March 2002. Milan.The Gucci Fall/Winter 2002 show. Photographer Mario Testino has been reinstated in a prime front row seat causing the fashion punters to speculate wildly (and accurately) that he was back in the saddle for the campaign. For that other bit of fashion forecasting, the punters are waiting to see who Girl 1 coming out on that white fur catwalk will be. Tom Ford, methodical man that he is, usually signals his campaign choice for the upcoming season with that first exit. The house lights fall.
A new girl, with a lean, angular but thoroughly sexy body comes slicing from the wings. Her name is Euguenia, an 18 year old Russian newcomer. Jaded eyebrows shoot up. This new girl, she's coming down that catwalk in those perilous stilettos with uncut Amazonian attitude. Looks like Tom has done it again, which is namely, to leap one step ahead of the pack and find a girl who has the right feeling for the moment.