HerStory: Model Behavior

Models are known for being the tall slim women, with long gorgeous flowing hair, radiant skin, flawless features and legs for days. While the fashion industry thrives for the perfect look, I love and commend those who don’t and still stand out beyond the typical mannequin models. Two models that have always stood out, Omahyra Mota and Crystal Renn.

Omahyra Mota

Omahyra Mota, the bad ass model from the 90’s before the Agyness Denn’s even came about. Born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York by the age of 10, this young model was soon signed to Boss Models 6 years later. Omahyra was known for her androgynous look. Gaped front teeth, edgy boy hair cut, and lip pierced was once viewed as abnormal was soon all over the billboards. Campaign model for Roca Wear to the catwalk for the late great Alexander McQueen, Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Nina Ricci to name a few. Omahyra, known for modeling both men’s and women’s clothes, was voted one of People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful people in 2001. Omahyra has made an impact within the fashion world, modeling and acting under her belt since ’04, who knows what else there is for Mota



Crystal Renn-

Model Crystal Renn first came to light at the age of 14 and was told to lose a third of her body weight. She did as she was told in the beginning of her career to fit in. She did the diets, ate properly, and went to the gym, all for the sake of fashion. Over time her body caught up and she had a health crisis causing her to rethink some of her habits. Gaining back 70lbs to get back to her normal body weight, she was officially noted as a plus size model. When coming back into the fast lane of the fashion life, she had gained back her original 40% body weight, which would make her a size. Since her come back, she has been able to be on even more magazine spreads, representing the plus size women. Some magazines include Italian Vogue, V magazine, and Harper’s Bazaar. Recently reporting for Glamour Magazine on New York Fashion Week 2010 on the fall collections, Crystal wishes to continue to her plus size career as well as making the world accept the plus size models even more.


Whats not to love about a model who wants to be more than just another pretty face, but a face and a story that's unforgettable.

HerStory: Lauren Hutton

Lauren Hutton, the ambitious, bold trailblazer was born in Charleston, South Carolina on November 17, 1943.

At 66 years old she is still an icon for many. She doesn’t stop living life to its fullest and she embraces the inevitable natural aging process.

“Our wrinkles are our metals of the passage of our life... I don't think I will ever cut my face, because once I cut it, then I never know where I've been.”

What separated Hutton from other models and actress’ is that she made success for herself using a different approach - not adhering to the standards set of her time, in the 1960’s.

Hutton who is short by typical model standards and has gapped teeth made both of these things work for her. Eileen Ford wanted her to fix her nose and teeth, Lauren had no intention of either and knew there was good money in modeling and chose this path so that she could have money to travel the world.

One of Lauren’s first photo shoots, which would bring her success, was by the late Richard Avedon. “I was inexperienced so Avedon was having a hard time getting me to move naturally. Finally he stopped trying to shoot and asked me about myself. He asked where I came from, and I told him that I grew up in the swamplands in Florida. He asked me what I did there. I said, "We played in the swamps and jumped around." So I spent the rest of that day jumping. Three months later, Vogue came out with 14 pages of me jumping, gapped teeth included, as Avedon wouldn't let me put wax between my teeth like I usually did”.

After years in the biz, Lauren Hutton managed to get the first cosmetics contract that would set the standard for models for years to come…

Quote: “I saw a story on the front page of the New York Times about a baseball player, Catfish Hunter. He was the first player to get a sports contract. I remember his quote: "I've got to have a contract because I'm in a youth-oriented business." I thought, I'm in a youth-oriented business too. I was 30, the most famous model in the world, and I was the last of my era's famous models left. Verushka, Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, they all had stopped. I read the article to my boyfriend and asked him how I could get a contract like that. He replied, "That's easy: refuse to do cosmetic ads." And that's what I did”.

Throughout Laurens many years of travel (35+ years) she has trekked from the Himalayas to Africa to the Amazon. Scuba-dived. Dog-sledded in Sweden and Alaska…she’s gone and lived with Pygmies. She says: “These experiences made my brain and my face change. I learned things other people weren't learning unless they were explorers or anthropologists. A million extraordinary things happened to me every single day on these trips. I slept in a sleeping bag on the ground, with no makeup, no mirrors, and companions who were wearing leaves and had filed teeth, and I read tons of books. I always came back to New York refreshed and chaffing at the bit. Also, I was never competitive with the other girls; it's self-defeating and makes you look ugly”.

In October 2005, at the age of 61, Hutton agreed to pose nude for Big magazine. "I want them (women) not to be ashamed of who they are when they're in bed"

Check out Lauren's makeup line: http://www.laurenhutton.com/

HerStory: China Machado

Just one look at this photo, and a viewer is captivated. As exquisite as her photographs, China Machado is stunning. Model muse of legendary photographer Richard Avedon, China Machado, of Portuguese and Chinese descent, became the first non-Caucasian model to ever appear on the cover of a Western publication (Harper’s Bazaar) in 1959.

A multiracial glamour with striking features, China’s image redefined the image of what a woman could be, allowing the world of fashion to begin relating to people other than it’s usual Caucasian base. When Avedon booked China for a photo shoot, the publishers of Harper’s Bazaar initially refused to run the photographs for fear that her look was too “different”, too alienating. Yet, one look at this infamous icon, and her elegance is unmistakable- the perfect union of grace and toughness that offers an alternative angle of a woman’s presence, an alternative angle of the kind of woman who was allowed to own the title of ‘glamour’.

More than a pretty face, China went on to be a force in the fashion world outside of her photographs. Though Harper’s Bazaar once objected to publishing her images, even they weren’t able to resist her prowess and asked her to be the fashion editor of the publication. She went on to be produce fashion TV shows for networks like NBC, runway shows around the country, and worked as a costume designer for several films.

“She had this incredible way that mixed elegance with nonchalance. Maybe it’s the sophistication of an era that will never happen again. That type of model, that type of photographer (Avedon),- there’s an incredible perfection. It doesn’t come close to those days, what we’re doing today in fashion.”- Francois Nars, of Nars Cosmetics

One look says it all. As Avedon and China prove, one photograph can say a million words.

Vote for Kamel and Koby!

Look at this face! This is the face of an angel. Baby Kamel is gorgeous. This is the son of LLNY's Melody Gross. He should be a model. Please vote for him here and spread the word!

Yet another angel face. This is Koby, nephew of LLSF's Julie Bernstein. He is irresistibly adorable. Vote for him here.

Fashion Week Begins in NYC!

From Baywatch to Westwood

Peta activist and Malibu resident Pamela Anderson landed herself a new job modeling for a recent Vivienne Westwood campaign. Oh Vivienne has always been an out of the box sort of lady, but is Anderson a good choice? Let the pics speak for themselves.

More pics here.

Source: BLOGUE

Political Fashion - CUT by Liberty Ross

Fashion is a world of fantasy brought to life. Can the world of fashion be political and the political be fashion? Well, of course, if properly executed.

CUT, a short film with not so subtle commentary on the diamond industry, successfully takes political fashion to another level. In the film, model Liberty Ross sits reclined and alone in black lingerie, dramatic hair and makeup with her crossed legs draped in thigh high stockings.

Her outfit, accessorized with fur and diamonds, becomes a symbol of what goes on before you wear it. At first, one may mistake the scene for an ad for a high end fashion brand. However, as an eerie sound increases her diamonds begin to weep blood.

A pretty well done concept and the sound design just adds to the element.

See the video by clicking HERE.

PS: LOVE SHOWSTUDIO!