NEW FACES Modeling and Acting Blog

Victoria’s Secrets Model Search: Top Ten Finalists

2009-11-06T06:45:00.008-05:00

Victoria's Secrets has released the top 10 finalist of its national model search for the next Runway Angel yesterday.

These 10 gorgeous ladies who have been chosen from the nationwide casting calls that started last October 3 will be sent to the so-called "Angel Boot Camp" where they will face series of challenges that include showing off their photogenic and red carpet star qualities, proving their abilities as a spokesmodel, and "radiating charisma while walking a runway in lingerie."

They're all gorgeous. They're all leggy. But only one of them will get her angel wings. Check out the girls (clockwise from top left):

1. Alicia Hall, 24, Las Vegas, NV
2. Raven Ervin, 24, Birmingham, AL
3. Katelyn Fortes, 18, Boston, MA
4. Courtney O'Conner, 20, Raleigh, NC
5. Krystina Holbrook, 20, El Dorado Hills, CA
6. Jamie Lee Darley, 23, Carmel, CA
7. Allison Turner, 23, Cape Girardeau, MO
8. Catharina Lee, 20, Washington, DC
9. Tika Ivezaj, 25, Detroit, MI
10. Kylie Bisutti, 19, Simi Valley, CA

The life of these 10 girls as they live together in one apartment and compete with each other's beauty will be followed by a camera. The weekly webisodes will air on VSAllAccess.com and CBS.com. Voting for the Victoria's Secrets Angel-wannabee will begin on November 9. And yes, the finale will take us to the aired fashion show on December 1, where one of these lovely ladies will walk down the lingerie along with the rest of the Victoria's Secrets Angels.

Gossip Girl's Upcoming Episode Depicts Threesome

2009-11-05T06:23:00.008-05:00

"Every Parent's Nightmare," is the catchy line on the controversial print advertisement released by The CW for the second season of "Gossip Girl."

There must be some truth to it. This early, there's an emerging parents' group that is already asking affiliate stations of the CW network to pre-empt the show, following the on-air promos on the upcoming episode of Gossip Girl that depicts a sexual threesome.

The Parents Television Council, a nonpartisan education group advocating responsible entertainment, hopes to stop the show's episode from being aired on November 9 as scheduled. According to the organization's president, Tim Winter, airing the teen tryst is "reckless and irresponsible."

In a letter to the affiliates, the Parents Television Council asked, "Will you now be complicit in establishing a precedent and expectation that teenagers should engage in behaviors heretofore associated primarily with adult films?"

The Gossip Girl's threesome, which is being teased in the ad, involves three main characters in the show. They are not, however, identified in the promos.

Retouching Will "Glorify" Photos Of Women... And Men

2009-11-04T06:29:00.008-05:00

Playing devil's advocate to the French-proposed legislation that requires labeling of retouched photos, fashion photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino says the law would be silly because retouching has always been part of beautifying images.

Since picture speaks a thousand words, the photographer make his point vivid by taking a photo of a boyish model then "glorify" her by adding womanly curves. The photo has been featured in the past weekend's edition of French daily newspaper Libération's Next magazine, with Mondino's own words interpreting the snap:

"The photos of old Hollywood? Retouched! The iconic image of Che Guevara? Retouched! All the photos taken by Richard Avedon of Marilyn Monroe? Retouched! And all of this before today's software existed, of course. Legs were lengthened using a wide angle; skins were smoothed through overexposure."

Ok. So if retouching glorifies women, how would you view this 50 Cent photo in the campaign for his new fragrance, Power. Pulling off his white button-down shirt, the rapper looks heavily Photoshopped with the missing stomach tattoo...

Casting Choice Dismays Blind And Deaf Actors

2009-11-03T06:23:00.007-05:00

Casting choice for the role of Helen Keller in the Broadway revival of the play "The Miracle Worker" dismays blind and deaf actors.

The newest revival of the play will still focus on Helen Keller's relationship with her teacher Anne Sullivan. The producers seem to have the perfect cast in Abigail Breslin, a 13 year-old Oscar nominee. However, the casting decision has prompted blind and deaf actors to complain that the early life of blind-and-deaf hero Helen Keller should also be played by a member of their community — a real blind-and-deaf child actor, that is.

"We do not think it's OK for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community. I understand how difficult it is to capitalize a new production on Broadway, but that to me is not the issue. There are other, larger human and artistic issues at stake here," says Sharon Jensen, executive director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts in an interview with the New York Times.

But the show's producer, David Richenthal, explains that the production was unable to find a blind or deaf child actor with the "star power" to bring in enough of an audience to justify the show's large budget:

"It's simply naïve to think that in this day and age, you'll be able to sell tickets to a play revival solely on the potential of the production to be a great show or on the potential for an unknown actress to give a breakthrough performance. I would consider it financially irresponsible to approach a major revival without making a serious effort to get a star."

To give support for the blind and deaf community, the producers hope to find a blind or deaf actress to play Abigail Breslin's understudy, stressing however that they will not make any promises.

The original Broadway production of "The Miracle Worker" was in 1959, which starred Patty Duke as Helen Keller. Later TV and movie versions of the play had Patty Duke, Melissa Gilbert, and Mare Winningham for the role of Helen Keller. None of these former child actors were real-life blind and deaf.

White Models On Blackface For Fashion Editorials

2009-11-02T06:23:00.013-05:00

It seems that blackface is becoming an unlikely trend. Despite the criticism, more cases of white models posing as black people for photo shoots are highly publicized.

It all started with the controversial Lara Stone shoot for French Vogue. The model posed with blackened skin for the magazine's 14-page spread, as photographed by Steven Klein and styled by editor Carine Rotifeld. According to the magazine, the image depicted the white model in her "radical break with the wave of anorexic models." (How anorexia connects with black color? Figure that out.)

Next, contestants of "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 13 posed for bi-racial photo shoots. Following the orders of the great Tyra Banks, the 6 remaining candidates of the reality modeling competition were brought to Hawaii where they were transformed into different races - bleach blonde Erin Wagner was turned "Tibetan and Egyptian," Southern belle Laura Kirkpatrick was transformed into "Mexican and Greek," Korean Jennifer An became "Botswanan and Polynesian," African-American Sundai Love was made into "Moroccan and Russian," redheaded Nicole Fox became "Malagasy and Japanese," and blonde Brittany Markert was colored to look "Native American and East Indian."

Disregarding the criticisms, Tyra Banks might be all-smiles now. She has been making headlines herself for simply turning her models biracial.

And now there's the latest issue of V magazine, featuring Sasha Pivovarova in blackface and Heidi Mount. The image is photographed by Mario Sorrenti and is made possible by makeup artist James Kaliardos. The magazine will hit newsstands tomorrow, November 3.

What do you think of white models posing with blackface for photo shoots?

Is it unfair to the black race, considering that there's lack of employment for black models but the production opt to blackened white models for the job?

Or is it simply fashion photography that highlights the creativity of both models, photographers, and artists behind the blackface makeup technique?

Ellen Von Unwerth's Best Shot Is With A Ghost Model

2009-10-30T09:18:00.006-04:00

Famous photographer and director Ellen von Unwerth tells that her best shot is with a "ghost model." On Glamour UK, the German lady who specializes in erotic femininity recalls:

"I took this maybe three years ago, on a fashion shoot for Italian Vogue. We developed a romantic story to go with it: a woman comes back to the place where she grew up, and finds it all dusty and falling apart. We shot it in a chateau in Paris. The girl was a model, and it was the only time I worked with her. After this, she disappeared. She was from eastern Europe, Romania maybe, and even the agency couldn't find her again. So she's like a ghost. The picture certainly has a ghostly feeling.

"I love a picture that surprises you: you try to get everything perfect, then somehow it ends up looking wrong. That's why I love this one. It was taken with a Polaroid, one of those beautiful things that no longer exist. The light has caused the blurriness, giving the shot extra emotion. There's something eerie about it, too: the girl's expression is both vulnerable and strong..."

How's that for Halloween? Spooooooky!

Miley Cyrus Vs Taylor Lautner: Double Standard For Teen Stars?

2009-10-29T07:19:00.006-04:00

Does Hollywood have a double standard for its shirtless teenage stars?

When Miley Cyrus posed in Vanity Fair last year, wearing but a wrap of sheet and exposing her right shoulder and the top of her back, the negative reaction was overwhelming. Critics said the 15 year-old actress and her nude-implied photo is "sexualization of a child to sell magazines."

The call to reprimand the teen star was intense enough for her to eventually make a public apology statement saying, "I never intended for any of this to happen, and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone." This was despite how she expressed earlier liking to the photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz.

Now, with the New Moon movie coming to theatres in a month, there's the 17 year-old Taylor Lautner and his shirtless body blanketing the magazines, websites, and TV for the promotion of the Twilight sequel. Just like Miley Cyrus, Taylor Hautner is also a minor - a child. Unlike his fellow teen star, however, images of his shirtless body not only appeared on one magazine but on countless mass media. And unlike Miley Cyrus, no one called the shirtless photos of this teen male star scandalous.

And so Lindsay Robertson asks on Yahoo Movie Talk colum, "Does Hollywood have a double standard for shirtless teenage stars?"

Taylor Lautner trained for months to get the fit and toned body that New Moon has been showing off. But for all the shirtless images of him in circulation, there's only one major voice to raise questions about his photos. His New Moon co-star Kristin Davis says, "I feel protective, like what is he doing without his shirt on? And then I hear he's dating people, and I'm like, 'Ahh!'"

Good or bad for the young Taylor Hautner, no one is seeing his shirtless images as sexualization of a child to sell a movie. And while there's no big critic to his provocative photos, he could only hope that he never has to take his shirt off in a movie again:

"It's so uncomfortable knowing that so many people are seeing pictures of me shirtless... It's weird. It's kind of embarrassing."

Naomi Campbell Wins Fashion Icon Award

2009-10-28T07:09:00.003-04:00

Naomi Campbell's fuming over the lack of modeling opportunities for black and ethnic models has paid off. She received the Fashion Icon Award at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Front Row charity event last Saturday.

The Front Row event was created to honor black and Latino fashion professionals and while making her acceptance speech, the supermodel also took the opportunity to continue voicing her sentiments on racism in the fashion industry.

While the 39 years old supermodel has considered herself fortunate to be working in the fashion industry for over 25 years, progress still needs to be made. Calling the lack of minority models in the industry as "injustice," Naomi Campbell stressed:

"Nelson Mandela always told me to speak my mind and the consequences will take care of themselves... There is a small group of people whose minds we have to change because we are living in a multicultural society."

Aside from Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon Award, other honorees of the Front Row event include Fashion Institute of Technology's president Dr. Joyce F. Brown, makeup artist Sam Fine, and Oprah's hairstylist Andre Walker. The Avant-Garde award was given to the late Michael Jackson and was accepted by his brother Marlon Jackson.

Cindy Crawford Quits Catwalk Over Body And Age Issues

2009-10-27T07:47:00.011-04:00

She used to be the hottest supermodel around, walking down the ramp in her long legs. And then 1990s ended. And Cindy Crawford was supermodel no more...

Now 43 years old, Cindy Crawford is still fit and slim. People would say "she's still got it." But the mother of two knows better. She quit catwalk because she does not want to be compared to all the young beauties with whom she would be walking.

"I don't want to stand next to a 20-year-old on the runway, even if people say you can still do it. It is like, 'Why would I do that to myself?' It would just make me depressed," says the former wife of Richard Geere to UK's Hello magazine.

"I'm more comfortable with myself in the sense that hey, this is who I am now. I guess I appreciate my body for other things - like I was able to give birth to two kids... But at the same time, I am aware my body doesn't look the same way it did when I was 23. I actually don't want to feel that pressure."

Just like former supermodel Claudia Schiffer who recently vows that she would never hit the catwalk again, Cindy Crawford is still busy outside the runway with magazine photo shoots and ad campaigns for TV and print. Though uncertain about how long her modeling gigs will last, she is certainly enjoying her work as a model.

"At a certain point, they're going to stop asking me to take my clothes off. Lying in a baby pool filled with shaving cream is much funnier at 43. Like, 'Oh my god, I can't believe I'm still doing this!' You have to have a sense of humor about it at this point."

So What's With This "Luxury Shame?"

2009-10-26T07:22:00.010-04:00

Not only does recession paves the way for frugal fashion statements and the neglect of ethnic models in bad economy, it also makes rich shoppers feel the "luxury shame" when splurging.

While shopping always involves guilt, the kind that makes the whole activity exciting thus the feeling of "guilty pleasure," it becomes plain odd guilt in times of recession. This overriding feeling of guilt is called "luxury shame," the one that makes wealthy shoppers feel bad when splurging despite that they still have the money.

Luxury shame has been identified by consultants at a global management consulting firm as the worst roadblock to the luxury fashion industry's economic recovery.

"Guilt has really increased in the last year. It can hamper any other good feelings," says one brand strategist.

As shoppers browse, select, and try on clothes, they feel good and get a high - like eating chocolate. But guilt sets in rather quickly. "It's not very strong at the beginning but increases when you swipe your credit card through the credit-card reader." This guilty feeling is the same reaction from a smoker who has finished a cigarette.

Because guilt is running so high in these bad economic times and luxury shame is so strong a feeling to be ignored, shoppers try not to feel the guilt by avoiding stores that tempt them to buy.

To beat the luxury shame among consumers, fashion companies tackle the issue with equally intense psychological tactics.

One way is to catch costumers off-guard by putting new store outlets, expecting to not activate guilt among costumers when they go shopping in traditional stores. However, this solution seems to come up short. "People are so disciplined, their super-ego tells them not to buy, and then they don't buy," observes an administrator for an Italian fashion group.

An alternative marketing strategy is through Internet shopping. While luxury shame is epitomized by walking around in a fancy store in shopping bags, online shopping portrays a different costumer behavior, that is, "you take five minutes out at a specific moment of the day to get the things you need online."

Then there's putting a charitable-giving component to shopping. To take away some guilt from purchasing products, a typical promotion may allow a buyer to donate 15% of their money to a sponsored charity when, say, they buy the new pair of shoes.

Lastly, there are companies that put emphasis on "guilt-free shopping," that is, buying products that do not harm the environment. Do organic bras, eco-friendly shoes, and green clothing ring a bell?

These seem to be effective strategies to beat the "luxury shame," although a person with oniomania (medical term for shoppaholic) may not be stopped by all the said guilt that comes with recession. Shopping, just like fashion, is inevitable. Because it is both a leisure and an economic activity, it will remain an act that forever shapes the world of fashion and the economy.

Kendra Wilkinson Poses With Baby Bump On Magazine Cover

2009-10-23T07:50:00.013-04:00

Reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson poses with her baby bump on the latest cover of In Touch magazine.

The 24 year-old glamour model is known for her sexy body, which has been highlighted on the E! reality television show "The Girls Next Door," documenting her life as one of Hugh Hefner's three girlfriends. She has also posed for nude pictorials with her Girls Next Door co-stars and fellow Hefner girlfriends Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt.

But Kendra Wilkinson's latest magazine pictorial displays not her curves, but her baby bump. As pregnant model of the magazine, she talks about the joys of pregnancy.

"I have never felt this beautiful! The one thing I love about being pregnant is my skin, I used to have the worst acne. My whole life it's been horrible — on the Girls Next Door, it was disgusting. This is the best skin that I have ever had in my life!

"The greatest thing is probably just feeling like a queen. Everybody does everything for me. And Hank is always just giving me unconditional love — that different type of love that I've never felt before."

Kendra Wilkinson met Playboy magazine owner Hugh Hefner at his 78th birthday party where she was hired as one of the "painted girls." She later lived in the Playboy Mansion as Hefner's girlfriend and made several magazine pictorials and cameos on different TV programs.

Kendra Wilkinson is now married to former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. Taking her husband's last name, she is now known as Kendra Baskett.

Ever wonder what it's like to live inside the Playboy Mansion? Read here.

Grace Coddington Speaks Her Mind On Ralph Lauren Controversy

2009-10-22T07:33:00.006-04:00

Grace Coddington speaks up on the Ralph Lauren controversy, saying she is worried about the penchant of the fashion industry for very young and very thin models.

Before she worked side by side with Anna Wintour as the creative director of Vogue, Grace Coddington was a model herself. She sympathized with Filippa Hamilton who claimed being fired by Ralph Lauren for being too fat, but her worry has been more on how today's models are getting younger and thus, more vulnerable to the pressures of the industry.

"It is a big problem. I remember when I was young, they told me that if I didn't lose weight I'd be out of the show, so I spent a week living off of coffee. But I'm a very levelheaded person. These problems nowadays are with kids much, much younger than that, and that's most of the problem — when they're very young and vulnerable."

On the other hand, the 68 year-old director believes that Ralph Lauren has been unfairly criticized for using thin models. For one, it is not only Ralph Lauren who uses thin models in fashion campaigns but most of the high-fashion designers in the industry.

"Most of his models are not super-skinny, so this is sort of an isolated situation, and I think it's unfair if he gets a lot of bad publicity because of it. But it is a big problem in the fashion industry. And you go to meetings to discuss it, and you think it's kind of futile, because it's such a big thing, and in the end, people are always asking for more and they're always asking for thinner."

So how do Grace Coddington and the people in the industry address this issue? Will they now stop using skinny models in fashion campaigns and replace them with women of healthier sizes? Why do high-fashion photo shoots choose thin models, by the way?

"They have to be a little thinner than you and I because you always photograph a little fatter, but you don't have to go to the extremes they go to. And because they're kids, they take it too far, and they can't regulate their lives, and next thing you know they're anorexic, and it is tragic.

"And I don't know what the answer is, except to keep on it, which we're all trying to do. Anna's trying to do it. Personally we're not allowed, at Vogue, to work with girls who are very thin, but you never know, because you could book them and think they're a certain size, and they turn up on the shoot and suddenly they've spun into this anorexic situation. And you're on the spot and you have to get the job done and you have one day to do it, and what do you do? But you try to be responsible, as Anna is."

We also don't know the answer Grace, except that with all these posts about weight getting too much, we might finally figure out what annoys us... when models are, in fact, meant to look better than everyone else.

Why High-Fashion Designers Don't Make Larger Clothes? Donatella Versace Answers

2009-10-21T07:36:00.007-04:00

Famous Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace graces Vogue website as the first designer to answer questions directly from the readers.

Amidst all the questioning, one stands out. A reader from Chicago has asked the iconic designer why high-fashion designers refuse to make plus-size clothes:

"Why do designers typically refuse to design for sizes above 10? This question is not meant to be confrontational; I've just always wondered about this. Is it simply a prejudice? Wouldn't it be a good business decision? I can understand not wanting to start a stand-alone plus-size line, but what about extending sizes to 14/16? We have money, too! "

Donatella Versace provides this answer:

"We do offer larger sizes at Versace, but I take your point. I certainly wouldn't want to do a plus-size line, as I have no problem with women of any size wearing my clothes. I guess some styles lend themselves to being scaled up, while some others just don't work. Sometimes it can depend on the specific piece."

Donatella Versace is the current Vice-President of the Versace Group and Chief Designer of the fashion line. She is the public relations giant of the Versace label, responsible for its spread throughout Europe and most of the United States. She designed the famous Versace Green Dress aka the Jungle Dress, worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

Proclaiming Thinness: Ralph Lauren Models And The Ideal Woman

2009-10-20T07:17:00.007-04:00

Despite the controversy over the ridiculous retouching of one model and firing her for said weight gain, Polo Ralph Lauren still makes a proclaimation of thinness by sending skinny models on the runway.

In its every fashion show over the years, ultra-thin Ralph Lauren models walk down the catwalk, making a bold statement for the fashion house's preference for skin-and-bone bodies.

Apparently, those who want to see healthier and thicker bodies on the catwalk condemns the idea. They believe it is time for a change — the fashion industry should now use fuller women on the catwalk, the supposed role model for the healthy American woman.

But Robin Givhan of The Washington Post thinks that it is totally unfair for the fashion industry to be criticized for using thin models. Givhan believes that fashion represents an ideal and so, the thin models that we see on the runway are actually the perfect images of how our society celebrates weight loss.

For Givhan, the skinny models that still make up the majority in the fashion industry have to be seen against the backdrop of a population that is overwhelmingly afflicted with obesity.

"By its very nature, fashion is a business of falsehoods and costumes, all in service to self-definition. The uncomfortable truth about the fashion industry is it has a knack for tapping into unspoken cultural obsessions and taboos. Fashion sets up a rarefied world of perfection that is, in many ways, defined by how much it differs from the mundane, from the norm. And all indicators suggest that as a culture, we hate what we are becoming: fat."

And if there's a decreasing trend of buying glossy magazines, Givhan believes that it is not because the public are turning down publications that feature skinny models, but as a result of the declining economy.

"The fatter the general population, the thinner the idealized woman. And for all the public posturing and blogging, the only force that stopped people from buying clothes and magazines was the souring economy, not righteous indignation over skinny models."

Plus-Size Model Emme Urges Women To Protest Against Ralph Lauren

2009-10-19T07:56:00.001-04:00

Emme, one of the largely recognized leading and highest earning plus-size model in the industry today, is urging women to speak out against the way Ralph Lauren is fraudulently presenting women in its advertising campaigns.

Emme's statement against Ralph Lauren is sparked out by the controversy surrounding the excessive digital alteration of Ralph Lauren model Filippa Hamilton and the following termination of her contract over alleged weight issue.

As a pioneer in plus-size modeling, Emme also had her share of unjust termination because of weight gain:

"As a model I was released from jobs for no apparent reason, just saying that they were moving on, and it was understood. I had to be thick skinned to deal with the industry."

Currently the host of Fox's reality dating series, More to Love, the 46 year-old model believes that the only way to change the trend of the fashion industry for favoring thin and digitally altered models is to make consumers speak up and take action:

"It's time for women to start uniting online and communicating about this, to really put their foot down. They are in the driver's seat, because they are the ones spending the money!"

Emme also calls on powerful design company to represent a more realistic image of the American woman in their advertising campaigns:

"Ralph Lauren needs to change the way he promotes the beautiful American family. He needs to use more diverse models, including plus size ones."

Even Plus-Size Models Damage Women's Self-Esteem

2009-10-16T07:41:00.007-04:00

Even plus-size models damage overweight women's self-esteem. This is according to a study by a team of researchers from the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands.

As published in the Journal of Consumer Research, the new study reveals that regardless of the models' weight, fuller women always feel worse about themselves upon looking at photos of models. How does this happen?

Plus-size women tend to identify their similarities to models, unfavorably comparing themselves to the skinny models and finding their similarity to the fuller models depressing.

On the other hand, thin women compare themselves to models and get a lift of their self-esteem when they realize they are more like the thin models.

"Overweight women's self-esteem always decreases, regardless of the model they look at."

This is actually because it is not the body of an ultra-thin or a plus-size model that affects the woman's self-esteem, but the presentation of beauty.

A model's image in any commercial medium like magazine is always rooted on one purpose — to sell. Whether or not it presents a roster of thin or plus-size models, it should not be looked upon as the major player of social change. While featuring plus-size models on fashion magazines and ad campaigns may influence people's perception of beauty, it's main purpose is still the aesthetic value like the diversity of models, the easiest way for it to become interesting.

This goes to mean that every glossy magazine and commercial ad is a culprit to a damaged self-esteem. The study notes that overweight and underweight women are more or less similar on the levels of self-esteem when they are not looking at models.

In other words, if any fuller woman who looks at a glossy magazine does not have a healthy understanding of the difference between fashion imagery and real life, she will always suffer lower self-esteem.

When this happens, it is best to take the recommendation of the researchers: overweight consumers should avoid looking at ads with any models — thin or heavy.

Ralph Lauren Model, Fired For Being Too Fat?

2009-10-15T08:08:00.005-04:00

Remember Filippa Hamilton, the unfortunate model who's image has gone through extensive photoshopping just to become the ultra-thin model of the controversial Ralph Lauren ad?

Well, Ralph Lauren has already issued a statement that admits to the irresponsible retouching of the model's photo, resulting in "a very distorted image of a woman's body."

But do you know that the supposed ultra-thin model has been axed by the company since April?

Filippa Hamilton, 5'10" and size 4 (120-pound), has revealed in her recent media interview that she was fired by Ralph Lauren because she was "too fat." On the Today show, the 23 years old Swedish-French model says, "They said I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore."

She added that her agent has received a letter from Ralph Lauren in April that says, "We're terminating your services because you don't fit into the sample clothes that you need to wear."

It seems like a size 4 model will never be thin enough for Ralph Lauren so that if they are unable to slim her through photo retouching, they send her out of the company for good.

A spokesperson for Ralph Lauren has denied the model's accusation and insisted that she was not terminated because of her weight but because of her "inability to meet the obligations under her contract."

Filippa Hamilton, on the other hand, maintains that she has been loyal to the company for eight years: "I did everything that I could. I was very loyal to them. I was on time every time."

The model's decision to speak out and publicize her complaint has been sparked by the photoshopped image of her on Ralph Lauren ad that shows an ultra-thin woman with her head appearing bigger than her waist and pelvis.

"They photoshopped her in a way that for me is grotesque and makes her look like a cartoon. The trouble is that it's damaging to her. Who wants to hire somebody that looks like that?" says Filippa Hamilton's lawyer to NBC News.

For her part, Filippa Hamilton says:

"It's not a good example when you see this picture, every young woman is going to look at it and think that it is normal to look like that. It's not. I saw my face on this super-extremely skinny girl, which is not me. It makes me sad. It makes me think that Ralph Lauren wants to have this kind of image. It's an American brand... and it's not healthy, and it's not right."

Christiano Ronaldo Is The New Body Of Armani Underwear

2009-10-14T07:50:00.005-04:00

Portuguese football player Christiano Ronaldo is the new model of Armani underwear and jeans for its new worldwide advertising campaign. This is according to Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani.

As an international soccer sensation, Christiano Ronaldo is dubbed as the "new official worldwide testimonial" for Armani. The 24 year-old hunky sportsman has played for Spanish club Real Madrid and the national Portuguese team.

Christiano Ronaldo's ads will start in spring-summer 2010. He will replace football superstar David Beckham who has also posed seductively for Emporio Armani Underwear campaigns last year. David Beckham, meanwhile, is developing his own line of men's underwear.

Mark your spring-summer 2010 calendar ladies because there will be lots of shirtless (and pantless) action for Christiano Ronaldo by that time!

Naomi Campbell's Confidence Is Waning

2009-10-13T07:13:00.005-04:00

At 39, Supermodel Naomi Campbell's fiery confidence is waning. No matter how she would like to sashay on the catwalk forever, she's now feeling the pressure of staying young and fears she will soon lose her looks as she nears 40s.

"I'm not immune to being insecure - especially as I'm getting older. But I love what I do, so I have to put in a little more effort. I do pilates every day. I'll carry on doing runways until people stop wanting my services," the British babe was quoted as saying.

During the London Fashion Week last month, a nervous Naomi Campbell walked on the runway in skimpy outfits.

"Going out on that runway and having everyone looking at my backside was petrifying. I still get nervous, in some ways I have to be nervous. I don't want to to be too confident out on the runway because it's about the clothes. Not about Naomi."

Lindsay Lohan's Fashion Is A Disaster

2009-10-12T07:49:00.006-04:00

Lindsay Lohan dismays fashion world with her recent participation on Paris Fashion Week for luxury label Ungaro.

Under the artistic advisement of 23 year-old LiLo, the house of Emmanuel Ungaro sends its models down the runway in glittery heart-shaped nipple pasties.

Unfortunately, the brightly-colored collection is deemed a fashion disaster. Critics say the collection is "an embarrassment" that look "cheesy and dated" with an "overworked" heart motif - a totally catastrophic "gaudy series of sartorial faux pas."

"When Lohan came out for a runway bow, her eyes were full of tears. And it's easy to see why," reports the Los Angeles Times. "After all the hullabaloo over her appointment a month ago, with some fashion insiders suggesting it was an insult to anyone who had ever really worked in design, it had to have been the walk of shame to end all."

Lindsay Lohan has been hired by Ungaro with a million-worth contract to infuse youthful sensibility to the the European fashion label (aside from generating publicity for the brand).

But with her artistic advisement causing dismay, analysts say it could signal a shift away from high end brands looking for creative input from celebrities. They believed that celebrities like Lindsay Lohan are better left as endorsers of brands rather than its creators.

"I think fashion should remain for the most part up to designers to create. We need more Marc Jacobs, Tom Fords, Stella McCartneys, Donatella Versaces, Karl Lagerfelds," says one fashion director.

Miley Cyrus Deletes Her Twitter

2009-10-09T07:36:00.006-04:00

Teen superstar Miley Cyrus has deleted her Twitter account, leaving millions of fans and followers puzzled.

On her last tweet Wednesday, the 16 year-old and once twitter-obsessed star writes:

"FYI Liam doesn't have a Twitter and he wants ME to delete mine with good reason."

Fans are not happy with Miley Cyrus' decision and call her new boyfriend and co-star in the upcoming film "The Last Song," Liam Hemsworth, as controlling. They are rallying to get the Disney sensation back to the microblogging site by making the #mileycomeback topic. It has become one of the most popular topics on the site since Thursday.

Miley Cyrus has 2,119, 677 followers on Twitter, all well-informed of her private life that she personally shares through either mundane or emotionally-charged thoughts.

Although the teen star's tweeting is a root cause for lack of privacy, it has helped her reached out to millions of strangers worldwide and ensures her a nice place in the media.

But now that Miley Cyrus, the most popular actress of her generation, has bid goodbye to the Twitterverse, will other stars follow suit? Will Twitter be over for celebrities?

Ultra-Thin Model Of Ralph Lauren Ad Sparks Uproar

2009-10-08T07:46:00.006-04:00

Here's the latest image to spark uproar in the old brewing debate of using digitally altered photographs of models in advertising and fashion magazines:

a Ralph Lauren advertisement featuring Filippa Hamilton in all her ultra-thin glory.

The photo first appeared on a blog called Photoshop Disasters, with a comment that says, "Dude, her head's bigger than her pelvis." It attracted much publicity after being posted by Boing Boing later on its website.

The Ralph Lauren management was none too pleased over the controversy the posts have sparked so they filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint over the two companies. According to the management, the "use of the image was a copyright infringement that fell outside of the Fair Use laws which allow the media to reproduce creative content for the purposes of commentary and criticism."

As a response, Photoshop Disasters removed the post. But Boing Boing, Canada's Priority Colo, refused to do so. Instead, it posted a warning for Ralph Lauren on its website that says:

"Copyright law doesn't give you the right to threaten your critics for pointing out the problems with your offerings. You should know better. And every time you threaten to sue us over stuff like this, we will:

a) Reproduce the original criticism, making damned sure that all our readers get a good, long look at it, and;

b) Publish your spurious legal threat along with copious mockery, so that it becomes highly ranked in search engines where other people you threaten can find it and take heart; and

c) Offer nourishing soup and sandwiches to your models."

Ralph Lauren's attempt to put a stop to the critics apparently did not help. It only increased the negative attention surrounding the controversial ad.

Actually, the problem is not on the useful digital photo enhancement process. If only Ralph Lauren did not alter the model so thin that her waist appears smaller than her head...

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer Retires From The Catwalk

2009-10-07T06:44:00.004-04:00

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer has revealed to Italian magazine Donna Materna that she will never strut on the runway again. The 39 year-old German beauty says:

"I am finished with the catwalk and I won't miss it. I continue to model and it's a lot of fun – but no more fashion shows."

Instead of gracing the catwalk, the 5'11" leggy model says she would love to be sitting on the front row and check out all the dresses. "I can sit on the side and view the outfits and see all the detail and that suits me fine. It's very enjoyable. I like my new viewpoint," she confesses.

As a supermodel, Claudia Schiffer is most popular in the 1990s. She is the iconic muse of Chanel and walks the runway alongside Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss. She has graced the covers of many fashion magazines and has also appeared in many films and commercials.

After being discovered from a Düsseldorf night club in 1987, Claudia Schiffer has already made an estimated £38million fortune. She has been modeling for almost 20 years but unlike Naomi Campbell, she insists she had enough of strutting.

With homes in London and Suffolk, Claudia Schiffer is now busy off the runway being a mother of two and still a face for many high-fashion campaigns. She says she's leading an "odd" life at the moment, which includes a planned trip to Iraq.

Brigitte Magazine Bans Skiny Professional Models

2009-10-06T07:17:00.006-04:00

Seems like more magazine publications are responding to skinny backlash.

After American Glamour, Germany's most popular women's magazine, Brigitte, has announced yesterday that it will ban professional skinny models to appear on its pages. The action is made to favor "real women" against unhealthy thin models whom the magazine believes to be isolating its readers.

As detailed in the Huffington Post, Brigitte's editor-in-chief Andreas Lebert has told the media that the banning of professional thin models is a response to the increasing number of readers who says they are tired of seeing models with "potruding bones" who weigh far less than the average woman.

Starting next year, Brigitte is expected to feature both prominent women and regular readers in its photo spreads. "We will show women who have an identity – the 18-year-old student, the head of the board, the musician, the football player," adds Lebert.

On second thought, there are many other professional models who are not skinny and are far bigger on "identity." So, this is not a case of one glossy magazine favoring voluptuous and plus-size models over skinny ones. Brigitte suffers a steady loss of readers in the past 20 years. Some serious financial problems, perhaps?

Lebert reveals that Brigitte's banning of professional models is an investment move and should not be taken as a declaration of war on the modeling profession. "We are not going to become a magazine for plus-sizes," he adds.

Louisa von Minckwitz of Louisa Models agency has commented that the ban on models is a marketing gag that will not last long. "Women want to see clothes on a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing person," says the owner of the top German modeling agency.

Plus-Size Models Go Nude For Glamour Magazine

2009-10-05T07:46:00.005-04:00

Glamour did it again. In its November issue, the magazine featured not just one but seven gorgeous plus-size models who posed naked for an au naturel photo shoot, and continued the efforts of pushing the boundaries of accepted beauty norms.

Photographed by Matthias Vriens-McGrath, the seven knock-out beauties who went nude for the glossy fashion magazine were Crystal Renn, Lizzie Miller, Kate Dillon, Ashley Graham, Jennie Runk, Amy Lemons, and Anasa Sims.

As part of Glamour's "body image revolution," the nude photo shoot with the plus-size models include an article by Genevieve Field, which discussed the fashion industry's weght obssession. The article cited that the reason why a woman who measured 6 and above is considered plus-size is because they are really too big for the designers' sample clothes, which usually fall between 0 to 4, only.

Aside from featuring nude plus-size models on the magazine, Glamour magazine has mentioned to feature a greater range of body types in its upcoming pages, "including in fashion and beauty stories (traditionally the toughest areas for even the top 'plus-size' models to crack)."