Fashion model girl beauty
It's Fashion Week in New York, and top designer runways are, as always,
populated by super-lean glamazons who resemble few in the general American
population. Most women don't stand 5-foot-9 or taller, and even if they do,
don't slip easily into size 0s or 2s.
But that's New York, where extremes often rule. Things are a bit more
realistic here in Chicago, where models at this past weekend's STYLEMAX show
at the Merchandise Mart can wear still-slender 4s and 6s and get work.
» Click to enlarge image
Fashion model Jasmin Bir.
The backlash against so-called "skinny models" has reached global
proportions, thanks in large part to the November death of 21-year-old
Brazilian fashion model Ana Carolina Reston at a skeletal 88 pounds. This
debate is not just about the "girls," as female models always are called,
but about the images these impossibly thin mannequins portray to real women
and girls who often long to emulate their clothes-hanger frames.
Spain last September banned from its runways models with body mass indexes
under 18, meaning a 5-foot-9 model would have to weigh at least 122 pounds
to work (a "normal" female body mass index is between 18.5 and 24.9). In
December, Italy began requiring models to provide certificates proving they
do not suffer from eating disorders. And last month the British Fashion
Council, while not barring ultra-thin models, said it will convene a task
force that will create industry guidelines.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America recently released guidelines
designed to protect working models' health, and on Monday hosted a Fashion
Week discussion on the topic. The guidelines are about "awareness and
education, not policing," but recommend that models be at least 16 to work
runway shows, and that those under 18 shouldn't work past midnight. They
want to develop industry workshops for models and their families and to
require models with eating disorders to seek professional help in order to
work.
Chicago's Susan Glick, managing director of fashion and marketing for
Merchandise Mart Properties and a local show-producing legend, applauds the
council's new guidelines.
"This is a topic that needed to be put under the spotlight," says Glick, who
has also produced haute local fund-raisers such as the annual "Gold Coast
Fashion Show." "We can find our size 4 and 6 models, and we're happy to say
they're healthy. Our models are 5-9, 5-10, 5-11, and they're not anorexic.
The problem is when we receive samples from New York and they come in a
zero.
"I don't think anybody is naturally thin. Most of these girls, if they're
serious about their work, they have to monitor it. The [sample] clothes keep
getting smaller; the premium jeans keep getting smaller, so they have to
stay on top of their game."
Models must 'fit the suit'
To a large extent, show producers, magazine editors and modeling agencies
must bow to the aesthetic whims of designers who create the teeny "sample
size" clothes that appear on runways and in fashion glossies. And if a model
can't fit the clothes, she doesn't work.
"For us, it's about proportions and measurements," says Marissa Surmenkow,
director of scouting and development for Elite Chicago, the top agency that
once repped supermodel Cindy Crawford and Liya Kebede, the Ethiopian-born
model seen in Estee Lauder ads. In Chicago, clients "want the girls to look
approachable and healthy so the average consumer can identify with the
model, whether it's Carson's or Kohl's or whoever."
Besides, says Surmenkow, "when we take a girl on, what we do is educate
[her] on how to maintain a healthy body imge, tools she can incorporate into
her daily life."
One of these Elite "New Faces" is Jasmin Bir. A 22-year-old nutrition major
at Ohio State University, she's studying for the Medical College Admission
Test between agency meetings and castings for runway jobs. A
first-generation Indian-American, Bir eats healthfully and works out
regularly as a "lifestyle choice," something she insists she'd do even if
not modeling. But she believes the industry's getting a bum rap about
too-thin models.
"Weight in America is a big problem, but it's easy to focus on the fashion
world because you make the presumption, 'She's tall; she's skinny -- there's
something wrong with her," says Bir, a size 0-2 who hopes modeling will help
pay her medical school tuition.
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She believes the high-profile fashion and modeling worlds are being blamed for
the nation's very real "obesity problem." "That's what it all comes down to,"
says Bir, who believes the large number of overweight Americans makes
thinner-than-the-norm models look especially lean. She nevertheless applauds the
CFDA guidelines on models' wellness. "The one issue everyone can agree with is
that without good health, what good is it?"
'Cultural conditioning' plays role
Maria Pinto, a top Chicago designer with showrooms here and in New York, thinks
it'll be tough for the guidelines to change mindsets. While Pinto, who sells to
stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, does not design for a super-slim female frame,
her sample garments are size 4.
"This isn't something I'm comfortable admitting, but it always looks cuter from
an aesthetic appeal to see a size 4 on a hanger," says the 5-foot-2 Pinto.
"Unfortunately, this is cultural conditioning that probably isn't going to
change in my lifetime. That's why they put a size 5½ shoe in the window, not a
10. It goes back to what our eyes find attractive."
But what many in society find attractive is hardly healthy for young women, says
licensed social worker Merle Cantor Goldberg, co-author of My Thin Excuse:
Understanding, Recognizing and Overcoming Eating Disorders (Square One
Publishers, $14.95). She estimates 80 percent of American girls 11 and older
have either dieted or thought about it, inspired in some part by unrealistic
body images in the media. And eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can
kill, a fact often lost on young women.
"The models and movie stars are what I see as the biggest influence on our
kids," says Goldberg, who'd like to see the U.S. industry follow Spain and adopt
a minimum body mass index of 18. "We as women from the earliest age think if
you're thin, you're loved, you're powerful. The chip we have in our hand is
beauty, and in America beauty is thin.
"Even though some of these [models] may be genetically thin, the population of
Chicago teenagers who are observing these girls are not genetically thin and may
be doing serious damage to their present and future health by emulating these
models. Why not broaden the body types seen in fashion?"
Glamour magazine, says executive fashion editor Suze Yalof Schwartz, is one of
the few glossies that includes size 12 women in each issue.
No matter her size, "A girl has to look healthy and if she doesn't, she's not
in," says Yalof Schwartz. "Our editor Cindi [Leive] is real particular about
that. She's dropped photo shoots because she thought a model's arms were too
thin. She'll say, "She's too skinny, and our readers are going to hate this.' "
Adds Glick: "I have so many outside [fashion show] clients who are still asking
us for a large-size model or a mature model who might be a size 10 because they
want to see themselves on the runway. What's so perfect about all this
timing-wise is Tyra Banks." She refers to the former model and talk show host's
30-pound weight gain and subsequent media bashing after outlets published
unflattering swimsuit photos.
She thinks Banks' recent public fight against unrealistic female body images "is
going to change our perceptions. You've got this giant sector of baby boomers
who have disposable income and don't want to just buy shoes and handbagsGood girl role models crusade against the Brit pack
LOS ANGELES -- The Idaho beauty queen who doesn't drink, smoke or sip coffee
or tea came to Hollywood this month on a personal mission to try to save the
image of America's young women.
Like others distressed over what passes for a role model these days, 21-year-old
Amanda Rammell was troubled by the influential antics of the Brit Pack: Britney
Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, whose behavior has escalated to
pantyless photo ops.
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"The Internet photos, the partying, the drug abuse, just the level of sexual
exploiting that they're using—it's out of control, and the way our girls are
looking up to them isn't changing, and that's what's scary," said Rammell, a
Mormon who's representing her state in this week's Miss USA pageant. The
pageant's first round began Monday and the entire event culminates
Friday—following a tumultuous reign for last year's winner, Tara Conner, who was
caught up in a scandal of her own.
To counter the bad-girl behavior, Rammell counts herself among women leaders
advancing their own campaigns, large and small, to offer good-girl alternatives.
Rammell is a curious contradiction. She's a Mormon, whose faith emphasizes
modesty, yet she comes from an iconoclastic family that's not afraid to make
headlines. Moreover, as a tall brunette who doesn't mind the swimsuit
competition, she wants to use a beauty pageant, which some consider exploitative
of women, as a platform to be their advocate.
More resolute and confident in her agenda than many other contestants
interviewed, Rammell portrays herself as the product of an Idaho ranch with "the
morals, the education, the down-to-earth" traditions of that upbringing, and she
says that young women today have "unrealistic role models."
While no surveys exist quantifying a movement toward positive examples,
adherents agree there is an urgent need for them, pointing to opinion polls such
as one recently in Newsweek that indicated 77 percent of Americans believe that
Spears, Lohan and Hilton are having too much influence on the nation's female,
younger generation.
Saturation coverage of their binges has even concerned the world's largest
news-gathering service, The Associated Press, which last month staged a news
blackout of Hilton for one week.
In response to concerns that "sexualization" of girls is a problem, the American
Psychological Association conducted a study that concluded that such imagery in
advertising, merchandising and media is "harming girls' self-image and health
development." Some call it the "prostitot" trend—girls being sexualized
prematurely.
There is, however, some cause for optimism, says Joe Kelly, 52, president of
Dads & Daughters, a non-profit group promoting better lives for girls. Positive
women role models for teens are "more visible than before," he said.
Oprah Winfrey, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), new Harvard University
President Drew Gilpin Faust, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, astronauts
Sally Ride and Mae Jamison, basketball player Sheryl Swoopes—these women are a
few examples that Kelly and other advocates are promoting as antidotes to
bad-girl images.
"Certainly I think it's an increasing need," said Ashley Carr of the American
Association of University Women, which is promoting the educational and
professional achievements of historic female figures such as the group's
founding mothers, Marion Talbot and Ellen Richards, during Women's History Month
this March.
At the University of Memphis, Leigh Anne Duck, an associate English professor
and interim director of women's studies program, said she found hope in her
students, though in "five out of five classes" they all have talked about Spears
shaving her head.
"I'm not even sure what wave of feminism is heading where now, but it's pretty
clear that there is a generation shift, a very kind of positive—not an
internecine struggle—but a kind of positive energy building up," said Duck, a
University of Chicago doctoral graduate in 2000. "They're not worried about how
wide their [bra] straps should be."
Rammell is using the Miss USA pageant to urge teens to look within their
families or communities for positive models. Some critics denounce the Miss USA
and Miss America pageants as superficial, but many young girls and adults regard
them as paradigms of womanhood that emphasize poise, speaking, and achievement {ndash}
some of the hallmarks of public leadership.
Saying she is familiar with Miss America's scholarship program, Carr added:
"Yes, it is a beauty pageant, but even the fact that they have a long history in
providing these scholarships doesn't surface."
Rammell said her grandmother's endurance working a farm and her mother's lessons
of compassion were a good influence on her.
"The most beautiful women I know are my mom and my grandma because of the lives
they led," she said. "Every wrinkle on their face tells a story. It's like a
poem."
Rammell, who was raised on a ranch near Yellowstone National Park, is one of
three children of a veterinarian father and homemaker mother in Rexburg, Idaho.
She's now a biology major at Brigham Young University-Idaho, seeking to be a
physician's assistant, and plans to be a role model by being socially and
politically active.
"I expect to be active in all the issues that a woman of the United States deals
with every day—political issues in their state and federal government, the
issues of the home and the family, morals, the peer pressure of youth, the
elderly, the mothers, the working women," Rammell said. "It's critical to be a
citizen and to be active
Jessica Alba: A Role Model of Beauty, From the Inside Out
She's already a role model to millions of teenaged girls.
But while many adolescent girls may look up to Jessica Alba because of her
drop-dead gorgeous looks, a lucky group of them had a dream come true when they
got to hang out with the down to earth star in person.
The striking star hosted the BeMoreYou.com retreat in LA, which aims to
empowering and improving the self-image of teenage girls.
"It's not about being skinny by any means. It's about being healthy, loving
yourself. It's about being proud of who you are and proud of how God put you
together," Jessica said.
The private party, held in Beverly Hills, was organized by actress Valerie Rae
Miller, Jessica's former "Dark Angel" co-star and founder of the website.
"It's so empowering to know that what you are is more than alright," Valerie
said.
Jessica also let us in on a little breaking news about breaking a tooth on the
set of her latest movie.
And believe it or not, the accident happened as the Hollywood beauty was
shooting love scenes with Dane Cook for the new romantic comedy "Good Luck,
Chuck."
"We were smashing our face together," Jessica confessed, adding, "It's not the
slowest, most romantic of love scenes."
A bevy of other beautiful starlets joined the image-awareness retreat, including
Molly Sims and Sanaa Lathan.
And Ms. Sims spilled secrets to us about her impending TV wedding on the new
season of "Las Vegas."
"She might not go through with who she was planning to marry…" Molly said with a
wink.
Actress Sanaa Lathan was also breaking news to "Extra," revealing she'll begin a
12 episode stint on FX's hit show "Nip-Tuck." Lathan will play the wife of a
75-year-old billionaire played by the legendary Larry Hagman.
"He's actually so funny and charming and has so much energy," Sanaa raved.
Introduction of African Beauty Girls and Models
On this website a desire to take photos has merged with love for Africa and
a wish to portray black African beauty. Below you will find an index of some
fashion and model photos with beautiful women of colour. Please note that the
word "black" is in no way meant as an insult -and it isn't only meant to
describe a colour of skin (which is obviously brown!). In 'black girls' and
African women I see hard work, motherhood, pride, grace, power and strength
combined with charm, wit, intelligence and charisma. This is what I hope to
communicate through some of these images. Some of the pics are model photos
while others are from fashion events, mainly in Copenhagen, Denmark.
A few words on "white and black"
One of the aims of this website is to contribute in making African/black people
more visible in Europe and in Western culture in general. Many Africans are now
living in my country (Denmark) and in the rest of Europe, but their faces are
still a relative rare sight in advertising, on magazine covers and other media.
Many black people have told me that they are still met with a disapproving stare
by white people in the streets of Europe. Globalisation is a fact and people are
crossing borders. Let's get to know each other!
Important notice regarding the models on this site:
Please note that Crawfurd.dk is NOT a dating site. There seem to be a prejudice
among some people that a black girl is "available" when she is posing for
pictures. This is a serious misunderstanding! Most of the models featured here
are married and they did not have their pictures taken because they are looking
for a boyfriend. Respect the models privacy and integrity. Do not write to ask
for their contacts. Do not copy the images, post them to other sites or try to
use them for scams on net. The aim of the photos on this site is to promote a
general concept of African/black beauty -not to disgrace or disrespect people of
any race or gender.
Fashion and Beauty Model
She is sensational. And yet she is down to earth and simple at heart. Her
drop-dead looks can impress the most discerning critic. But she will never give
you a moment to believe that she is someone special. Meet one of Chennai's most
beautiful women - Trisha Krishnan.
When girls her age are still trying to grapple with acne, Trisha is out walking
a ramp, sporting some amazing outfits. To say that she is charming would be
playing down a lot of this taurean's personality. Her light brown eyes and
glorious smile speak volumes, but they don't outdo her sharp intellect. Trisha
was crowned Miss Chennai for the year 2000. On the professional front, she has
already done a couple of advertisements including Lalitha Jewellers and Kumaran
Silks.
Trisha hopes to wait a couple of years before competing for the Femina Miss
India crown, her best bet for the famed Miss Universe title. One would be
astonished to learn that this belle is just out of school. And yet she has a
certain maturity about her.
She is a talented ballet dancer and an expert swimmer. Trisha enjoys all the
attention that she gets. And she herself idolises Claudia Schiffer, Aishwariya
Rai and Madhu Sapre. Sapre is her favourite. \
Trisha Krishnan - Our Model of the month, who could very well be the next 'big
thing' for India.
Model Search Finds Real Beauty
It’s been a dream run for the Cadbury Dream Model Search with organisers
announcing today they’ve had the highest calibre of entrants in its history.
Twelve gorgeous finalists were revealed today from over 400 entries - with
Whangarei and Auckland measuring up as the best regions. Both areas contributed
three aspiring models to the total, while the remaining girls are from
Wellington, Greymouth, Tauranga, Hamilton, Napier and Dunedin.
Judge and event organiser and director of Nova Models, Talent and Actors,
Caroline Barley, says that this year was hugely successful with the biggest ever
short list.
“We managed to whittle down the 400 entries to 30, which was the most we’ve ever
had to choose from on a short list in the competition’s three years. From there
it was an agonising process to get down to 12 girls – they were all so
impressive,” says Caroline.
The Cadbury Dream Model Search travelled the country during November with the
aim of finding New Zealand’s next modelling star. The ultimate winner will have
their modelling career launched in New Zealand by Nova Models, Talent & Actors
and will also be flown to Sydney to meet with top modelling agency Chic Model
Management and to shoot with a top Australian fashion photographer.
The final will be based at the Langham Hotel, Auckland for three days which
culminates in a fashion show event with over 200 attendees on the night of
Thursday 10 February, 2005. During the three days the girls are coached on
catwalk techniques before being madeover by hair and makeup artists from the Cut
Above Academy to compete in the fashion show.
“The girls will model swimwear, day and evening wear from Jeans West. On the day
of the fashion show they are also interviewed by the judges where we find out
factors like determination and personality,” says Caroline.
Co-judge Michael Hooker, of Michael Hooker International, says that he will be
looking for a girl who takes direction well and who improves the most under
professional guidance.
“The winner must be smart, have a good energy and be confident without being
arrogant. They must also be mature, ready for a challenge and willing to commit
which they’ll need in order to succeed internationally. It’s not easy travelling
by yourself for months on end,” says Michael.
The major prize also includes a $1000 Jeans West wardrobe, 12 month subscription
to CLEO, an indulgent Cadbury Dream chocolate and flower package and L’Oréal
Professional gift basket. Cadbury Dream Model Search is sponsored by Cadbury
Dream, in association with CLEO. Supporters of the event also include: Nova
Models, Talent & Actors, The Edge radio station, Jeans West and the Langham
Hotel, Auckland. The 12 girls will be made over for the final by a Cut Above
Academy hair and make-up team.
Finalists are: Franzel Wentzel (18) of Whangarei; Karma Flavell (19) of
Whangarei; Jayme-Lee (Jayme) Rouse (16) of Hikurangi, Whangarei; Bailey
Tuiomanufili (16) of Paramata, Wellington; Madeline (Maddie) Sweeney (18) of
Paroa, Greymouth; Haley MacKinder (17) of Howick, Auckland; Alexandra Jensen
(15) of Ardmore, Auckland; Claire Mossong (18) of Tauranga; Victoria Lichfield
(17) of Hamilton; Rebecca Betts (15) of Manurewa, Auckland; Virginia Harper-Dutt
(16) of Havelock North, Napier; Briar Wilson (19) of Dunedin. |
