Shelby Coleman: Model Moment

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- Sachin Bhola





“Thankful.”

It’s her latest Facebook status.

With what is essentially a poor man’s publicist, you would expect her Facebook updates to read more like Paris Hilton’s tweets – smug and self-absorbed.

But despite her envy-inducing life (she was discovered by Giambattista Valli himself at the age of 16, she now travels around the world as a top model -- need I go on?), Shelby Coleman remains down-to-earth.

“My family couldn’t care less about what magazines I'm in or what store my picture is hanging in. They will still tease me and give me crap about everyday things,” says Coleman. “One time my mom booked a ticket from New York back to Chicago [her hometown] because I wasn't focused on school work. She said that if I don't step it up then we're going home.”

I first met model Shelby Coleman during the production of the Chanel Cruise 2008 fashion show. Her sense of style, race (alongside model Yasmin Warsame, she was one of only two colored models casted for the show; incidentally, Warsame was kicked out of the show due to her tardiness) and natural poise were notable.

Two years later, at the young age of 18, she is wise beyond her years. Here, she offers modeling advice and talks to me about her experience on and off the runway.

About Shelby Coleman

Sachin Bhola: How did you get started in the business?

Shelby Coleman: I did some modeling in Chicago, my hometown, since I was about 13. I was more focused on school though, so I would only do local jobs. Then, when I turned 16, I was at a casting for a Giambattista Valli trunk show in Chicago. He saw me and told me he wanted me to do his fall show in Paris. So I went, and then IMG found me and signed me.

Sachin: What has been the highlight of your career?
Shelby: Definitely being brought to Paris for the first time and walking for a top designer.

Sachin: What do you wish to achieve in the future – on and off the runway?
Shelby: My goal is to bring something new to the fashion world and eventually become a household name. As well as to be an inspiration for young black models and young girls in general. At the same time, to start a family and surround myself with the people I love.

Modeling Advice From Shelby Coleman
Sachin: What challenges have you faced in the industry? How are you overcoming them?
Shebly: Rejection is normal in the industry. Coming into this not knowing that was very tough, but now I don't even think twice about it. If I don't get a job for whatever reason, I say "oh well" and focus on the next job/casting I have.

Sachin: What are some common mistakes new models make?
Shelby: Getting all worked up and offended when not booked for jobs. Don't take it personally!

Sachin: How do you stay so grounded?
Shelby: My family couldn't care less about what magazines I'm in or what store my picture is hanging in. They will still tease me and give me crap about everyday things. One time my mom booked a ticket from New York back to Chicago because I wasn't focused on school work. She said that if I don't step it up then we're going home. That was when I first started, so I know better now. Hah!

Sachin: What has modeling taught you about life?
Shelby: More than any book has ever taught me! I've learned so much, it's crazy. I've learned how to carry myself better, deal with people judging me on a daily basis, and how to be very independent at a young age. Not to mention the huge amount of people I meet from around the world and how their lifestyles are so much more different than mine.

Shelby Coleman On Fashion & Style
Sachin: Who is your favorite model? Favorite designer?
Shelby: Liya Kebede is my favorite model. She's an obvious and classic beauty yet she's unique. My favorite designers are Alexander Wang, Giambattista Valli, Marc Jacobs, Balmain, and Gucci.

Sachin: If you had to boil your wardrobe down to 5 pieces, what would they be?
Shelby: Tight jeans, my delicious Burberry heels, a simple white tee, a blazer, and a sexy short dress.

Sachin: What’s on your iPod playlist these days?
Shelby: Lil Wayne is all over it. I also have Coldplay, Beyonce and Lady GaGa.

Thank you, Shelby! You're beautiful inside and out :)

Photos (from beginning): (1) Shelby's comp card (2) Steet style (3) tbc (4) Giambattista Valli Resort 2009 (5) Sachin Bhola (me) and Shelby backstage at Chanel Cruise 2008

For more photos of Shelby Coleman, check out her profile on Style.com.

Kelly Kopen: Model Moment

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola


Raise the topic of fashion models with anyone outside of fashion, and prepare to take the defensive. No, they're not (all) suffering from an eating disorder; no, they don't all earn $10,000 a show and; no, they don't all look the same (read: are from Eastern Europe).

Every now and then a model breaks the mold. We call them "oddballs." Think Kate Moss breaking the industry standard with her 5'7-inch stature, Alek Wek with her baby-like features (and 36-inch inseam - 36 inches? dang) or Omahyra Mota with her androgynous look.

The latest conteneder? Enter Kelly Kopen, the tomboy with a personality that is just as "oddball" as her distinctive look.

I had first met Kopen during the production of the Chanel Cruise 2008 show. Her style? Totally stood out from the other girls (check out the Models Own Clothes feature I did with her in my blog archives: December 2008). Her vibe? Too cool for school. Let's just say that if it weren't for her teaching me how to do "the monkey" at the Chanel after-party, my moves wouldn't be as fresh on the dance floor.

Fast-forward a year later, and I bump into Kelly Kopen at the Alexander Wang after-party (pictured above). OK, so what prompted me to feature a model moment with Kopen? Last week I walked into H&M, happy to see that its Spring 2010 visuals were up. The usual crop of girls were featured in the lastest campaign (Liya Kebede, Anja Rubic to name a few), but there she was: Kelly Kopen. Congrats.

Watch for her growing importance this year. Just sayin'.

Sean Opry: Model Moment

Remember when my first Model Moment blog entries were lengthy, detailed and video-free? No, I'm not getting lazy (hey, being m.i.a. in the blog world for a few months happens - and probably explains my high bounce rates); I just thought this video did a pretty good job a capturing male model Sean Opry's charm.

Side note: I think everyone should have a video diary. It makes your life seem like the coolest thing ever -- especially when it's edited for New York Mag.

Simon Nessam: Model Moment

I would have titled this "I heart Simon Nessman," but there's no SEO value in that.
You're welcome.

Coco Rocha: Model Moment

April 16, 2009 – Coco Rocha, the Canadian supermodel with her unforgettable name, made an appearance at Toronto Fashion Week this past March. She attended the highly anticipated Project Runway Canada finale, seated alongside legendary supermodel Iman (host of the series). She surprised us all with her new hair color, red, which she said was a refreshing change.

Her chameleon traits have served her well in an industry fueled with built-in obsolescence, but Coco Rocha’s level-headedness explains her longevity. Discovered at the age of 14 at an Irish dance competition, she has managed to maintain a life outside of the fashion world - at times blurring the lines between the two. A memorable moment in her career, and in fashion, was the Celtic jig she performed at the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2007 show. With her international success, it is nice to see her continue to return to her native country and help elevate Canada’s fashion profile.

Other notable model appearances at Toronto Fashion Week included Iman, Irina Lazareanu, Taryn Davidson, and Amanda Laine.

Picture: Coco Rocha and Sachin Bhola

Renee Thompson: Model Moment (PART 2)

Part 2 of my discussion with Renee Thompson...

SACHIN BHOLA: It’s a hustle.
RENEE THOMPSON: It’s a hustle! It’s not like we even get all the castings that the other girls get. We have to sneak into their castings and prove why we had to do that! When I first started going to Milan, Paris and Barcelona, I never got that 10-list casting… I had to steal my friends’ contacts -- and then I would book it!

SACHIN: I feel like when you are a minority model, you have to bring so much more to the table to prove yourself. What advice do you have for aspiring minority models?

RENEE: Do your research, build a tough skin and talk to people who love you to keep you grounded. Remember that it’s just a job. My advantage has been that I am very aware. How you treat people in the business, how you act and carry yourself – we as minority models have to be extra careful. We can’t pull a bitch stick out of nowhere. The models who are professional, well-mannered and show their personality are the ones with staying power. Clients want to work with them.

SACHIN: Renee Thompson, what direction do you anticipate the industry taking in regards to this issue?
RENEE: It’s fashion and things are always changing… it will get better. People are tired of seeing the same anonymous faces and want diversity. And just like everything else in life, sometimes you have to create your own opportunities and success will follow.

Thanks Renee!

Renee Thompson: Model Moment (PART 1)

Ever wondered what life was like for a model – a model of color? What if your race was démodé? Today’s minority models are drowning in the flood of Eastern Europeans monopolizing the industry. Amidst the chaos backstage at Montreal Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 09), I found a quiet corner to chat with Renee Thompson, whose thoughts on today’s hottest topic in the industry and tells-it-how-it-is attitude were as captivating as her look.

By Sachin Bhola
Photo: Courtesy of Nam Models

SACHIN BHOLA: Let’s jump right into it. The July 2008 issue of Italian Vogue, a.k.a. the “black issue,” featured only black models. It was the highest selling issue in the history of the magazine. What are your thoughts?

RENEE THOMPSON: The full cover-to-cover issue with only the top black models that have made it, and not the up and coming ones? Ya, I saw that one. Do you hear the hateration in my voice? Lol. I think it was great, but they’re depicting something we’ve known forever: Black girls are beautiful, they pose well and they’re on top of their game… we know all that shit already. Why don’t you (magazines) not try to fill your quota in one issue and spread it out? Now they’re just going to say “OK, we did our black thing, now can we go back to what we were doing?”

SACHIN: So do you think that ethnic models in fashion are trendy or something that serves to advance your position in the industry?
RENEE: Well it’s just like what they did to the Asian girls for the last two seasons: They were all over the place… doing major ad campaigns and being the ethnic counterpart to the white girl. Where are all of them now? I think black, Indian, Chinese, or any other race that is not visibly white is always a trend. In and out.

Lakshmi Menon: Model Moment

December 12, 2008 – Earlier this year, while traveling throughout India, I discovered newcomer Lakshmi Menon, the 26-year-old Bangalore-born beauty, whose looks have captured the industry’s attention.

And what good timing. 2008 was the year that surfaced an issue long surrounding the industry: Is fashion racist? The lack of visible minorities on the runway sparked countless related articles and Italian Vogue’s notorious July 2008 issue, a.k.a. the “black issue,” devoted entirely to black models. If black models, as was pointed out, are drowning in the sea of Eastern Europeans dominating the industry, where does that leave other minority models?

Enter Lakshmi Menon, whose debut in her native India has quickly catapulted into an international career. Over the past year, the five-foot-eleven model has become the sole face of Hermès (replacing Canadian Daria Werbowy); has walked the runway for Ralph Lauren, D&G and Stella McCartney to name a few and; has booked campaigns with Givenchy and H&M.

But her greatest success has been providing a face for minorities who are grossly unrepresented in the industry. Her looks breathe life and excitement into fashion and I hope to see more of her -- and other global beauties -- in the future.

Lakshmi is represented by Ford Models in New York.

Photo Above: Feature, US Vogue December 2008
Photo Below: Ad Campaign, Givenchy Fall/Winter 2008

Alyssa Lambert: Model Moment

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola

October 28, 2008 - While at a casting, I met Alyssa Lambert – a familiar face I had seen on the Tyra Show (yes, I watch the Tyra Show). That episode covered the A-Z’s of New York Fashion Week and followed three models around as they went on a Pamela Roland casting. Not only did Alyssa book the show, Tyra sat down with her and gave her advice on being a new model.

We know that media makes good use of editing during production to create a story, but I didn’t realize to what extent until I sat down and heard Alyssa Lambert's side of the story.

On T.V.: Alyssa was portrayed as the typical beginner model, new to New York City, holding a map in her hands, walking out of the subway looking lost… You get the picture.
In Reality: Alyssa was familiar with the area, but the show’s production team asked her to reshoot the bit looking confused and disoriented.
On T.V.: Tyra sits down with Alyssa and gives her advice on being a new model.
In Reality: Alyssa was asked by the producers to think of a question to ask Tyra. She was not given this opportunity on screen as Tyra jumped into her own pre-set answer (modeling advice) to a question that was never raised.

Thanks Alyssa!

Alyssa Lambert's hometown is Winnipeg, Manitoba and she is represented by Elite in Toronto and Specs in Montreal.

Picture: Alyssa Lambert and Sachin Bhola