In Full Bloom

When Seattle native Kendra Spears first emerged on the modelling scene in 2008 via the My Space component of the Ford Supermodel competition, her all-American good looks, killer physique and perfectly placed beauty spot drew instant comparisons to iconic model Cindy Crawford. Spears placed second in the competition, losing out to Korean model Hyoni Kang, but was nevertheless signed by Ford Models to a three year modelling contract. With glamazon looks that hark back to the days of the original supermodels, Spears quickly made her mark at the Spring/Summer 2008 collections in Milan and Paris where she walked for the likes of Gucci, Christian Lacroix, Costume National, Lanvin, and Valentino.

Kendra Spears
Vogue China - January 2010
Photographer - Lachlan Bailey
Source - models.com

Spears' instant runway success parlayed into editorial favour with publications such as Italian Flair, Numéro, Italian Amica, Cover Magazine and Another Magazine. In 2009, Spears parted company with Ford Models, signing instead with Next Model Management and continued her ascent up the modelling ranks, landing on the covers of French Revue de Modes and Dazed & Confused. Spears' big break however came when she was chosen to star alongside models Ymre Stiekema, Julia Hafstrom and Anna de Rijk in the Fall/Winter 2009 Prada campaign shot by Steven Meisel.

Cover - November 2008
Photographer - Rick Shaine
Source - nymag.com

Italian Flair - May 2009
Photographer - Chad Pitman
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Another Magazine - S/S 2009
Photographer - Willy Vanderperre
Source - models.com

Cover - November 2008
Photographer - Rick Shaine
Source - nymag.com

French Revue de Modes - Issue 14
Photographer - Thierry Le Goues
Source - bellazon.com

Dazed & Confused - July 2009
Photographer - Mariano Vivanco
Source - models.com

Kendra Spears & Ymre Stiekema
Prada - Fall/Winter 2009
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Spears has since established herself as a versatile model with long-term career prospects thanks to editorial appearances in a diverse range of publications including Muse, Exit, the Last Magazine, US Harpers Bazaar, LOVE Magazine, 10 Magazine and virtually every international edition of Vogue. Campaign appearances for Calvin Klein White Label, Diane Von Furstenberg, Etro, Stefanel, the GAP and the Limited, illustrate Spears' widespread commercial appeal.

I have been a supporter of Spears since her early days in the modelling industry. Her looks are reminiscent of a bygone era when models looked, well Super. Currently ranked number 41 on the models.com list of Top 50 models, I have a strong inkling that 2012 will be the year in which Spears realises her full potential. Spears, who has been juggling modelling with sociology studies at Portland University, returned to the runway at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections looking more blue chip than ever at Chanel, Lanvin, DSquared2, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Emilio Pucci and Burberry Prorsum amongst others. With her professional work ethic, chameleon-like looks and effervescent personality, Spears is primed to take her place amongst the top tier models in the industry.

Kendra Spears
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - terrysdiary.com

The Last Magazine - S/S 2010
Photographer - Lachlan Bailey
Source - thefashionspot.com

British Vogue - August 2010
Photographer - Ben Weller
Source - nymag.com

LOVE - Spring 2010
Photographer - Angelo Pannetta
Source - nymag.com

Spanish Vogue - February 2011
Photographer - Jason Kibbler
Source - thefashionspot.com

Muse - December 2011
Photographer - Mariano Vivanco
Source - fashiongonerouge.com

French Numéro - April 2011
Photographer - Sean & Seng
Source - models.com

Kendra Spears & Toni Garrn
Paris Vogue - December 2011
Photographer - Theo Wenner
Source - thefashionspot.com

Exit - December 2011
Photographer - Benny Horne
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

All-American Beauties
Arizona Muse, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Kendra Spears & Karlie Kloss
US Vogue - February 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Kendra Spears & Ming Xi
Diane Von Furstenberg - S/S 2011
Photographer - Glen Luchford
Source - nymag.com

Kendra Spears, Edita Vilkevicuite & David Smith

cK White Label - S/S 2011

Photographer - Alasdair McLellan

Source - models.com

Jacquelyn Jablonski, Ieva Laguna & Kendra Spears

Stefanel - S/S 2010

Photographer - Mario Testino

Source - models.com

Catherine The Great

In 2007, a then seventeen year old Catherine McNeil flew to Paris to meet with famed photographer Mario Testino. McNeil made quite an impression. Testino immediately booked the Brisbane beauty to appear in the Fall/Winter 2007 Hugo Boss and D&G campaigns, and signed her to a six month exclusive editorial contract. Marked by the New York Times as a "model to watch", McNeil went on to eclipse the runways of Milan and Paris logging a blinding 35 show tally in her debut season with appearances at Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Chanel.

Early Days
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

McNeil's runway blitz translated into editorial gold with appearances on the covers of V Magazine, Paris Vogue, French Numero, Russh Magazine and Australian Vogue. Most importantly though, McNeil received the ultimate endorsement from US Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph McNeil's former agent Stephen Lee at Next, reveals that after having come from a meeting with the most powerful woman in fashion, "Anna said that she wants Catherine to be an absolute, total Vogue girl. No Harper's or anything - just Vogue. Anna says Catherine epitomises everything that Vogue wants to stand for now."

US Vogue - August 2008
Photographer - Steven Klein
Source - bellazon.com

US Vogue - September 2008
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Source - bellazon.com

US Vogue - December 2008
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - bellazon.com

US Vogue - February 2008
Photographer - Raymond Meier
Source - bellazon.com

US Vogue - March 2009

Photographer - Mario Testino

Source - thefashionspot.com

US Vogue - September 2008
Photographer - Steven Klein
Source - models.com

US Vogue - December 2008
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models.com

The buzz surrounding McNeil was palpable with designers, photographers and casting directors lauding praise over the newcomer. Angus Munro of AM Casting was gushing in his assessment of McNeil in an interview with V Magazine, "There aren't enough superlatives to describe the arrival of this young Australian on the scene. Models with true star quality are extremely rare but Catherine has is all - the grace, the stature, the perfect blend of strength and beauty, and, perhaps most importantly, the brains and the sense of humour. These qualities combined are going to make her a household name." Influential casting agent James Scully echoed these sentiments speaking with New York Look, "Her cat eyes, her hair - they don't make many girls like this!"

Numéro - September 2008
Photographer - Horst Diekgerdes
Source - bellazon.com

i-D Magazine - October 2008
Photographer - Amy Troost
Source - bellazon.com

German Vogue - June 2008
Photographer - Horst Diekgerdes
Source - bellazon.com

Numéro - February 2008
Photographer - Greg Kadel
Source - bellazon.com

Paris Vogue - June/July 2007
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - bellazon.com

V Magazine - Issue 47
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models.com

Australian Vogue - January 2010
Photographer - Richard Bailey
Source - bellazon.com

McNeil delivered on such high expectations with back to back campaigns for Hugo Boss as well as campaigns for Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Donna Karan, the GAP, Uniqlo, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. Editorial appearances in i-D, V Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Numero, W Magazine, Russh, and virtually every international edition of Vogue, confirmed McNeil as a bonafide star amongst the current generation of models.

Hugo Boss - F/W 2007
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - bellazon.com

Louis Vuitton - Resort 2009
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - nymag.com

Dolce & Gabbana - Resort 2009
Photographer - Steven Klein
Source - nymag.com

Donna Karan - F/W 2007
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - nymag.com

Givenchy - F/W 2010
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - models.com

For the past year McNeil has been on a somewhat self-imposed hiatus from modelling. Rumours abound with personal issues, burn out and health concerns, all cited for McNeil's absence from the modelling circuit. McNeil, who had recently jumped ship from Next Model Management to Ford Models, reemerged at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections in September with a renewed vigour and a new look. McNeil's return to the catwalk signals perhaps a shift in the the marketing of McNeil thanks to her management team at Ford. Instead of her sultry trademark cascading auburn locks, McNeil turned more than a few heads with a more subdued, sophisticated navel grazing bob.

Polaroid shot
Courtesy of Next Model Management

In an interview with Frockwriter, Ford Models agent Doll Wright sheds some light on McNeil's journey, "Life is a rollercoaster and these girls go through so much, they're worked to the bone. Some burn out or fade out and are never heard of again. Or they do have some fire in their belly and they come back bigger and better than ever before. And in the case of Catherine McNeil, that's what it's going to be." McNeil's runway appearances at Hermés, Jean Paul Gaulthier, Viktor & Rolf, Haider Ackermann, Rick Owens, Gareth Pugh, Pringle of Scotland and Matthew Williamson during the Spring/Summer 2012 collections, suggest that the fashion industry is ready to embrace McNeil back into its fold.

Comeback Trail
Matthew Williamson - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Gareth Pugh - S/S 2012
Photographer - Marcus Tondo

Hermés - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Jean Paul Gaultier - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Catherine's Creed
Photographer - Andrew Weir
Source - andrewsdiary.com

Showstopper

Toronto native Kate King backed up her stellar Spring/Summer 2011 debut, amassing an incredulous 63 shows at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections. Listed by models.com and COACD as a Top Ten newcomer for the past F/W 2011 season, the auburn haired beauty snagged a Dolce Gabbana campaign in the process, alongside established stars Isabeli Fontana, Liu Wen, Constance Jablonski, Maryna Linchuk and Jac Jagaciak. Eighteen year old King recently switched representation from Elite to Ford Models and is being heralded as one of the most exciting prospects in recent times.

Backstage at Alexander Wang S/S 2012
Image courtesy of Interview Magazine
Source - thefashionspot.com

Championed by influential casting agent, Natalie Joos, who recollects in an interview with V Magazine, "When Kate King walked into my pre-casting for Fashion Week for FW11, my tireless attention shifted. She was this tall, mousy shy girl who reminded me of Ruby Aldridge. But she had a strong, rare kind of beauty, great hair and her walk was flawless." I couldn't agree more with Joos assessment of King. For me, King is a real standout and possesses an air mystery due in part to her olive skin tone, amber coloured eyes and angular bone structure. Looking at King, it's difficult to ascertain her heritage. It's this air of intrigue which makes her all the more alluring and memorable.

Mysterious Girl
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - thefashionspot.com

Kate King
Photographer - Shirley Yu
Source - thefashionspot.com

In an interview with the Cut, King alludes to her mixed British and Guyanese lineage, when asked if there is anything about the fashion industry that she would change. "Being that I'm a medley of different races, I would love the runways to continue integrating different races and bodies." King is part of an eclectic group of second season girls who are stamping their mark on the fashion industry. Speaking with the Cut, King lists compatriots Sui He and Emily Baker as her tightest buddies, "Emily is so sweet...She's probably one of the girls I'm closest with. I also clicked with this Chinese model Sui He. She's 22, but she looks like a baby." One things for sure, King is certainly no cookie cutter beauty either and with her willowy 178 cm tall runway perfect proportions, is likely to be make an indelible impact in the years to come.

Alberta Ferretti - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Giles - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Michael Kors - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Hervé Leger - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Prada - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Proenza Schouler - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi
All runway images courtesy of style.com