BellaSugar

Model of the Week: Aminata

BellaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:01:27 -0700

You probably don't know the name Mia Aminata Niara - she goes by Aminata professionally - but that should soon change.

The 5'9" stunner was born in Senegal, now lives in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, and speaks three languages. She's, as they say, big in Europe: Aminata has walked the runways of Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin and appeared in magazines such as Vogue Germany.

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So why has it taken until this season to see her in New York fashion shows like Proenza Schouler, Erin Fetherston, and Ralph Lauren? For the answer, along with the unusual skin-care tip Aminata shared, read more.

How long have you been modeling?
Just two years for me. Before, I was just modeling in Paris. Every time I did a shoot or other [modeling] event, people would say to me, “Why don’t you go to New York? You have a beautiful face, you’d get work there!” I’d say that I was doing my schooling, that’s why. Now I say, “OK, I’m stopping school and moving.” This is my first time in New York, and I’m happy. It’s so exciting.

How do you keep your skin healthy?
I hope my skin is healthy! Every morning when I wake up, I put freezing water on my face. I like the feel of it, and I think it makes my skin stronger. That’s it.

When do you feel the most beautiful?
When I wake up. It’s natural - It’s much more "you." When you wake up, you see your face, and everything is fresh and clean because you’ve been sleeping for eight hours. That's when I feel best.

Source and Source

Model of the Week: Marisa Miller

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:00:22 -0700

As the new face of Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Dare fragrance, Marisa Miller is on the road to being a one-namer (think Heidi, Cindy, Naomi). I caught up with her recently in New York and got her to spill some beauty secrets. Most surprising, however, was that the California native has eschewed suntanning over the last few years and believes it has saved her skin. "I was just talking to Linda Hay, the head makeup artist for Victoria's Secret, and she said my skin looks better now than when I started five years ago. It's because I‘ve stayed out of the sun the last two years."

To find out how she fakes it and get one of Hay's Australian beauty secrets, read more.

So how do you stay tan?
Marisa Miller:
It’s not hard to find good self tanner that’s not orange anymore. There are so many products in the Bare Bronze line - shimmer makes a big difference on the skin for hiding imperfections. It’s all about the way the light hits your skin. This sheen in the Shimmering Body Oil reflects the light differently. [All the Victoria's Secret Angels] were like "more, more, more!" When you’re on that runway it’s all you, there’s no retouching. It’s live. That was definitely the big secret of the [Victoria's Secret Fashion] show.

That’s Victoria’s Secret! What are your other beauty secrets?
Marisa Miller: Linda just used this product from Australia -she’s Australian- called Lucas’ Papaw Ointment. It has papaya extract, which is great for cracked skin and insect bites. She puts it on my lips or anywhere that’s dry, like under your eyes, or even to get a little sheen. It’s a Vaseline-type texture.

How do you take care of yourself with all the traveling you do?
Marisa Miller: I probably travel three weeks out of every month. You try to sleep whenever you can. When I first started it was hard to sleep on a plane, but now I can sleep anytime anywhere. Whenever I can, I’ll leave a little conditioner on my ends or just have a really good moisturizer and eye cream on the plane. Drink a lot of water.

How do you keep your skin in shape?
Marisa Miller: Good skin is really important, so I make sure I go to the dermatologist. My doctor, Dr. [Harold A.] Lancer, has some really great products in his line. I make sure he checks out my freckles, it’s important to be on top of that with my skin. Staying out of the sun has made a world of difference. Not that you have to hide from the sun by any means, but it’s important to use sunscreen and do it in moderation. I get facials in L.A. I’ve been going to Rita Csizmadia for probably ten years. Basically it’s maintenance, like clogged pores and things like that from all the makeup. I try to squeeze in my appointments every month.

What are your makeup essentials?
Marisa Miller: Curling your lashes instantly makes you look more awake, so if I only have a couple of minutes that's what I do, followed by mascara. Mascara and bronzer, that’s the biggest thing. My favorite bronzer is Victoria's Secret Mosaic Bronzer in Goddess. It’s easy because you can use it on all skin types. And I love High Definition Mascara, I have it on right now. It’s lengthening and not clumpy and you get good volume. I’m definitely a low-maintenance beauty person.

Well, at least in your line of work you get people to do the maintaining for you!
Marisa Miller: I know! That's the best part - you get a mini makeover every time you work!

To read more Model of the Week posts, click here for the archive.

Model of the Week: Teiko Dornor

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:00:24 -0700

My friend Frank is an uber-talented designer, and when he showed me the look of this Nicolay and Kay release, I had to know who the gorgeous woman on the cover was. Turns out that she's a London-based model named Teiko Dornor - and she's much more than just a pretty face. She's a working model, a law student (who's on a break), a television presenter with OBE-TV, and the organizer of a pageant called Miss Plus Africa. The Ghanaian-British beauty took a few minutes to talk about being a plus-size model, learning to appreciate herself, and, of course, her best beauty tips.

Did you struggle with your appearance while growing up? How has modeling changed the way you see yourself, if at all?
While I was growing up I was rather on the skinny side (little did I know I would become a plus-size model) so my parents where concerned which then made me a little paranoid. Modeling has changed the way I interact with others. I’m naturally introverted and rather shy, so it's really forced me come out of my shell; it has changed how I see myself and made me a stronger woman. I’ve really come to terms that it's what I think about Teiko that’s most important.

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For the full interview, read more.
You’ve said that you’ve felt pressure to lose weight. I think most women feel that same kind of pressure because of the bizarre cult of thinness that reigns in fashion/beauty. Any advice for regular women as far as self-acceptance is concerned?
It's so strange: The fashion and beauty industry celebrates us and inspires us but sometimes it creates the opposite effect. Self-acceptance is something I’ve unfortunately struggled with. I would know exactly what I wanted to change about myself to an obsessive point, and all I can really say is start from the inside and ask yourself what really determines your happiness and inner peace. I’m happy now - not because I’ve dramatically changed my appearance, but because I committed time and energy into accepting myself, my relationship with God has brought me a long way, and I’m making better choices and happier now.

Anybody who’s been paying attention to the fashion shows knows that women of color and plus-sized (read: average and normal!) women are few and far between. What do you think it will take to make the industry more diverse?
Gosh, truth hurts, huh. Those are unfortunately two very valid points. Slowly but surely, I'm seeing changes. Jourdan Dunn being featured in the Prada show was encouraging. I would love to see plus-size models front mainstream campaigns, doing high-fashion, not just commercial work. I wish I knew exactly what it will take, but with most issues around equality and representation, once the problem is identified, a solution is not far away. Let's hope it’s the same here!

Tell me about Miss Plus Africa. How did that come to be?
Miss Plus Africa was borne out of passion and frustration! In 2006 myself and Joi Onyeukwu decided to establish a pageant that celebrated women with curves, and the African culture which has almost become synonymous with poverty and disease but is so much more than that. Joi and I also wanted a way to give back to our continent, with a percentage of funds generated going to organisations that support development in Africa.

I love being part of this because I know firsthand that it's not the easiest thing when you see the same type of woman being the prototype for beauty all day, every day. The women who have come forward are plus size and proud! I love seeing that because its so easy to light up when someone asks if you’ve lost weight and slum into depression when someone suggests you’ve put on weight, No one is promoting obesity, but as long as you stay healthy there is nothing wrong with being a bigger woman. Miss Plus Africa is an organization that celebrates this fact, encouraging women to embrace themselves.

How do you take care of your skin and hair?
My skin? It's been said a zillion times but drinking loads of water is a simple way of keeping my skin hydrated and healthy. There is a lot of pollution in London, which can leave my skin congested, so I have a deep cleansing facial at least once a month and exfoliate on a weekly basis with Japanese cleansing grains, leaving me radiant. My hands can get really dry, so I stock up on shea butter when I go to Ghana - I love its texture. I'm studying holistic massage at the moment, so I massage my face every evening for around 30 seconds to stimulate circulation and I’m certain it leaves me glowing!

I always seems to be adding or taking away from my hair. I change styles regularly; whatever hairstyle I have, I ensure that my hair is always well-conditioned, whether this means hair masks, hot oil treatments or steam treatments.

What are some of your best beauty secrets?

Always wear SPF. I’m Ghanaian-British, and also dark-skinned, but I have made it a rule not to think that’s any excuse to not cover up!
Blushers are great. Blush can really alter your look and lift the colors and life in your face.
Always carry lip balm!
When you are happy its almost like an instant beauty treatment. So stay happy, people!

And what are some of your favorite beauty products?
I have loads. Australian company Aesop has some great products; when I’m flying I use their Ginger flight therapy. I just roll it onto my pulse points and I’m good. Aveda does a great lip glaze in Mango Juice, and Carol's Daughter’s hair smoothie Khoret Amen, is a great conditioner. Iman has some great products, and her blush in Freesia is an instant lift. MAC have a good range of glosses; Wet Wild and Wonderful is a personal favorite. I’ve just discovered i.d. mineral makeup. It's light and flawless and lasts a while.

Finally: When do you feel the most beautiful?
I feel most beautiful when I’m surrounded by love, surrounded by positivity and enjoying the endless possibilities life has to offer.

Model of the Week: Natalie Nwagbo

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:52 -0700

Londoner Natalie Nwagbo isn't going to let a little thing like getting kicked off of cycle three of Britain's Next Top Model discourage her from modeling. This 5'11" 23-year-old is an eight-year veteran in the biz. She got her start when a talent scout wandered into the nail salon where she worked and asked if she would fill in for another model at a fashion show later that week.

From there she appeared in print ads, commercials and numerous fashion shows. She is still waiting for her big break, but she believes that her hard work will soon pay off. I spoke with Natalie about her favorite beauty looks, her secret to beautiful skin, and her guilty pleasures.

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For the full interview, read more.

What was your all-time favorite beauty look in a fashion show?
There isn't one particular show that I can recall, but overall, I love a really dramatic smoky eye and bright blush.

What do you like best about modeling?
I love the adrenaline rush - it's a wicked experience. I do a lot of catwalk work and when the music is going and everyone is taking your photograph, you feel like a different person. It's amazing.

What's your secret to beautiful skin?
I try to drink loads of water. Every morning and evening I wash my face with warm water and simple soap. I have sensitive skin, so this soap is great because it's pure. In the morning I also use a gentle facial scrub> followed by a hydrating mask. After I rinse it off, I splash my face with cold water to close the pores. Lastly, I apply a facial oil to my face and neck to really seal in the moisture.

What is your secret to maintaining healthy hair and scalp?
I don't over-wash my hair. In fact, I only wash and condition it every two-and-a-half weeks. I chemically relax my hair each month, and I use an hot oil treatment alone with it to help keep my scalp balanced.

What is your must-have drugstore product?
I love Avon Lip Gloss and I like nude colors that have a little bit of sparkle or shimmer.

What is your guilty pleasure?
That's easy because I am obsessed with anything having to do with fashion. I love shoes, clothes, handbags - and I love chocolate.

What does happiness mean to you?
I'm very close to my family, so I would say that happiness is having a healthy and happy family.

Photos Courtesy of Living TV and Source

Model of the Week: Coco Rocha

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:00:41 -0800

In her four years of modeling, Coco Rocha has become one of the fashion world's most famous faces. Discovered while competing in an Irish-dance competition, the 5'9" beauty has walked countless fashion runways including those of Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui, and Christian Dior. She's also appeared on the covers of top magazines including Numero, Vogue, and W. Last month, I had a moment to talk with the Canadian model before the Rag & Bone show. Read on!

How do you have such good skin?
I usually stay out of the sun. I do put makeup on, but I clean it with a soap that gets pH balance back to normal. It's made exactly for that. I moisturize with Lancome hydrating moisturizer; it's really thin.

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For more of the interview, plus a video of Coco showing off her skills in Irish dance, read more.

Do you feel like what you eat affects your skin at all?
It could. Lately I've been very, very, very good: lots of veggies, meat, fish, teas. No caffeine, no drinking, no smoking...

No fun?
No fun - exactly! [Laughs] That's what happens when Fashion Week comes, but you want to look good. And of course sleep is key.

What is it like seeing your face in ads or seeing yourself in a commercial?
Of course, it's fun. After a while it gets to be the norm, but it's always nice to see a new campaign; you take a step back and realize what you've accomplished. It's always a good thing to realize that I've come far from my hometown back in Vancouver. it's a good feeling; it's an accomplishment.

When you were growing up, did you feel pretty? A lot of models say they never did.
Yeah, it's exactly that. Usually the models that do very well are the ones who are tall, gangly little girls who didn't know anything about fashion or boys. In school, they weren't Miss Popular. So yeah, I was Mr. Tomboy back at home until they asked, "Did you ever think of modeling?" I was like "Hmm, maybe I should start looking like a girl."

Source

Model of the Week: Chanel Iman

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:00:04 -0800

If you haven't heard of Chanel Iman yet, get ready, because this teenager might just be the next supermodel. The 5'9" Korean-American/African-American stunner has worked for a long list of designers including Christian Dior, Valentino, YSL, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, and Oscar de la Renta. Oh yeah, and she's already been on the cover of Vogue. Not a bad resume for someone who only recently turned 18.

I had a moment to talk with Chanel before the Erin Fetherston show, and although she was a bit under the weather, she was kind enough to answer a few questions. I found her good-natured, funny, and intelligent, and I think you will, too. Read on!

How does Fashion Week feel now compared to when you were starting out?
I still love it. And you have to love what you do and really enjoy it. It's always been a job and I've been very professional about it, but now it's a career: not just a job, but a career. I look at it a little differently, you know? I need to be on point at all times.

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To find out about Chanel's formula for beautiful hair and skin, read more.

How does it feel when you see yourself in Vogue or when you're on the cover of a magazine?
Well, I feel very proud. I think I'm not only representing myself on the cover of Vogue, I'm representing other people, like my family and my friends. It's not just me on the cover, it's everybody around me that's helped me, everybody that's rooting for me. So I'm very blessed and very thankful for everything.

How do you take care of your skin?
When I come from a show, I never go to sleep with all my makeup on. I never have dry lips, and you should always wash your face at night. I use an Aveda face scrub - it's really good - and a little bit of moisturizer. That's pretty much what I do.

What about your hair? How do you keep it healthy?
My hair? Ooh, we've got some problems with the hair. [laughs] I always wash my hair once a week. For a black girl, hair is different. I always have to have my edges, which is the front of my hairline, very clean and very fresh and straightened out. A little Vonté wax, a little bit of shine to your hair. African-American hair needs oil because it's not naturally oily. Some people's are, but some aren't. So a little bit of oil, a little bit of shine, a little bit of wax, and you're all good.

What kind of makeup do you use when you're not working?
I actually don't wear makeup. If I do wear it, let me see . . . I wear different things. A little bit of Lancome, Estee Lauder. I always carry around this thing called Rosebud, from Sephora. You can use it for anything: your cuticles, your mouth, your skin.

It seems like more people are talking about diversity - or lack thereof - on the runways. What are your thoughts?
I think it definitely needs to happen soon. I think this is what happened: A long time ago, people used to come to shows for the models and not the clothes. The designers now want the models to all look the same so people can focus more on the clothes than the model. And I think that's why we have a lack of diversity. But I think it would be more interesting on the runway to see different faces from all over the world. People would really want to come to these shows, to see the models and the clothes. I think that's really smart for designers to use different women. If they do use different nationalities, that will attract more customers.

Source and Source

Model of the Week: Karolina Kurková

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:00:29 -0800

If the Jolly Green Giant had a gorgeous daughter, it would probably be Czech model Karolina Kurkova. I'm of above-average height, but she's so tall that I felt about as short as Milo while interviewing her. She's been on the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair, and The Face among other magazines. But these days, she's best known as one of the Victoria's Secret Angels. I've interviewed her before, but we had lots to talk about this time around-so read on to find out how she keeps her skin and hair healthy.

What do you do to keep your skin so clear?
I try to steam everyday. I drink a lot of water. And then I use the Victoria's Secret Bare Bronze tinted moisturizer to give me a little bit of glow. So I don't need to lay in the sun. I guess laughing. I think laughing and having a good attitude gives you that glow. That would be my secret.

For more of the interview, plus a photo gallery, read more.
Do you stay out of the sun, or are you a sun worshiper?
I love the sun but I hate tanning for hours. I get bored, I can't deal. I need to move around. So I like to be in the sun but I have to be active. I can't just lay and bake for hours. I just can't do that. And it's also not so healthy for you. A little bit of glow is good, but too much sun isn't good for your skin. It ages you, it really does.

So since you have to have your hair done all the time, how do you keep your hair healthy?
I try to not wash it every day because it washes out the natural oils. But of course if I'm working every day, yeah, I have to. Unfortunately, in our world, we have our hair blown out and styled almost every day. It's really hard.

One last question: At what point in your life did you feel beautiful?
Probably when I started modeling. I kind of started to understand my body and myself, and starting to appreciate that. Because growing up, I was very different, I was very-people always used to look at me and point at me because I was very tall and very long. I was different, so I wasn't very comfortable with the way I looked. So definitely through modeling and being in front of the camera and people, I got my confidence. I'm actually okay, it's okay to be different. And you have to really learn how to love yourself and accept yourself for who you are. Otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy because you won't ever be happy. Everyone always has something: "Oh, I don't like this or I wish I had that." Like, I always say I wish I had really curly hair, but I have straight hair. But, you know, you have to really appreciate what you have.

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Source

Model of the Week: Isabeli Fontana

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:00:38 -0800

Brazilian beauty Isabeli Fontana was the last model that Fab and I talked with at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The 24-year-old, who started modeling for Victoria's Secret when she was just 16, has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and other fashion heavyweights. We had only a few minutes-literally-to chat, but she shared some good details about her skincare routine and philosophy.

Any beauty tips or secrets you've learned through modeling?
I've learned that you cannot sleep with makeup on because your skin gets oily at night. So it's best to clean your face and moisturize well. Even if it's oily, it's good to moisturize. So put a good product on your face; your face has to be fed with a good moisturizer cream.

To find out why Isabeli won't wash her face with tap water, read more

What brand of skincare do you use?
I love Shiseido and I love Biotherm. And the most important thing is to wash your face with Evian water. Because the water we always use from the shower is dirty, it has pollution in it. But the natural ones you spray on your face don't. Just leave it on your face until it dries. It's better because there's no pollution or dirty stuff; your face needs to be fresh after you're walking around the street. The pollution is really bad. It makes your skin wrinkly faster.

When you're not working, what would your face look like on a normal day?
A normal day? Nothing. I never wear makeup, actually. Only when I go to parties and I want to feel pretty for my boyfriend. But nothing special.

Do you wear sunblock?
Every day. I think it's very important because you don't want to have marks on your face, you know. You want to have a fresh face, a baby's-butt face.

Have you always felt beautiful? Do you always feel beautiful now that you're a model or has it been a struggle?
I have to try to feel beautiful because I never feel beautiful in my life, you know what I mean? Because I have other things to worry about. I have two babies. I'm so busy. I never feel pretty.

Really?
It's so funny-no, never. The only time I enjoy myself is on the runway when they're doing this major work-the makeup, the hair. That makes me feel prettier.

That's fascinating. You know, millions of women look at you and think, "I wish I could look like her."
Really?

Yes.
Oh. Well, I don't think that's the most important thing ever. The most important thing is how you are inside. And if you're happy inside, you glow and look prettier. I never feel like, "Oh, I'm so pretty!" I never felt like that. Oh my god, I always thought I was horrible, the skinniest thing ever. I hated myself when I was young. It's crazy.

You need to stop thinking like that.
I know, I know! I'm trying to work on it.

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Source

Model of the Week: Angela Lindvall

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:00:43 -0800

I recently had a few minutes to talk with Angela Lindvall, whose face you've probably seen on the covers of ELLE, Nylon, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Vogue, and all the other big-name magazines. But she's more than a pretty face. The 28-year-old is an environmental activist, a vegetarian, and an outdoorsy, hippie-chic sort of lady. Fab caught up with her to talk fashion, and Angela and I chatted about everything from nutrition to confidence. She was completely laid-back and approachable; I had to fight urges to share my favorite tempeh recipe with her. Read on:

You've been modeling for years. Are there any beauty secrets you can share?
Yeah. I don't think it matters so much what you're putting on your skin as much as what you're putting in your body. Like eating healthy foods such as raw fats and oils. I only wear natural stuff on my skin. And also, whenever you feel really tired, use a natural cream and give your face a real massage and do a lymphatic drainage. I think that's really good to do before you do your makeup so that your face gets circulation. And of course, lots of water.

For more from Angela, including a gallery of photos, read more

Do you wind up wearing makeup every day when you're not working?
I never really have, but now that I'm a little older, I'll wear a little bit of concealer to even things out, maybe some bronzer, maybe mascara.

When you were younger, did you feel beautiful?
I was always really gawky growing up-kind of awkward and tall and skinny. I used to stand hunched over so I'd be shorter. I guess when I started modeling, that was when I was really shocked. I was like, "Me?!" Being in this industry has given me confidence; this industry will celebrate the oddities and individuality of women. Because you know, in modeling, the girls aren't always the most beautiful girls, the ones that in everyday life people would be like, "Oh wow, she's gorgeous." There are a lot of unique beauties, and it celebrates the beauty and the difference between every woman. And I think the way you feel on the inside totally reflects the way that you look. So if you're not confident and you don't carry yourself and feel good about yourself, that's how you look. I think you look the way that you feel.

It's funny that you say that, because I wanted to ask you: When you're going down the runway tonight, do you have to psych yourself up at all?
Yeah. Because by nature, I'm not what you see walk down the runway. I'm not a real girly-girl, and I don't carry myself like I think I'm the most beautiful thing in the world. You know, I have confidence and I try to feel good about myself. I think all of us struggle and have to remind ourselves about what makes us unique and special. But when I walk down the runway, I kinda tap into this superhero thing.

Like Wonder Woman?
Yeah. Because you have to become a caricature in a way, you know? So that's what I do.

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Model of the Week: Hana Soukupová

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0800

It's been a long time since I first spoke with Hana Soukupová, the Czech model who's one of the most in-demand people. While backstage at the Victoria's Secret fashion show, I had a few seconds to talk beauty with her (and of course, Fab got her fashion thoughts).

Even though Hana is about to turn 23, she looks like she could pass for 14. Her delicate facial features are small, and she has a charming girlishness to her. To find out about her beauty routine, and to see a collection of modeling photos, read more

Do you wear a lot of makeup when you're not working?
When I'm not working, it depends. If I go to a party or event, of course I wear makeup; I like to wear a very smoky eye and glowy, natural makeup. Sometimes I wear red lipstick, sometimes I don't wear lipstick. It depends on how I feel and which mood I'm in. But when I don't work or it's just a regular day, I wear mascara and a little bit of eye shadow.

Do you have any favorite makeup brands?
I love Nars. Chanel is my favorite one. For mascara, I love Maybelline.

You have really pretty skin. [It's true! She does!] What do you do to take care of it?
You know, just regular washing. (Laughs.)

You models always say, "Oh, I don't do anything!"
Yeah, I just wash my face every night and keep it clean. Another thing, for example, if you don't clean your face after-I don't know, from an event-and you don't clean it really well, of course you're going to get bad skin the next day. So you have to really be regular in cleaning every night after you come back home.

What was the moment when you first felt beautiful?
I guess when I went into fashion.

Before that, you didn't know?
I didn't know. You know, I'm from a small town in Czech Republic, and I never thought I could do this, you know? It was like something untouchable for me.

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