She's Got the Look

What do top models Erjona Ala, Nyasha Matonhodze, Ming Xi, Julia Saner, Fei Fei Sun, Constance Jablonski, Sigrid Agren and Eniko Mihalik all have in common? Aside from their obvious stunning DNA, they all got their start in modelling as finalists in the Elite Model Look competition. With this year's final due to commence in Shanghai in a few hours, I thought I'd give you a heads up on my top picks out of the 65 finalists. I had an extremely tough time deciding which ten models to include in my top ten, however after having sifted through the online portfolios and having watched the model interviews, I'm hoping to see Lenka from the Czech Republic, Leona from Slovakia and Mily from the Dominican Republic place amongst the final three to take out the title. Which of the faces below will you be hedging bets on?

Lenka - Czech Republic
Age - 18 years

Leona - Slovakia
Age - 14 years

Li XiaoXin - China
Age - 20 years

Agata - Russia
Age - 18 years

Dijora - Lithuania
Age - 15 years

Elsa - Angola
Age - 17 years

Mily - Dominican Republic
Age - 14 years

Jenna - USA
Age - 14 years

Lieke - the Netherlands
Age - 14 years

Barbara - Serbia
Age - 15 years
All images courtesy of elitemodellook.com

The Countdown Begins...

With less than a week to go before the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show kicks off, chat forums are abuzz with speculation as to which models will make the final line-up for what is inarguably one of the most lucrative jobs for any model. The casting process for the coveted 30 or so spots that make up the show's cast is gruelling. Modelinia.com got the inside scoop at a casting last week at the Victoria's Secret HQ, as models lined the hallways outside the casting room waiting for their opportunity to wow casting director John Pfeiffer and his team.

Josephine Skriver

Spotted at the casting were familiar faces Lily Donaldson, Emanuela de Paula, Constance Jablonski, Arelnis Sosa, Katsia Zingarevich, Maryna Linchuk and Shannan Click, all of whom have previously walked in the show. With only 10 to 15 spots up for grabs for Victoria's Secret newbies, the pressure was on for Britt Maren, Jourdan Dunn, Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, Alyssa Miller, Shanina Sheik, Elsa Hosk, Sui He, Frida Gustavsson, Anais Mali, Bregje Heinen and Juju Ivanyuk amongst others to impress.

Jourdan Dunn

Lily Donaldson

Constance Jablonski

Speaking with modelinia.com, John Pfeiffer shed light on the casting process, noting that "Just because a girl has walked before doesn't mean she'll walk again. Everything from their bodies to their overall look changes, so we have to see them again and again." Pfeiffer keeps an eye out for potential Victoria's Secret runway candidates throughout the year and has his radar firmly set on a number of faces, "Bregje (Heinen) is finally 18 so we were really excited to see her. Karlie (Kloss) is also of age this year, so hopefully she'll walk the show."

Bregje Heinen

Britt Maren

Jasmine Tookes

Candice Swanepoel, Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Lily Aldridge, Chanel Iman, Behati Prinsloo, Doutzen Kroes, Lais Ribeiro, Izabel Goulart, Lindsay Ellington and Erin Heatherton have so far been confirmed for the show. In the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for hopefuls Toni Garrn, Melodie Monrose, Sui He, Jourdan Dunn, Karlie Kloss, Shanina Shaik, Chrishell Stubbs, Anais Mali and Milou Sluis.

Emanuela de Paula

Katsia Zingarevich

Juju Ivanyuk
Photographer for all images - Victoria Stevens
All images courtesy of modelinia.com

Major League

25 Magazine features the cream of modelling's talent in an editorial lensed by Marcin Tyszka. Karlie Kloss, Anja Rubik, Maryna Linchuk, Karmen Pedaru, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Alana Zimmer, Shu Pei Qin, Constance Jablonski and Valerija Kelava demonstrate why season after season they are the girls ruling the runways and securing the coveted editorial and campaigns slots. Each model brings an individual energy, character and strength to the editorial whilst allowing Tyszka to capture the sublime beauty of this stellar cast to best effect. 

Constance Jablonski

Karlie Kloss

Shu Pei Qin

Alana Zimmer

Abbey Lee Kershaw

Maryna Linchuk

Karmen Pedaru

Anja Rubik

Valerija Kelava
25 Magazine - S/S 2010
Photographer - Marcin Tyszka
Source - models.com

Dolce's Girls

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.

D&G - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino

Dolce Gabbana - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Steven Klein

D&G - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino

Dolce Gabbana - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Steven Klein

D&G - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models. com

The Ultimate Russh

I have been based in Berlin for six months, having moved here from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia in July 2010. My first  two thoughts upon arriving in Berlin were, "I hope I will be able to cope with the arduous winter here and secondly, will I be able to find my favourite glossies in order to get my much needed fix of fashion and models." 

Berlin is an international city and an epicentre of creativity for artists, writers and anyone seeking a level of self-expression. I was delighted therefore to find that not only were my much loved American and European magazines readily available but so was the ultra-cool Russh Magazine from my hometown.

Russh Magazine was created in September 2004 and is published bi-monthly. The magazine has a strong emphasis on personal style with a distinctly Australian flavour which is endearing, intriguing and honest. What I love most about Russh, is that the editorial content and cover shots are always original, unpredictable and innovative. This little Aussie hipster publication stays true to it's roots but is clearly international in it's mindset. Russh features only the top tier models from around the globe in  homegrown and international fashions. The styling and concepts of the editorials are exciting and fresh and do not follow a set formulaic approach. 

In the words of Russh editor Stevie Dance, "Russh, she is the mystery girl you want to befriend but are just a tad intimidated by. That is, until you realise that she is just as dorky as you, in the coolest kind of way."

Russh - February/March 2011
Model - Delfine Bafort
Photographer - Will Davidson

Russh - August/September 2011
Model - Alessandra Ambrosio
Photographer - Will Davidson

Russh - October/November 2009
Model - Daul Kim RIP
Photographer - Beau Grealy

Russh - June/July 2009
Models - Ieva Laguna & Tony Ward
Photographer - Will Davidson

Russh - December/January 2011
Model - Eniko Mihalik
Photographer - Benny Horne

Russh - October/November 2010
Model - Ashely Smith
Photographer - Will Davidson

Russh - May/June 2009
Model - Constance Jablonski
Photographer - Benny Horne