Is Too Thin the new Healthy...in Modeling?
Last week, as y'all may know, America's Next Top Model Cycle 15 (My GAWD!!!! CYCLE FIFTEEN!!!) crowned a new Top Model Winner, and it was none other than the six foot two Dallas, Texas native--and self proclaimed NERD--Ann Ward.
As I began to watch the entire season (yes, of course I watch it!), I knew she was going to be the winner--from the minute Miss Tyra announced that Vogue Italia would be the magazine "partner". You see, Vogue Italia is hipper than the word HIP (do people still say "Hip"?). It's UBER hip, and always on the extreme: Extreme photo shoots, extreme models, extreme editorials.
EVERY fashionista worth their Hermes Birkin Bag reads it and is inspired by its editorial layouts. The moment her extreme body showed up on the ANTM set, I whispered "done and done" to my NIKOLAKI--and fellow Top Model watcher, David Paul. It also helped that throughout the season, she won almost every other photo challenge. She looked amazing--and very Vogue Italiaesque--in every photo.
But, yet, she still won. Because in the end, it was up to the Vogue Italia "powers that be" as well as the Model Agency (IMG) that would have to try and make some money off of her--to decide. And well, she takes amazing photos, and really that's the ticket. Plus the fact that her body is a freak of nature, which stylists, artists, photographers--and some Fashion Designers--love...
I also referred them to get in touch with one of my Model Muses, the lovely Amanda Fields-- who is in our most recent NIKOLAKI Spring 2011 Look Book and opened our last OC Style Week Fashion Show-- so she could give her thoughts, as a working professional model. Click HERE to read the article and see what we said.

Miss California USA '07, Project Runway Designers "Reunion", Rachael Zoe Make Up and Hairstylist...and Hot Swimsuits! Shut It Down: Make Up and Hair Stylist Joey Maalouf and Nick Verreos It seems I may need to rent a house by the Beach. First it was the LA Fashion Week Designer Call-to-Action Cocktail Party at Venice Beach's Hotel Erwin. Then, last week I was invited to designer Chris Benz' Summer Party at Thomas Weens and Hill Salomon of The Branding Farm's Craftsman Home, also in Venice Beach. Now this: I was invited to the Style L.A. Swim and Resort Runway Celebrity Fashion Show 2009, held at Santa Monica's posh Viceroy Hotel. No Swim Zone: The Viceroy Hotel Pool Runway Area It's really taking a toll on my car and racking up on the miles! (Downtown LA--where my studio is-- to Venice Beach isn't a hop, skip or a jump kids!) Thank God I was away in Europe for two weeks not using it. I guess I had mileage to "make up"! I picked up my new "going out partner in crime", make-up and hair stylist extraordinaire Joey Maalouf. He happens to be on one of my favorite shows, The Rachael Zoe Project and does her fabulous hair and make-up, of course! I warned him: It would be a bumpy ride!Safari Beach: A Look from Style L.A.: Swim & Resort Runway Fashion Show '09 The Style L.A. Swim and Resort Runway Fashion Show Party--an event to raise money and awareness for a great charity, Operation of Hope-- has become an annual event, thrown by one of my favorite agencies, TMG International. I attend all their fabulous Oscars' Suites and have even hosted/judged a recent "Cutest Dog" contest, at an event they put together. In other words: Love them! Did You Lose Your Shirt? A look from Style L.A: Swim & Resort Runway Fashion Show '09 This year's event showed the designs of John Galliano (swimwear), Gottex, Rock Star, Guess and Paul & Shark, among others. The pool area was at capacity--Joey and I could barely make it to the bar!. Once situated (standing room only), I spotted Lorenzo Lamas, actress Elaine Hendrix, and fellow Venezuelan Luis Barajas, founder of Flaunt Magazine. The Show Someone Should Pitch: Stylist and former "Project Runway" Designer Kit Scarbo, Nick Verreos, and "Rachael Zoe Project" hair and make up artist Joey Maalouf But to my biggest surprise, I spotted Project Runway Season 4 Designer, Kit "Pistol" Scarbo. Besides being one of the FIERCEST girls in LA, Kit also happens to be a fabulous stylist, who works with various clients including Samantha Harris of "Dancing With The Stars". Pool Catwalk: Models strut down the Style L.A.: Swim & Resort Runway Show '09 I just about dropped the Champagne glass I was holding when I saw her! Joey, myself, and Kit, watched the entire fashion show together. We gave minute-by-minute commentary (can you imagine? Yeah, where's Bravo and/or Lifetime when you REALLY need them!)Miss California USA 2007: Meagan Tandy works the runway I was extra excited to see--among the models--former Miss California USA 2007 Meagan Tandy!! She looked stunning and her body--well, as straight boys say, she was "slamming!" (do they really say that?) I love me some Meagan, she actually modeled in our Spring '09 W Hotel NIKOLAKI Fashion Show and she wore one of my Custom NIKOLAKI gowns to almost win Miss USA 2007 at the Kodak Theater. Also modeling in the show was America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 model Analeigh Tipton. She was very tall and very thin--and walked the runway perfectly! Miss Tyra would be proud. It was a fun show but the best part was yet to come: As I waited to get my car in a 50 person-deep Valet line, Joey went around the corner and 5 minutes later, motioned me to come to the sidewalk. Yep, my car was there! Don't know what he did--but I was very happy! Click here on The Insider for more on the event.