Fashion, Models, ZMGT

Freida Pinto is ALL WOMAN for The EDIT.

Indian actress/model Freida Pinto stars in The EDiT’s ALL WOMAN issue. We love the goddess/warrior themed styling for the editorial by Tracy Taylor. She wears pieces by Sonia Rykiel, Vionnet, Vera Wang, Altuzarra, Balmain, and … that Jason Wu gown for the cover shot… omgoddess. . Photographed by Chad Pitman.

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Beyond starring in L’Oreal campaigns & featured films, Pinto recently became an ambassador for the Because I Am A Girl campaign, which supports young girls’ rights to a quality education.

Since Pinto’s breakout role in Slumdog Millionaire she continues to take Hollywood by storm. For Net-A-Porter’s online mag, the Mumbai-born beauty talks modeling, different perspectives on looks, & more.

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She began modeling at 19years old followed by becoming a leading actress, now she uses her fame to bring awareness to important issues,  “If it gives me a bigger ticket and I can use whatever fame I get to help women and girls who have been sexually abused, then it’s worth it.” In 2012, she joined the Plan International’s campaign which aims to protect girls and women from violence and sex trafficking.

Freida said, “You hear that phrase so much. ‘I got raped… because I’m a girl’, ‘I can’t go out at night…because I’m a girl’, when really it should be, ‘Because I’m a girl, I can give birth to the next generation of enlightened males.’”

On the perceptions about both her ethnicity & her looks. “It’s hard because the first thing people see when I go into an audition is that I am 100% Indian, but I don’t remember a time in my life when I did not see myself as a world citizen. When I watch films, I can always imagine myself as the female lead – even if it’s Minnie Mouse.”

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“It’s not necessarily the way I see myself. In fact, I don’t even like to look at myself in the mirror. But I’m aware of the perception and I always say that if it’s because of that one line in Slumdog where Latika is described as “the most beautiful girl in the world”, then I have to do everything that I can to change that perception.”

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Pinto’s not slowing down her career anytime soon, she says, “I’m excited about the kind of roles I might get in my thirties; I’m hoping they’re going to be very different,” she says. “I’m lucky that I haven’t been overexposed. There were a lot of films I said no to, because I wanted to concentrate on longevity.”

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Oh, wondering what her fav designers are? Well beyond Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu, she LOVES Ferragamo, “everything the Ferragamo family does. I’m a self-proclaimed honorary Ferragamo family member.”

Images & Interview courtesy of THE EDiT.

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Fashion, Fitness, MODELPRENEUR., Models, Runway

“Killin’ Me Smalls!” Or rather, Smalls is killin’ it. #SupermodelSmalls.

“Jonesin’ for Joans”. That’s basically what the entire modeling/fashion world is saying. Joan Smalls is reigning over the industry – she kickstarted her career by walking exclusively for Riccardo Tisci’s Givenchy S/S10 show. Now, she tops the Forbes “World’s Highest-Paid Models” list.

Beyond starring in campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Balmain, Chanel, Gucci & more, walking for Prada, Lanvin, Dior, featured in the Pirelli calendar (twice), VS Fashion Show, covered VOGUE, ELLE, Bazaar, W … Joan also broke the barriers and became the 1st Latina face of Estée Lauder. This Puerto Rican dream has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Body suit by Givenchy.

Body suit by Givenchy.

Smalls graces Net-a-Porter’s online mag The EDIT & talks slaying her career. She looks stunning & chic as always | Photographed by Santiago Mauricio | Styled by Tracy Taylor.

A Versace top paired with Charlotte Olympia platform heels.

A Versace top paired with Charlotte Olympia platform heels.

The Balmain beauty has major discipline & work ethic – no wonder why she’s incredibly successful – part of her routine? No caffeine. Alcohol once a month. Exercise every day. Bed by 10.30pm. Day in the life of a model anyone?

She says, “[That attitude] comes from being in touch with your womanhood and not being afraid of embracing it. Being Latina and growing up in Puerto Rico, it’s just part of our culture. Dancing at a young age, learning how to move your hips, being comfortable with your body, going to the beach in skimpy clothes… It was innate.”

Jacket by McQ Alexander McQueen | Top: T by Alexander Wang | Bodysuit: L’Agent by Agent Provocateur.

Jacket by McQ Alexander McQueen | Top: T by Alexander Wang | Bodysuit: L’Agent by Agent Provocateur.

On the ‘Supermodel icons’: “I admire and respect what [the Supermodels] do. When I was growing up, there was Linda, Naomi, Tyra, Heidi. And they worked hard for it. Nowadays, a girl gets two covers and [the industry is] like, ‘Oh, supermodel’. They throw it around too loosely to mean anything. Supermodels are not my role models, because I’m not modeling myself after them. There is no competition. I just want to be the best Joan Smalls.”

On hard work & success: “[My career] was never given to me. What is [down to] luck is genetics – I was born like this, my parents gave me these genes. But I worked my ass off and pushed myself and, even in the darkest moments, when I thought it wasn’t going to happen, I had to remain positive. People only see the glitz and glamor, but behind it comes a lot of sacrifice. So many tears, so much frustration.”

Joans Smalls, Cara Delevingne & Karlie Kloss cover VOGUE's '14 September issue | by Mario Testino.

Joans Smalls, Cara Delevingne & Karlie Kloss cover VOGUE’s ’14 September issue | by Mario Testino.

The 26 year old also talks be dubbed an Instagirl on the coveted VOGUE September ’14 issue: “We’re in a different time, where things have evolved. I don’t think it’s about things being instant; something instant just goes fast. I guess it comes from the word Instagram and social media – but it’s a double-edged sword… [Social media] is good for expressing yourself. You get to dispel stereotypes and assumptions; you can allow people into your world. But too much importance is placed on that – there’s more to life than having a lot of likes. It’s not validation of who you are; having more followers doesn’t make you a better model. But that doesn’t always register to the industry. Does [a big following] mean that you’re good to do what’s required?”

Bodysuit & shorts from Givenchy.

Bodysuit & shorts from Givenchy.

Next up on her list? Becoming an actress: “Acting has been one of my biggest dreams since I was really young. I lose myself in films; when actors are able to make you feel that, it’s real talent, and I want to be a part of that. I want to experience it.”Oh and she confirmed she’s already started auditioning!

Smalls is inspiring in the fashion world – we love it. Want to reach this level of supermodel status? Join us at our Professional Model Bootcamp in NYC! The countdown has started and space is filling up FAST so reserve a spot | Catch our digits directly on site HERE. 

*Photos & interview courtesy of Net-A-Porter’s The EDIT.

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Fashion, MODELPRENEUR., Models

Keira Knightely is a Goddess for ‘The Edit’.

Keira Knightley is an ethereal goddess for Net-a-Porter’s THE EDITFashion Fairytale issue – the stunning UK actress/model is photographed by David Bellemere.

The Edit dubs her ‘The Heroine’ and she chats to the publication about the importance of feminism (as did Taylor Swift & Emma Watson discuss in our previous posts) as well as turning down roles, aging & more.

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On being a feminist & male-dominant roles:
“The people who make movies, whether it’s directors or producers or money people, look for things that they can identify with, and if they’re all predominantly middle-aged white men, then what you see are things that middle-aged white men can identify with. And you don’t get anything for anybody else.”

Adding, “There’s a storyline in Borgen [the TV drama about the first female prime minister of Denmark] where her husband is freaking out because he’s not seeing his wife anymore and the wife isn’t seeing the kids because she doesn’t have enough time, so he’s going to leave her, and as a viewer, I went, ‘Oh my God, she has to give up her job! She needs to spend more time with her family.’ Then I realized, ‘Wait, if it was a guy playing the prime minister and his wife was freaking out, you’d go, ‘Shut up, woman! He’s the f***ing prime minister, give him a f***ing break!’ I’m a feminist, somebody who is saying there’s a f***ing problem, and I’m thinking that.”

On turning down violent or overly sexy roles: 
“I’ve turned a lot [of roles] down because of it, mostly because of really overt sex and violence that is just, in my view, not justified,” she explains. “I’m not saying that there can’t be really interesting stories about sex and violence, but a lot of it I just think, ‘This is gratuitous for the sake of being gratuitous, and you’d never ask a dude to do this.’ ”

On embracing aging, while still remaining young at heart:

“For some reason, on my 25th birthday I woke up and went, ‘Oh, actually, it’s alright.’ We went bowling and had lots of cupcakes and sang karaoke, which I normally hate, but it was something about doing a childish thing that was suddenly like, ‘This is really fun and I don’t have to pretend to be a grown-up or be sophisticated in some way that I really don’t feel.’ I wore awful clothes with no makeup and had a great time. The penny dropped.”

 

Source: Net A Porter 

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