Christmas

MeRRy CHriStmAs!

XOXO,

Humble Pie

 The incriminating photo: Backstage at the Aiisha Ramadan Show in Dubai Mall

This is sort of a funny exchange.

My roommate in Dubai for the month of October was a gal named Hana Nitsche. She was on a show in Germany called Germany's Next Top Model (which is a counterpart to America's Next Top Model), and as a result, she is apparently very famous in Germany. I didn't know this about her, but she did tell me that she has to be careful about what she does, as it will most certainly end up on the internet or in the newspapers.

I didn't pay much attention to any of this talk of celebrity. That is, until today.

My friend, Laura, a German model emailed me, and said (referring to the above picture), "Is this you? I found this online today."

I looked at the picture and confirmed that it was indeed me. Standing next to me was my roommate, Hana, and on the other side is my dear friend (also a German model), Alexandra. I asked Laura where she found my photo, and she directed me to what is apparently a Hana Nitsche fan site. This website has pages and pages of the whos and whats of Hana. Where it gets interesting (to me) is when my name comes up in the discussion.

Forum Poster: "Does anyone know the name of the woman next to Hana?... I think I have seen her before, but I'm not sure."

Other Forum Poster: "Maybe its Cole, Bareface's new model of the month"

Original Forum Poster: "There is a certain resemblance, but she looks so OLD... and Cole should be 6cm taller than Hana."

This is why I'm thankful I'm NOT famous.  What a blow to the ego it is to have random strangers commenting on how old I look in a photo.  It's sort of eye-opening to see how mean people can be-- and makes me rethink nasty/snarky comments that I have made about people I don't know.  I have another friend who was a singer/instrumentalist in a popular band.  When you googled her name all sorts of nasty comments would come up about her.  People who had never met her would tear apart the way she looked, as well as her intelligence, which was completely ridiculous as she is one of the loveliest people I know, both inside and out.

In related news, tonight I attended the screening of Avatar at the Dubai International Film Festival.  The actor, Gerard Butler, was there, and while I also think he is "swoon worthy" (mostly because I fell in love with the character he portrays in P.S. I Love You), I also have to question what it is about human nature that we idolize these people.  As my friend's mom said to me in regards to Gerard, whom she had never heard of, "I don't get it.  I see men that look like him every day on the Tube in London."  And she's right.  If you hadn't seen the movies that Gerard is in, you wouldn't give him the time of day.

That said, I should add that Hana is a lovely gal.  She was the best roommate I've ever had-- neat, courteous, thoughtful, etc.  She really was a treat to live with.

Oh, and for the comment that Cole "should be at 6cm taller than Hana"?  Hello!-- it's called heels.  Let's just say that some of us in the photo were wearing heels, while some of us weren't.  That's not that hard to figure out, is it?

XOXO,

Emirates Woman December 2009

In early November I shot with South African photographer, Candy Kennedy.  It was my first time working with her, and it was a treat!  She has great energy, a creative vision, and best of all, takes amazing photos.  The above photos are some of her behind-the-scenes shots and below are the images that were used in the magazine.

XOXO,

Featured Model!

I am happy to say that after a slow month for work in November (compounded by the Eid holiday at the end of the month), I'm busy again.  This past week alone found me shooting an ad for Lipton's Green Tea, a fashion show, a shoot for Harper's Bazaar, and a commercial for the Dubai Shopping Festival.  Not bad for a week's work, and I daresay I wish more weeks could be as successful!

I'll try to get some more of my work posted in the next few days.  This blog seems to have turned into a dumping ground for my modeling photos as of late, and hopefully I'll return to less shallow posting soon.  In the meanwhile, I'm happy to be able to share my work with my friends and family back home who seem to always be proud of me.

I'm also working on a new blog that might be of interest to a handful of you... I'll keep you posted!

Above is a screen shot of my agency's website.  I was quite pleased (and surprised!) to find that I am currently their featured model.  Let's hope that brings more jobs and that I'll stay busy until I leave in the beginning of January.

More to follow soon...

XOXO,

Shoot for Japan

My friend Taro emailed me these a couple of weeks ago.  I shot these in New York City at the beginning of September for a clothing store in Japan.  They were shot with the newly opened High Line Park in the background.  (I recommend visiting if you get the chance!  It was an elevated rail system that was constructed in the 1930s and was abandoned for many years before being opened as a park in 2009.  It affords majestic views of the Hudson River, and has the added benefit of making you feel like you've left the bustling city streets behind for a bit).  I love pictures with that quintessential New York feel!

XOXO,

Why I Love Skype...

... and one thing I miss from home!

This little guy, by the way, is Siegfried.  He is named after the dragon-slaying hero of Germanic folklore, but this pup (a Miniature Pincher) is pretty much afraid of anything that goes bump in the night.

He's a silly bear, but I do miss him terribly!

XOXO,

Etoile Fashion Show 11/24/2009

Work has been pretty slow as of late (I seem to be in good company, though, as my friends around the globe are all complaining of the same thing!) but this past week I did get to do a fashion show showcasing the new collection of a Lebanese designer here in Dubai.

I only had one outfit, and it was a Bright Gold Dress!

Photo frame via Gunhild Storeide

The pictures are of me and my friend, Claudia (a Brit who mysteriously speaks with a southern drawl), and me with the three girls who were flown in from Manchester, England just for the job.  We were the "Gold Group."

XOXO,

To Althea from Prison

I am feeling a little shallow about what I have been posting on the blog lately.  I am proud of my work, and it is fun to share it, but in a way, these pictures reflect nothing of who I am.  Back in the day, I would write long and random posts such as why I want to be buried in my wedding dress; or about the medieval lovers, Heloise and Abelard; or about what women can learn about men in Jane Austen novels.  Sometimes, even, when I got bold, I would talk about my faith.

I have a friend who has been encouraging me to write more from my heart, to be more thoughtful, and reflective.  I am thankful for his thoughts and for being challenged in this way.  I'll see what I can do...

via DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed

I love letters.  I really love love letters.  We moved every two years when I was growing up, which meant I had my fair share of pen pals.  I would argue that handwritten letters from friends are just about one of the most wonderful delights to be found on this earth.

I store letters in my heart-- letters written to me, and letters written to other people.  When I stumble across letters which are  eloquently written, or better yet, express some noble thought, I make note.

The above letter was written from a man in prison to his obviously beloved wife.  His name was Guido de Bres, and he is known as the author of the Belgic Confession.  He was imprisoned for his Protestant faith, and in 1567, was publicly hanged.  He continued to exhort the crowd to be faithful to scripture and to obey their magistrates even as he was pushed off the scaffold.

It is a beautiful letter, is it not?

XOXO,