Born this Way

Fashion editor Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele marries the worlds of high fashion and hip hop for V Magazine's first ever music issue. Cerf de Dudzeele and photographer Sebastian Faena explore the relationship between hip hop and high fashion whilst showcasing four of modelling's most beautiful faces. Melodie Monrose, Anais Mali, Chrishell Stubbs and Cora Emmanuel are given the opportunity to shine vibrantly in the tongue in  cheek editorial sporting ensembles which hark back to the days of MC Hammer, Lil Kim, the Fugees and Foxy Brown. Established faces of the moment, Mali and Monrose put on their best swagger alongside newcomers Emmanuel and Stubbs. As Cerf de Dudzeele puts it best "I love girls that men want to follow in the street - glamourous, sexy, powerful. You're born with it."

Chrishell Stubbs

Travone Hill & Melodie Monrose

Anais Mali & Travone Hill

Anais Mali

Travone Hill Melodie Monrose

Travone Hill, Cora Emmanuel, Rob Evans
& Anthony White

Rob Evans & Anais Mali

Chrishell Stubbs

Rob Evans, Travone Hill, Anais Mali & Melodie Monrose

Cora Emmanuel

Travone Hill, Anais Mali & Rob Evans
V Magazine - Issue 75
Photographer - Sebastian Faena
Source - thefashionspot.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

Model as Muse

Modelling's newest rising stars serve as inspiration for a series of paintings by artist Danny Roberts, commissioned for models.com's MDX. Roberts portraits are based on various existing images of Arizona Muse, Melodie Monrose, Iris Egbers, Hailey Clauson, Julia Saner, Daphne Groeneveld, Bambi Northwood-Blyth and Britt Maren, with the artist imbuing each canvass with his own unique perspective. Roberts captures the individual nuances of each model from the understated elegance of Monrose, to the bohemian chic of Northwood-Blyth and the haunting beauty of Muse. The end results are pure magic and hark back to the days when models served as Muse beyond the world of fashion.

Arizona Muse

Hailey Clauson

Melodie Monrose

Britt Maren

Bambi Northwood-Blyth

Daphne Groeneveld

Iris Egbers

Julia Saner
All images courtesy of models.com

United We Stand

Model Sara Ziff's documentary "Picture Me" caused quite a stir in fashion circles when it was released in September last year. The documentary exposes the underbelly of the modelling world via video footage recorded by Ziff's partner Ole Schell over a five year period at fashion shows, photo shoots and parties. Allegations of sexual misconduct, eating disorders, drug use, as well frank testimonials by models; Missy Rayder, Cameron Russell and Lisa Cant, shed a new light on the ugly side of the modelling industry.

Picture Me
Source - imdb.com

Ziff is now taking things a step further with plans to form a professional model's union to protect models from harsh working conditions and sexual harassment. The Model Alliance will be formed in conjunction with the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University. As reported in an interview by the Cut, Ziff asserts that "The modelling industry is essentially unregulated. As independent contractors, models don't have the same basic workplace protection as a lot of other industries. They don't have workmen's compensation. They often don't have access to affordable health coverage. There are no provisions for rest and meal breaks. There is little recourse for issues of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. And a lot of modelling agencies have a huge amount of power over international girls because they sponsor their visas."

The very youth driven nature of modelling, means that the industry is often pre-populated by individuals who have barely ventured past their teens. The formation of an organisation to represent and protect the rights of models is long overdue and has gained the attention of casting agency, Confessions of a Casting Director (COACD), who have compiled the following images of the modelling's finest new talent in support of the union.

Vita - Silent

Melodie Monrose - Wilhelmina

MJ - Wilhelmina

Xiao Wen - IMG

Ataui Deng & Courtney - Trump Models

Tsanna - IMG

Sam Kober - Women

Ethan James - Ford Models

Hilde - Next

So Young Kang - Marilyn

Andie Arthur - Ford Models

Wang Xiao - Wilhelmina

Katie Fogarty - Next
All polaroids courtesy of COACD

In Fine Company

Vogue Italia assembles a cast of the fashion industry's leading top black models for an astonishingly beautiful editorial in the February 2011 issue. Shot by Emma Summerton and styled by Edward Enninful, the editorial entitled "Black Allure", plays host to a bevy of beauties including veteran models Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn, Arlenis Sosa, Aminata Niaria, and Sessilee Lopez, alongside newcomers; Rose Cordero, Joan Smalls, Melodie Monrose, Lais Ribeiro and Ajak Deng. The hair, make-up, styling and fashions by Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy amongst others, allow the models to fully embody the feeling of sheer elegance and sophistication captured by Summerton.

Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls & Jourdan Dunn
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Joan Smalls
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Lais Ribeiro & Arlenis Sosa
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Jourdan Dunn
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Melodie Monrose
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Sessilee Lopez, Ajak Deng & Aminata Niaria
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Chanel Iman
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Ajak Deng
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Sessilee Lopez, Aminata Niaria, Jourdan
Dunn & Chanel Iman
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Jourdan Dunn, Sessilee Lopez, Ajak Deng, Lais RIbeiro,
Rose Cordero, Melodie Monrose, Arlenis Sosa,
Aminata Niaria & Chanel Iman
Vogue Italia - February 2011
Photographer - Emma Summerton

Room for Two

Emerging models Anais Mali and Melodie Monrose are proving that there is room for more than one top black model at any given time, within the highest echelons of the modelling world. Both models have made significant headway since their impressive debuts at the Spring/Summer 2011 shows in September. Mali appeared in 22 shows, whilst Monrose logged a staggering 49 shows.

The exotic beauties are both French, with Mali hailing from Toulon, and Monrose from the French Caribbean island of Martinique. Mali's feline like features and impossibly high cheekbones are a product of her African and Polish heritage. Mali was scouted on the streets of Paris at the age of sixteen and has  recently moved to New York where she is represented by Ford Models. Monrose was introduced to an agent by a friend, and was signed swiftly by Wilhelmina Models before being whisked off to New York for the SS11 shows.

Mali and Monrose were photographed by Solve Sundsbo for an editorial in Interview's December 2010 issue. The editorial entitled "Double Vision" captures Mali and Monrose entangled in a series of electrifying and sensual poses. Both models compliment and play off each other to best effect. Mali has since been photographed by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia, and Mario Testino for US Vogue. Monrose's luminous beauty has been captured by the likes of Hugh Lippe for Dazed & Confused, Danielle Duella and Iango Henzi for V Magazine, and Emma Summerton for Vogue Italia.

I am so excited at the modelling prospects which await these two newcomers. Both models possess an innate love of fashion and exude an air of elegance and sophistication. I adore Monrose's melancholic eyes, which light up in an instant when she flashes her exuberant smile. Mali's look may be exotic but she is a versatile beauty with a runway swagger to rival the most seasoned veterans.

Melodie Monrose & Anais Mali
Interview Magazine - December 2010
Photographer - Solve Sundsbo

Melodie Monrose
Photographer - D P Benson
Source - thefashionspot.com

Melodie Monrose
V Magazine - January 2011
Photographer - Danielle Duella & Iango Henzi

Anais Mali
Vogue Italia - January 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel

Anais Mali
Photographer - Unknown
Source - bellazon.com

Melodie Monrose
Photographer - Unknown
Source - Melodie Monrose Facebook Fanpage

Melodie Monrose
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

Anais Mali
Vogue Italia - January 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel

Anais Mali
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

Anais Mali & Melodie Monrose
Interview Magazine - December 2010
Photographer - Solve Sundsbo
Source - fashiongonerogue.com