Jamaican Pride

September is shaping up to be a bumper month editorial-wise for models of colour. American Elle showcases the illuminating beauty of Jamaican model Jeneil Williams in an editorial shot by Laurie Bartley. Represented by New York Models, Kingston-born Williams brings a touch of modernity to a series of outdoor shots set amidst the tropical flora and fauna of the Caribbean island of St Lucia. Williams looks simply spellbinding in neon bright graphic prints which contrast beautifully with her flawless ebony coloured skin. I have not purchased American Elle since the late Nineties but with editorials featuring the likes of Williams, Herieth Paul and Stephanie Seymour in its September edition, it may well be time to break the drought.

Jeneil Williams
US Elle - September 2011
Photographer - Laurie Bartley
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Dangerous Curves Ahead

Supermodels are indeed the flavour of the month with Stephanie Seymour making a welcome return to modelling for the September issue of US Elle. Photographed by Horst Diekgerdes, Seymour shows off her trademark sexy silhouette in Azzedine Alaia, Louis Vuitton, Chloé, Ruffian and Stella McCartney. Forty three year old Seymour has an amazing presence in this editorial and demonstrates the sex appeal which made her a household name in the Nineties. Each time I see one of the original Supers back in front of the lens, I am reminded of the halcyon days of modelling when models were celebrated for their womanly curves, individuality and charisma.

Stephanie Seymour
US Elle - September 2011
Photographer - Horst Diekgerdes
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

All-American Beauty

During the late Eighties, Kara Young formed part of an elite group of African-American models who helped to redefine the ideal of the "All-American" look. Young along with fellow compatriots Karen Alexander, Veronica Webb, Louise Vyent, Beverly Peele and Gail O'Neill heralded a shift in society's perception of All-American beauty from the stock standard blonde hair blue-eyed look to an appreciation of the true American melting pot.

Young began modelling in 1987 in her hometown of San Francisco and her modelling career kicked into overdrive when she moved to New York a year later, signing with Elite Model Management. With her smouldering gaze, cheshire cat grin and wild, unruly tresses, Young had a look which was distinct, fresh and alluring. Young was a muse for photographer Santé D'Orazio to whom she was married at the time and consequently was photographed frequently by D'Orazio for British Vogue, Vogue Italia and Paris Vogue.

Young's bi-racial looks played to her advantage by appealing to a broad cross-section of communities. Recognising her mass-market appeal, US Vogue selected Young to appear on an unprecedented three solo covers of the fashion bible photographed by Richard Avedon and Patrick Demarchelier. Young's girl-next-door look also made her a regular fixture in mainstream fashion publications including Glamour, Mademoiselle and US Elle. Advertising campaigns for the Gap, Byblos, Revlon and Guerlain cosmetics followed suit as well as appearances in the Victoria's Secret catalogue and Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue, making Young one of the most in-demand models of her generation.

Glamour - May 1989
Photographer - Paul Lange
Source - thefashionspot.com

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit - 1989
Photographer - Marc Hispard
Source - thefashionspot.com

Photographer - Santé D'Orazio
A Private View - Santé D'Orazio
Source - thefashionspot.com

UK Vogue - July 1989
Photographer - Santé D'Orazio
Source - thefashionspot.com

Christy Turlington & Kara Young
Vogue Italia - September 1993
Photographer - Santé D'Orazio
Source - thefashionspot.com

UK Vogue - Unknown
Photographer - Santé D'Orazio
Source - thefashionspot.com

UK Vogue - June 1991
Photographer - Santé D'Orazio
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Elle - Unknown
Photographer - Gilles Bensimon
Source - bellazon.com

Kara Young, Laurence Treil & Christy Turlington
The Most Unforgettable Women in the World wear Revlon
Photographer - Richard Avedon
Source - thefashionspot.com

Kara Young & hairdresser John D'Orazio
Photographer - Santé D'Orazio
Source - johndorazio.com

Kara Young, Carré Otis & Jennifer Noble
US Vogue - Unknown
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Vogue - Unknown
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Elle - Unknown
Photographer - Gilles Bensimon
Source - bellazon.com

US Vogue - April 1988
Photographer - Richard Avedon
Source - thefashionspot.com

Glamour - November 1989
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Vogue - October 1989
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Source - thefashionspot.com

Glamour - August 1989
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Elle - March 1988
Photographer - Gilles Bensimon
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Vogue - October 1988
Photographer - Richard Avedon
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Elle - December 1989
Photographer - Gilles Bensimon
Source - thefashionspot.com

Transformations

Sixteen year old Herieth Paul has undergone more than her fair share of changes over the past four years. In 2007, Herieth moved from her native Tanzania in Africa to Ottawa Canada, with her diplomat mother. Two years later, unbeknownst to her mother, Herieth walked into an open casting call for Angies Model & Talent in Ottawa and was swiftly signed up. Now aged sixteen, Herieth is being carefully groomed and developed by Women Direct in New York as one of the agency's most promising new faces.

Under the guidance of Women Direct, Herieth underwent a dramatic change in appearance with her shoulder length silky black tresses being traded for a closely cropped buzz cut, accentuating to her delicate, gamine features and lending her more of a high fashion contemporary feel. Herieth's modelling career has since taken off to a promising start with lucrative campaigns for Diesel and cK One under the belt, and editorial appearances in Vogue Italia lensed by Steven Meisel, and for Dazed & Confused, Teen Vogue, American Elle and Black Book magazine.

Herieth appears to be relatively unfazed by the recent changes and is focused instead on achieving her goals of appearing "on the cover of every magazine." In an interview for the Cut, Herieth is equally poised when asked if "it is difficult as a black model to land high profile work as compared to your non-ethnic counterparts", to which she responds, "Well, I'm new to this industry and I never really thought of it that way. But no, I think that if you work hard you get what you deserve."

US Elle - September 2011
Photographer - KT Auleta
Source - models.com

After
BlackBook - January 2011
Photographer - Tony Kim
Source - nymag.com

Before Shots
Courtesy of Women Direct
Source - models.com

Before Shots
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

Teen Vogue - September 2011
Photographer - Paolo Kudacki
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Elle - September 2011
Photographer - KT Auleta
Source - models.com

Vogue Italia - January 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

La Belle Estelle

During the late Eighties, Estelle LeFebure was one of fashion's most celebrated models. Hailing from Dieppe in France, a then nineteen year old LeFebure was discovered whilst on a day trip to Paris. Standing at 175 cm in height, LeFebure formed part of a band of models during the Eighties who sported fuller-figured, athletic physiques. LeFebure regularly collaborated with photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, Richard Avedon, Gilles Bensimon, Marc Hispard, Francesco Scavullo and Herb Ritts. Consequently, LeFebure became a staple model for American Vogue, American Elle and British Vogue and appeared on the cover of American Vogue a staggering seven times throughout her modelling career.

British Vogue - June 1987
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier

French ELLE - March 1989
Photographer - Marc Hispard

British Vogue - June 1987
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier

US ELLE - Unknown
Photographer - Gilles Bensimon
Source - thefashionspot.com

For me, LeFebure was simply a delight to behold. Blessed with a raw, unadulterated beauty and an incandescent smile, LeFebure was the very embodiment of the natural, healthy look of the Eighties. LeFebure along with models Elle MacPherson, Stephanie Seymour, Paulina Porizkova, Christy Turlington and Ashley Richardson, were photographed regularly by Gilles Bensimon for American Elle which spearheaded the trend toward models with fuller, lush figures. 

US Vogue - May 1988
Photographer - Richard Avedon

Glamour - March 1989
Photographer - Paul Lange

Cosmopolitan - June 1988
Photographer - Francesco Scavullo

US Vogue - June 1989
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh

US ELLE - October 1987
Photographer -Gilles Bensimon

LeFebure's incredible range as a model, which could alternate from femme fatale to that of the girl next door, made her popular with a diverse range of publications from US Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle, Glamour and Self. LeFebure's appearances in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and George Michael's Too Funky music clip made her a household name and set pulses racing. When I reminisce about the original supermodels from the Eighties, it is LeFebure's sublime beauty, charisma and personality which remind me of what first fuelled my interest in models.

British Vogue - Unknown
Photographer - Herb Ritts
Source - thefashionspot.com

US Vogue - June 1989
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit - 1988
Photographer - Marc Hispard

Estelle Lefebure, Karen Alexander, Rachel Williams,
Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz & Christy Turlington
British Vogue - August 1988
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh