watch. That same month she signed a contract with Calvin Klein to be one of the faces for their new fragrance called One. Her Calvin Klein spread was photographed by model maker and trendsetter Steven Meisel.

Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear 3.1 Phillip Lim-Beauty

Unlike 2008 when Wen was growing into her own as a model and just coming onto the scene, 2009 was the year for Wen to solidify her place in the fashion industry. Which is probably why New York Look featured Wen as a rising star in early 2009. In February, Wen was already on the runways of New York, Paris, and Milan for some of fashion’s leading designers such as Anna Sui, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Chloé, Lanvin, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier. That spring she appeared in an editorial for one of my favorite magazines, Teen Vogue, as well as Chinese Vogue, Italian Flair, the British version of Harper’s Bazaar, and i-D. DKNY called up Wen to appear in advertisements that spring, too and decided to use Nathaniel Goldberg as the photographer.

In the fall of 2009 Liu Wen became a legend. For the Spring/Summer 2010 runway Wen became the second booked model of the season with seventy shows. She also became the first model of Asian decent ever to walk the Victoria Secret Runway Show. 2010 started off with Wen becoming the new face of the Calvin Klein fragrance, CK. She not only appeared in the January issue of Chinese Vogue, but the February issue too. In April Wen received what is considered by most models to be a never-ending golden ticket; a cosmetics modeling contract with Estee Lauder, being the first Asian model to do so.

Fall 2010 Couture Elie Saab-Runway

2010 isn’t even over yet, and already Wen is breaking new ground. I love writing about models like Liu Wen. Whether consciously or not, they change the world and prove to others that it shouldn’t matter what color we are or where we came from. If you can do the job it should be yours. Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gautier predicted it and we should’ve listened; this girl is a star. Liu Wen’s career is on the up and up, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Model of the Week

You see an advertisement in the magazine; you glance at the cute clothes, think the prices are too outrageous for even you, and you keep on flipping the pages. But then you flip back, because that model’s energy speaks to you. Even after 2 million copies of her face have been pasted everywhere, the eyes still pull you in like a magnet. What is it about this girl? That’s this Model of the Week, Ataui Deng.

Ataui Deng. The name kind of gives it away; right off the bat you know she’s not American. Deng was born in Khartoum, Sudan, Africa on November 3, 1991.In 2004 Deng and her family fled the wars in Sudan. They immigrated to the United States and found a home in San Antonio, Texas. I have to say out of all the models that I’ve chosen for Model of the Week, Deng had the easiest way of getting into the fashion business; family connections. Her aunt is the famous Alek Wek, the first Sudan model to really make it big in the United States and worldwide.

With that kind of power backing you up, it’s no wonder that at the age of sixteen Trump Model Management was fighting tooth and nail to get a contract with her. Deng did sign with Trump in 2008. The ink on the contract didn’t even have time to dry, because in a matter of days Deng made her debut on the S/S’ 2009 runway for designers such as Proenza Schouler, and Zac Posen during New York Fashion Week.

Believe it or not Deng missed out on Paris Fashion Week that year. It’s not because she wasn’t in high demand; after her grand debut and a viral video shot by Jeremy Kost showing Deng backstage at the Zac Posen S/S’ 2009 show everyone wanted to see what Deng was about. Deng, however was more focused on school, and chose to not let her grades suffer at Tom Clark High School in San Antonio, Texas. The runways of Paris and Milan could wait.

But they didn’t wait too long. So many models wish fashion designers would come to them, soon enough Deng became one of those models who have designers fall at her feet. Within weeks Steven Meisel made a request that the model come to his studio. For the big New York Fashion Week held in February 2009 Deng walked for Christian Siriano and the African Fashion Collective show. She has also modeled for two of my favorite fashionistas in the world, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, for their line The Row. In September 2009 Deng started off a new year of high school with an editorial spread in Teen Vogue, which is when Deng got the attention of yours truly (I know I find a lot of my Models of the Week in Vogue and Teen Vogue, but you can’t deny, they do know how to pick a model!). By the end of 2009 Deng had walked in the F/W’ 2009 runway for designers like Malandrino, Rosa Cha, and Sophie Theallet in New York. She also got her first cover, for fall edition of Lurve. She started off 2010 right with an editorial in V for March.

While searching for pictures to place on this article I kept thinking, “Wow, can this chick pose any better?” With each and every picture I was spellbound, amazed, and excited about choosing her as this Model of the Week. After a while I had to stop researching for Deng’s pictures because the list kept growing from one eye-catching picture to the next. She’s that good. With so many nay-sayers in the fashion industry who don’t see a need for color, I am so happy that girls have someone like Deng to look up to. I’m glad to see that even though the family name got her in the door Deng has created her own path and shined without her famous aunt by her side. She is a proud beautiful African woman and I hope to see her much more in the future.

Model of the Week

I love it when models fight for their curves! I first saw this fresh face in the pages of Teen Vogue, reading about her biography called Hungry. She’s a woman who can walk the runway and works a photo shoot like nobody I know. She’s a plus size model and is ok with it. You think; is this possible for a model? An AMERICAN model? Oh yes it is! This model of the week is none other than the sexy curvaceous Crystal Renn.

This one-of-a-kind model was born June 18th, 1986 in Miami, Florida. At the age of twelve her family moved to Clinton, Mississippi. Renn became an outcast there; people not sure of her ethnic background teased her by calling her “Pocahontas”. To boost her daughter’s self-confidence Renn’s mother enrolled her in classes at the local etiquette and beauty school. It was at this school that Renn was almost discovered at the age of fourteen; how is someone almost discovered? A model scout came to the school but told Renn, “You’ll have to lose some weight–ten inches off your hips. If you do that, you can be a supermodel.”

If that scout knew how much those words meant I wonder if he would’ve thought twice before he said them. After hearing those faithful words Renn went home and the next day she committed herself to becoming a model. She bought diet and nutrition books so she could start to track her calorie and sodium intake, she cut what she ate every day in half, and she started a grueling workout regime. Within three months Renn lost thirty pounds. She was full-blown anorexic. Renn lost her friends due to her inability to go out and lose her 8-hour a day workout schedule. When people would comment on her weight, she would say that she was just being healthy and working out a lot. When Renn turned sixteen and weighed 115 pounds, the scout came back to Mississippi and signed the young talent to his fashion agency.

*If you know someone with an eating disorder or you’re afraid that you might have one, don’t be afraid to just look at the info. Get help. Check out this website http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/*

Renn moved to Manhattan and lived in an apartment with other models. She started to go on castings for runways and photo shoots. Within three years Renn lost ninety pounds and her lowest weight was 95 pounds. Renn is 5’9″; anything between 125-165 pounds is considered healthy for someone of Renn’s stature. Renn was praised for her frame at her modeling agency. But her hair started to fall out and her body started to go into survival mode. Even though the young model only ate lettuce, her body stopped losing weight because there was no fat in her body to lose. In the summer of 2003 Renn had a breakdown and decided that she could no longer live as an anorexic model; she had to allow herself to eat to save her life. Renn met with Gary Dakin of Ford Models and was advised to go into the 12+ division of plus size modeling. She was amazed to learn that she could be any size she wanted and still model, soon Renn was onboard.

Since becoming a plus size model Renn has appeared in the Italian, French and American version of Vogue. She’s appeared in Elle, iD, and Above Magazine. She has worked with famous photographers like Patrick Demarchelier and Steven Meisel. She was the face of the Estee Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, and was the face for Mango along with Penelope Cruz. She has appeared for proud plus size fashion lines like Lane Bryant, Torrid, and Evans. In September of 2005 Christian Paul Gaultier personally requested Renn to close his Spring/Summer show in Paris. Being the closing model in a fashion runway show is a major honor for any model because it means you were the muse or inspiration for the fashion designer’s entire line. In 2009 Renn’s biography was published, entitled Hungry, detailing her struggle with anorexia in the modeling industry.

Of course, the big controversy at the time of this blog post has to deal with the retouched photos of this model. Retouching is common in the entertainment industry; everybody gets a little touchy when it comes to cellulite and not everybody wants their faults shown to the world. More and more people are starting to learn that nobody is as perfect as they are portrayed in a retouched photo. Lately, more and more celebrities and models are requesting that their photos remain untouched, such as Kate Winslet, Kim Kardashian, and Kelly Clarkson. Hoping to show their real beauty to the world even with their flaws. And that’s where we find Crystal Renn.

Renn took charity photos for Fashion for Passion, shot by photographer Nicholas Routzen. When Renn saw the finished photographs she was shocked; she didn’t think the photos portrayed her body in its natural state. Renn believed that the photos made her now size 10 frame look like a size 2. Routzen the photographer has stated this on his blog page:

“I want to reiterate that I feel Crystal looks amazing in both images and the minimal retouching that I did do – it’s nothing you wouldn’t see in any magazine today. There is nothing hidden about this.”

But there is literally an uproar on sites and blog pages the world over. In an interview with The Today Show about the retouched photos Renn stated that she thought the photos sent the wrong message to young women. Honestly, I don’t see why they retouched anything in the first place. Now, a little makeup fix here, a little shade over the baggy eyes there; I can understand that kind of retouching. But Renn looks amazing and I have no idea why people keep doing this. After most retouchings the models don’t even look like real people anymore; which I really don’t understand. Isn’t the point to make real people feel like they can relate to the model? How can real people relate if the models don’t appear to be real people?

I’m glad that we have models like Crystal Renn who are speaking out about appearing in their natural state in photographs. I’m not afraid to say I have a girl crush on her; she’s hot as hell and she knows how to work her angles. Any woman who looks like that doesn’t need to be airbrushed. Beauty is not a pant size.

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?

Model of the Week

Ok, we all know that Megan Fox is hot. I mean come on; even straight women look at her and feel an attraction. But few of us thought it was going to be possible to find a women with equal sex appeal to fill Fox’s slot in Transformers 3. It has been done. Ladies and gentleman, the Model of the Week is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

In 2003 while studying at Tavistock College in the United Kindgom, Huntington-Whiteley was discovered by Profile Model Management. She initially came to the company to get an internship to work behind the scenes in fashion and never thought about becoming a model. I find that hard to believe because the year before she quit school to work the runway Huntington-Whiteley was voted “Most Likely to Become a Supermodel” by her class. Her debut was in New York during the Fall 2004 season. Since then Huntington-Whiteley has become a major catalog model in the British world, appearing in advertisements for Abercrombie & Fitch, Bloomingdale’s, Clinique, DKNY, French Connection, L.A.M.B., Pepe Jeans, Shiatzy Chen, and Ralph Lauren.

Where did all this talent come from? Well, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was born at Freedom Fields Hospital on April 18, 1987 in Devon, England. Her mother, Fiona, is a fitness instructor and her father, Charles, is a chartered surveyor or property building professional. She is the oldest fo three; Rosie has two younger siblings named Florence and Toby.

This chick is like a rocket; she can’t stop reaching new heights. In 2006 she began her relationship with Victoria Secret walking the runway for the fashion show that year. In 2008 Huntington-Whiteley received a high honor for modern Brits, she was asked to be in an advertisement for Burberry along with actor Sam Riley. She also did her second; that’s right second not first cover of Vogue UK along with Jourdan Dunn and Eden Clark. As if she wasn’t dominating enough in modeling she decided to try a little bit of acting in a short film for Agent Provocateur in 2009. That same year Huntington-Whiteley was declared Model of the Year by Elle.

The thing I love about Rosie is that she isn’t your typical model. She is a size 4. I know what you’re thinking, is that it? In the regular world she would just be a skinny hot chick. Believe it or not in the modeling world she’s a step away from posing in plus size fashion. Most female models are 5’11” and up; Rosie is 5’9″ which makes it crucial for Rosie to wear at least 4 to six-inch heels. Clearly Huntington-Whiteley’s “defects” haven’t affected her modeling career.

And she’s green!!! Finally a pretty chick with a brain that sees how important it is to keep our planet healthy for our future survival! In an interview for Modelina.com, Rosie stated that she tries to eat as organically as possible; even going to the point of growing her own foods. She even posed for website dothegreenthing.com, which gives helpful tips everyday to help you stay green. Many people complain that being green cost more but if the skin, body, and hair that Huntington-Whiteley has hasn’t convinced you to go green, nothing will.

This year alone Huntington-Whiteley is releasing a book filled with her poses called Rosiex10. She was declared a Victoria Secret Angel and was the lead model in the company’s SWIM catalog. In March she was a blogger for the British version of Vogue; writing about her daily outfits in the “Today I’m Wearing….” column on the Vogue website. In April it was announced that Huntington-Whitely would be the new face of Monsoon’s Spring/Summer lingerie collection. In July you’ll start to see her face in beauty ads for Burberry. As of yesterday it has officially been confirmed that Huntington-Whiteley will replace Megan Fox in Transformers 3. Damn; can I get on her level?

Model of the Week

Have you ever seen a picture of a model that made your jaw drop to the floor? That made your mouth fill with saliva? Suddenly, you didn’t care if you were spending your last $300, you wanted whatever that model was selling and you wanted it now. That my friends in a few words or less is this Model of the Week, Nicholas Lemons.

The man looks like he came right out of a book filled with Greek mythology gods. His body oozes of lusciousness. He has this look in his eyes that says, “Come hither”, with a body that people just can’t stop staring at. He has worked major advertisement campaigns in Armani Exchange, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada. Lemons is mostly known for his runway work and his controversial advertisement work that show him with barely any clothing or no clothing at all. I really don’t see how anyone could complain about that.  He is currently signed with DNA Model Management in New York City.

He was born in Moscow, Idaho but a native of the state Kentucky. He first caught my attention in an Armani Exchange advertisement I saw a few years ago. Not only was he completely gorgeous, but I was happy to see that he flaunted something that most models try to hide with makeup; his tattoo. His tattoo, goes from a portion of his right collarbone and chest all the way down to his right forearm. His tattoo started off with a few leaves, vines, a flower and a strong face on his chest that very much resembles Lemons himself. Over the years his arm tattoo has grown and become more colorful and vibrant, just like his modeling career.

Not only is Lemons revolutionary with his body, but with his sexuality too. Not that many male models will admit if they’re gay or not; sometimes that will limit the amount of campaigns that you get. As we all know, you don’t see that many couple advertisements with people of the same-sex, 99% of the time it will be a man and a woman. On his Myspace page Nicholas has declared himself to be bisexual. In the February 2006 issue of Out Magazine, Lemons received a high honor by posing on the cover of the annual swimsuit issue. Out Magazine was started in 1992 and since then has become the leading gay men’s magazine on fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle in the United States.

So even though he hasn’t officially stated so, it isn’t a far stretch to assume that Lemons is gay. From his abs, to his walk, to his sexuality and his tattoo Nicholas Lemons has kept the gossip forums flowing. In early 2006 there were plenty of rumors that his mother forced him to come back hom to Kentucky for drug rehabilitation. Is he gay? Is he straight? Is he on drugs? I tell all those gossip people to take a long look at his abs…. What were we talking about again?

Model of the Week

What is a model? To me a model is something more than an anorexic frame showcasing a piece of art. A model is a mirror of the person we hope to be. Hopefully a confident, strong, healthy person who brings a new fierce light to fashion.Starting a new segment with this blog I am proud to say that my first Model of the Week is none other than Ashley Graham.

Ashley Graham was born in 1988. She was discovered in a mall by I and I Agency at the age of 13. She is an American girl from Lincoln, Nebraska. By nineteen she was a force to be reckoned with in the modeling industry. Ashley is currently signed with Ford Models Worldwide. Some of her famous campaigns are in Vogue, Lane Bryant, and the plus-size beauty campaign that was featured in the Glamour Magazine November 2009 issue. 

From far left: Crystal Renn, Amy Lemons, Ashley Graham, Kate Dillon, Anansa Sims, and Jennie Runk. Bottom Center: Lizzie Miller.

Ashley Graham first caught my eye on an episode of MTV’s show Made. She was a substitute Made coach for a girl who had hopes of becoming a plus size model. I was immediately fascinated by this beautiful girl. I am the same age as Ashley, and I have to admit at first I was jealous by how much confidence and poise she had. It took me a while to see that the confidence has to come from a place of happiness on the inside; something that Ashley definitely has.

Over the years my confidence has grown with my love of fashion. I’ve watched more runway shows and saw Ashley a few times, but not as much as I would hope. Ashley Graham is a dress size 16, which makes her a plus model. A plus model is any model that wears a size 6 and up. I often feel that beautiful women like Ashley are not portrayed as much as they should be because of their size.

Speaking of the drama surrounding her size, recently Ashley Graham was put in a major ad campaign for Lane Bryant. Seeing the commercial on television my mouth dropped to the floor. Ashley looked HOT and trust me, no man or woman looking at that advertisement was thinking about Ashley’s dress size. Several major networks, like ABC and Fox have refused to air Ashley’s Lane Bryant ad, claiming it’s too sexy. Too sexy? Have these people sat down to watch television within the last ten years? I think if I didn’t see some form of sex on television I would think something was wrong with my cable. Sex is everywhere.

The way Ashley Graham portrayed herself in the Lane Bryant ad was very classy and in no way demeaning or slutty. She was portrayed as the sexy sophisticated woman that men hope they’ll be able to have the courage to impress one day. Not that much different from the Victoria Secret advertisements. I do think Ashley was discriminated against in this particular situation because of her size; maybe ABC just can’t handle a sexy woman who is a size 16. Ashley Graham is a fierce, smart, and sexy as hell model; not plus size model….just model. I really hope I get to see her in many more magazines and advertisements in the future.