Before the Vogue covers, international campaigns and the “Stam” bag for Marc Jacobs, Jessica Stam was the girl next door in Ontario. Michelle Miller, owner of International Model Management scouted Stam at a coffee shop and Victoria’s Secret beauty Andi Muse at a shopping centre in Canada, changing their lives forever. In 10 days, on May 3rd 2009, the 15th annual Cover Model search by Michele in Barrie, Ontario, Canada takes place. The big NYC agencies (IMG, DNA Models, Women Model Management, Next Models NY, Elite New York, Ford Models, Wilhelmina New York just to name a few) will be there to participate and see Canada’s finest. Go to their site now to participate or see pics from last year’s event.

Snap of Stam by Michele in summer 2008. Pic courtesy of Michele Miller

São Paulo fashion week is known for its Brazilian star power but this season one girl outshined them all. Juliano from the very popular Made in Brazil blog, chimes in on the girl of the moment.

16-year-old Carolina Thaller is certainly the girl with the most buzz in São Paulo this season. The newcomer from Lajes, Santa Catarina, ranked in the top 5 at Ford Supermodel Brazil last year, and booked 15 shows last week in Rio. By the time Sao Paulo Fashion Week is over on Friday, she will have walked another 13 shows.

Already on the list of every Brazilian casting director, I would not be surprised if she ends up in New York for fashion week.

 

If there was ever a doubt about the sheer influence of V Magazine’s modeling contests look no further than this season’s frontrunners. While Amanda Laine works overtime in multiple editorials, VMan finalist AJ Abualrub is the face of Calvin Klein. With his platinum crop and icy stare AJ is an unmistakable presence. Evocative and powerful, AJ’s face stands out in the stark David Sims helmed campaign.

AJ/Ford Models. Ph: David Sims, styled by David Bradshaw

Solve Sundsbo explores the best looks of the season with a little help from Olga Sherer, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Hye Park, Chanel Iman, Alyona Osmanova, Agnete Hegelund, Taryn Davidson, Irina Kulikova & Amanda Laine. The star studded cast travels from the urbane streets of Paris to secluded woods and back again with plenty of studio shots in between. The almost 50 page editorial kicks off the new year for Harper’s Bazaar with an absolute bang.

Hye Park (Trump), Taryn Davidson (DNA), Irina Kulikova (IMG), Amanda Laine (Supreme), Olga Sherer (Women Management), Alyona Osmanova (Supreme), Hanne Gaby Odiele (Supreme), Amanda Laine (Supreme), Chanel Iman (Ford), Agnete Hegelund (Next) by Solve Sundsbo (Art + Commerce) for Harper’s Bazaar

You would never know Old Man Winter is about to descend on the Northern Hemisphere with the appearance of the Burberry Spring Summer 09 ads breaking in WWD. The models? Lily Donaldson, rising star Eden Clark (fresh off of her British Vogue cover), new faces Alexina Graham and Richard Wyndham. The young and beautiful Brits lounge for Christopher Bailey and Mario Testino in a famous nursery that showcases the wearable luxury of the timeless brand.

See more pics here on WWD.

Eden and Lily.

Alexina, unknown, Eden and Lily

Eden,unknown, Lily. Ph: Mario Testino for Burberry S/S 09. Images from WWD and Ford Models (for Alexina)

Check out Petey from Ford as he invites you to enter the VMan/Ford Models Modelsearch. This winner will be shot by Peter Lindbergh. Looks like Petey has had a stellar 5 months!

Petey/Ford Models. To enter the V Man contest, click here.

Kendra Spears was one of the clear standouts of S/S 09. With a strong showing on the catwalks of Milan and Paris Spears made her presence felt. The lanky beauty now graces the November issue of Cover, showing off the natural charm and beauty mark that have garnered her comparisons to that most quintessentially American of supermodels, Cindy Crawford.

 

 

 

 

Ph: Rick Shaine for Cover Magazine November 08. Images courtesy of Ford.

After the über successful first model search that unearthed Petey, Adam and AJ, the VMan and Ford Models teams launch Search #2. Check it out!

Petey/Ford on VMan’s site.