Modeling Journey

Stefano Gabbana and Dolce Domenico opt for multiple girl casts for their D&G and Dolce Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011 campaigns. Super photographer Mario Testino shoots an eclectic mix of new faces for D&G's vibrant and youth-oriented campaign starring Tao Okamoto, Aiste Kliveckaite, Marique Schimmel and Melodie Monrose. Shot in a New York subway tunnel, the diversity of the cast of models aptly refects New York's populace.

Continuing on its Fall/Winter 2011 androgynous boy meets girl theme, Dolce Gabbana's campaign lensed by Steven Klein, features Isabeli Fontana, Jac Jagaciak, Liu Wen, Maryna Linchuk, Constance Jablonski and Kate King alternately dressed as men and women. Wen, King and Jagaciak look super cute posing tomboyishly in pants, suspender belts, singlets and bowler hats.

V Magazine's Asia issue is due to hit newsstands on the 12th of May with Lady Gaga appearing on the cover photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Ten percent of the proceeds of sales will go towards the Japan relief effort. The issue features a stunning editorial with the modelling's top Asian talent. Liu Wen, Fei Fei Sun, Shu Pei Qin and Tao Okamoto transform into modern day vixens under the masterful lens of Terry Tsiolis. Newcomers Ming Xi, Sui He and Bonnie Chen also appear in editorials shot by Nick Knight, Glen Luchford and Sebastien Faena respectively. It is truly amazing to see so many top models of Asian descent showcased in one issue. Let's hope that the recent smattering of editorials featuring all-Black and all-Asian casts is not just a gimmick and that models of colour become the norm rather than the exception in the higher echelons of the modelling world.

The lovely and beautiful Tao Okamoto has joined forces with photographer John Paul Pietrus to raise funds for the disaster relief in Japan. Hailing from Japan, Okamoto was in Tokyo at the time of the earthquake and tsunami, and saw first hand the devastating effects of the natural disaster. In an open letter to the general public, Okamoto recounts the fear felt by her fellow country men and women and encourages "friends of the world" to continue in their support of the relief efforts in Japan. 

New York based Okamoto has since been searching for a way to contribute to the relief effort and to raise awareness for the long road to recovery for the people of Japan. Okamoto has collaborated with Pietrus to produce a limited edition print run of 100 photographs signed by the photographer and his muse with proceeds going to the Red Cross specifically for the Japan Tsunami Appeal www.redcross.org.uk/japantsunami

Okamoto who is represented by Ford Models in New York, rose to prominence in 2009 when her waist length hair was cut with dramatic effect into a pixie-like bob. Okamoto has appeared in advertising campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Benetton, Kenzo and Uniqlo, and has also featured in editorials for US Vogue, Interview and i-D Magazine. More a muse to designers and photographers alike, Okamoto is fast becoming an iconic model and her efforts to raise awareness for the Japan Tsunami Appeal demonstrate that beauty is indeed more than skin deep. 

With New York Fashion Week due to commence on the 10th of February, castings for the shows are well under way with a gazillion models traipsing frantically all over the city in the hopes of landing a coveted spot in the most influential of shows. ACW's casting is perhaps one of the most important castings for any new or established model. The ACW agency led by director Andrew Weir and his skilled team, casts shows for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Proenza Schouler, Hugo Boss, Nicole Farhi, Malo, Marchesa, Hussein Chalayan, and Viktor & Rolf. 

An appearance in a show such as Calvin Klein, generates the kind of buzz about a new model that can potentially translate into a stellar runway season and more importantly major campaign bucks. ACW's annual casting held at the Hudson Hotel has become somewhat of a casting extravaganza with hundreds of models converging on Soho in the hopes of impressing the powers that be. Models.com were on hand to provide a behind the scenes chronicle of the event. Kudos to all of the models in attendance and best of luck!

Givenchy's Spring 2011 Haute Couture presentation featured a cast of solely Asian models. Designer Riccardo Tisci's cast of beauties featured ten of the most prominent Asian models hailing from China, Japan and Korea. Veterans Ai Tominaga and Du Juan joined Liu Wen, Shu Pei Qin, Ming Xi, Fei Fei Sun, Hye Park, Jiang Xiao Yi, Tao Okamoto and So Young Kang in an intimate presentation of the collection inspired by Japanese robot toys and legendary Japanese dancer Kazuo Ohno. Tisci's influence in the modelling world is fast becoming folklore with many a model's career skyrocketing following an appearance in a Givenchy show. The question now is which of these Asian warrior beauties will dominate the upcoming Fall/Winter 2011 shows.