Friday, August 31, 2007

A Model Life: Few minutes Finale Countdown!: All things Model

This is the all-things-model-in-reality-tv post I warned you about...albeit put out a little later than I had hoped. *blush* Well, the amount of information dug up on "A Model Life" was a tad overwhelming. Strange, since it started not being rather known about online (I know cause I was previously ranked #2 whenever anyone searched a model's name from "A Model Life"), but when fans really start searching, a bunch of stuff pops up, which they proceed to share on forums.



Just so you know what's in store, this post is mainly about all the info I found about "A Model Life" and there's a bit at the end about ANTM. If you don't watch A Model Life, feel free to scroll down to the bit on ANTM.

So for those of you who watch A Model Life, you probably already know I had no coverage on the last...(4?) episodes...mostly because most of you guys don't have access to it.

Anyway, rather than do a tiring summary of the last 4 episodes, I'm deciding to do a runthrough of the most interesting things that have happened to each of the models, and my "feelings" regarding them (since the models are the most important part, yes?). Consequently, these will include pivotal moments of the last episodes. Besides, From Inside the Box does a stellar job on the recap/reviews already.







Michelle: Girl did good. So far in the series she booked her first runway show-- a la Nicole Miller (and the only girl who did I might add). I'm really warming to her as a model; she's got a strange-unique look but she's just really good at working it out. Personality-wise, she can come off a bit awkward and wound-up...(and angry in her Nicole Miller walk), and she's got this nervous tense laugh. Some say she's boring but I think she should just have a glass of wine before meetings to loosen her up. I just feel for her though because I know what it's like to be the odd one out. Oh, and Nicole Miller was so sweet! Just really nice and genuine; gave Michelle a runthrough of the catwalk and introduced her to Cyndi Lauper. She was strutting with the heavyweights too, Daria, Irina, and walking right in front of Chanel Iman.

Angelika: My oh my...I feel like I should leave her last because she's just soo complicated and it gives me a headache. At second glance, I started to appreciate her a bit...so she's a bit cynical and sarcastic (2 traits I can identify with) and she sticks up for herself and voices her opinions...as evidenced when the head honcho, Next co-Pres Joel, called all the girls in to admonish them on their lateness (38 min?) to the Sports Illustrated shoot. Angelika caused the whole gang to be late and she didn't even admit, when asked, that it was her fault...I think it would of been selfless to spare the others who were trying to cover up for her. Anyway, more about Joel's reasonable (i.m.o) lecture on lateness. Angelika speaks out as he's talking, being forceful and interruptive, and not very respectfully. In a nutshell it's a bunch of, "We already know OK?". At first when she was speaking her mind, I was glued (in a good way) because she was asking important questions, like why they weren't being sent on too many castings (though she could've said it better), and also I liked the fact that she was speaking out as an equal, reminding us that even though Joel is in charge, she shouldn't act as though she's inferior to him (which would be hard to do to your boss). But then she kept on interrupting and being argumentative and antagonistic, and that just did it for me. She seemed to have no respect at all, wanting him to justify his years in the industry to her, a starting model with maybe 2 years experience at most. Either way you look at it, she has guts definitely.

In the next few episodes though, after Joel decided to let her stay, I decided that...I kind of hate her, as a reality TV model. She's stuck up, has no respect for anyone (she was right snarky with Michelle in the last episode), and seems like in her heart-of-hearts will never care for anyone's opinions except her own. I do agree with her that modeling is superficial, an "illusion", and to a lesser extent, that "it's a joke". She seems very blase about modeling but when Joel was ready to axe her she was like, "I'm so serious about doing a good job." From the previous episodes, she also comes off like she's trying to justify her position in this industry that she doesn't give a crap about by thinking of the good supermodels can do once they become spokespeople. But in all reality, only a few do become spokespeople, and if you are passionate about wanting to "change the world" there's um...other routes than modeling. Plus, I doubt she'll ever get to the status of supermodel and even more so, I doubt that her attitude would ever cause non-profit organizations to have her front them.

Angelika's a bit of a princess who thinks she knows everything, honestly. A dark cynical princess, but a princess nonetheless. Early on she would roll her eyes whenever another one of the models didn't understand something or a certain pose, etc. And yet her own walk is...kind of horrible. I don't know what it is, but she's got this awkward movement that kind of seems like she's always A) walking on her toes, B) leaning back, C) flat-footed. When she was told to go to a walking instructor, she started laughing hysterically. Enough said.

But yes, her photos are not bad and she had gotten into two fashion week shows; Chris Habana (?) for GenArt and Jenni Kayne...neither of which I had heard of prior, but I rather liked Kayne's line.


Abigail: This girl also got into the Chris Habana (I want to say Habanera) show. Anyhow, I was so surprised, in the last 4 episodes she's gone under such a transformation. She used to be really body-conscious (in a bad way), sensitive, and mental about shoots but she's so chill now. She started off awkward girly and ended up intense woman...y. She finally showed she had more than one look, and did a gorgeous job on the Gilles Bensimon photoshoot they all had. Speaking of Gilles, I don't know if that was his typical style with taking shoots, but honestly...it seemed like he couldn't care less about the photos; like Petra just called him up to coax him to do a shoot and he was like, "alright alright." He didn't give much direction at all and just chatted to them...his method kind of reminded me of the way maybe he would shoot celebrities instead? [just chatting and making them smile for the camera]

I love how early on in the series, they would give her subtitles because her of British accent, and she's the one who probably speaks the most proper English! Anyway, the girl's real sweet, goofy and I can hardly believe she was 16 at the time of shooting.


Valeria: First off, she was the only other girl to get a fashion week job; Jenny Kayne-- very wobbly walk. But uggg...what to say? I know I started off really liking this girl (she wasn't that good at shooting back then), but after the Sports Illustrated swimsuit episode, it all just went downhill for me, personality-wise. She told Ashley Paige (anal bitchy skimpy bathing suit designer) to her face that her suit was really uncomfortable and she pretty much loathed it. So Paige is an anal bitchy skimpy bathing suit designer, but not only is it unprofessional to act in the way she did, but to tell her the way she did, with a painful expression like she had cramps, that she didn't like the suit at all to Paige's face...well, that was just disrespectful. She kind of seems like there's this inner edge to her, like you wouldn't want to be near her on when she's PMSing that time of the month.

She's got that look I like out of all the girls and she's done really well as the show's progressed, but I'm not a fan anymore.

Lucia: Of course, Lucia's still my favorite! So Lucia didn't get a Fashion Week job (all the better too seeing as she got bronchitis that week) but it was because of her own choice not to go to castings (she was wider in the hips making it hard for her to do runway). She's such a doll though! Gorgeous, sweet, goofy, funny, and outgoing. She would be a role model. Sigh, if I could be one-tenth as charming as Lucia... So it seems she might not be cut out for runway, but could totally dominate high-fashion press (and has since then, will elaborate later).




Beatrice: This Brazilian's actually grown on me... even though her photoshoots go terribly (emphasized by the girls' two agents). She just seems like a reserved, but really sweet, sometimes giggly, girl and personality-wise, she'd definitely be the one I would be more prone to get along with as friends. I've gotten more used to her face now, that I think she could only do high-fashion, not catalog work. But guess what? That's what she's doing now! (after the show ended) Mostly work for Kohl's, Macy's, etc... I know that's great since they're big names and good for her, but...I just don't think it suits her look. For department store ads, her face is that two-dimensional pugsy petite-featured face, it's not really a good forum to appreciate her beauty. "If only she could model." Like when she did that Hamptons magazine shoot she was gorgeous and I could finally see what was so great about her look...there's a certain angle she needs.


VS


And I loved how she called every girl "baby" even though she's the youngest out of them all. ;)


So in approximately a few minutes, we will finally know the outcome in the finale of A Model Life; "Petra and the Next agents reveal their plans for the aspiring models. Five find themselves one step closer to earning a contract with the agency but one of the girls comes up short and is sent home empty handed" [TLC.com].


From this point on, possible SPOILER alert According to online speculation and fans' digging, most believe that Valeria is the one who doesn't make the cut. I was thinking Beatrice would be cut because of her performance, while I was wishing that Angelika would be cut, but online NEXT modeling sites and other sources seem to indicate that all the models have an online page with NEXT (as well as other agencies outside)...and here I thought they'd want no trace of possible endings (normally in competitions, the participants are under contract to not give away the results).

NEXT pages [warning: PHOTOS GALORE]:

Abigail Fox-
http://www.nextmodels.com/modules/models/?state=model&m_id=2907

Beatrice Bererra Da Fontoura-
http://www.nextmodelsusa.com/next_portfolio.php?id=1223

Angelika-
http://www.modelwire.com/webCS/portfolios/PortfolioViewFree.aspx?tpl=2x1STbtn&pflID=6a6c3eef-7834-4c3a-bd0e-8e5665c1cfd4

Lucia Dvorska-
http://www.modelwire.com/webCS/portfolios/PortfolioViewFree.aspx?tpl=2x1STbtn&pflID=edbb22df-c3ee-4144-9901-a4ffacb0029c

Michelle Godin-
http://www.nextmodelsusa.com/next_portfolio.php?id=1323

Valeria/Valerija is signed with Chic Management in Australia, and photos
can be viewed here:
http://www.chicmanagement.com.au/chicmodels/view.php?model_id=679

Another place Beatrice's photos can be viewed is http://www.modelwerk.com/.

Ms. Lucia Dvorska also happens (well according to Wiki) to be currently signed to:

Elite Model Management- New York (unsure about
this one...I
would think it would NEXT or Elite, certainly not both
)
Louisa Models
Viva Models- Berlin

View
Management

MC2 Model Management

Isn't that insane? And from her photos you can tell she's doing tons tons TONS of European magazine work.

Oh, and this show even has a Facebook following, with 100-some photos (careful, one can get lost).

It's all a bit too much, even for me.


Perhaps the most interesting thing is their myspaces. I'm so surprised that they actually use myspace as their primary means to communicate. I kind of feel like a dirty tramp snooping around their myspaces (the ones that are public), and although I thought about it, I'm not going to go in-depth about their conversations, which give a lot away about the show, the ending, the work they're currently getting and perhaps the most intriguing-- where, location-wise, they are planning to go next [I'll just say Beatrice had been in Miami--as one of my readers suspected--then HK, NY. My girl Lucia's been all over the place-- Tokyo, Brazil, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia... Michelle's been between Miami, London, NY...etc]


I have no idea where Abby and Valeria have shot and what magazines they've shot for...so you see, it's good publicity when your myspace is public. If people love you and they see that you've shot a spread for a zine, they might just go out and buy it. But seriously, I think if you can't deal with the light, then step out-- signing to do reality tv comes with some grounds, you know? Starting models would die for that exposure and fan base.

Michelle's also fronting the Chris Habana print ad campaign surprising as Chris Habana didn't ask her to do the GenArt show...the other model with her was a winner of Britain's Next Top Model. I think maybe Chris Habana knows how to take advantage of reality tv models to gain exposure... You can see that Michelle is so versatile in this photo though! Even with her look.


And there really isn't an agency's site with Angelika's current work, except for A Model Life's facebook photos. However she has done the Mike & Chris summer 2007 campaign work (I knew I had seen her from somewhere!). She didn't get the fall work though... I don't like that last shot though...she looks wasted.

These are public:
Angelika's myspace http://myspace.com/38783376
Lucia's myspace http://www.myspace.com/lucydvorska
Beatrice's myspace http://www.myspace.com/160019978

These are private:
Abigail's myspace http://www.myspace.com/abi_fox
Valeria's myspace http://www.myspace.com/coco_popsxx
Michelle's myspace http://www.myspace.com/chellelovesval
Thanks to the avid fans at imdb.com, televisionwithoutpity.com, etc...

There's a lot of personal photos too. I'd feel really icky posting them (even though it can't be too personal if it's myspace... are you kidding me?) But here's a taster of Angelika...




And Karl Giant, their awesomely sweet-but-a tad bitchy-in-a-playful-way makeup artist (he has one of those TV personalities I just love!), has public myspace too...although it has rather...unusual photos.

www.myspace.com/karlgiant


PS. They all still supposedly keep in constant touch with Petra which I think it great...And Lucia is supposedly getting married! If the photo of the two of them I saw was correct, welllll I think she could've snagged cuter, but I'm sure he's super sweet like her so congrats!

oooh Luciii (& not her bf)

______________

Now on ANTM...

Is it just me, or do the girls in the newest cycle 9 look more like models than in any of the previous cycles? (although I thought the cycle 7s were pretty good) I'm almost not ready to watch ANTM anymore...the drama will give me a headache after being treated to civil episodes of A Model Life...I wonder if the AML girls would've not been as civil if it were an actual competition...? Maybe? Perhaps? Definitely?


And is it just me, or is this Ann Markley from a past ANTM cycle? [freepeople.com]




will update soon after regarding AML results!

23 Comments:

Blogger Romeika said...

I love Abigail's haircut... And all of them look healthy, apparently.

-x-

2:58 AM  
Blogger -ciao bella- said...

i love this post! thanks so much-- i love aml and antm! i'm obsessed. fab post

7:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thats ann markley. this season of girls is crap so far, but I reserve further judgement until the first show.....aml....love lucia still, I am glad she is dominating!

7:30 AM  
Blogger -S said...

i love love love love loooooove a model life. is much much much better than antm, well, anything without tyra banks is better. but still, an amazing show.i just wish it was on longer, and cannot wait to see the marie clare when it comes out with them in it. well, them being lucy, abby and valeria

7:42 AM  
Blogger Susana Rodrigues said...

hi :)
I'm just giving you the "Rockin' Girl Blogger" Award!!!
Go to my blog for more information!
Your blog rocks!!!
Kiss
Su

2:34 PM  
Blogger Susana Rodrigues said...

me again :)

copy/past the "Rockin' Girl Blogger" Award logo from my blog or go to:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_Fm6Wa10czhc/RtdEmpqy4yI/AAAAAAAABPM/Wxz9tRFm4Ng/s1600-h/rockingirlblogger[1].jpg

2:55 PM  
Blogger Susana Rodrigues said...

I meant copy/paste lol

3:25 PM  
Blogger Carolina Lange said...

I agree with romeika, Abigail's haircut is amazing! They are all so beautiful!

5:04 PM  
Blogger hannah said...

i adore this post! i love a model life. this must have taken you forever. good job!

5:05 PM  
Blogger seasideindanger said...

i love all that cool stuff

6:09 PM  
Blogger cotton candy said...

WOW!! i want these shows to air in australia as well!!

11:27 PM  
Blogger Joyce said...

This was one of the longest post i've ever seen! Haha. It was fun reading it.

10:17 AM  
Blogger A. said...

ohmygod. such a fabulous! fabulous! post.
& such lovely pictures.
thank you so much for sharing. ;]
lucia is my favourite too;
im so happy to hear shes doing well!
xx A.

11:38 PM  
Blogger Diana @ So Fash'on said...

now I want to watch it even more than before!

2:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

where did you find all this information? ive been trying to find out more for weeks! i love a model life! where can i see a picture of LUcia's fiance - is it on her myspace? where did you find it out?!?! :) Do you have pics of Valeria? totally agree with you about the drama on ANTM! haha

5:16 PM  
Blogger Gloria said...

Thank you guys so much for posting! I'm glad you liked this one! I thought I went off on a bit of a tangent...

I'm going to try to do the finale post tommorrow (college started up again this week!) and it's great to know there were so many other AML devotees...

ps. Su-- thanks for the award, I'll put it up first thing in my next post. it's such an honor!

pss. happychiq-- you can find valeria pics on the site I mentioned with chic management. Lucia's fiance picture is currently on the photo section of the AML facebook group. :)

10:05 PM  
Blogger Bella said...

The Model Life is my obsession so this post was AMAZING...i may have to do my own post about it...the girls are gorgeous...and shocker...they're actually MODELS...i do love antm tho

10:35 PM  
Blogger Joyce said...

thanks for the lovely badge! im honoured..

Keep on blogging girl!

9:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey, i found angelika on porridgeclothing.com modelling their spring 2007 collection. i hate the way she poses - too much bending! my back hurts just looking at them. ouch!

11:38 AM  
Blogger Joy Burns said...

I like!!!!

5:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

how to link to Lucia's website?? how come it doesn't work...:-o

cal

10:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

angelika is with Women Milan now (she was on the set list for s/s 09 shows)

5:41 PM  
Anonymous Fashion Mantra said...

great collections.thans for sharing

8:59 PM  

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