The problem with America’s Next Top Model invading every country in the world, aside from, well, America’s Next Top Model invading every country in the world, is that each season carries with it at least one episode with flames of controversy just begging for the Internet’s fan. Today, it’s New Zealand’s turn, where producers are in trouble for shooting a 16-year-old contestant topless in a pit of mud, save panties, nipple tape, and strategically placed mud. Apparently images of this aspiring top model of New Zealand, Michaela Steenkamp, “her body smeared with mud but with her breasts clearly shown,” was broadcast on the program, but several hours later the images were replaced with the shot you see here, in which Photoshopped fog hides her chest pretty well.
Blogger Isaac Likes followed TV3′s actions from the get-go. TV3 explained to him, “Michaela … wore adhesive covers for the mud pool shoot. We make every effort to protect the girls’ modesty and none of the girls are forced to do anything that they aren’t comfortable doing.” The station posted on Twitter, “For all those concerned about the images from last weeks [sic] episode, the girls are not naked. They have bits on their bits.”
Yeah, they’re not naked, because they have little specs of nipple tape on their boobs and rubber bands around their privates — they may as well be in full hazmat suits. While it’s understandable that the world would be disturbed and upset by images of a naked-for-all-intensive-purposes 16-year-old broadcast on New Zealand television, this isn’t an unusual thing for young fashion models to do. No matter how much America’s Next Top Model tries to make modeling seem like it’s all unicorns and loving your body and empowering from the inside out, real modeling isn’t family-friendly like that at all. That doesn’t necessarily make it okay, but since most people don’t pay attention to Purple and 10 magazines, Tyra’s Next Top Models have to take the heat.
Photography by Kate Cox, styling by Alice Kirkpatrick, hair by Michael Jones and make up by Laurey Simmons.
Contributor Magazine | Fashion story: Almost Gold.
Mario Batali recently described his New York City food hall Eataly as a “temple,” as a place where “food is more sacred than commerce.” And while a preview of the place last night revealed there will be a heck of a lot of commerce in this place, he may be right. When it comes down to it, Eataly is nothing short of epic, a giant Slow Food mecca of all things Italy. At its core, it’s a fancy Italian grocery store with individual retail departments offering the best of everything (pastry, bread, a butcher, a fishmonger, pasta, cured meats, cheese, hand-made mozzarella, etc.), some of which are directly connected to their own sit-down restaurants with waiter service.
And then! Gelato! A coffee bar! Panini! Pizza! A wine store! A bookstore! Housewares! A cooking school by Lidia Bastianich! A planned rooftop beer garden! All with bi-lingual signage everywhere explaining Eataly’s philosophy. “It is not just a market, but a food experience,” one sign reads. Everything for everyone! The only thing that’s missing is pony rides. In Vegas there’d be a roller coaster involved.
http://www.facebook.com/EatalyNYC
The success of Eat Pray Love in the US has spawned a spate of tour packages for India enthusiasts
After Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire made slum tourism in Mumbai’s Dharavi hip, it’s now the Julia Roberts-Javier Bardem-starrer Eat Pray Love (released in the US on August 13 and yet to release in India on October 
which is doing its bit for Indian tourism. The film, an adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best selling memoir by the same name, tells the story of a woman who seemingly has everything in life, yet willingly relinquishes it for spiritual salvation. The author’s 21-day journey of self-discovery takes her across the world — she regains the true pleasures of eating in Italy, unearths the power of spiritual healing in India, and finally ends her search of love in Bali.
“It’s believed that the book’s protagonist stayed at Gurudev Siddha Peeth at Ganeshpuri in Maharashtra. Since they do not welcome casual visitors, we have devised similar packages for the intrepid traveller,” says Rajesh Khanna of Abercrombie and Kent, India. This US-based travel agency is offering a 14-day tour, packing in visits to Khajuraho’s temples, witnessing the aarti on the Varanasi ghats, viewing the Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset among other activities at $ 8,685 per person.
via YouTube – ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Trailer HD.
I Am Love is an operatic, Visconti-esque drama in which an ailing Milanese paterfamilias passes on the family business to his son and grandson, to the discomfort of his wife (played by Tilda Swinton), and their other two children.
Swinton learned both Italian and Russian for the part. The film also features the first film score by John Adams, the composer of such acclaimed operas as Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer.
What do you make of the poster and the trailer below? Shades of Douglas Sirk? Or something of a sensual overload?
I Am Love (Io Sono L’Amore)
Production year: 2009
Country: Italy
Cert (UK): 15
Runtime: 120 mins
Directors: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Alba Rohrwacher, Diane Fleri, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Flavio Parenti, Marisa Berenson, Pippo Delbono, Tilda Swinton
More on this film: Tilda Swinton in I Am Love: exclusive trailer and poster | Film | guardian.co.uk.
Antonia Paris is proud to announce the launch of Antonia Paris Spring/Summer 2011 Collection inspired by timeless Parisian Style.
This collection, inspired by the runways, reflects the personality and style of the brand. Besides the presentation of the Collection, Antonia Paris will also, this evening present her new website and the launch of her online fashion magazine. This event will take place in King Cross’s very own ‘Piano Room’, including a fashion presentation, a sensational DJ, delicious deserts by The Cupcake Princess and many more surprises to come.
The event will be filmed and aired on the Fashion TV Channel.
“I am really excited about our Spring/Summer Collection, we have all worked so hard on it and I am so proud of all the pieces” – Antonia Paris.
my flight
@wren-soulaine