Fashion Modern: August 2009

You have a page on model.com & on IMDB.
Loved by Vogue & People Magazine.
Though you made it through the door with your pretty face, you took full advantage.
Props to you....

The Model turned Actress

7. Cameron Diaz

Age: 36
Height: 5' 9"
Look: Cuban-American father & Native American-German mother
Modeling Years = 3 (1990–1993, Elite Model Management)
Acting Years = 16+ (1993-present)

After high school, wanted to venture off & study zoology but met an agent who presented her with the opportunity of the lifetime. Soon came print ads for designers such as Calvin Klein and Levi's until her personable confidence made her agency consider acting lessons.Now has more than 30 movies completed!

My Personal Loves: The Sweetest Thing, Shrek, Charlie's Angels

6. Vanessa William

Age: 46
Height: 5'6"
Look: African American
Modeling Years=5
Acting Years=20+

- Joined pageants initially to pay for musical theater classes at Syracuse University
-1984 became the first black Miss America, her reign was cut short, however, when lesbianesque nude photos were published by Penthouse magazine, her comeback was one of the most unexpected in show business history
- She sang one of the greatest Disney songs “Colors of the Wind,” from Pocahontas

Personal Fave: those ProActive Solution spots. I kid I kid! Ugly Betty!!!!

5. Aishwarya Rai

Age: 35
Height: 5'7"
Modeling Years = 5
Acting Years = 10+

Not a commercial or high fashion model in her day, but I have so much love for this pageant queen I had to include her! She is STUNNING.
- Began modeling in 9th grade. She was the 1994 Miss World winner. Continued to work for years as one of India’s top models
- Has starred in over 30 Bollywood films (too many to list) and in the past few years has managed to break into English projects like 2007’s The Last Legion
- Smoked once, threw up, and will now never do it again
- Rejected many film and modeling opportunities when young because of her determination in school to become an architect
- Fluent in English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Urdu
- Does not even KISS in her roles with male counterparts, let alone love scenes

Personal Fave: Bride & Prejudice! One of my all time fave movies, remember the random appearances of Alexis Bledel & Ashanti?

4. Charlize Theron

Age: 35
Look: South African (German and French decent)
Modeling Years: 3
Acting Years: 15+

-First language Afrikaans, then Zulu, then English
- Witnessed the death of her abusive alcoholic father when her mother shot him in self-defense
- Won local modeling contest at 16, and traveled to Europe on a one year contract with her agency, afterward heading to New York hoping to continue but ended up joining a dance academy for ballet

Personal Fave: Hmmm.....do those J'Adore commercials count? Other than that...definitely The Italian Job and Hancock!

3. Milla Jovovich

Age: 33
Look: Ukrainian
Height: Height: 5' 8"
Modeling Years = 2 (1986-1988, Prima Modelling Agency)
Acting Years = 21+ (1988-present)

During a rough childhood with an incarcerated father, political turmoil in the former USSR, and a rebellious youth filled with drug use and theft, she found solace in the one thing that made her dream: fashion. She's been modeling since the age of 11, and has loved fashion since her first runway. Her steel eyes and athletic build catapulted her to the top of the industry in the 90's where she became a muse for Miuccia Prada and Gianni Versace's "favourite supermodel." She quickly got into acting but always stayed true to her first love, doing side modeling work and in 2003 creating the clothing line Jovovich-Hawk with model-friend Carmen Hawk.

Personal Fave: The Resident Evil Movies! The Perfect Gateaway was good too!

2. Tyra Banks

Age: 35
Height: 5'10"
Modeling Years= 14
Acting Years= 7

Who doesn't love the foolishness that is Tyty! Love her, and definitely realize her accomplishments in both fashion, acting, music and pure businesswoman instincts. We've all heard her story on ANTM or the Tyra Banks Show but maybe you didn't know:
-At a young age she was accepted to USC and UCLA for television producing
- First African American woman on the covers of GQ, the Victoria Secret catalog and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
- Movies include Life-Size, Love Stinks, Love & Basketball, Coyote Ugly and Halloween: Resurrection
- At age 23 survived vicious media eight month "catwalk fight" with Naomi Campbell ( both ended up walking the same number of shows)
- In Michael Jackson's videoBlack and White
- She has green eyes
- Look out for her on the new season of Gossip Girl

Personal Faves: She's always be known to me for the NTM series she has made international! & hopefully there is a Stylista II!

1. Halle Berry

Age: 43
Height: 5'7"
Look: African American father, British-American mother
Modeling Years: 10 years
Acting Years: 25+ Years

That's right! I love me some Halle! She is extremely accomplished and to think it all started with pageants! I need to really watch the next one that's on, I may be watching the next Halle. Scratch that, now it's all about party girls.
In high school Ms. Berry was an honour society member, editor of the school paper, cheerleader, class president AND Prom Queen. Damn...it's no wonder she is estranged with her older sister (allegedly)! Now usually these high school starlets can only go downhill from their shining teen moments but Halle kept going higher...&higher!
- 1985, Miss Teen All-American, 1986, Miss Ohio. 1986, runner-up for Miss USA.
- She was the first African-American Miss World entrant in 1986, where she finished sixth

She soon started acting and her incredible talent landed her the highest honour. You all remember. In 2002 she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in the film Monster’s Ball! The first African American actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress! She is now the highest paid black actress in Hollywood and the 10th highest paid on the planet. Damn! If that isn't a successful transition I don't know what is!

Personal Faves: Remember her in Flintstones! & loved Losing Isaiah!

Honorable Mentions:
Rebecca Romijn
Elizabeth Hurley
Nicole Kidman

Whew! So that's my list of some personal faves! Who are your fave model turned actresses, included in the list or not? I know some feel like they are incapable or selling out etc, but there is no denying when they are just talented at both! I can definitely see some of today's models, Coco, Irina L, Gisele, becoming full time actresses when they are older who knows!

P.s. I am aware of the juxtaposition of the young photos with the current age right underneath....it was intentional. Maybe. Plus, I love seeing celebs when they were younger and the 90's style was priceless.
P.p.s. Modeling years=time spent purely modeling(including pageants) before they ventured off into other avenues and became household names

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