MODELS.com: What in your mind are the qualities that make for the ideal "Elle girl"?

Cynthia: There is definitely a girl who fits that "Elle girl" category. The first thing is, she is a healthy girl with a great face. It's not just that she's beautiful. It is that there is something about her that draws you in. The warmer her face is, the more we feel like we're going to get a response. Variety is of course an important factor for us, so age and ethnicity is not really a factor in considering which girls to use for our editorials. Rather than just use those four girls of the moment month after month, we're really devoted to using a wide range of girls constantly.

MODELS.com: Speaking of which, there is a clear trend emerging in the industry where models are red hot editorially for one season, then "poof". Done.

Cynthia: The turnover rate is amazing. I don't have an answer as to why that's happening. On the one hand, it could be the industry's capacity for boredom. As an editor I get tired of seeing a certain girl on the page season after season. For new models it's a good time but after you get your foot in the door, or that visibility as the hottest new girl, achieving staying power is a challenge. Which is why it is important for  a young model, when it's her moment, for her to make the most of her career. It's important to realize that it's not an automatic thing that you are going to carry over into the next season. From one year to another, a whole new crop of girls keeps emerging and more magazines are rotating their girls at a  faster rate than ever before!

MODELS.com: Which is where the girls with longevity come in.

Cynthia: You definitely need both elements to keep your pages interesting. We have a loyalty to those established girls who bring strong pictures to the magazine. It's always a pleasure working with a seasoned girl who is used to the pressure and is comfortable working with large teams.

MODELS.com: There's a common wisdom in this business that ethnic girls on the cover of major magazines tends not to generate great sales. Is this true for your experience?

Cynthia: I think there is some truth to that, but it's a balancing act. There is the goal of great sales but there is also a commitment to your readers. The Alek Wek cover was a great example of that. We got such a positive feedback and such extensive coverage that it ultimately worked for us . I don't know that feedback and coverage outweighed the numbers but it was the right decision. It wasn't to put a black model on the cover for self-conscious reasons, it was because Gilles Bensimon was working with her a lot. It's just that she was worthy of that cover!

MODELS.com: What advice would you have for all the beginning models currently cruising MODELS.com and reading this article?

Cynthia: I am going to sound like a big sister but basically it's that common sense advice. Enjoy it. Enjoy every minute of it. Use modeling as a learning experience. Enjoy the traveling. Enjoy meeting new people. Don't let it take your youth from you but let it enrich your life as an experience. Take care of yourself. Take your vitamins. Get enough sleep. Stay grounded. Stay close to your family. Be the person who you were when you started out. Don't get caught up and don't get lost. And please, please remember, you are going to have a life after all of this is over. This is one section of your life. You're young. All the possibilities of life await you.

MODELS.com: That's a great perspective on the issue, Cynthia. It's always a tremendous pleasure talking to you.

Cynthia: Anytime!