Actress/Model Olga Kurylenko on Women & Hollywood for Harpers Bazaar Arabia.

Stunning actress // model Olga Kostantinovna Kurylenko rocks a serious cat-eye for the cover of Harpers Bazaar Arabia’s February issue. It’s no wonder Olga looks fierce, seeing as she started her career as a model.

Kurylenko was discovered at 13 and moved from Ukraine to Paris at just 16, where she signed a modeling contract with Paris-based agency, Madison. She’s appeared on covers of Vogue, ELLE, Madame Figaro, Marie Claire, has been a spokesmodel for Bebe, Clarins, as well as modeled for Victoria’s Secret Catalog, Roberto Cavalli & Kenzo.

Olga rose to fame in the acting world for her role in Hitman (2007), followed by playing Bond girl, Camille Montes, in Quantum of Solace (2008), starred alongside Tom Cruise in Oblivion(2013) and most recently for her part in The Water Diviner (2014) with Russell Crowe.

The 35 year old muse & actress talks feminism, women power & Hollywood.

On girl power: “I would stand up for women, so I appreciate it when other women do, too. I think that we can pretty much do anything that a man can do. The only think we can’t compete in is equal strength. But everything else, like mental capabilities, women are equal. I think it has to be known at this point.”

On always being a feminist (even before it became so ‘in’):“It’s funny, now it’s all coming out. But I’ve been pro-feminism since I moved to Paris [aged 16]. I had started reading a lot of [books by] Simone de Beauvoir, who has since become my role model. The thing is, nobody ever really asked me about [being a feminist], or seemed very interested, so I didn’t speak about it much. Now it’s become ‘fashion’, it’s almost like there’s a special year for it, even though it’s been around for decades. I’m like, ‘Great, but why did it take so long?’”

On Hollywood & equality: “I understand that the best parts [in Hollywood] are for men and, of course, men are paid more. I just live with it but it matters. I’ve been lucky, though… I’ve gotten some good parts; some where I was the lead and some where I was the accessory. But look at [Terrence] Malick, he made me the lead in To The Wonder, so I can’t say that I feel the oppression as a woman or that I’m getting passed by for great parts. I just choose to look on the positive side.”

Will YOU be picking up the issue? It’s out on news stands now! Xx

Leader of Balmain’s Army: Olivier Rousteing (and Rihanna).

 

Rihanna, Kim Kardashian West, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Alessandra Ambrosio, Karlie Kloss, Nicki Minaj, Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, Miley Cyrus, Gisele Bundchen, Chanel Iman, Selena Gomez, Kanye West,…. the list goes ON & ON … BALMAIN’s Army is taking over the fashion world one catwalk & selfie at a time, courtesy of, Olivier Rousteing. The 28 year old creative director has turned the Paris Fashion house into a POWER house.

Rousteing’s unconventional ways are reigning the industry, especially due to the impact of celebs/supermodels/musicians. “When you look at the fashion brands, how many followers do they have? Balmain has 1.1 million. It’s like 10 per cent of what those girls have. It shows you the power of the personality more than the power of the entire brand.”

The Bourdeaux-born babe (for real those cheek bones…) talks to Telegraph.co.uk about design, his muses & more, he says, “Celebrity is more important today than it used to be. It gives access to so many different people. For me it’s the new high-street window. You can actually be part of the dream. It’s not only available to 10 people on the front row – it’s a way of communication that’s inclusive, and there’s something generous about that.”

On his main muse BadGalRiRi: “There’s no doubt about it. She has this aura, this charisma. It’s not only sexual. It’s something else. She is like a new Grace Kelly, or a Madonna… This woman of the world who represents a new world.” Adding,”No, if you mean, ‘Do I have someone in my life?’ No, I don’t. Just work and Rihanna.But that’s enough. That’s a lot!”

On women & fashion: “Fashion had started to forget women in a way, and concentrate too much on the clothes. For me it made no sense. In fashion the biggest moment was when the models were celebrities – we all remember Naomi, Claudia, Carla, Linda. The woman had to come back; the curved woman, and different kinds of body shapes. I don’t like skinny girls. I want to represent a real woman, not just a shadow or a ghost.”

On diversity on the runway: “The mixety [sic] of my castings is one of the most important things about the show,” Rousteing says. “Sometimes I feel like some designers just focus on the clothes. Obviously it’s a business, but when you do a show you want to be modern – it’s not only about trying to find the fabric that no one else uses. Being modern means having a view or a vision of what the world is today. I want to show a vision of my world, what I see and what I want to see in the future.”

On the founder of the French fashion house, Pierre Balmain: “I keep Pierre Balmain in my mind because he loved strong women, women who have something to say. All the French designers – Balmain, Poiret, Dior, Balenciaga – they believed in strong women. Their mothers were really important. In France fashion has always been connected to the role of the woman. I keep in my mind the rules of French fashion.”

We have to say – we’re inlove with Balmain & Olivier’s vision. Thoughts?

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Beauty Pageant.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s pageant themed runway show during Paris Fashion Week is everything. from the vibrant colors to the dramatic finale – JPG definitely knows how kill it on the catwalk.

Gaultier told WWD,  “For some time, I have found true fulfillment in working on the haute couture and it allows me to express my creativity and my taste for research and experimentation. At the same time, the world of ready-to-wear has evolved considerably. Commercial constraints, as well as the frenetic pace of collections, don’t leave any freedom or the necessary time to find fresh ideas and to innovate.”

The outrageously chic ‘Miss Jean Paul Gaultier’ beauty contest featured sashes with the French Flag, models walking down a large staircase, Miss Hommage a Madame de Palmay, Miss Tour de France, Miss Meteo, Miss Smoking, Miss Soleil, snapping selfies on the catwalk & more.

For the finale of the ‘pageant’ it came down 2 finalist supermodels: Coco Rocha & Anna Cleveland – both wearing fitted, apricot/nude bustier dresses, Rocha then fooled everyone by ‘fainting with excitement’ when she won the crown.

Funkadelic designer Jeremy Scott said, “Jean Paul was one of the people that made me want to be a fashion designer and I want to give back a little bit of that love. I wanted to be here for this because it was such a momentous occasion and I wanted just to show that I still love him, even if I’m not 14 years old anymore.” Scott also had a pretty fab runway show themed as ‘Barbie’s World’.

Alber Elbaz, designer of Lanvin, said “It’s maybe sad for fashion, but maybe it’s happy for him. So if it’s happy for him, we go for it!”

Catwalk queens Alessandra Ambrosio, Gigi Hadid, Karlie KLoss, Joan Smalls, Liu Wen, & more looked absolutely fab rockin’ the runway!