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| Supermodel Paulina Porizkova and Director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders |
I was looking forward to seeing portrait photographer Timothy Greenfield- Sanders HBO documentary about the stories of the original "Supermodels". I had memories of many of these beauties gracing the covers of magazines I devoured.
It's challenging enough for many of us to face our own aging faces. I was curious to hear how much harder that must be for these women, who were lauded for their great beauty and lead incredibly glamorous lives.The voyeur in me, also was curious to see how well, (or badly!) they had aged.
It's a sprawling cast that includes: Isabella Rosellini, Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley, Beverly Johnson, Pat, Cleveland, Patti Hansen, Marissa Berenson, Kim Alexis, Carol, Alt, Dayle Haddon, Bethann Hardison, Paulina Porzkova, Lisa Taylor, Cheryl Tiegs, China Machado and the exquisite 80 year old Carmen Dell'Orefice.
Some of the women were more well known for their runway work, since their ethnicity kept them from being featured in print, until Beverly Johnson broke that barrier by being the first African American model to land a Vogue cover.
Supermodels Then and Now is strongest when it spends enough time letting its subjects reflect about their experiences in depth. I got to "know" Isabella Rosellini, Carmen Dell'Orefice, China Machado, Jerry Hall, Marissa Berenson, Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison and Paulina Porizkova. I appreciated hearing their stories and was happy to hear how comfortable they are in their older skin.
The others seemed air brushed over, so to speak. I would have been more content with either another hour, so we got to hear every ones tale, or sticking with a smaller cast and delving deeper into the feelings about their physical aging.
Seriously...can we tawk about plastic surgery??? Throw me a bone.
Almost all of the women were still stunningly beautiful. Most looked to be slim and healthy which, to a large degree is something that is within our control. I'll admit to breathing a sigh of relief..to some extent, if they can keep it together, so can we...
I just wish I knew how they were doing it.
xox,
DD
I have not seen this but Paulina used to live in my old neighborhood in the city - um - she isn't that old... And Karen (one in the middle on left) whose last name (of course) escapes me, lives near me now and I see her quite frequently. She is still rail thin and looks good, basically because she is - well, pretty! She is very natural and fyi doesn't look like she has had any work done.
ReplyDeletePaulina is still drop dead beautiful and her time on the camera showed a completely confident, fulfilled woman who could laugh at herself. Divine!
DeleteKaren is 60 and very beautiful. She admitted that after seeing herself photographed, she thought having her eyes done would be a worthwhile investment, since she has returned to modeling. I don't remember her from print work. She too seemed very comfortable in her own skin. Lovely!
xox
DD
Diva Debbi,
ReplyDeleteI too was delighted to see the HBO Supermodel special. I feel encouraged about getting older now. We must stop letting the Commerical-isms of beauty define us. It's crazy to think beauty is over after 30 or 40. 40 and 50 were my most beautiful years. Now that I'm 61 I look in the mirror with amazement and just stand back and smile. Eat good, take care of your skin and hair and workout. That's the beauty secret. For proof log onto my recent photo on face book at DeS Rispoli or my web www.desrispoli.com PS Thanks to your blog I have found many wonderful tips. Your my beauty bible when it comes to cosmetic shopping. Thanks for everything.
Hi DeS,
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed stunning! I'm so glad you have found some of my finds have worked well for you. To your beauty mix I would add confidence. Its sooo alluring. At half my current age, I also had half the confidence. I wouldn't trade it, would you?
xox
DD
I missed the first 20 minutes of this, and hopefully it is on HBO on demand. It was nice to see the faces that I grew up with, and I must say how normal they all seemed. Could you imagine what a hot mess this would have been with Naomi Cambell in it?!
ReplyDeleteI remember being anti Lancome for quite a number of years after they dumped Isabella Rosellini. She was one of the major reasons why I fell in love with Tresor. When they dropped her, I dropped it. I rediscovered it again 2 years ago, and to me, she will be forever the Tresor face.
I thought her insight about marketing was brilliant. They are not selling anti aging to us because we research ingredients, but for the younger women who haven't learned what works.
Anywho.. I really enjoyed hearing them recount their wild tales, as only as people who survivied it and really enjoyed it.
Karen used to model for Halston - one of his favorites.
ReplyDelete