George Michael's 'Freedom! '90' video starring "The Trinity" of supermodels

Gemma's post about where Beyonce's new Thierry Mugler inspiration comes from - George Michael's 'Too Funky' video - got me thinking about his other supermodel-packed video for his track, 'Freedom! '90'. The iconic clip features "The Trinity" of supermodels including Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford. Michael decided not to take part in the 1990 video, allowing the models which also included Tatjana Patitz to mouth the words instead. So click play on the video above and turn it up!

Which model did you love in 2008? (We heart Coco!)

We don't usually like picking favourites, but when it came to models in 2008, it's hard to look past the fun-loving Canadian chameleon Coco Rocha. Since she Irish jig-ged her way onto the fashion scene last year, our love for her here at Catwalk Queen has only grown as she kept it real throughout the year with behind-the-scenes vids on Style.com and dyed her hair a vivid shade of red.

But we're not the types to kick up a stink if you don't agree with us... so we want to know, who would be your model of 2008? Agy? Jourdan Dunn? Daisy Lowe? Leave us a comment below and let us know!

Alexa Chung: "I would actually like to model again"

Could we soon be seeing Alexa Chung stepping in front of the lens for a lucrative ad campaign or two? There might be a campaign with New Look on the cards, if those rumours from the British Fashion Awards ring true.

Regardless, Alexa has expressed an interest in returning to her modelling roots, a profession that she once abandoned to pursue a career in TV presenting.

"I would actually like to model again now because I think I would have a lot more input, so watch this space," she told the Telegraph.

"I stopped modelling because it was just so stifling. It is very hard, when something is your passion, to be controlled and told how to do it and what to wear," she added.

Likewise, Alexa's boyfriend, Alex Turner of Artic Monkeys, also claims that he still gets queries about modelling jobs.

"I still get modelling offers all the time and since I moved on to other things, the offers have become a lot more appealing," he said.

Maybe a campaign starring both would be a wise move. Food for thought anyway.

Miss Michigan, Kirsten Haglund, crowned Miss America 2008

Miss Michigan, Kirsten Haglund, 19, was crowned Miss America 2008 Saturday, January 26 at the Planet Hollywood Resort Las Vegas. She beat Miss Indiana Nicole Elizabeth Rash, the first runner up, and Miss Washington Elyse Umemoto, the second runner up.

Following the crowning Kirsten was presented with a pearl necklace, a tray of chocolates and a press conference was held to answer questions for the press.

The crown brings her a $50,000 scholarship and a year of travel to every corner of the country.

Kirsten's preliminary win at the lifestyle and fitness on the second night of competition firmly established her as a front runner in the competition.

She studies music at the University of Cincinnati. Her grandmother, Iora Hunt, was the Miss Michigan in 1944. Kirsten got Hunt onto the platform for a hug.

Kirsten wore a sheer silver sequined gown during the Formal Gowns competition and a black with gold accents bikini during the Swimsuits competition. For the talent portion of the competition, Kirsten sang "Over the Rainbow."

She has taken up advocating awareness for eating disorders as her platform issue as she herself has recovered from this illness. She will travel approximately 20,000 miles each month.

She will be acting as the official National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network.

The non-profit organization, dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals, is the national platform partner of the Miss America Organization.

News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission

Victoria's Secret Model Alessandra Ambrosio at Dolce & Gabbana party

Alessandra Ambrosio attended the Dolce & Gabbana party at the Grammercy Park Hotel in New York Tuesday, December 4, night. The event was held to mark the brand's latest boutique on Madison Avenue and the launch of its new men's fragrance campaign.

The 26-year-old Brazilian supermodel looked 'angelic' in a white strapless mini dress with a silver sequined banded waist showing a lot of her well toned legs. An exquisite white knit wool jacket with fur added to her allure even if it didn't keep her very warm.

Ambrosio shares a New York City apartment with her lawyer sister Aline. She was recently spotted on a date with an unidentified male.

News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission

Irina Kulikova - the new 'It' model

Ok, so I know that the news of a particularly popular new model may not be exactly jaw-droppingly exciting but you've got to love the story of how this one was discovered. Grabbing a bite to eat last summer in a restaurant in Moscow, Liv Tyler suddenly walked over the table Kulikova was sharing with her mum, and asked if she was a model! How come nothing like that would happen to me when stuffing my face at Pizza Hut, eh?!

She's already made a splash at the F/W 2007-8 shows having walked for Prada, Chanel, Chloe and YSL amongst others, and if you don't recognise her yet, perhaps you will once you're used to seeing her face in campaigns by Prada, Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs and Pringle of Scotland. Busy girl, then!According to Vogue.co.uk, Storm Models founder Sarah Doukas is also a fan of Ms Kulikova, recently commenting that 'the waif is no longer in vogue' and that 'fashion is heralding the return of the 'woman'. Personally I find this completely confusing - while Kulikova may be seen as perfect model material, as far as I can see she's as waif-like as they come!

What do you think of Irina's look?

[Sources: Vogue / Who What Wear Daily]

Fashion designer a model choice

MELBOURNE City Council has selected the new face of its fashion festival, two weeks after dumping its original choice because she was too young.

Jacqui Alexander, an 18-year-old model and fashion designer, will become the public face of Fashion Week, which starts on September 3.

Fifteen-year-old model Claire Quirk was originally chosen for the job but then dropped because councillors considered her too young.

Ms Alexander, the daughter of Russian fashion designers who moved to Australia in the 1980s, designed her first collection last year while completing Year 12.

Earlier this year, Ms Alexander became the youngest ever designer to have her work bought by prestigious British department store Harvey Nichols.

Ms Alexander could not be reached for comment last night.

Councillor Fiona Snedden, who chairs the council's business committee, said she was ecstatic that Ms Alexander had been chosen. "It's a fantastic result for Melbourne because Jacqui is so inspiring," Cr Snedden said.

"She's a stunning young woman, but also an innovative young designer with a thriving small business of her own.

"It's a great small business story. She will be a great role model for young Melburnian women."
Melbourne City Council last month reversed its plan for Ms Quirk to be crowned "the face" of Fashion Week.

Ms Quirk, who turns 16 during the festival, will still appear on catwalks at many of the festival's 142 events.

The move to drop Ms Quirk last month came just days after an interim report was released by the British fashion industry's Model Health Inquiry.

It recommended banning models aged under 16 from London Fashion Week.

The British report also called for a scientific study into the prevalence of eating disorders among fashion models, and an investigation into whether a minimum body-mass index requirement should be introduced for London Fashion Week models.

The measure has already been adopted by Madrid Fashion Week.

Australia's main fashion industry body supported the restrictions on models younger than 16 working at big fashion shows, saying younger teenagers were ill-equipped to face issues such as sexualisation, alcohol and rejection.

Gisele Bundchen tops world’s richest model list

Gisele Bundchen has topped Forbes.com’s list of the world’s richest models, earning $US33 million ($37.6 million) in the last 12 months.


The Brazilian supermodel strutted past the likes of Kate Moss, who came in at No.2, Heidi Klum, who placed third on the list, and Australian Gemma Ward, who came in at No.10.


Bundchen, 26, parted ways with Victoria’s Secret in May and will see her lucrative contract with the lingerie brand expire at the end of the year.

Still, she boasts “more contracts than any other model on the planet,” Forbes.com said, and has appeared in campaigns for high-end brands including Apple, Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli.

Moss, who recently launched a clothing line at British fashion retailer Topshop, ranks second with $US9 million ($10.3 million). The 33-year-old fashion icon is the new face of fashion label Stella McCartney and Italian sportswear company Belstaff.

Klum, 34, placed third with $US8 million ($9.1 million). She is a Victoria’s Secret spokesmodel and host of the US TV show “Project Runway”.

Two more Victoria’s Secret beauties — Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio — rounded out the top five with $US6 million ($6.8 million) each.

Ward was ranked in 10th position with $US3 million ($3.4 million).

In ranking these catwalkers, Forbes.com said editors also factored in a model’s “relevancy” — determined by recent campaigns, fashion magazine covers and opinions of those in the fashion industry — where necessary.

Forbes.com’s list of the world’s richest supermodels:

1. Gisele Bundchen, $US33 million ($37.6 million)
2. Kate Moss, $US9 million ($10.3 million)
3. Heidi Klum, $US8 million ($9.1 million)
4. Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio, $US6 million ($6.8 million)
6. Carolyn Murphy, $US5 million ($5.7 million)
7. Natalia Vodianova, $US4.5 million ($5.1 million)
8. Karolina Kurkova and Daria Werbowy, $US3.5 million ($4 million)
10. Gemma Ward, $US3 million ($3.4 million)
11. Liya Kebede, $US2.5 million ($2.8 million)
12. Hilary Rhoda and Shalom Harlow, $US2 million ($2.3 million)
14. Doutzen Kroes and Jessica Stam, $US1.5 million ($1.7 million)

Rome Fashion Show bars 15 'too skinny' models

FIFTEEN models were kicked out of a Rome fashion show today for being too thin, sparking new debate on anorexia in the fashion industry.

"I asked that girls with abnormal measurements shouldn't work ... (and) had to fire 15 who were under (French) size 36 (US size eight)," Raffaella Curiel told reporters.

"One girl fainted during the trials," he said, adding, "I had to give her a ham sandwich."

Curiel said his fashion house wanted to respect rules developed in December to combat anorexia among fashion models, but added: "It's not our fault if (agencies) send us girls who are too skinny."

Under the new rules, girls under 16 cannot take to the catwalk, and models must produce a certificate proving that they have no eating disorders.

Meanwhile, models under 16 will be banned from London Fashion Week catwalks under new rules proposed today.

A panel of experts set up to investigate health problems among models also called for greater protection for 17 and 18 year-olds, including chaperoning at shows.

But the independent Model Health Inquiry set up in the wake of the size zero debate ruled out weighing all models because it had been ineffective in other countries.

Panel members called for a rigorous scientific study into the prevalence of eating disorders among fashion models.

During the inquiry, they heard from many models who told of the fear of not being selected for
work because they were not thin enough, according to Panel chairwoman Baroness Kingsmill.
In particular, they want more information on whether a minimum body mass index (BMI) requirement of 18.5 should be introduced for London Fashion Week models.

This approach has already been adopted by Madrid fashion week.

In its interim report published today, the panel called for a detailed investigation into models working conditions and outlined a positive case for setting up a union for the modelling profession.

The panel said models under 16 were particularly vulnerable. It mentioned the risk of children being sexually exploited when they were made to represent adult women.

Launching the interim report today, Kingsmill said: "The panel has set out an approach designed to protect vulnerable young workers in an industry which appears to be glamorous but which has hidden risks and that for all practical purposes is largely unregulated and unmonitored."

She added: "... members of the panel became increasingly concerned as we heard more details about the working conditions faced by many models and the vulnerability of young women working in an unregulated and scarcely-monitored work environment.

"We have been given startling medical evidence about the prevalence and impact of eating disorders in certain high-risk industries.

"Working conditions for models are far from transparent and there is a worrying lack of information about the overall profession.

The College of Psychiatrists told the panel that models with a BMI of below 18.5 which means they are underweight - should be banned from the catwalk.

But other respondents said BMI did not help identify the eating disorder bulimia nervosa.

Kingsmill added: "There was also strongly expressed concern that it is profoundly inappropriate that girls under 16, under the age of consent, should be portrayed as adult women. The risk of sexualising these children was high and designers could risk charges of sexual exploitation."

The inquiry is requesting responses to its interim report. Its final report, along with a final set of recommendations is due to be published in September, when the next London Fashion Week takes place.

Recent controversy over skinny models was sparked in August 2006, when Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos, 22, died of heart failure after not eating for several days.

Her death was followed in November by that of Ana Carolina Reston, a Brazilian model who suffered from anorexia.

Madrid Fashion Week last year banned models with a BMI of less than 18 from taking part.
Doctors use the index, which is a ratio of height to weight, to calculate the healthy size for an individual.

The debate about the US size zero - the equivalent of a UK size four - was caused by celebrities dieting down to the super-thin size.

- with Press Association