A Model Life

10 Reasons why A Model Life is no America's Next Top Model:


1. There does not seem to be any intent to drag out any drama between the contestants.
2. All these girls are portrayed in a good light. Most of them have the personality that comes across in backstage photos of models (very sweet, chippery, playful).
3. All the contestants are gorgeous and already look very runway suited. Whereas ANTM tries to pick "the next new face" by gathering mostly girls who look very interesting, but normally wouldn't make it in the industry. These girls seems like they can make it.
4. There's only six. And none of them are drama queens (so far).
5. The host, Petra Nemcova, comes off very sweet and genuine and acknowledges the superficiality of the fashion world and really cares about supporting important issues (well, she did survive the Thailand tsunami--and lost her fiance in it). I mean, I love Tyra too, but they're just very different hosts. Petra's very empathetic and she was very heartfelt when she said she understood the hardship of moving from a totally different country and being all alone in New York and she offered her help ("If there's ANYTHING that you want to tell me, please do.") .
6. Petra has amazing hair. AMAZING. It looks good in every shot. And...Tyra...well, she's got her weave...but she doesn't really know how to style it half the time.
7. Petra knows how to dress herself (Most of the time, Tyra doesn't). Also, these 6 girls know how to dress like models too (skinny pants, high heels, chunky layers of jackets and scarves)
8. There's no crazy, insane challenges (so far). This competition comes across as more real. There's no real "judging", they only critique certain girls who are in need of help, and also I don't believe it's one of those, "Cut 1 girl after each week" shows. NO JUDGES. The people these girls work with are not actors. You can tell the co-founder of NEXT isn't very good at working in front of the camera. And their "New Faces" agents are very understandable, even if the girls are late (as long as they call them).
9. This is an obvious one, but most of these girls are not from America and come from a lot of different cultures.
10. Because of the lack of drama or mad challenges, it's not as, let's say, edge-of-your-seat, as ANTM. It's more low key, but it shouldn't be totally counted against the show. I mean, we've been spoiled with like...8 cycles (it is 8 right?) of TYRA-TYRA-TYRA (fierce, girls, fierce!) ANTM.

Anyway, yes, I think I really like Petra now. The only thing is that she dated James Blunt who is sappy and has such a whiny voice.

Anyhow, I may be wrong about the last point since the episode coming up this week seems to have a little something-something going on. In the preview, the girls meet with a nutritionist and some of them are told they're too thin or too...un-thin for the industry. One of them cries (yes, one of them cries!)

Now, if you still do not have any idea what I'm talking about, here is a tiny summary. "A Model Life" is a modeling competition between 6 girls from around the world (well, excluding Asia) for a contract at NEXT Modeling Agency. There hasn't been too much publicity surrounding the show. It airs on TLC and is hosted by supermodel Petra Nemcova who also founded the Happy Hearts Fund, a children's charity. You can even fill out an online application to volunteer.



Let me introduce to you the contestants! The 6 girls are: Abigail (16) from the UK, Angelika from California, Beatrice (16) from Brazil, Lucia from Slovakia (18), Michelle (20) from Florida, and Valeria, a Russian girl from Australia. I can't quite accept the fact that some of these girls are younger than me! They look so mature and...tall. You know how they say first impressions are everything? Well, unless any of these girls are going to pull a Natasha (Russian girl I hated at first and gradually grew fond of, last ANTM) on me, my first impressions are going to stay the same.

Abigail seems like a very sweet, innocent, likable, good girl-- a bit self conscious. Michelle is a bit sweet and awkward, like a girl I would befriend in the 5th grade. But who knows...it's still early on in the competition. She's from a farm in the middle of nowhere and she loves horses. And she looks a little Jewish to me. Lucia and Valeria are my favorites. Lucia is very peppy, seems a little mischievous, and she's got a European doll-like look. Valeria seems like a very spunky, fun, - and funny- smart girl. Some say she looks like "the baby Petra"-- let's hope it won't turn out like the ANTM "Baby Tyra".

Now...my two least favorites: Beatrice and Angelika. I'm not too crazy about Beatrice...she seems a bit closed-off and maybe snooty/prone to argue? She didn't quite get along with the photographer in the season premiere. And she never says thank you to anybody. Maybe so far she's just lost in translation?

But she's definately not worse than Angelika, the Californian. Everything says I should like her; she's a vegan, she's socially conscious, she thinks modeling is superficial but she "wants to use her looks for good", she's gorgeous, and she looks like a younger, smoother Famke Janssen (who has done some work with PETA in the past). But...I don't, because she seems mean, hostile, gloomy, and acts like she knows more about the world than anyone else. She seems stubborn and the hardest to get along with (although she did really well with the photographer).

When all the girls moved into the apartment, she just went and claimed the biggest bed to herself while dismissing the rest of the girls who were deciding a fair way to split up the rooms (5 beds, 6 girls). Then she went to sulk in her room, busily texting on her Sidekick while the other girls were getting to know each other (and Lucia tried to attempt to talk to her but she wasn't too receptive) On camera, she pretty much actually said that the people in the modeling industry sucked and the whole system sucked and she said they should go f*** themselves. She's depressing to watch and acts like her beauty is such a pain to her. There's a difference between being humble and downright annoying. Angelika says she wants to use her looks for good, but she comes off as a misanthrope who hates everybody and can't get along with anyone. Her Q & A on the TLC website is a bit one-sided and very snooty. More Q than A. Especially when compared to the other girls':

"2. What are the top 5 things you couldn't live without?

Air
Water
Food
My brain
My body

3. What are the top 5 modeling secrets you learned while filming the show?

How to be "fresh and dewy," how to walk and... thats about it. I knew everything else.

4. What is your favorite movie?

I have many favorite movies. Jackass is a classic.

5. What kind of music do you like most?

Good music.

6. What do your future plans hold?

Many goals being accomplished." [tlc.com]

Self-explanatory. Anyway, she's just kind of mean, acts like she doesn't respect anyone, and she seems like she'd make you feel really bad about yourself. Valeria's Q & A is a lot more interesting:

"1. What are the 5 things every woman should know about being beautiful from the inside out?

Treat others the way you would like to be treated
Neverlaugh at other people
Don't wear too much make up
Always get enough
sleep
Smile

2. What are the top 5 things you couldn't live without?

My family
My boyfriend
Herbal tea
Warm weather
Cherries

3. What are the top 5 modeling secrets you learned while filming the show?

Always be on time
Always have a pair of heels with you whengoing to a casting
Be polite
Learn your subway map by heart
Be open minded"

Another difference between ANTM and A Model Life is that if in ANTM you don't seem that crazy passionate about modeling it is a surefire MISTAKE. The judges then say, "It doesn't seem like you want it enough, etc etc" and even if they really do but don't show it that much, they're penalized. Every girl in ANTM has to go, "MODELING IS MY PASSION I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I WOULD DO." Whereas Petra sits down and asks them their passions and Beatrice is "Family, family, family", Abigail is, "I love music! I play several instruments", and Valeria says, "Languages are my passion!" Who knows what would happen if they were on ANTM.

Regarding their actual modeling abilities (well, I was getting there eventually!), Abigail kind of only has one look, and she's not as edgy when it comes to UK models and Beatrice doesn't quite know what to do with her body and doesn't really listen. And I don't really like her look either. Valeria was tapped on the hand too during the model shoot. The rest of them pretty much rocked (including Lucia, my Slovakian favorite, yayyy!)

Anyhow, A Model Life is at times quite humorous and it shows more of, and is closer to, what probably really goes on in the industry. It's a bit low key, bland so far. It was kind of disappointing when, on their first day, they met Petra at the firehouse posing with a bunch of firefighters and then you thought this was going to be some sort of challenge with male firefighters and then...no. It's not a bad watch and it could get better!

For more information, here's an interview with Petra regarding her show and what also sets it apart from the other TV shows: http://television.aol.com/tv-celebrity-interviews/petra-nemcova

PS. Their page on TLC.com has a puzzle with Petra Nemcova's face on it, is that weird or what?

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/a-model-life/puzzles/puzzles.html

If anyone else has watched it, feel free to discuss <3

[Trashy] Young Hollywood & why celebrity worshipping based on their styles can be bad for you

These celebrities are crazy.

I just saw a photo of Paris Hilton crying as she was being escorted to court and all I have to say is, celebrities are crazy. Obviously, right?


(photo: INF, via people.com)
She had been in house custody after a 5 day stint in jail or whatever, instead of her 45 day sentence. House custody= eating bonbons, taking naps, receiving visits from friends= not really a punishment. I mean, it's hot outside. Normally I stay indoors the whole day anyway. And she was transferred because of a medical condition. Yes, a medical condition whose condition magically changes when her settings switch from behind bars to a house setting.

I mean. listen to this excerpt from people.com:

She was taken from court screaming and crying after Judge Michael T. Sauer
ordered her to return to jail to serve the remainder of her entire 45-day
sentence on Friday.

"It's not right!" Hilton, 26, shouted as deputies approached her in the courtroom. She also called out to her mother in the audience: "Mom!" Kathy Hilton, accompanied by Paris's father Rick, answered: "Honey!"

It's like a scene from a bad movie, right?

Okay. So I wouldn't be too happy either if I just got out of jail (theoretically speaking) and then I was told to don my prison garb and get back in (theoretically speaking). But oh my god. Do that damn time. Stop blubbering about it and trying to get out of it. Where's the justice? And when she was pleading to the Governor? Seriously. The public, and her celebrity peers, have already spoken; No working around the system, Stay in jail, No special treatment. SO just suck it up. (that comment during the MTV music awards Was Harsh though)

I know this is supposed to be a blog about style. So here's what I have to say on the celebrities front: There's all this celebrity worship and look, she wore this and whoa, she wore that. I always keep in mind that normally the wows are due to a stylist's hand. In that case, you should bow to the stylist and not the celebrity. Only a few celebrities actually have a good head on their shoulders concerning taste, that seems to be unique (Keira Knightley) and all their own (Lily Allen) even if sometimes it's kind of weird. When you catch stars not wearing their own outfit sprinkled with the magic touch of their stylist, that's when you get the big boo-boo and the "OMG she wore that?" (cough *Jessica Simpson*) that happens when females pour over the tabloids. I keep that in mind. Girls photographed for street fashion sections are the only ones I bother to look at.

And for the celebrities that have an "acclaimed" style they put together all by themselves...I, personally, honestly don't see what's the big deal about them. Girls like Sienna Miller, Posh, and Kate Moss. Well, I just don't get it. I never will. Yes that's right, I don't get Kate Moss. And when people try to mimic them...well it's one thing to be inspired and appreciate something in an outfit and incorporate it into one's own style but another to try to copy them straight. Anyway, that's the end of that.

On the same line but another note, most of the party-rep girls seem to have drug, alcohol, or severe body-image problems. Of course, I'm only thinking of the infamous nicole richie (who is supposedly pregnant) and lindsay lohan (who is a bag of bones along with the former). Hey, I know my fair share of skinny healthy girls. But those two girls are so...ew. I can't even describe it. Their skin like, hugs their bones. It's kind of gross. They look bony and deprived. Kind of deformed. Like bobble-heads attached to matchsticks. How can a sane person let herself go to that level? I seriously don't envy them. I might envy the money they get to blow on clothes but definitely not the rack they're putting it on. It makes one shudder.

Liking stars for their style, and liking stars, should be kept in two different sides of the brain.

And whether they like it or not, there's little girls looking up to them/watching them. Yes, there ARE photos of you when you're taking puffs and you look emaciated like you have a cruel owner who doesn't feed you or like you're one of those ill-treated animals crammed in cages about to be skinned. Which is so messed up. People have a responsibility to their bodies. agggg.

Which is why my brain totally spaced when I first heard that Lindsay Lohan was the new face of Jill Stuart. Because, well, no! That isn't supposed to happen! I love Jill Stuart! I don't love Lindsay Lohan! I more than don't love Lindsay Lohan! She doesn't even seem like a Jill Stuart girl. Maybe a Rock & Republic girl, but even that's pushing it.

I'm not emotionally devastated or anything (although this is a definite nick in my love for Jill Stuart) but seriously...Lindsay Lohan? Ever since then, anything that reminds me of Jill Stuart makes me think of Lindsay Lohan. which is wrong. Why Lindsay? Stuart says, "She is sexy and smart, exactly what the Jill Stuart woman embodies." ...what?

Jill Stuart is a line targeted toward girls. I don't know if sex appeal really works with girls. That's a sketchy area. And that second shot has NOTHING to do with Jill Stuart. Unless her insane smart-ness is somehow radiating off the screen and the vapors are branded "JILL STUART".






Okay. I apologize (I still love you Jill).

That fulfills my snarky post quota of the year. Since this is more of an opinion piece than anything, feel free to write any of your own musings.

Take A Walk With Me :: Bits Bobs and Musings.

Sometimes I have a bunch of different comments and thoughts about things all over the place that I want to cram into one post.

First and foremost-- this post is about Kahlen from ANTM a few cycles ago. I was flipping through my Teen Vogue and I caught this Chloe ad:




She looks identical to Kahlen. And being as Kahlen was one of my favorites in the history of ANTM ever, I went on a search fervor looking for any place mentioning if Kahlen had been doing a Chloe advertisement. I'm still wondering. Anyone happen to figure out whether it's Kahlen?

I found this clip on youtube showing her as a bartender in NYC [who knew she smoked! Then again I would have never expected her as a bartender] so I was still unsure about whether that's her in the ad. Though she gets points taken away for being a smoker, she gets a lot of points for being an animal rights advocate and a vegetarian. ; )

Speaking of America's Next Top Model--- I could have sworn I saw a Miss. Naima Mora on a few pages back posing in an ad for Unionbay. Anyone want to confirm my suspicions?




On a different track, I went to Target when the Paul and Joe collection came out and I have to say it seems like it's very well made-- at least 10 times well-made in comparison to the Tara Jarmon collection. I just hate that the turtle belt is leather though. Out of all the things in Target too. Since otherwise I'd be in love with it.

A few of my up-close favorites (love the owls on the back):




[pictures from target.com]

Here's a bit to chew on though-- I thought these pins were adorable [which they are] but then a reviewer on target.com said they were knockoffs off of a woman named Lea Stein. Being curious, I started researching about Lea Stein and her designs [no rhyme intended]. Sure enough, I found these "celluloid pins" that are quite frankly, exact copies of Lea Stein's designs. What's to say about that, Sophie Albou?





[top pictures from target.com, bottom from decogirl.co.uk]

Through http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/magazine/issue29/iss29p3.html I found that Lea Stein was born in Paris, France and discovered the process of making her pins. One piece could take up to 6 months. From the 60s to the 80s she made pins, earrings, bangles and other accessories. Her work varied from the amusing caricature to the classic gemometric deco style.

The site says that after the company got into financial trouble in the eighties- after 9 years she started making pieces left over at the factory and that she still as of now is coming up with new ideas from her home in France. I don't know how old this article is so I don't know if she's still making them. I suppose if she is though, it is possible that the people at Target/Paul & Joe asked permission or at least ran it by that they were MAKING THE EXACT SAME THING. And that her designs were going to be not only in the pins, but be the basis of half the clothing designs.

Moving along the Paul & Joe quality aspect- even the magazine insert for Paul and Joe seemed to be of a better quality paper than the ones for Luella Bartley and Tara Jarmon. Love the ad and color scheme btw.




On my trip there I also noticed these great Issac Mizrahi heels. Nope, no painfully derived skins here. I especially love the plaid ones. In person they're a bit darker and they'd go perfect with dark leggings.

While I was reading the September issue of Teen Vogue with Mischa Barton on the cover [I'm one of the few who never understood the big deal about Mischa Barton] this ad/article caught my eye. It deals with Emma Roberts designing her own bag for Dooney & Bourke. My comment does not have to deal with, "Oh, Another celeb taking a hand at design?" Since I think it's nice that she gets to make a bag. No what I'm commenting on is that the bag is named "The Emma." Now I'm sure that's self-explanatory, but I don't think there are many people who design an item that will name it after themselves-- especially adding a "The" in the front. I mean, I'm just saying that if I ever had the chance to design my own handbag (which like every girl- I have dreamt about) I don't think I would call it, "The Gloria."



Another ad I caught was New York & Company with Grey's Anatomy stars Ellen Pompeo & Patrick Dempsey. I just thought I'd post this up for any other Grey's Anatomy fans who haven't come across it yet. Pompeo looks like a sphynx in that ad almost. [Grey's Anatomy and New York & Company? Who would have figured?]

(click to enlarge)




Personally, for all last season, I find myself no longer sympathizing with Meredeith Grey because of her whole personality etc. : ( One of my favorite parts so far are when Yang has a spoon of yogurt in her mouth and dances [or tries to dance] with Bourke in the kitchen. : )

On another note, some of you may have heard a while ago about the Sophia Kokosalaki, Thakoon, and Vivienne Westwood designing items for Nine West which are coming out later this fall. I saw a few of the items in Teen Vogue (once again-- it was a big issue!) and Sophia Kokosalaki's seems sort of...dissapointing. Especially the tacky looking headband for $95 and the dark plain-looking flats for $195.



On the other hand I can't help falling in love with these detailed rainboots by Thakoon for a better $75. Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to get them because well...by then I'll have become on a constricting college-money-saving plan. -sniff sniff sniff-
I'm really excited about the Abaete for Payless line that'll be coming out though. Stuff seems to look great.



PROJECT RUNWAY. Ah. What to say. Last two episodes. Crazy shit. ==SPOILER== I think Angela has redeemed herself. I think the Macy's version of her winning outfit is terribly ugly in comparison and that is why I think I don't have many good words to say about I.N.C. Also, the latest episode's Audrey Hepburn outfit--- my God! Gr!!!! I love it, can you tell? The little flower things on the bottom made the dress move a bit...stiffly and funky but that's just my opinion. But overall it was an amazing modern twist on Audrey Hepburn.

Now, Bradley. -Sniff- Bradley, Bradley, Bradley. Yeah... It wasn't the best outfit. But then again...he was stuck with Cher, which might not have helped much. I never thought of Cher as a fashion icon for some reason. Then again, Bradley seemed a little too lost to win this season's competition anyway.

The new kinda-not-sorta-Keith: Jeffrey. My god! What an ass! Saying that he wished Laura would have a stroke? That's the kind of guy who-- if you remove all of that punk-demeanor-look thing going on, you could only be left saying he's an asshole that everyone hates. Then it wouldn't be "punk-snobbery", it'd just be annoying-guy-snobbery.

Ah, and Michael Knight. I liked him since Day 1. Now I admire him. Actually since before Day 1. Since I saw him at the auditions. My thoughts about him are basically: hip-hop-vibe-guy-creating-crazy-beautiful-clothing. He reminds me a tiny bit of Kanye West and more specifically of this interview with John Mayer & Kanye West [a pair, huh?] who were supposed to be recording Bittersweet which never ever came out.

from mtv.com:

Mayer: Well, your world is what you sing about and what you write about, and artists are kind of defined by that. Kanye's world is like the front porch, Star Wars toys, a nice bowl of soup, a nice bracelet and a watch.

West: And some strippers!

Mayer: And some strippers ... I wrote this thing about Kanye for Teen People and they didn't use this line: "Some rappers come from the wrong side of the tracks, but Kanye comes from the wrong side of the mall." Which I think kind of sums it up: Kanye is from the Food Court, in front of the Orange Julius, right there, on that bench, where you kind of feel uncomfortable eating when there's no other tables available.

West: You really described my life, like, I really used to be in the mall when other rappers were in the streets: trying on stuff, putting stuff on layaway, looking for girls.

Yeah I refer to some weird stuff.

On still another topic-- go out and buy the September edition of Shop Etc. It's a great great great issue with dead-on fall trends that look so brilliant and amazing articles including ones with creating rooms revolving around runway shows. (and I say that about very few mags-- even the Teen Vogue issue I pulled out a bunch of ads from. Though the College Admission on Gender was a good article and the issue about Designers and their Musical Influences). Plus, it has an Urban Outfitters home goods 20% off coupon [sucks it can't be used for sale items though] and free underwear at Victoria's Secret. So it's worth it and definitely pays for itself.

Also, something that doesn't deal with fashion at all-- I watched Crash again yesterday. And I have to say if you've never watched it- you should. That's all. It's very poignant, strong, intense, and Real.

Also, if you haven't yet signed the One.Org petition asking America's leaders to keep the G8 commitments on more and better international assistance, debt cancellation, and making trade fair for poor countries around the globe including Africa- do check out this site and sign it:

Take Action- One.org

And forward it to your friends and family.

And as always, don't hesitate to share your thoughts with me!

Peace and Love.