Modeling Journey

During the late Eighties, Kara Young formed part of an elite group of African-American models who helped to redefine the ideal of the "All-American" look. Young along with fellow compatriots Karen Alexander, Veronica Webb, Louise Vyent, Beverly Peele and Gail O'Neill heralded a shift in society's perception of All-American beauty from the stock standard blonde hair blue-eyed look to an appreciation of the true American melting pot.

Young began modelling in 1987 in her hometown of San Francisco and her modelling career kicked into overdrive when she moved to New York a year later, signing with Elite Model Management. With her smouldering gaze, cheshire cat grin and wild, unruly tresses, Young had a look which was distinct, fresh and alluring. Young was a muse for photographer Santé D'Orazio to whom she was married at the time and consequently was photographed frequently by D'Orazio for British Vogue, Vogue Italia and Paris Vogue.

Young's bi-racial looks played to her advantage by appealing to a broad cross-section of communities. Recognising her mass-market appeal, US Vogue selected Young to appear on an unprecedented three solo covers of the fashion bible photographed by Richard Avedon and Patrick Demarchelier. Young's girl-next-door look also made her a regular fixture in mainstream fashion publications including Glamour, Mademoiselle and US Elle. Advertising campaigns for the Gap, Byblos, Revlon and Guerlain cosmetics followed suit as well as appearances in the Victoria's Secret catalogue and Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue, making Young one of the most in-demand models of her generation.

During the late Eighties, Estelle LeFebure was one of fashion's most celebrated models. Hailing from Dieppe in France, a then nineteen year old LeFebure was discovered whilst on a day trip to Paris. Standing at 175 cm in height, LeFebure formed part of a band of models during the Eighties who sported fuller-figured, athletic physiques. LeFebure regularly collaborated with photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, Richard Avedon, Gilles Bensimon, Marc Hispard, Francesco Scavullo and Herb Ritts. Consequently, LeFebure became a staple model for American Vogue, American Elle and British Vogue and appeared on the cover of American Vogue a staggering seven times throughout her modelling career.

For me, LeFebure was simply a delight to behold. Blessed with a raw, unadulterated beauty and an incandescent smile, LeFebure was the very embodiment of the natural, healthy look of the Eighties. LeFebure along with models Elle MacPherson, Stephanie Seymour, Paulina Porizkova, Christy Turlington and Ashley Richardson, were photographed regularly by Gilles Bensimon for American Elle which spearheaded the trend toward models with fuller, lush figures. 

LeFebure's incredible range as a model, which could alternate from femme fatale to that of the girl next door, made her popular with a diverse range of publications from US Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle, Glamour and Self. LeFebure's appearances in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and George Michael's Too Funky music clip made her a household name and set pulses racing. When I reminisce about the original supermodels from the Eighties, it is LeFebure's sublime beauty, charisma and personality which remind me of what first fuelled my interest in models.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is about to get a decidedly high fashion spin. Fashion editorial models, Shannan Click, Izabel Goulart and Alyssa Miller will be making their debuts in the swimsuit issue this year. With the much anticipated edition due to hit news stands on the 15th of February, rumours are abuzz as to which models will make it into the issue, and more importantly onto the cover. 

I can confirm that the rookie models will be joined by; Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Gomes, Julie Henderson, Irina Shayk, Jessica White, Anne Vyalitsyna, Hilary Rhoda, Cintia Dicker, Damaris Lewis, and Christine Teigen. With only a few spots left to round out this year's model selection, let's hope that Bar Refaeli and Dominique Piek will also make the final cut.

Twenty year old Alyssa Miller is an LA native of German, Irish and Native American extraction. Standing at 174 cm in height, Miller has shot high fashion editorials for Numero, Harper's Bazaar UK, French Elle, L'Officiel, Italian Flair, Vogue Italia, Vogue Russia,  and has appeared on the covers of German and Italian Vogue, and French Revue de Modes. Miller is represented by Marilyn Agency in New York.

California girl, Shannan Click has been modelling since 2002 and got her big break when she was cast in the Guess Spring 2003 campaign. Click has since landed campaigns for Prada, Alberta Ferretti, Sport Max, Levi's, Pepe Jeans, the GAP, Tommy Hilfiger and Emporio Armani. Click is a runway veteran, having tread the catwalk for the likes of Gucci, DSquared, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino and most recently, Victoria's Secret. Represented by Women Model Management in New York, twenty seven year old Click has been featured in editorials for US Vogue, i-D Magazine, Numero, Vogue Italia, W Magazine, and Allure,

Brazilian bombshell, Izabel Goulart has been modelling since 2004 and has appeared in fashion editorials for Marie Claire France, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, Vanity Fair, Love Magazine, V Magazine, Hercules, and Numero. Goulart is a seasoned fixture at the shows having walked for Oscar de la Renta, Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Balenciaga, Valentino, Diane Von Furstenburg and Alexander Wang. Goulart recently made a return to the catwalks of Milan and Paris when she walked for Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana at the Spring/Summer 2011 shows. Goulart is known in the industry for her incredible physique and has been a Victoria's Secret Angel since 2006. Represented by Women Model Management, Goulart has appeared on the covers of French Marie Claire, Vogue Brazil, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone and Vogue Nippon.